My blade clanged against Matt's sword. I stepped up on the bench behind me, trying to gain any advantage I could. It was hard to ignore, his muscles rippling under his snug shirt with his efforts to counter me. I tightened my grip and shoved harder, using my body weight to force him backward.

Matt retreated a step and his arms relaxed. Without the resistance against my sword, I tumbled forward and landed at his feet. When I glanced up his boots had vanished.

That's not good. I hopped to my feet and scanned the room searching for him. How does he do that?

A heavenly hint of sandalwood hugged the air, and I spun to meet his intense green stare. The golden flecks in his eyes sparkled in the bright lights overhead, and his cold blade held my throat.

"Want to surrender?"

My heart yelled, never, but I wasn't dumb enough to think I had a chance to win this battle. My shoulders slumped, and I let out a groan. Twenty-eight for Matt, zero for me. I officially suck at this.

"Are we done here?" I rolled my eyes. "Or do you need to win a few more times to prove how bad I am?"

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. This time you showed real progress." His footsteps echoed off the wood floor. "How did you know where I was?"

I slid my blade into its brown leather sheath, plunked down on the bench and silently prayed for the lesson to finally be over.

"Come on. What gave me away?"

"The teacher doesn't know everything?" Sweat dripped down my brow, and I swiped the back of my arm against my forehead.

He plunged the tip of his blade into the floorboard and leaned on the handle. "I never said I knew everything." He stripped off his wet shirt, wiped his chest and tossed it into his open bag next to the wall. "I'm sure there are a few things you could teach me."

From the grin spreading across his face, there was no way he was talking about weapons or training.

"Pardon me?" I narrowed my eyes. "What exactly are your referring to? It better be training."

Matt wrapped his hand around the grip of his sword, yanked it free, and walked over. He halted with the tip of his dusty boot brushing the toe of my sneaker.

"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't." He shoved his sword into the holster in one smooth motion, then offered a hand to help me to my feet. "Either way I'd still like to know what tipped you off."

"Like you need any help beating me." I ignored his outstretched arm and stood. "You stink."

He turned his head to the side and took a whiff, then shrugged. "Two hours of training will make any guy sweat."

"No, not that." I leaned forward and breathed in his intoxicating cologne. "I smell sandalwood."

"You could smell me?" His brows scrunched together, then his expression softened as if in thought. "That's great!"

I brushed past him and halted. "You really are weird. A girl tells you, you stink, and you answer with 'that's great?'"

He watched me pass by and gave me a half grin that would rival the Mona Lisa's. "You'd didn't see your expression just now when you breathed in my scent. Claim you don't like sandalwood all you like, but I know the truth."

"You're delusional."

"And you're in denial." He crossed his arms, showing off his biceps. "But that's not what I was referring to when I said, that's great."

"Then enlighten me, oh wise, guru."

"If you could smell my cologne then that means you're tapping into your ability to read your surroundings. The first lesson of survival is to trust your senses. On the astral plane, you see all kinds of crazy stuff."

The rapid pace of his speech made me believe he meant every word.

"Some of it real and other times it's in your head." Matt crossed the floor and plucked a clean white shirt from his bag and tossed it over his head. "Knowing what to believe just might save your life." He hoisted his bag to his shoulder. "We should probably call it a day and grab something to eat."

Those musical words of freedom made me want to jump and celebrate. I probably would have if every muscle in my body wasn't completely exhausted.

"Thanks for the lesson." I curtsied and made for the door before he had a chance to demand another round of torture.

"Wait up. I'll walk you back to your dorm."

Without looking back, I held up an open hand and crossed the threshold. "Not necessary. My boyfriend," I said emphasizing the word, "is waiting for me."

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A short little scene but better than nothing! More coming next week. Please help a girl out and VOTE or COMMENT. :)

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