Their Hidden Princess (Zora and Maximus) novel Chapter 240

Chapter 240

Zora’s POV

“The house is too small to race around,” I said. “I want to go into the forest.”

“It’s a bad idea,” Max said at once.

“I want to run,” I told him. “Shouldn’t we see how fast I can go? Isn’t that good information to have?”

“I’m not saying it isn’t,” Max replied. “But there are still vampires around. While we race, anything could happen.”

His worry moved me and I stepped toward him. As I did, he looked away and stepped back. A spike of hurt shot through me, making me frown.

We had all been in this together. I thought he had understood why it had been so important for me to sleep with Kairos, to consummate that bond. Now he was acting standoffish, jealous almost. Had he been lying when he had told me he was okay with things?

Max had been my first, and because of that, we felt like the closest out of everyone. I cared for each of my mates in different ways, but Max was my rock. If he was doubting me now, doubting things, maybe I wasn’t on as stable ground as I had originally thought.

Maybe all of this was only holding on by a thread.

I lowered my head, suddenly unsure.

“It’s a race. It’s not like she’s going alone,” Kairos said. “You and I would be right there with her if she gets into trouble. Unless you think you won’t be able to keep up…?”

“You’re the one who will get distracted,” Max replied with heat. “You’ll try to show off and won’t do your job of protecting her.”

Kairos turned toward him. “I’m not going to let anything happen to my mate. She wants to run? Let her run. I’ll keep pace and protect her.”

“I’ll be the one beside her,” Max countered.

“You can both be there,” I said, but neither acknowledged me. Sometimes these two were impossible when they argued like this. “I have more than one side.”

Kairos glanced at me then, his brow lifting slightly, his smirk hitching up just a tiny bit more on one side. “You do indeed. And they are all nice to look at.” He dropped his voice lower, “And to taste.”

“Stop flirting for five fucking seconds,” Max growled. “This is serious. Zora could get hurt.”

“We don’t have to go far,” I said. “Just to the woods and back. We could run a wide circle around the base. You could call it a perimeter check if you wanted.”

“It’s too dangerous.” Max looked to Valentin. “Back me up here.”

Valentin had been quiet for this argument, quietly listening, one hand lifted near his chin. At Max’s prompting, he looked over the three of us, and said, “I don’t think it’s unwise to test Zora’s new abilities. And while she has the two of you, she should be safe.”

“You won’t join us?” I asked.

He gave me a soft smile. “I will keep things in order here.” I felt like he wasn’t telling me everything, but since I trusted him implicitly, I didn’t press. Whatever he was thinking, I was sure he’d tell me about later.

“But the three of you should go,” Valentin said. “Maybe you could sort out whatever this tension is along the way.”

Max huffed in annoyance.

Kairos grinned. “You heard the man.” He looked at me. “Would you like to start things off, babe?”

I glanced at Max.

He nodded, albeit begrudgingly. “Go on. You lead, I’ll follow.”

With that reassurance, I bounced on my heels a few times and then took off running.

Kairos grabbed my shoulder and turned me under him so that I was facing up. Then he crashed his mouth over mind. He bit at my bottom lip, then sucked it. I gasped and then moaned as his hands rose up to cup my breasts.

I only wore a tank top, sports bra, panties, and shorts, and it was all already feeling like too much.

Kairos kissed me like he was trying to suck the soul out of my body through my mouth.

I clawed at his shoulders, immediately giving up all pretense of wanting him gone. Instead I wanted him closer, so close, never close enough.

As we came up for air, I heard a low growl from the tree line. Turning, I saw Maximus standing there, half in shadow of one of the trees. He palmed at his crotch. Even from this distance, I could tell he was hard. His focus was entirely on me.

“Max…” I whispered.

Kairos licked a long stripe down my neck, making me shiver. He nuzzled at my collarbone as his greedy hands went to the waist of my tank top and pushed it upright. It bunched under my armpits, but was pushed high enough now to expose my black sports bra.

My nipples were already hardening, pushing against the fabric. Kairos must have seen the buds, because he zeroed in on one immediately, and sucked it into his mouth through the fabric.

The scratchy texture against the sensitive peak, coupled with the warm dampness of Kairos’ mouth made me gasp and arch up against him.

Max pressed harder against himself and elicited a groan.

I moaned, watching Max, feeling Kairos.

It wasn’t enough.

Kairos must have sensed that too. He lifted his head and looked in Max’s direction.

“Are you just going to stand there watching?” Kairos called, taunting. “Or are you going to get over here and help me pleasure our mate?”