He stepped back.
Maisie's gaze lingered on his retreating figure, a wild mix of relief and frustration twisting in her belly. She hated how this man unsettled her, his dark presence, his commanding voice, the way he made her pulse race when she should be furious instead. Yet beneath the anger and stubborn pride, a strange warmth stirred, one she was terrified to admit. She was caught between defiance and desire, and neither was willing to let go.
"I've had enough of this game, Caiden. I'm going back to me rooms," she snapped, rising swiftly to her feet.
She strode to the heavy oak door, her fingers gripping the iron handle before she pushed it open and stepped out into the dimly lit corridor.
The cool air hit her skin, but she kept her head high, refusing to show the flicker of thrill stirring within her as she started down the hall.
From behind her, Caiden's voice rolled low and rough like distant thunder. "If ye walk away from me, ye best run."
Maisie's eyes widened in surprise. "Ye daenae own me!" she shot back, voice steady and bold, then turned on her heel and walked faster down the winding hallway.
Her heart hammered hard against her ribs, but it was not fear that coursed through her veins: it was excitement, wild and intoxicating.
She glanced over her shoulder to see Caiden striding after her, the set of his broad shoulders and the fire in his dark eyes driving her forward like a dare. The cold stone walls echoed their footsteps as the game began in earnest, a thrilling dance of pursuit and escape beneath the flickering torchlight.
"If this is the game ye want to play, little mouse, ye best nae let me catch ye," he said.
Maisie broke into a run, the long skirts of her dress billowing behind her as adrenaline surged through her veins. She darted down the corridor, a fierce grin tugging at her lips, here, in this chase, she felt alive, untamed, caught in a web of desire and daring.
Why are ye smilin' ye fool! Stop this instant.
But it was no use, she was having… fun.
Caiden's voice called out, low and commanding, urging her on as he closed the distance. Her breath came in quick bursts, thechase igniting something deep within, a spark that refused to be quenched.
She slipped around a sharp corner, hoping to lose him, but Caiden was relentless, his strides swallowing the ground between them. Maisie's pulse raced, not from fear, but from the fierce thrill of being desired so completely.
With a sudden burst of speed, she reached a narrow nook in the castle walls, an alcove bathed in shadow and flickering torchlight. She pressed her back against the cold stone, heart pounding as she waited, breath caught on a whisper.
Hiding, she clamped her hand over her mouth to stop the noise of her breathing.
Caiden appeared moments later, his dark eyes gleaming with triumph and something softer, something dangerously close to admiration.
"Thought ye could outrun me, lass?" His voice was a low growl, rich with challenge and something unspoken. He closed the space between them with effortless ease, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, sending a shiver racing down her spine.
Maisie held his gaze, fierce and unyielding, but inside, the fire of desire burned hotter than ever.
She lifted her chin, refusing to show how much the chase had stirred her.
"Maybe I let ye catch me," she whispered, voice husky with unspoken longing.
Caiden's lips twitched into a slow, knowing smile, and he leaned closer, his breath warm against her cheek. "Ye've nay idea who ye're playin' with, Maisie. But I promise, I'll nae be lettin' ye go unpunished."
Maisie's heart thundered in her chest, every nerve alive with the heady mix of defiance and desire. For a moment, the world narrowed to the heat of Caiden's body near hers, the weight of his hand steady on her arm. The game was no longer about captivity or escape, it was a dance of wills, a firestorm.
Caiden leaned down closer, the heat of his breath brushing against Maisie's cheek. She barely had time to register the weight of his presence before his lips brushed hers in a slow, deliberate way that sent a jolt through her spine.
Standing as tall as she was, Maisie had never imagined a man could catch her so easily, yet here he was, looming over her, holding her firm and unyielding like a force of nature. The sensation of his hands steadying her, his strength wrapped around her, was both thrilling and terrifying.
Then, his lips pressed to hers with a fierce tenderness that took her breath away. The kiss was slow at first, exploring and tasting, a dance of control and surrender that left Maisie trembling.
His hands moved with a possessive care, one cupping her cheek, the other settling firmly at the small of her back, drawing her closer until there was no space left between them. Every soft press of his mouth, every slight brush of his tongue against hers, ignited a longing that she fought to deny.
Maisie's fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, holding on even as her heart pounded wildly. The taste of him was smoky and warm, a sharp contrast to the cool castle air around them.
She wanted to pull away, remind him of the walls that kept her captive, but the raw need in his kiss made her forget every caution. For a moment, she existed in a world all her own, tangled in a fierce connection she never expected but craved.
