Chapter 60: Fallen Prey (2)
Nova struggled against the lean hulk of a man, trying to slip free from his grasp. Vulcan released his grip, and a gasp ripped from her lips as gravity dragged her down towards the canopy of trees. Vulcan dived for her, catching her with one hand wrapping firmly around her waist and tugging her flush against him.
"That wasn’t a very smart idea now, was it, pet?" Vulcan chuckled wickedly beside her ear.
Her lips parted on the realisation that he’d let her fall on purpose.
"Now, did you want to hold onto me properly? Or risk falling once more?" The dark amusement in his tone stiffened Nova’s back even more. Oh, he would definitely drop her again.
"I’ll hold on," Nova grumbled, her widened eyes still fixed on the blurring canopy below. She didn’t know where they were, but there was no sign of any jaguars nearby. She was utterly screwed!
"Good girl," Vulcan praised an octave lower by her ear, and heat bloomed across her cheeks, her eyes widening fractionally more.
He manoeuvred her around mid-flight, so she ended up chest to chest, legs wrapped around his waist. It was far too intimate, but the fear of falling kept beating a rapid drum in her chest. Nova’s hands moved along his bare shoulders, searching for grip. "Neck," he grunted, his head swivelling to the side, watching something in the distance, completely unfazed by this.
He shot higher into the sky until they almost touched the clouds. Nova instantly gripped onto him for dear life then, heart racing and trying to gallop out of her ribcage. She squeezed her eyes shut, clinging to him. "Put me down," she pleaded angrily.
"Poor choice of words," Vulcan chuckled into her ear. There was no humour in the way he spoke, though. His tone fell flat, and goosebumps formed along her arms.
"Don’t. You. Dare," Nova snarled, glaring up at him. It took everything within her not to flinch at the sharpness of his gaze. His eyes were more yellow than golden as they peered at her coldly. They were hovering now, gazes locked. The intensity of his stare was burning through her own, and she wanted to look away, to at least blink, but she refused.
She had no idea why this eagle was intent on kidnapping her, but if things weren’t so screwed up she might have enjoyed being near the clouds, watching his mighty wings beat behind him, and admire the magic of this beast. But things were screwed up and she didn’t even know why.