I tilted my head up to look at him as his gaze remained ahead. His hazel eyes sparkled beneath the moonlight, but his jaw was tense—locked, as if every ounce of pain he had ever felt for his mother came crashing back into him.
My gaze wandered past the cottage, where a small, woodsy area marked the boundary of his family's land. A private forest hidden within the valley, all to ourselves. A menacing smile curved my lips, and I was grateful he couldn’t see it from where he stood.
His body stiffened. “What are you up to?” he asked, his voice heavy with anticipation, causing a rush of heat to pool between my thighs.
I hummed softly. “I don’t know what you mean.”
His wicked laugh nearly brought me to my knees as his grip on me loosened slightly. “My darling Lia, you are up to no good.” I took a step away, looking up at him with a grin. He took a matching step toward me as he watched me beneath furrowed brows.
“What makes you think that?” I asked as I continued to move backward, toward the trees.
“You forget, I can now sense everything about you. As each day passes, I learn how to decipher it—how to decipheryou. And you, my love, are absolutely up to something.”
“Something…” I drew out the word.
“Something wicked,” he answered, and my nipples tightened beneath my shirt. I watched his mouth as he spoke these words, and all I could think about was how I longed for his lips to be on me instead, putting them to far better use.
“Wicked indeed,” I answered with a wink right before I took off in a sprint, darting directly for the woods.
I expected him to chase after me immediately, but when I glanced over my shoulder as I ran toward the trees, I was surprised to find him watching me intently—his dimple on display as his face was graced with the most alluring smile.
I came to a halt at the forest’s edge and turned to face him.
“Not going to see what wickedness lies in my thoughts, Commander?” I called to him, triggering him to take a single step forward.
My heart raced in anticipation.
“Is it a chase you want, Elianna?” he cooed as his stride continued in my direction. “Because,my Lia, I will chase you to the ends of the world and beyond. Until there isn’t another step to be taken, for then I plan to freefall together into the vale. It’s just you and me, sweetheart—destined to relive our descent over the waterfall.”
His promise sent a chilling shiver up my spine. As his steps moved toward me, I continued our little dance and matched them backward once more until I was hidden within the shadows of the trees.
Jace’s pace quickened slightly as he lost sight of me. “So I will ask you once more, my queen. Do you wish for me to chase you to the edge of the realm?” His tone had darkened,and my knees nearly buckled beneath me. “I’m waiting, Elianna…”
“Always,” I spoke so softly I was almost certain he couldn’t have heard it until he suddenly charged at me.
I let out a noise that was equal parts giggle and squeal as I bolted further into the trees. I sprinted through narrow gaps of towering pines, leapt over jagged-edged boulders, and ducked beneath low-hanging branches, refusing to look back as I sensed him right on my tail.
Suddenly, it went quiet behind me, and my steps instantly halted. I listened to the wind as it whistled through the treetops and whipped around, assuming to come face-to-face with him, but was met with nothing but the woods’ shadows.
My eyes peered through the darkness of the foggy haze that glided between the trees. Crickets sounded, but there wasn’t an echo of footsteps or the sound of a gasping breath. It appeared I was completely alone, but I knew better.
Our bond throbbed beneath my skin, and I felt the steadiness of his beating heart and his deep, pulsing arousal.
On silent feet, I swiftly moved through the brush, carefully stepping over the roots, and pressed my back against the trunk of the oak tree to my right.
Steadying my breathing, I went to peek around once more, when suddenly, the touch of a calloused hand wrapped itself around my throat. A second later, I was enveloped in his scent of embers and cedarwood, fueling amenacing grin to spread across my face as I met my false attacker’s eyes.
His grip on my throat was light but put enough pressure to have me slightly straining for air. “What are your plans now that you’ve caught me, Commander?” I asked, my voice sultry.
A growl rumbled deep in his chest, and in one swift movement, his grip went from my throat to picking me up and pinning me against a tree.
He brought his lips to my ear, and the feeling of his breath sent a shudder through my body. “I’ve been dreaming of what I could do to you since I had you last.”
I inhaled a staggered breath at his words. He started kissing down my neck slowly, his teeth grazing my skin as he took his time teasing me.
I let out an involuntary moan. “Jace,” I breathed.
He lowered my legs back down to the ground while taking his hands and moving them over every inch of me, every curve. Our breaths became heavier, our pace getting more chaotic and rushed. My eyes closed under the weight of his touch as my heart pounded with anticipation and the need for him.
