Before I could comment, Carter’s fingers tightened around my waist, and he pulled me into him with a swift, needy tug that pushed a gust of air from my lungs. “I wish you could come home with me tonight.” He had a sad, yearning look painted across his expression.
My heart swelled as I sheltered in his embrace. “Yeah, me too.”
“I keep telling myself all the reasons this is a bad idea.” He rasped, wide hands sliding up my ribcage. “And for some reason, I just can’t bring myself to care.” His lips hovered over mine, his breath caressing my skin with all kinds of sinful promises. “All I can think about is those fucking sounds you were making last night.” He rasped. “I think it’s my new addiction.Youare my addiction.” He added, but someone ran by screaming, and I startled. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.” He murmured, lips dusting across my lashes.
“You sure about that?” I teased, hearing a gurgling noiseapproaching in the distance. Despite my better judgment, I inched away from Carter with a sly little grin.
“Are you toying with me, you little troublemaker?” His fingers tightened, unsure if he should let go of me or not.
“Maybe I am.” I stepped out of his grip.
“Oh, you are wicked.” He crooned, watching me with a dark gaze, letting me creep away, inch by inch, with curious hunger etched on his face.
“If you want to hear any more of those little sounds you love so much, I guess you’ll have to catch me first.”
He smirked, looking like he was ready to pounce on me. “You sure you wanna go exploring in here by yourself? Seems like quite the rookie move to me.”
I tilted my head innocently as I backed fully into the hallway. “Better hurry, or some monster might steal me away.”
“You are going to be the death of me,” Carter chuckled, his hands flexing at his sides, eyes filling with something that made my blood thrum. His voice dropped a bit lower. “Take one more step, pretty girl, and I won’t be responsible for what happens when I catch you.” He threatened, all while the corner of his mouth curled, telling me he was having just as much fun with our little game as I was.
I giggled. “Can’t wait.” I took another step back, a thrill filling me as he took a step forward and something electric sparked to life between us.
And then I backed up—one more step.
Into the intersection of the hallways.
Into the danger zone.
I hardly had time to brace as something slammed into me so hard it knocked the wind out of me. I flew through the air before crashing into the wall.Hard.
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t get my lungs to work, and there was no time to process what was happening as I was being dragged backwards, being choked by the hood of Carter’s sweatshirt.
Carter was a blur above me as he tackled the zombie to the ground in the next instant. “Shit. Are you okay?” Carter hissed, kneeling over me as I finally sucked in a breath, all while the zombie hobbled away groaning.
“Ow.” I grimaced with a broken laugh. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” I nodded, coughing as he helped me up. “This place is a fucking hellhole.” He muttered, adjusting the hoodie around me, and then his face morphed into a smirk. “Got ya.”
“That’s not fair.” I complained, rubbing my chest.
“What’s not fair is how fucking sexy you are,” he hummed, leaning in for a kiss.
I shoved a finger against his lips, grinning while he groaned. “Not so fast, Kensington.” I slipped out of his grip. “If you want to kiss me tonight, you have to earn it. I chased you foryears—nowyoucan chasemefor once.”
“Wow.” He threw his head back and laughed, deep and throaty. “That is not at all how that went, and I’m going to give you a head start, because I promise you’re going to need it.” He held up his hand, giving me a lazy, wicked smirk. “If you really want me to chase you, then I just have one last thing to say, pretty girl.” My stomach flipped as his eyes narrowed, growing dark and predatory. “Run.”
My eyes blew wide as five fingers went to four, then to three, and that was all I saw—I gasped and hauled myself down the hallway before launching myself up a set of rickety stairs, narrowly avoiding a guy with a chainsaw as he chased a screaming woman down the steps.
As I hit the top step, I realized how incredibly out of shape I was, but I was even more stunned to see Carter,alreadyupstairs, at the other end of the hallway. “How the hell—”The look in his eyes.No time for questions! I shrieked and took off in the other direction, his footsteps thundering right behind me as I grabbed a corner to swing down the next hallway.
Heart pounding with very real adrenaline, I kept sprinting and breathlessly launched myself around another corner, andthen another, before I finally looked over my shoulder and realized he was gone—and when I looked back, I screamed, finding Carter standing right there in the middle of the hallway in front of me.Waiting for me.Arms flailing, I gasped, skidding to a frantic stop.
“Somebody’s going in circles again.” He smirked, the towering, intimidating mass of him only a few short paces away. “Come here, pretty girl.” He taunted, and my throat went dry as he dipped his chin with a monstrous expression and crooked a finger at me. “Do as your told.” His expression was full-out predatory as he chuckled darkly, “Or I’m gonna take a bite out of you when I catch you.”
I screamed and hauled myself back in the other direction, hearing him right behind me again—he was taunting me, letting me stay just barely ahead of him, and I panicked and sprinted through a door, something primal taking over as I frantically looked around, only to realize I’d backed myself into a corner.
I whirled as the hulking mass of him came straight at me—and for a split second, I got scared, suddenly realizing how formidable he really was.
