His Wicked Games (His Wicked Games #1) (28 page)

I'm out of breath by the time I reach the
first fork.

I pause for only the briefest of moments, and
then I turn down the left-hand path. Just around the bend, I stop
again and pull my tank top over my head. There's nothing wrong with
helping him out a little. I hook the tank top over a branch of the
nearest hedge and continue on my way.

I follow the dark, curving walls of green.
The thick hedge blocks out most of the sound from the outside
world. A few birds sweep overhead, chirping and singing, but even
they seem far away, part of another place. All I can do is keep
going.

By the time I reach the next split in the
path, I know Calder has had plenty of time to finish counting.
He’ll be on my trail soon, if he isn’t already. I kick off my shoes
and leave them in the dirt at the head of the path I choose.

At the following fork, I shimmy out of my
jeans. I’m laying them down on the ground when I hear Calder’s
footsteps for the first time. He isn’t far—on the other side of the
hedge I just came around. I have to hurry.

The next time the path splits, I unclasp my
bra and hang it from a branch. I'm down to my panties now, and
Calder’s getting closer. He's moving quickly.

My legs are shaking by the time I round the
next bend in the path, but I'm not sure whether it's because I've
been running for so long or because my body has started to respond
to this game of erotic tag. Goosebumps ripple across my skin. The
cool air rushing past my bare nipples teases them into hard,
sensitive points.

At the next fork, I slip my panties down my
legs and throw them down on the path.

I'm deep in the maze now. I can hear the wind
blowing across the tops of the hedges, and somewhere in the
distance a bird calls, but otherwise we’re completely cut off from
the outside. Anything can happen between these high, leafy
walls.

Calder’s gaining now. More than once I've
caught a glimpse of him over my shoulder, but I've managed to stay
ahead of him so far. At one point I round a corner and lose him for
a little while, but soon enough I hear his footsteps behind me
again. He's close, and he doesn't seem to be tiring. I don't know
how much farther I can run.

The next time the path curves, it doesn't
lead me down another labyrinthine corridor. Instead, it opens onto
a small circular clearing with a fountain at its center. This must
be the very heart of the maze.

I jog to the fountain and stop at the edge of
the pool. Behind me, Calder's footsteps are approaching fast. They
stagger to a stop when they reach the clearing.

I take a deep breath and stare down into the
clear water of the pool. My softly rippling reflection stares back
at me, flushed and fully naked. My hair escaped its band somewhere
along the way and hangs loose and wild around my shoulders.

Calder moves again, slowly this time, as if
he's afraid to startle me. Each footstep behind me sends a shiver
of anticipation through my body. I continue to stare down into the
water, even as my nerves prickle at his approach.

When he's right behind me, he stops again.
For the longest moment, he doesn't touch me, but his breath stirs
the hair on my neck. I can feel the heat of his body up and down my
naked back. When finally he reaches up and brushes his hands down
the length of my arms, my heart is sprinting so fast I can hardly
breathe. My skin trembles under his touch.

“Lily,” he murmurs, his lips at my ear.

His fingers slide down my arms to my hands,
then move to my hips. I arch back against him, and that's when I
realize that he's naked, too.

I twist in his arms so that I’m facing
him.

He’s beautiful. His eyes gleam with something
deeper than lust, and I want to lose myself in them.

Sometime later we’ll have to start thinking
about the sort of relationship we might have outside this place,
removed from the magic of this house, beyond the games and the sex
that brought us together. There’s so much I want to share with
him—meaningful things, important things. I want to take him to the
Center, show him the changes my dad and I have made. I want to talk
to him about Garrett and all the other events, good or bad, that
have shaped me into the person I am today. And I want him to share
other parts of his life with me, too.

For now, though, I'm content to just be here
in his arms.

“I win,” he says, leaning down and brushing
his lips across mine.

“No,” I murmur against his mouth. “I think I
did.”

<<<<>>>>

What happens when Calder and Lily take their
relationship to the next level?

Find out in

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His Wicked Games
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His Wicked Games (#1)

Truth or Dare (#2)

Sweet Victory (#2.5) – Coming Nov.
19
^th
!

Spin-off series coming in 2014

Ember Casey is a twenty-something writer who lives
in Atlanta, Georgia in a den of iniquity (or so she likes to tell
people). When she’s not writing steamy romances, you can find her
whipping up baked goods (usually of the chocolate variety),
traveling (her bucket list is infinite), or generally causing
trouble (because somebody has to do it).

His Wicked Games
is her first erotic romance
novel. The sequel,
Truth or Dare
, will be released in August
2013.

For more Ember Casey news, updates, and extras,
check out
http://embercasey.blogspot.com
.

My writing journey has been a long one, but I know
without a doubt I wouldn’t be where I am today without my LBs.
Seriously, you girls have taught me so much, and your unwavering
support over the past few years has kept me going. Thank you for
your advice, your faith, and your friendship.

Special thanks to Katie Ashley, Rachael Allen, Selma
Wolfe, Dee J. Stone, MK, Joe Reyes, and Nate E-K for taking the
time to read this book in its various forms and offer your
comments. You helped me make
His Wicked Games
the best it
could be.

Much love and gratitude to the people of Woodhaus.
Thank you for fostering an atmosphere of such creativity and
support.

Finally, thank you to
my parents and sisters, for believing in me throughout it all.