Wolfsbane

35. Luca James: The Gym teacher from the 5th circle of Dante's inferno.

"I'm not doing that" I said, staring at the whiteboard which was covered in Luca's immaculate handwriting.

I had been woken up at 4:00 am, forced to take a shower and then was dragged, against my will to the training grounds.

Literally dragged, Luca had pulled me along like a suitcase.

He was so clinical about the whole situation. It was like last night never happened. It was like he couldn't remember who's name he'd been screaming a few hours ago.

I knew what was occurring. I wasn't his mate, at this point. I was just a soldier, someone he was training. That frightened me considering how hardcore he was.

Furthermore, it worried me how serious he seemed. He hadn't even laughed at my flat out objection. Then again, the guy didn't laugh at much.

Luca crossed his arms over his chest. He stared at me, then at the whiteboard. I had the feeling that this wasn't open for negotiation.

Well unlike the US government, I didn't mind negotiating with terrorists, and as far as I was concerned, Luca's "workout" was an assault on my person.

I crossed my arms over my chest, physically asserting myself. He didn't scare me, not one bit. I was pretty sure that I had him whipped anyway.

I flashed him a sheepish smile, weaseling my way out of this would be my greatest trick yet.

"Melody" Luca said "It's a standard warm up"

"It's a two mile run" I said flatly.

A two mile run, followed by countless reps of horrid exercises. There was no way in hell I was going to do it.

"Luca" I said, I wrapped my fingers around his bicep, pouting "I'm still sick from-"

"You weren't sick enough to push me into bed, climb on top of me, and you somehow had enough energy to coerce me into eating you ou-"

"I get the point!" I said, cutting him off before he could finish his sentence. People were starting to fill the training grounds slowly, it was shocking that they would waist their time getting up so early.

"You're going to do this" Luca said

I shrugged, giving him yet another sheepish grin.

"When you said you were training me" I began "I thought that you'd be giving me more opportunities to kick your ass, I didn't realize that you were trying to kill me"

Luca rolled his eyes. He placed a hand on my shoulder, gripping it tightly. He pulled me in, staring right into my eyes.

"Believe me" Luca said "If I was trying to kill you, I would done it long ago"

I groaned, shaking his hand off of my shoulder. He could be so idiotic sometimes.

But you like it. The voice in my head said.

I was beginning to resent that voice. I hadn't had s conscience for almost 18 years, I didn't know why one suddenly decided to start giving its input.

I didn't think Luca was going to concede. I could see it in his eyes, they were cold and stormy. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back off of his face. Which made him look infuriatingly good, so good that it pained me to admit it. 

I shook off my conscience. Leveling my eyes with his, I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. He couldn't anyway. I'd worked out that I was his soft spot.

You fuck with her, you fuck with me

The one sentence that confirmed that fact. 

"Why a run, anyway?" I said "Why a two mile run? I'm supposed to be learning how to fight"