Page 119 of Her Ivory Flame

“You haven’t caught me yet.” She shrugged. “Anything off limits?”

“Just don’t kill me.”

He suddenly lunged at her and her instincts kicked in faster than she expected, darting to the side and sliding under his arm with her hair barely grazing it.

Evading him once was all she was going to get, his hand whirling around and catching her leg before she slammed to the ground. Every nerve in her body started to burn and she threw her free leg up at him, her foot colliding with his knee and he buckled from the blow.

She knew this was her only chance, and she hoped he would forgive her later as she connected her fist to his face. Catching him off guard, he fell to the ground and she shot to her feet before bolting back down the hedge row.

A dark chuckle sounded from behind her that made her hair on the back of her neck raise, her own smile forming on her lips as she kept running.

There was a large opening ahead of her after a few more turns and she could see the stone building across the water. She was at least a hundred yards away, a straight stretch until she had officially beat Kaden at his own game and she smiled.

It faded quickly as footsteps sounded behind her, a quick glance over her shoulder confirming he was running straight at her and gaining fast.

She was not going to lose.

Every muscle started to ache but she pushed through it and started to throw everything she could into making her move faster. Pleading to her muscle to carry her just a little farther, her chest burning and body sticky with sweat.

The sound behind her was getting louder but she didn’t dare look back as the end of the hedge was just within reach. She could feel him closing in and with one last push, she leaped into the middle of the maze, Kaden grabbing around her waist and landing with her.

They rolled a few times, his body protecting her from harm and they landed next to each other on the grass a few seconds later.

She was struggling for breath, her chest heaving upward as she laid on her back, Kaden next to her only a few feet away.

“I didn’t think you had it in you.” Kaden chuckled between raspy breaths.

“You didn’t think I could win?” her voice cracking in disappointment.

“I knew you could win, I just didn’t think you would punch me.” He rolled onto his side and reached for her, his arm going across her stomach and pulled her into him.

“Oh.” she smirked. “Yeah I’m not going to apologize for that since you slammed me into the ground.”

“You did good.” His lips curled and he leaned down to pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Now that you won, what is it you want from me?”

She paused, looking up at him and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. His eyes had completely softened and she could see his breathing start to even out as his chest hovered above her.

Swallowing hard once more she pushed on his chest till he fell onto his back and moved to straddle him in one swift movement.

His eyes widened a little but he kept the rest of his face composed as he pushed himself up, gripping her so he was sitting with her legs on either side of him.

His face was less than an inch from hers, their breaths faint on each other’s lips and she felt her heart stop for a moment.

“You asked me what I wanted yesterday and now you are asking again.” she started in a nervous whisper. She placed her hands on his chest as he held her, her eyes looked down between them as anxiety started to twist in her gut. “You,” she whispered. “I want you, Kaden”

One of his arms left her waist and she felt his finger pull at her chin gently as he lifted it to his gaze. His eyes held relief in them, something she didn’t expect and she gripped his shirt tighter when their thread hummed between them.

“I know I’m a little broken still and I don't have my power yet so if you don’t want me like that, then-”

His hand slipped around to the back of her neck and his lips pressed against hers before she could finish her words. White fire erupted around her, a large crack busting in her power’s wall and she instantly melted into him.It was a tender kiss, not rough and chaotic but one she felt more emotions from than any other in her life. He held her as if she was a precious gift, tenderly, and she felt a sob form in her chest as she leaned into his kiss more.

He pulled away, his shoulders tense and when she opened her eyes he was staring at her with his own flame wrapping around both of them to conceal her fire in the darkness.

“Don’t ever think for a second you are not what I want,” he growled and she felt a tear fall down her cheek. “I want all of you, every inch of you that I can adore and every part of you that's ever been broken or harmed. Nothing about you scares me Alyra and even if you don’t ever get your full power back, I just wantyou.”

He pulled her into him again, his lips consuming her more intensely than the first time and she could feel the promise he was conveying. That promise of security and adoration she had been wanting her entire life, and she reciprocated it back.

His chest rumbled under her hands and she felt him pull away hesitantly, their breathing ragged against their lips.