Sacred Flame: His Enemy, His Mate (BL)-Chapter 89: Wanting something else

Kain Locke

"Shouldn’t you still be in bed? Resting and recuperating?" I asked, arching a brow as he walked closer. He had a shirt on now—sloppy and wrinkled like he’d pulled it on just to hide the gauze. It hung over his frame, doing a piss-poor job of masking how battered he still looked.

But damn if the man didn’t still carry himself like he owned the very space we are in. Technically he does.

Kael gave me a look. That quiet, unreadable look that always made it feel like he could see too much. "I was. But then I heard you guys. " He said, lifting Brian up and kissing his nose gently, making the kid giggle. "Couldn’t sleep after that."

"Don’t tell me you want to play ball?" I asked, folding my arms, trying to sound unimpressed even though the sight of him holding Brian like that was already doing dangerous things to my chest.

Kael smirked, that irritating, slow kind of smirk that always made me feel like he was seeing straight through me. "Should that be any problem?"

I blinked. "You’re half-mummified."

"And yet," he said, setting Brian down gently, "I’m still the better striker." He declared proudly.

Brian laughed and grabbed his hand, tugging him toward the ball like this was the most normal afternoon ever.

"Come on, Mama!" the boy called back at me. "You’re on our team!"

Guess he still remembers he has a mama. I mean he doesn’t even know Kael is his father yet!

Kael looked over his shoulder, "Well?" he asked. "You coming, or you gonna stand there and pout all day?"

I hated how much that voice did to me. How easy it would be to forget the bandages and the weight of the last few days and just give in. But why was I getting worked up now? He seemed fine, said it himself.

I rolled my eyes.

But I stepped forward anyway.

But just when he kicked the ball in my direction and I kicked it back, I expected him to match the action, but he didn’t, only allowing himself to be hit.

He crouched a little, groaning dramatically. "Oof—see that? That’s your mama’s fault," he whispered loudly to Brian, loud enough for me to hear. "He’s been stressing me out so much lately, I can barely bend."

Brian gasped, eyes wide like it was some huge crime. "Mama! Why’re you stressing Uncle Kael?"

I blinked. "I—what?!"

Kael looked over Brian’s head at me, grinning like the devil himself. "He scolds me when I don’t rest," he said, lowering his voice with that annoying smoothness. "Very bossy. But I kinda like it."

My ears burned. How will I not scold him when he acts like this? "Of course I scold you."

"Mhm. You could at least be gentle when you do it." He winked. WINKED.

Brian looked between us, then up at Kael. "But Uncle Kael, didn’t you say Mama talks like he’s mad but he makes you feel—uh—squishy inside?"

Kael nodded solemnly. "Exactly what I said."

I just about died.

"I—what the hell—Kael!"

"Uncle Mama’s friend also tells me that Mama loves to scold him a lot too, like the old granny Abuela in Encanto."

What is this wolf feeding the boy!?

"Kael!"

He innocently spread his hands, "What? I’m just telling the truth. The boy deserves honesty."

I groaned, dragging my hands down my face. "He’s just five."

Kael lifted his hands in surrender. "I’d never tell him nothing but the truth. Moreover he’s just too observant." Then he leaned in closer, speaking out the side of his mouth to Brian. "Watch, he’s blushing right now. He always does when I talk like this."

Brian squinted up at me. "Ohhh... he is! Mama’s face is turning red!"

I turned away before they saw the stupid smile creeping up my face. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Kael’s voice came soft behind me. "You’re cute when you fluster so don’t look away."

"Yay! Mama is very pretty like Mia."

I whipped around to see Kael ruffling his hair proudly, "You two are insufferable."

He grinned. "You love that about though."

Before I could reply, Brian had gone to the ball and kicked hard—and it bounced right off Kael’s shin.

"OW—!"

Brian giggled. "Sorry! But Uncle Kael’s not paying attention!"

I smirked, arms crossed. "Karma’s a bitch. "

Kael rubbed his leg and shot me a look. "You’re dangerous, you know that?"

I tilted my head. "Good you know."

He laughed low in his chest, eyes never leaving mine. "Yeah." he said, passing the ball to Brian again.

We were barely a few minutes into playing when Kael stepped behind me, quietly, way too quietly I didn’t notice until I was reaching down to pick up the ball so as to pass it to Brian when—

SMACK.

A palm landed square on my ass. When I said a slap, I didn’t mean a tap. I’m talking about a full-on slap.

My brain went blank for a second, but when Brian gasped,

"Uncle Kael just smacked Mama’s butt!" he said, his eyes wide as dinner plates

My soul left my body.

I shot up straight, heat exploding across my face. "Kael!"

He blinked, looking far too innocent for someone so guilty. "Sorry." he said with a grin, "that was an accident."

"Accident?!" I hissed, mortified.

