Page 317 of Axis of Fire

Rolling my eyes for emphasis.

“Oh, come on.

You know exactly what I mean.”

“I don't.”

His expression remained almost perfectly serious.

“Explain it to me.”

But I could already see the corners of the bastard's mouth fighting a smile.

“Why can't we ever have one normal conversation?” I felt irritation slowly rising inside me.

“Why does every conversation with you have to turn into a game?”

“What exactly is happening to you?” He set the book aside and crossed his arms over his chest.

Still openly amused.

“Or...” A slow smile spread across his face.

“Are you hoping for a repeat?”

There was absolutely no doubt what he meant.

The kiss.

And the moment the thought crossed my mind, I hated how quickly my cheeks betrayed me.

Warmth flooded my face.

“You think very highly of yourself.”

I bit the inside of my lip before quickly turning away.

Then escaped into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

I probably looked completely ridiculous.

But neither the kiss I hadn't wanted to end...

Nor Ruël's words reflected in that mirror...

Would leave me alone.

Turning on the faucet, I began scrubbing the cream from my hands.

Without even knowing why.

Yet the same sentence kept echoing through my mind:

“We are disastrously different,

yet bound by the same truth.

I do not resent fear—