Chapter 270: Beneath the sky.

Hunter shook off his blush, roared like a young dragon, and reached out to grab her shoulder. But Zyra was already three steps ahead, using his own copied techniques to parry every blow. She dodged left, slipped right, and fluttered past his attacks like a butterfly in a storm.

The clash grew darker, more savage, as if they both had something to prove to the world. His knuckles cracked against her jaw, the sound sharp, brutal. She staggered, then laughed--a low, sultry laugh that made him shiver.

"Is that all, husband? You strike like a man afraid of his own wife."

He snarled, sweeping her legs, sending her crushing into the ground. But before he could pin her in the mud, she arched back, twisting like a serpent, her hand brushing his cheek with a mock caress. For a heartbeat, his grip faltered.

She seized the moment, driving her elbow into his ribs with bone shattering force. Blood streaked his lip, yet his eyes burned with something more than rage.

"Stop tempting me," he growled, dragging her upright.

She leaned closed, lips grazing the very jaw she has bruised three times so far. "Because every bruise I give you is a love mark."

He shuddered. Her knee slammed into his stomach, folding him over. Zyra activated the super punch. Golden light flared around her knuckles. "Incoming!" she shouted, while landing a savage blow stronger than any she had used so far. Her fist slammed right into the center of Hunter’s chest. The great force knocked the wind straight out of him, lifting his feet off the ground.

"Whoa!" Hunter gasped as he flew backward. But instead of letting go, his instinct kicked in. As he fell, he reached out with lightning reflexes and grabbed hold of Zyra’s wrist, pulling her down with him.

"Wait_!" Zyra gasped, her eyes going wide as gravity took over.

They hit the muddy ground together, rolling over twice before coming to a stop.

When their bodies settled eventually, Hunter was flat on his back, and Zyra was laying right on top of his chest. Her hands were planted on either side of his shoulders, her long hair falling around them like a dark curtain, shutting out the rest of the world.

Silence fell over the clearing. Both of them were breathing heavily, their chests heaving up and down against each other. Zyra’s cheeks were flushed pink from the heat of the fight, her lips slightly parted. Hunter was staring up at her, his eyes wide, his hand still gently holding her waist where he had caught her.

All he could think that the flushed look on her face was enticing. He wondered if that was how she would look if he bedded her. More heat flooded his body, exciting all the wrong parts!

Neither of them moved. Neither of them said a word. The fierce combat energy was melting into something heavy, sweet, and suffocatingly tense.

"You_ you pulled me down," Zyra whispered, her voice losing all its sharp combat edge, suddenly sounding very soft.

"You_ used cheats," Hunter murmured back, his eyes darting down to her lips before snapping back to her eyes. His heart was beating so hard against her chest that she could feel it through her clothes. "And you teased me."

"Did it work?" she asked, a small, genuine smile touching her lips.

Hunter swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Maybe a little."

Beauty clapped once, [kiss him, kiss him. You have done it shamelessly two times already. What’s one more? So, kiss him, kiss him.] She sang continuously.

Zyra muted the system. Her face turned bright red. She quickly pushed herself off Hunter’s chest and stood up, clearing her throat loudly while brushing mud off her pants. "It’s a tie! I hit you, but you caught me!"

Hunter laid on the ground for a second longer, covering his face with his arm to hide the big smile spreading across his face, before sitting up. "Fine. A tie. But next time, no whispering seductively in my ear."

"No promises, I now know your weakness dear husband." Zyra smirked, turning her back to him so he couldn’t see how red her own ears were.

Hunter jumped up from the ground, and tried to clean the mud off his clothes, though his eyes never left her. He gave up, crossed his arms and looked at her, his voice carrying a mix of jealousy and warmth. "I hope you won’t use those seduction tricks on other people as well."

Zyra shrugged, a little playful smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "By people you mean men? Never, just you."

Hearing those words, Hunter couldn’t hold back anymore. He closed the gap between them in a single step, reaching out to wrap his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against his body. He looked deep into her eyes, his breathing uneven. "I am serious Zyra. Because of what you just did, now all I can think about is you. And they are not good thoughts."

Zyra didn’t pull away. Instead, she rested her hands lightly against his chest, looking up at him with dark, mischievous eyes. "That was the intention. It seems like I succeeded."

Hunter chuckled darkly, the sound rumbling low in his chest. He leaned closer, so close that she could smell his fresh, woodsy scent mixed with the scent of earth, and heat of their battle. He leaned down until his breath brushed against her skin and whispered, "I want you, and it’s not my fault."

Zyra looked him straight in the eye, her heart pounding violently against her ribs, but her gaze remained completely bold. "I desire you, too. And it is your fault."

Without a second thought, she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling his body even closer into hers.

Hunter lost all control. He leaned down and kissed her.

It started desperate, but it quickly deepened into a softer, overwhelming yearning that neither of them could contain any longer.

Hands moved hungrily, fingers tangling in hair and pulling at her shirt, and then ripping it apart from the back. His hand touched the skin of her back, and she tightened her legs around his waist.

She ground her body against him shamelessly. The wild desire driving Zyra made her move with such boldness and passion that it almost seemed like she was experienced in the matters of love making. She pressed into him, taking the lead with a fierce intensity that made Hunter’s blood burn.