Animals

The dogs soon returned, picking up the pace as they caught sight of the pair standing near a tree. Axel was at the head and when Eva extended out her hand, he dropped the ball in it which had gotten wet from his salivating jaws.

"Why don't you throw it this time?" she offered the wet ball to Theo and he picked it up from her hand, rolling it between his fingers, and without putting too much force, he launched the ball which disappeared into the sky and out of sight. His strength and power were evident in how impossibly far it went.

Eva gazed up, her eyes blinking rapidly. She watched as the hounds hurriedly sprinted after it and turned around a corner vanishing from their eyes.

"Do you think they will manage to find it?' she asked, worried that the ball would've reached the Enchanted Forest considering how high it flew.

"Their senses are higher than most animals. They'll manage, it's their daily exercise," he spoke and took her hand, leading her across the gardens in the direction of the castle.

"Where are we going?" asked Eva, glancing up to scrutinize his face.

He returned her stare with a small smirk on his face and Eva felt her heart freeze. "Why don't we play a game?"

Eva paused in her steps and noticed that they were standing right outside the castle's gates. "What sort of game? Please explain, Your Majesty," she asked, her voice sarcastic. She wasn't going to play anything with him unless she was sure that it wasn't to her disadvantage.

His eyes gleamed as he closed the distance between them by pulling her hand as their chests bumped into each other. Eva gasped out loud, looking around in panic. If someone saw them in this position, they would surely misunderstand and her life would be doomed forever!

She tried pulling back when he slid his hand down her back to her waist and held her in his arms, dominating her physique. Eva held her breath as he leaned in and his hot breath brushed her lips with his faint scent around her.

"Admit your mistake," he spoke but all Eva could see was his lips moving in front of her in a trance.

Parting her lips, she saw his eyes darken into a darker shade if possible. Eva wanted to smack her head against a wall but she couldn't help but love the idea of him losing all his self-control with her. Feeling courageous today more than ever, she licked her upper lip, her pink tongue peeking out before disappearing within a second.

They both stopped moving for a second, staring at each other paralyzed. When Eva had poked out her tongue, she accidentally touched Theo's lips while wetting hers in her boldness. She watched him, dazed, as he closed his eyes and let a groan escape his lips throwing his head back.

"Fuck... Why would you do that Birdie?" he asked, opening his eyes and Eva saw them flicker in between red and black.

"I-I don't know." she managed to stutter out, shocking herself at her bold action a minute ago.

"Give me a second," he spoke and backed away from her as Eva felt his warmth abandoning her completely. She let him have his space and stared as he took in deep breaths of fresh air and ran a hand through his hair.

"Would touching me help you?"

Theo twisted his neck around to look at her and Eva wondered why he hadn't broken his neck at how quickly he turned around. Shock was visible in his orbs as he stared at her in confusion.

"What did you just say?"

"If touching me helps you calm down, then you can do so," she repeated her words and swallowed hard as a familiar predatory look entered his eyes as he stalked towards her with slow steps.

Eva backed away when he got closer and watched a hint of disappointment take over his handsome features. Instantly, she opened her mouth to rectify her mistake,

"You were talking about playing a game," she spoke and watched as his lips twitched at the ends. "If you win, I'll allow you to t-touch me. If I win, I can ask you whatever I want."

"Anything except for leaving." he cleared out the details and Eva nodded in agreement. She had much better things to ask about since she knew leaving was not a valid option currently.

Amusement glimmered in his eyes as he opened his mouth to explain the game. "You do know about hiding and seek don't you?"

"Of course I do," she answered. She had played all possible games invented with her father when he had free time and was away from the shop. No matter what their financial situation was, he always used to spend time with them and let them learn new things.

"What are you thinking about?" questioned Theo, and Eva felt a hand slide up her neck to caress her cheek. She closed her eyes as a sigh escaped her lips.

"My father used to play games with us when we were children. It's just that... I get reminded of him whenever I think of those times." she was surprised at how easily she told him about her father whom she couldn't even talk about to her sister and mother. Maybe because she knew that he wouldn't try offering comforting words or completely ignore the matter.

He... understood.

Smiling, he leaned in and placed his lips on her forehead and Eva released a shaky breath, her heart throbbing against her ribcage. Tucking in a loose strand of hair behind her ear, he took her hand and kissed the back of it where Lysander had kissed it previously.

"Think of your father when we play these games then. Who asked you to forget him hm?"

Eva smiled a weak smile and composed her emotions as fast as she could. "What are the places that we can hide in?"

"Anywhere, it's up to you. But when I hide, I'll only use one part of the castle to make it easier for you."

"There is no need—" but she got interrupted again with his finger on her lips, shocking her as well as silencing her.

"Hurry away before I catch you," he whispered in her ear, his breath ghosting the side of her face. "You know what I'll ask for once I do."

His finger rubbed her lower lip and Eva felt heat pool low in her belly at his touch. Backing away, her pace broke to a run when she heard him start to count.

"1, 2, 3..., "