Brian, meanwhile, looked between us with suspicious eyes. "You’re not supposed to touch Mama’s butt unless he got his assignment wrong."

Kael kneeled down beside him, deadly serious. "You’re right, buddy. I slipped. Totally slipped. I was reaching for the ball... and, uh—poor aim."

I stared at him, betrayed.

Brian narrowed his eyes at Kael, clearly not buying it.

But the man leaned in like he was telling a secret. "But between us," he whispered loudly, "your mama’s got a really grabbable—"

"Don’t you dare finish that sentence." I snapped, grabbing the ball from the ground and throwing it at his face, hoping to God the earth would just open and swallow me whole.

He took the hit and laughed, low and lazy and full of mischief. "You’re honestly cute when you’re embarrassed," he called. "And oww, that hurts."

"Geez, just shut it already!" I growled.

He raised his hand in surrender and winked, then he went for the ball again, only to pass to Brian, then that continued for the next hour.

***

Later in the evening.

"The cloud smiled at the sun, and they lived happily ever after." I read the last line of the nighttime story, closing the picture book with a soft thud. I leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Brian’s forehead. His little lashes fluttered as he fought sleep, his fingers still curled around the blanket.

"Goodnight, champ," I whispered, reaching to flick off the lamp. Darkness blanketed the room immediately.

He shifted slightly but didn’t stir. Peaceful. Content.

He really was comfortable here. I’m delighted to see him this calm, this safe. Even though all this is temporary, however, his laughter from the afternoon still echoed in my chest. His squeals, his joy... I could never have wished for anything more.

I kissed him once more and walked out of his room, pulling the door shut behind me with a soft click.

Now... now my heart wouldn’t stop racing.

It’s not like I didn’t have a choice. I did.

He asked if I wanted to spend the night together.

And I said yes.

It doesn’t have to mean anything. But it does. A part of me... Want to be with him. I Crave it.

That man is growing too much on me, and I’m terrified of how much I look forward to seeing him, being near him.

I could go back to the guest room, pretend nothing happened. But instead, I found myself in front of the room he’s in.

I raised my hand and knocked.

No answer.

Maybe he’d fallen asleep, or maybe he changed his mind.

I was just about to turn and quietly walk away— pretend I wasn’t here at all when the door creaked open.

Kael stood in the doorway, shirtless, the waistband of his joggers resting low on his hips.

"Took you long enough," he said, voice raspy, but somehow still playful.

I didn’t say anything.

I couldn’t.

He stepped aside without a word, letting the door swing open wider, inviting.

And even though I could’ve walked away, even though I told myself it was just about sleep and comfort and maybe keeping an eye on him in case he needed anything, I walked in.

Quietly.

The door clicked shut behind me.

He walked past me, brushing against my arm on purpose and I felt it, the heat of him, the electricity in that small contact—and it sent something fluttering wild and loud in my chest.

He pulled back the covers on one side of the bed, gesturing lazily. "Left side’s yours."

I blinked. "How do you know if I like the left?"

He smiled, walking around to the other. "Because you always take the left when you want to keep your back to me."

I flushed. "I do not."

He just raised a brow, like he knew better, then slipped under the covers with the kind of casual grace that should not be legal in this lighting.

I hesitated again, then climbed in, slow, cautious, like maybe I wasn’t sure of myself.

The bed dipped under my weight.

Silence stretched for a few heartbeats.

Then, Kael spoke—softly, barely a whisper.

"Scared?"

I turned my head to look at him.

His eyes were already on me, so intense like he could read into my soul.

"Not scared," I denied.

He didn’t reach for me. Didn’t push.

Just gave me this soft, warm smile like he could tell my lie and said, "Then we’ll go slow."

And somehow, just hearing that made my body relax. Like I could finally breathe.

I laid back, exhaling slowly.

The quiet between us felt less tense now—softer, warmer. Like a held promise.

And when I felt the brush of his fingers graze my hand under the covers, it wasn’t demanding.

Just... there.

I let my hand rest against his.

It stayed like that, skin to skin, heartbeat to heartbeat, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I just couldn’t.

Even when I felt him shift closer, his breath kissing the edge of my jaw, and in a whisper meant only for me, he murmured:

"It’s really soft, you know."

A beat.

I blinked drowsily. "What is?"

His lips brushed my ear.

"Your butt."

I flinched, letting out a small laugh despite myself. "Kael."

"Shh," he hummed, nuzzling closer like he hadn’t just said anything inappropriate.

"Sleep now. Or I’ll think you want something else."

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

"...Something like what?" I asked, trying to tease, but it came out breathless.

His silence stretched for a beat too long. Then he chuckled low in his throat, the sound sinful and soft against the shell of my ear.

"You’re really going to make me say it?" he whispered.

My heart pounded against my ribs. "Maybe. Yes."

His voice dropped even lower, and what he said next stole my breath away.