I did as he said. Warmth flooded my calves.
“Once you feel your legs getting warmed up, I want you to step over to me, standing about a foot or so from me,” he said.
I walked over and stood in front of him. Except I opted to stand further than a foot from him. He held his hand up, curling his fingers toward himself. I shook my head.
“I won’t bite…” he said.
“If I’m close, then you have the advantage,” I said. I didn’t really know if that was true, but I needed an excuse not to get closer to him.
“Sometimes. I’m planning to stand here and do nothing. I want you to throw every punch you have at me,” he said.
“And you won’t hit back?”
“Not today, although if it’s too much to ask, stay away from my face.”
“This feels… weird. No, wrong, maybe?”
“Stop standing there like a little doe, and fucking—”
My fist flew and grazed his cheek.
“Of course, you would go for the face.”
“I always had a problem with authority,” I said.
“You don’t say,” he said. “Now hit again.”
“It feels weird just to hit you,” I told him.
“Pretend I’m Ravik.”
Without thinking, I hit him in the chest.
“I’m the guard that locked—” He didn’t get to finish before my body took over, hitting him over and over again, as fast as my arms would move.
My arms and legs burned. I dropped my arms to my side. Tears rolled down my cheeks, then sobs escaped me. I fell to the mat, gasping in between cries. He knelt next to me, placing his hand on my back.
“Atta girl, let it go,” he said.
I sobbed harder. Anger and sadness overwhelmed me. I felt rage toward that guy, toward Ravik, toward Daxyn, and even toward Quinn. I was so very sad about Izayuh and Aspen.
I sat there crying for several minutes before I finally caught my breath. A weight lifted off my chest. I took in a couple of deep breaths, recentering myself. The anger and sadness faded. I stood to my feet.
“I’m good,” I said.
“I know. Do you want to stop, or do you have more in you?”
“Am I going to cry every time?”
“No. There may be days when you will, but the first release is always the hardest and deepest cry someone has.”
“Good, because that was exhausting. I think I’m good for the day. I need a good shower,” I told him.
“Good, because you smell.”
My face instantly felt hotter than it already was. He let out a small laugh. I could also play those games.
“Yeah… you do too, daddy,” I said, then turned around.