Page 69 of Sweetheart: Part One

No!I wouldn’t—

But then she was gone. I could see her through the thicket of roots and branches, scrambling onto her back, chocolate eyes wide and fixed on me as her beautiful chest heaved.

Fuck.

Fuck!

My aura flared, and then I was throwing myself through the hedges, not a fucking care for the workmanship. Not a care for anything other than the woman on the other side.

With a terrified noise, she turned, scrambling back as she realised what I was doing. But it was too late.

I had her.

I launched through the hedge, smashing branches and leaves as I staggered out, looking around. She was on her feet, running, only—

Shit!

I launched myself after her on instinct, already knowing the truth. She backed up, almost tripping on stone stairs to the central gazebo. I could see the Alpha’s Hook sticking from the stone platform at the top. We were in the middle of the maze.

She whimpered in fear as I slammed her to the concrete, both of us breathing like we’d run a marathon.

It didn’t matter.

She’d baited me. Drawn me into chasing her on this last stretch, knowing if I went for her, and she got through, she’d won already.

We stared at each other for what felt like an age, and then a wild giggle bubbled up her throat. I wasn’t sure if it was honest, or pure terror.

“Let me go,” she whispered, between a question and a demand, as if she wasn’t sure.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t even think of releasing my grip on her wrists right now.

“You lose,” she told me.

No. Not fucking possible.

“Who would have thought the great Ebony Starless was a sore loser?” she taunted.

A low growl ripped from my throat as I stared at her, blood still hot from the chase, making it hard to think straight.

I couldn’t lose.

Not when it came to her.

She was it: my perfect prey.

I let go of her wrists, but her reaction was instant. Primal. She gripped my shirt, eyes still wide, a low whine slipping from her chest that sounded a thousand times more omega than beta.

I didn’t care if she’d done it on purpose, something came over me. I had her hair fisted in my grip and I drew her close.

Then I crushed my lips to hers.

VEX

I needed him like the blood in my veins or air in my lungs. All dignity forgotten, I would have let Ebony Starless do anything he wanted to me in that moment.

Twilight grass surrounded me, his scent a match to the maze as he kissed me like I was the last person on earth. When he finally let me go, I was breathless.

His expression was dangerous, eyes much too cold for someone who’d just kissed with that much passion.

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