Page 36 of Fighting With Light

She frowns and then types quickly. “This is not going to keep Ben out of our hair for long.”

“Hopefully, we’ll be gone by the time he figures out you’re not in the country anymore.”

“I doubt that, but a girl can dream. So, are you ready for the big day?”

I nod, shoveling a mouthful of pancakes. “I’malwaysready, princess.” I grin and take a sip of coffee.

She rolls her eyes and eats more of her pancake. “Are you?” she says and kicks my stool out from under me.

I manage to drop my fork and catch myself, landing on my butt on the floor. I grab my wrist, holding it up to my chest. “Shit, that hurt,” I grumble.

Her face goes pale and she hops off her stool, squatting down next to me, trying to look at my wrist.

“Oh my gosh, Liam, I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t—shit! You have a competition tomorrow, let me—”

I cut Aelia off, sweeping my foot under her, throwing my weight so I’m on top, and grabbing her wrists, pinning them to the floor above her head. Her chest moves rapidly as she tries to keep up with the adrenaline pumping through her veins and I grin in victory.

“How about now?” I ask her.

“Ass,” she grumbles.

I lean forward and press a quick kiss on her nose.

“You’re cute when you’re frustrated,” I say, and brush my lips against hers. She lifts her head to kiss me as the energy changes around us. I pull away and then she lays back, relaxing her body beneath mine.

I kiss her jaw and then her temple, avoiding her lips until she’s huffing and frustrated at me. “I should knee you in the balls.”

“Go for it, I’ll block it.” I taunt, and her expression turns determined, making my heart rate bump up. I feel her move and at the last second release her,blocking the knee to my junk, and roll off of her. Before I know it, she’s on top of me with her hands around my neck.

“I like where this is going.”

She rolls her eyes.

She’s so small, I easily flip us again, pinning her with my hips and forcing both of her legs together with my thighs, rendering her immobile. “Tap out, princess.”

Grunting with effort, she tries to break free of my hold. I lean in closer to her lips and she leans up and bites my lower one,hard.“Ow! Aelia,” I mumble and then slam my mouth on hers. Electricity spikes through me as she tilts her chin, trying to take control when I have all of it. She moans into my mouth and I swallow it as I sweep my tongue against hers.

Aelia finally leans her head back, relenting and letting me take over. I release her hands and slide mine down her sides. She shudders beneath my palms and loops her arms around my neck. Then she squeezes, catching me off guard, and throws her weight to flip us again.

She hops to her feet and looks down at me on the floor, taps her elbow, and leaps into the air, intending to land on me. I catch her and she giggles, dropping her weight onto me as I roll us over again. We’ve rolled our way into the living room and when I stop with her on top of me, she drops her weight, resting her head on my chest.

“For the record, I didn’t tap out,” she mumbles and her breath brushes against my skin, making me shiver.

I bring my arms up around her, hugging her to me. “I didn’t think you did,” I say.

She laughs. “I’ll get you to tap out next time, though.”

I laugh and drag my hand up her spine. “Maybe we can do it naked,” I suggest.

Aelia lifts her head and looks at me, and I wiggle my eyebrows.

A smile grows on her face and she snorts. “You are such a flirt. I don’t know how I didn’t see through it.”

I smile widely. “You did say I was the most charming man you’ve ever met.”

She scoffs. “And now I’m significantly regretting uttering the words.”

“I’m not,” I whisper and grab her chin.