Bennett tried to keep her grin to a minimum, and in two quick steps, she advanced on Lisa. Bennett believed her offensive maneuver would take Lisa by surprise, but Lisa parried against Bennett’s attack like she knew it was coming. Sparks flew when the blades met, and when Bennett advanced again, Lisa fended her off…again.

Secure in her belief she would win the wager, other than her initial attack, Bennett’s moves had been lackadaisical. She’d yet to use her full strength in any swing of her rapier, and unable to stop it, her grin had finally blossomed. Bennett was enjoying their impromptu swordplay, and by the amused looks on everyone else’s faces, their audience was enjoying it, too.

Like swashbuckling pirates, Bennett and Lisa moved about the room. Their footwork was precise, and each handily avoided the furniture or shoved it out of the way with a kick. Their blades clanked and sparked again and again and relentlessly, Bennett continued her attack, except her grin had disappeared. Lisa was good. Lisa was better than good, and Bennett set her jaw. It was time for this game to end.

Bennett drew in a deep breath, and her eyes became a sea of blue flames as she called on all her strength. Intent on disarming Lisa, Bennett swung her rapier toward the hilt of Lisa’s sword. The move should have sent the blade flying from Lisa’s hand, except in one quick motion, Lisa swept her blade around Bennett’s. Skillfully disengaging from the attack, Lisa then did something Bennett didn’t expect.

Like most sports, sword fighting consists of offense and defense, attacks and retreats in a constant back-and-forth, and up until that moment, Bennett had played offense. She’d consistently forced Lisa to regroup or step back, but suddenly Bennett was frantically fending off Lisa’s blade. Repeatedly, Lisa advanced, swinging the rapier with skill and power that stunned Bennett, and when their swords met again, Bennett glided her blade down Lisa’s until their faces were inches apart.

Sweat beaded on their brows, and their breathing was short and ragged, and when their eyes met, Lisa’s became filled with mischief. “I so want to taste you right now,” she whispered.

Bennett’s mouth dropped open, and Lisa didn’t waste a nanosecond. She placed her hand on Bennett’s chest and shoved the woman with all her might. Totally forgetting she was no longer mortal, Lisa’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when Bennett flew across the room, slamming so hard into a sofa that the furniture rolled over, carrying Bennett with it. She landed with a thud, the force of which emptied her lungs…and her hand.

Bennett ignored the tittering in the room. She reached for her rapier, only to be defeated by Max, who had his foot on the blade. “I believe Lisa’s won your wager.”

“She cheated,” Bennett said, looking up at the man.