Page 309 of Axis of Fire

“When I realized it was becoming harder to keep my defenses up.”

“You keep defenses when someone is capable of hurting you.”

“Yes,” Airis said quietly. “And apparently, you’re capable of hurting my heart.”

“What…” I looked away with a frown, completely losing track of where this conversation had gone. “You could hurt me just as much.”

Something in his gaze darkened.

“Then maybe we should find out which one of us can hurt the other more.”

A small step.

Closer.

But his lips were still too far away.

And before I could stop myself, I erased the distance between us.

For a moment, it felt as though neither of us was breathing.

But that didn’t stop him from taking control.

His hand slid to the back of my neck.

Firm.

Yet impossibly careful.

As though he had been waiting for this for a very long time.

He kissed me with restraint and trembling intensity all at once, like he was trying to memorize me through the kiss itself.

And suddenly, it felt as though someone entirely different stood before me.

Someone softer.

More careful.

And more certain than ever.

His other hand pulled me closer by the waist, against the burning warmth of his body.

The kiss deepened.

And I melted into him,

even while desperately trying to keep my heart restrained.

He pulled away first.

“For my heart, you’re a very real threat, Fireling.”

His voice was quiet.

But his body language said something entirely different:

I don’t want to let you go.