Chapter 7 – How to play with fire

Merewyn gracefully dodged Maxie's multiple attempts to grab her in one way or another. Her grandfather was a skilled martial artist, and had tirelessly taught his granddaughter for many years. Merewyn had taken his lessons to heart. She admired the old man (trapped in the body of a 47–year–old), and one of her worst fears was letting him down in any way possible. Therefore, she skillfully blocked another attack from Maxie, and countered it by pinning him down to his old desk.

Maxie was panting. Merewyn showed no sign of physical exhaustion whatsoever, looking more amused than anything. Here he was, pinned to his desk yet again, by the same woman that had held him there seven years ago. He had been angry then. Not now. Instead, he smirked up at her.

"Milady never lost her touch."

"And how you've wanted to find yourself here again, at the tip of my fingers." She smirked back, tapping her index finger lightly on his chest to make a point.

"As much as you enjoy standing right there, knowing the tables might turn any minute."

"Will they? Intriguing indeed…"

Merewyn leaned down, trailing her hand upwards over the fabric of his polo, making him shiver slightly. She kissed the fabric, occasionally biting through it ever so lightly, letting her hands roam his upper body firmly, still holding him in place. He was about to raise his hand, but she quickly pinned it down to the table, giving him a meaning look before biting down a bit harder on the sensitive skin between his neck and shoulder. He gasped in surprise, making her smirk once again. She continued her journey upwards with her hands and mouth, speaking up:

"Then show me, Maxie, show me after all your practice…"

Her fingers stopped at his chin, her lips trailing kisses up his neck until she reached his ear.

"…show me how to play with fire." she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper, biting down on his earlobe and nibbling it. The sudden impact caused yet another gasp to slip Maxie's lips. He growled. He flew up from the desk, grabbed Merewyn and placed her to sit on it.

"As requested, your grace." he hissed, grabbing a handful of hair on the back of her head and crashed his lips down on hers. In response, she reached her hand to the back of his head, grasping his flaming red hair, entangling them even more. She grabbed his coat with her other hand, holding him close. Maxie's other hand was placed on her lower back, keeping her in place with an iron grip. It was a battle of tongues, but it was something more.

It was a game of power.

Maxie knew he had in his grip a woman of power on many levels. She had the advantage of age, grace and skill, having seen the world change for centuries and managed to adapt every single time. She wasn't called the Emerald Queen for no reason. She knew her place, she knew what she wanted, and she was adamant. Nothing would make her budge, and Maxie had spent years figuring out how to get to her. Finally, he saw success, a light at the end of the tunnel. She was here, willingly responding to his desires. That was more than he had ever dared dream of.

Merewyn felt herself letting go, letting her instincts take over. This man intrigued her more than any other had in all her centuries' long life span, and she was curious to find out who he really was. Here, tightly embraced in his iron grip, she felt herself coming to some understanding. She had known he was dangerous, he was cunning and had a way with words few people in the world of today had. He knew what he wanted, and he was willing to go to the end of the world and back for it, using carefully planned strategy and logic. When things didn't go as planned, he easily lost it, being too sensitive as to admit defeat. Having summoned Groudon and finding out he couldn't control it, he had seen his world crumble.

He liked being in control. She wouldn't be controlled.

Merewyn had met her match. Maxie had met his.

Eventually, they had to come up for air, panting heavily. The staring contest went on for ages, as they looked each other in the eye, trying to pierce through the surface of the other with their mere gazes. Merewyn heard herself break the silence, surprising even herself that she had spoken first:

"You promised to show me how to play with fire."

"So I did. For now I've been merely… toying with it."

"There is more then?" She cocked her eyebrows. Maxie's lips curled up into yet another smirk. He flung her over his shoulder in one swift movement, causing her to yelp, and headed for another part of the base. He pinched her, and she yelped again. Maxie snickered.

"I'm sorry to say, milady, you're not walking tomorrow."

"Now that's promising a lot, but I do like the sound of it…" she purred behind his back.

Maxie opened a door and headed into his combined bedroom and study he had set up for his expeditions at Mt. Chimney. The door closed automatically behind them as he put her down on her feet, her back to his, keeping her tightly against him.

"This, milady…" he hissed, his teeth lightly grazing the sensitive skin on her neck. "…is how you play with fire."