Chapter Ninety Five - Playfully - Damian's POV

Maya arches a brow. 'So, you don't like being called a good boy? Is it your pride stopping you from liking it?" She reaches out, poking a finger at my chest. 'Does the big, bad alpha not want to be called a good boy?" I catch her wrist gently. 'It's not the words, Maya. It's the way you say them to me. You're flirting and I like it." She holds my gaze, her lips curving into a smirk. 'Careful, Alpha. You're giving the human too much power over you." My gaze softens as I stare at her. 'Don't you know that you already have all of it?" I mostly mutter it to myself, but she hears it. Something shifts in her gaze and it's almost like it scared her, yet she's trying not to show it. 'Well, then. Since I'm your all powerful mate, I say it's time for warm ups." As she steps back, I miss her warmth. I finally admit more of my feelings and she automatically goes back to being distant. Instead of dwelling on it, I roll my shoulders and crack my neck. 'What do you want to start with?" She grins wickedly. 'We should start with sparring, obviously. I was getting pretty good last time we trained." 'I still knock you on your backside more times than you should fall. Let's try stretching first. You're not warmed up fully." I chuckle as we step onto the open patch of grass. She looks so perturbed that I suggested stretching. 'What do you mean, I'm not warmed up yet?" 'You haven't stretched your muscles or done anything to warm up. If you don't like stretches, I have other things in mind." I wiggle my brows at her, trying to flirt back to get that other side of her to show. Her cheeks turn bright pink. 'What? You can't seriously be thinking about something like that at a time like this." 'Well, you make it hard to think of other things when you start calling me a good boy. Then you stopped." 'I just wanted to rile you," she says, her voice cracking. 'You've riled me, so now what?" I ask, circling her. 'Sparring leads to pinning, which could lead to me sneaking a kiss." Her eyes widen. 'I didn't think of that. But who says you will be the one who does the pinning? Maybe I can pin you." A smirk graces my lips as I round her side and come to face her. 'I'd love to see you try." Before I can react, she lunges at me playfully but then squeaks when she makes an impact. I dart out of her reach before she does it again, laughing. She spins around and tries again. 'You're fast, but let's see if you're up for this challenge." Stretches are long forgotten as we play. I'm not even sure what Ethan is doing until I hear the door to the home gym shut. We're completely alone out here, rolling and tackling each other. I try my best to not hurt her and keep my strength in check. There's heat in every exchange, every touch. Not just from the effort, but from the way our touches seem to linger longer and longer. Her hand brushes my waist as she ducks under my arms as I try to catch her. My palm grazes her lower back when I spin around to get her, but she's too far away. 'You're holding back," she says breathlessly over her shoulder. 'You're still human. When you're not, I promise I'll give you a fair fight." 'Don't. I can handle you now," she mutters confidently. I stop in place. My brain can't even process her words. The double meaning hanging in the air is thick. 'Careful, Maya. I might take that as a promise." She turns, a smile plastered on her face, then she charges at me. Not out of anger, but to catch me off guard. It almost works, but I spin at the last minute and get the upper hand. We fall as softly as we can to the ground. She ends up pinned beneath me, her hands in one of mine above her head and our faces inches apart. 'I win," I whisper. Her chest rises and falls rapidly. 'Maybe I let you win this round." 'Sure you did. Keep telling yourself that." She twists her wrists in my hand, trying to break free, but I don't let go. 'So, I guess I need to kiss you for being a good boy, then? Or maybe I should ask to be kissed. You pinned me." 'Should I?" I muse. 'You tell me, Alpha," she says, stressing the last word. Maya has never called me alpha before, especially not like that. It's almost like hearing Ethan do it has sparked something inside of her. My eyes lock on her lips, my breath hitching in my throat. But before I can lean in, her knee comes up between us. It's not painful, but just enough to throw me off balance. She rolls us, switching places with me in seconds. 'Now, I win." I reach up, brushing a lock of hair from her face. 'You always win with me, but I must admit you are getting better." For a second, everything goes quiet between us. Then she leans down. 'Why is it that no matter how hard I fight this between us, I feel like I'm drowning in it? I want you, but I'm scared." 'Stop being scared. Our bonds are so much more than human marriages. There is nothing to fear," I whisper. 'Once it's sealed, I'm yours forever. There is no divorce, no hurt. It's unconditional love for the rest of our lives." Tears shimmer in her eyes as she leans even closer. And then she surprises me. Her lips press against mine, soft yet firm. For a second, the world around us is gone. The slight breeze in the trees stills. It's just her and the warmth she gives me. I don't move at first, because I'm afraid if I do, the moment might disappear. But then instinct takes over and I kiss her back.