Hadama's midriff was, indeed, exposed. Though he had one arm in a guard position, it was blocking his ribs, not his abs, and Maea's body was in the way so that he could not see her strike until it landed squarely on one hard block of muscle above where his belly button would be, if Mer had belly buttons. Which, being hatched rather than born, they did not. Even in the midst of battle a loreseeker could learn something new!
He held onto her ankle as her sharp, hard fist impacted against him. This time she did drive a faint grunt from him and his emerald eyes narrowed down at her in amused appreciation of the hit. He might have lifted her - the idea did cross his mind - but it was undignified and he discarded it immediately.
She had wanted to be in close with him, however, and there was a price to pay for that.
Maintaining his hold on her ankle, he jerked her leg down to waist-height and returned her punch with his free hand fist: a sharp, hard jab at her chest, just below her throat.
Her face was closer and less awkward to hit, but the image of blood spraying across the white canvas of her hair and skin was decidedly unappealing to the Tidebreaker.
He held onto her ankle as her sharp, hard fist impacted against him. This time she did drive a faint grunt from him and his emerald eyes narrowed down at her in amused appreciation of the hit. He might have lifted her - the idea did cross his mind - but it was undignified and he discarded it immediately.
She had wanted to be in close with him, however, and there was a price to pay for that.
Maintaining his hold on her ankle, he jerked her leg down to waist-height and returned her punch with his free hand fist: a sharp, hard jab at her chest, just below her throat.
Her face was closer and less awkward to hit, but the image of blood spraying across the white canvas of her hair and skin was decidedly unappealing to the Tidebreaker.
