down a narrow path. “And do you know why?”
Meredith shook her head then answered, “No.”
“Ah, Meredith…” His voice was laced with amusement. Without warning, he led her around another turn in the maze, and pressed her against a stone column. Kissing her soundly, she melted into the welcome warmth he offered. “I have a secret as well… you see.” He kissed her once more, teasing her bottom lip before releasing it. “I’m a thief as well. And what I stole, I’ll never give back. Ever.” He kissed her once more, quickly, yet thoroughly, and led them away, the exit looming before them.
“And just what did you steal?” Meredith asked once her senses came back into focus.
He paused just before leaving the maze, his gaze locking with hers.” Your heart.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
L UCAS KEPT HIS GAZE ahead, searching for the small cellar. He didn’t want to see the expression in Meredith’s eyes after such a bold announcement. Part of him was afraid; the other part knew she needed space. It was odd, to come to the realization that he knew someone so well… and was known so well by her. It was terrifying, delightful, and completely insane. Yet it was the truth. Meredith had watched him from a young age grow into who he was now. Granted those years were full of warfare, but that didn’t inhibit them from knowing each other.
Known. What a strange word that would be, the premise for love. But it was the truth. Meredith knew him. She knew his likes, dislikes; she knew his fears and what truly made him irate. And now she knew what ignited passion within him, what aroused him further and the flavor of his kiss. It was so simple, yet… not. Because he’d been honest in his earlier teasing; she had surely stolen his heart, yet part of him feared that she held his heart far tighter than he was able to hold hers.
It was an alarming prospect. Yet, what choice did he have? He could easily compromise her… it would be a delightful solution. At even the thought his body responded, tightening, and reminding him of her soft and feminine form pressed against his.
But it wouldn’t be the same… he wanted her to choose him. Not have any other option. Yet her kiss tasted of surrender. Did she not meet his invitation?
“I don’t remember this cellar being so far from the maze.” Her voice interrupted his thoughts.
“The cellar didn’t move. The exit to the maze, however, did,” he replied.
“Oh. I suppose that makes sense.”
“Nice to know you believe me.”
“It’s a risk I’ll have to take,” she answered, her tone belabored. But he could easily tell that she was amused, simply flirting and teasing him.
How he loved that! Life with Meredith would never be dull.
Heaven forbid.
“Your adventurous spirit has paid off, see?” He pointed to the dimly lit entrance to the cellar.
“Race you!” Meredith released his hand and ran towards the entrance, trying to attain the envelope first.
Laughter erupted from him at her attempt to run in her gown. She truly did quite well, but it was not the same as when they were young and unencumbered by corsets and cravats.
His predatory instinct kicked in, and after giving her a moment of a head start, he gave chase, anticipating the glory of sweeping her into his arms once more.
He accelerated, caught up with her, and, just as he was about to wrap his arms around her, she came to a complete stop!
Blowing past her, he almost tumbled upon the grass, his balance completely compromised. Her laughter teased him as she quickly sidestepped where he foundered and ran onward toward the cellar.
“Foul!” he called out through his mirth.
“Slow!” she called back,
“We’ll see about slow,” he muttered, racing to catch up with her. The cellar was only a few yards before them when he caught up with her, but rather than sweep her up; he simply passed her, grabbed the envelope and held it up high over his head.
“You never were very fast.” He shook his
Meredith shook her head then answered, “No.”
“Ah, Meredith…” His voice was laced with amusement. Without warning, he led her around another turn in the maze, and pressed her against a stone column. Kissing her soundly, she melted into the welcome warmth he offered. “I have a secret as well… you see.” He kissed her once more, teasing her bottom lip before releasing it. “I’m a thief as well. And what I stole, I’ll never give back. Ever.” He kissed her once more, quickly, yet thoroughly, and led them away, the exit looming before them.
“And just what did you steal?” Meredith asked once her senses came back into focus.
He paused just before leaving the maze, his gaze locking with hers.” Your heart.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
L UCAS KEPT HIS GAZE ahead, searching for the small cellar. He didn’t want to see the expression in Meredith’s eyes after such a bold announcement. Part of him was afraid; the other part knew she needed space. It was odd, to come to the realization that he knew someone so well… and was known so well by her. It was terrifying, delightful, and completely insane. Yet it was the truth. Meredith had watched him from a young age grow into who he was now. Granted those years were full of warfare, but that didn’t inhibit them from knowing each other.
Known. What a strange word that would be, the premise for love. But it was the truth. Meredith knew him. She knew his likes, dislikes; she knew his fears and what truly made him irate. And now she knew what ignited passion within him, what aroused him further and the flavor of his kiss. It was so simple, yet… not. Because he’d been honest in his earlier teasing; she had surely stolen his heart, yet part of him feared that she held his heart far tighter than he was able to hold hers.
It was an alarming prospect. Yet, what choice did he have? He could easily compromise her… it would be a delightful solution. At even the thought his body responded, tightening, and reminding him of her soft and feminine form pressed against his.
But it wouldn’t be the same… he wanted her to choose him. Not have any other option. Yet her kiss tasted of surrender. Did she not meet his invitation?
“I don’t remember this cellar being so far from the maze.” Her voice interrupted his thoughts.
“The cellar didn’t move. The exit to the maze, however, did,” he replied.
“Oh. I suppose that makes sense.”
“Nice to know you believe me.”
“It’s a risk I’ll have to take,” she answered, her tone belabored. But he could easily tell that she was amused, simply flirting and teasing him.
How he loved that! Life with Meredith would never be dull.
Heaven forbid.
“Your adventurous spirit has paid off, see?” He pointed to the dimly lit entrance to the cellar.
“Race you!” Meredith released his hand and ran towards the entrance, trying to attain the envelope first.
Laughter erupted from him at her attempt to run in her gown. She truly did quite well, but it was not the same as when they were young and unencumbered by corsets and cravats.
His predatory instinct kicked in, and after giving her a moment of a head start, he gave chase, anticipating the glory of sweeping her into his arms once more.
He accelerated, caught up with her, and, just as he was about to wrap his arms around her, she came to a complete stop!
Blowing past her, he almost tumbled upon the grass, his balance completely compromised. Her laughter teased him as she quickly sidestepped where he foundered and ran onward toward the cellar.
“Foul!” he called out through his mirth.
“Slow!” she called back,
“We’ll see about slow,” he muttered, racing to catch up with her. The cellar was only a few yards before them when he caught up with her, but rather than sweep her up; he simply passed her, grabbed the envelope and held it up high over his head.
“You never were very fast.” He shook his
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