Forbidden Desire 18+

Chapter Sixteen

ELIO MORELLI

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Over the last week I've been training with Isabella in the time that she's not going to classes, seeing Charlotte and doing that weird thing with the hoop in the sports hall. She's built up a lot of skills but she's definitely still got a lot to learn–including shutting her mouth. That's what's going to get her in trouble the most.

The amount of insults and curse words she's slung at me during our sessions is ridiculous. I'm surprised she's got any content left but I have to admit, she gets creative with them for sure.

I don't go easy on her. No. No. I'm using the same strength as I would if she was the same size as me. It makes her work harder. Her entire body is covered in sweat by the first twenty minutes and once the full hour is up, she's barely breathing.

Her fitness will increase the longer we train. I have to admit I'm impressed with what she's shown so far. I want her to dig deeper into that brain of hers and think her way out of situations—there is always a solution no matter what.

I'll never admit it to her but she's a smart girl–except she'll most likely get herself in shit because of the dumb decisions she makes. At least she'll have some technique to fight her way out of it if I'm not there.

Today we're practising certain self defence moves to get the perpetrator on the floor within a few seconds. But I can sense that her mind isn't in it for whatever reason. I stare down at her through watchful eyes.

"The Dean piss you off again or something?" I ask.

Isabella scowls at me. "No."

"Then why are you so distracted?"

"I'm not," she crosses her arms over her chest defensively.

I quirk a brow before I lunge for her. She barely has any time to get herself out of my embrace as I pin her to the floor like a ragdoll. My entire body leans over hers and I meet her eyes. "Really?"

She releases a grunt and shoves at my shoulder. "I wasn't even ready."

"No one is ready to be attacked," I flash her a sarcastic smile. "And you failed."

"Whatever," she grumbles and I stand up.

I hold my hand out for her to take but she slaps it away and jumps to her feet. We hear her phone vibrate from across the room and she turns to look at it. "Let's go again," I bark.

She merely nods before I allow her to use her latest skills on me and send me to the floor with her legs wrapped around my head and my arm at an awkward angle. It's not always practical but it works and she's a pro at it.

After a few moments she releases my head and stands to place her hands on her hips. I roll onto my side and push myself up with one hand. "I need a water break," she murmurs and walks towards her bag.

One hand grabs her bottle and the other she dives straight to her phone. She swipes up and reads a message before a smile covers her lips. I narrow my eyes at her and tilt my head. What is she up to?

She cups her bottle under her arm and begins tapping away viciously on the screen, that smile practically permanent. I stalk towards her, she's so distracted by her phone that she didn't even hear my loud footsteps approach.

"Who the fuck are you texting?" I ask loudly.

Isabella flinches and cups her phone to her chest. "No one. It's none of your business."

"We're not done here. You said a water break–not 'check your phone and get distracted' break." I raise my voice in which she shoots me daggers.

"It was for two seconds, Elio. Chill out."