PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 25: Getting To Know you

Carina grinned at the invitation, her mind already starting to fill with questions. But she knew better than to start firing them out all at once.

"Well," she said, her fingers moving from Maya's hair to trace a gentle line along her jaw, "let's start with something simple. Favorite color?"
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Maya's eyes followed the path of Carina's fingers as they traced her jaw, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

She thought for a moment, her mind sifting through memories and preferences. "Blue. My favorite color is blue. Yours?"

Carina's smile widened, satisfied with the first piece of Maya she was gaining. "Blue, huh? Mine is actually red. But I do love the way blue looks on you."

Her fingers continued to wander, tracing soft patterns down Maya's neck now. "Next question. If you could be any animal, what would it be?"

A small shiver ran down Maya's spine as Carina's finger traced patterns down her neck. She found herself leaning into her touch, seeking more contact.

She thought again, the mental gears whirling. "Hmm, an animal, huh? Probably a tiger. They're strong, brave, and fierce."

Carina chuckled, the image of Maya as a fierce tiger playing in her mind. "A tiger, huh? I can see that. You definitely have the strength and the ferocity of one. But I was kind of hoping you'd say a cute little bunny or something."

Maya tried to roll her eyes, but the action just made her cough. She managed to rasp out, "A bunny? Really? That's your mental image of me?"

Carina bit back a smile as Maya attempted to roll her eyes, the action turning into a cough instead.

She nodded, her fingers now tracing the shell of Maya's ear. "Yes, a bunny. Cute, adorable, and fuzzy. Sounds a lot like you."

A flush of embarrassment rose to Maya's cheeks at Carina's description of her as a bunny. Still, there was something endearing about it.

She mumbled out, "I'm not cute or fuzzy, I'm tough."

Carina smirked, her fingers now trailing down to Maya's shoulder, tracing along the collar of her hospital gown. "Oh, yes, you're tough on the outside. But I've seen your little bunny side, Maya. Don't try to deny it."

A stubborn pout formed on Maya's lips, even though her heart was fluttering with the way Carina was touching her.

She muttered, "I don't have a bunny side. I'm all tiger, all the time."

Carina chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "All tiger, you say? So you're trying to tell me that you don't secretly enjoy having your hair ruffled?"

To prove a point, her fingers went to Maya's hair again, gently ruffling the blonde locks.

A gasp escaped Maya's lips at the sudden ruffling of her hair. She tried to pull away, but the IV in her arm held her in place.

She protested weakly, "Hey! Not fair. That's cheating."

Carina continued to chuckle, the sound filling the room. "Cheating? Who said there were rules to this? I'm just uncovering the truth here."

Her fingers continued their gentle assault on Maya's hair, creating small, wild tufts in the previously well-groomed locks.

Maya said "What's your animal then."

Carina paused her hair-ruffling to thoughtfully consider the question. "Hmm, my animal? I've never really thought about it. If I had to choose, I'd probably be a fox. They're sly, mischievous, and fiercely loyal to those they care about."