Chad blinked, studying Peter as he tried to figure out what was going on inside the alpha’s head. The day before Peter had barely paid him any attention, eating dinner in his office and rebuffing Chad’s invitation to come fuck him before they went to sleep, whereas now he was looking at Chad with an intensity and focus that was bordering on intimidating.
“But what if Iwantto shower?” he asked, almost taking a step back when Peter’s eyes narrowed in annoyance. His heart started beating faster, and he couldn’t help the way his cock started getting hard. There was just something about Peter looking stern and dangerous thatdidit for him.
“Tough luck,” Peter growled. He took a step forward, moving right into Chad’s personal space and staring down at him. Chad licked his lips and swallowed. He wondered if Peter was trying to intimidate him or turn him on, or if he knew him well enough to know that he was doing both.
“So I’ll just get dressed,” Chad said, sounding hoarse.
“You do that,” Peter agreed, his voice silky smooth and hard as steel.
Chad shuddered, bending down and dropping his bundle of clothes on the floor next to Peter’s boots. While he was down there, he couldn’t help but look up at Peter towering over him. The shudder running down his spine intensified, and blood rushed into his cock making it achingly hard.
Peter made an impatient sound, almost like a growl, and Chad jumped into action. He stepped into the underwear and pants Peter had chosen for him, pulling them both up at the same time, before bending back down to put on the shirt and socks still lying on the floor. Once he was dressed, Chad rose back to his full height and waited for Peter to tell him what to do.
“Good boy,” Peter said, clapping his shoulder. “Let’s head out.”
Chad followed Peter out of the penthouse and down the elevator, yawning as he watched the numbers on the dial count down until they were in the parking garage. Peter stood tall next to him, hands clasped behind his back, his whole body thrumming with energy and anticipation.
Whatever Peter had planned, it wasn’t just a simple hike. For one thing, he was dressed more like he was going on a night mission than for a hike. His cargo pants and thermal long sleeved shirt were both black, and the utility belt clipped tight around his waist was suspiciously well equipped. For a second Chad wondered if Peter had found a lead, but then he realized how unlikely that was. If Peter had a lead, he wouldn’t be taking Chad anywhere near it.
“So where are we going?” Chad asked as he climbed into the front seat of Peter’s Jeep. He locked his seat belt into place, leaning back and watching Peter as he turned the key in the ignition and backed out of the parking space.
“My family owns some land a few hours south of here. Up until a few months ago Tank Security used it for training exercises, but after we sold off the mercenary division it’s been deserted.” Peter reached over and put his hand on the back of Chad’s neck, giving it a squeeze. “The whole area is closed off, and last year we installed a new security system along the perimeter that should warn us if anyone tries to come into the area while we’re there. I figured we could take a look around and have some fun.”
The hand on the back of Chad’s neck was heavy and warm, and Chad loved the way the rough pads of his alpha’s fingers felt against his skin. It sent shivers down his spine and made his cock swell in his pants.
“What kind of fun?” he asked, feeling wary.
“Nothing bad,” Peter said with a laugh. He gave Chad’s neck a final squeeze before letting go. “We’ll just walk around. Maybe play some hide and seek. Nothing too serious.”
A host of butterflies suddenly reared up in Chad’s stomach.Hide and seek. He knew what that meant. Peter wanted to chase him—wanted to give him a head start and hunt him down like prey.
The idea was as thrilling as it was nerve-racking.
“Hide and seek, huh?” he said, shooting Peter a conspiratorial grin. “And what do you get when you find me?”
Peter shrugged, his lip curving up in a half smile. “Whatever I want.”
He didn’t correct Chad’s assumption about what roles each of them would play.
Chad didn’t say anything more, and though he was still tired, he was excited for the day ahead. It would be fun to spend time with Peter, letting their natures run free, even if Peter was only doing it because he need a distraction from his own real world helplessness. Closing his eyes, Chad tried to imagine what it would be like to run through the woods with Peter on his trail, knowing every step of the way that capture was inevitable.
It would be exhilarating.
He couldn’t wait.
***
Peter watched as Chad drifted off to sleep, and for the hundredth time he marveled at just how perfect his mate was for him. Most alphas would balk at the idea of being chased and hunted by someone stronger than themselves—the idea abhorrent in the extreme—but Chad didn’t so much as bat an eye. There was no discomfort in Chad’s submission. It came naturally, and yet Chad never lost sight of the fact that he was an alpha too—stronger even than most of his peers.
Peter loved it.
As he drove south, taking back roads and making sure that no one was following them, Peter kept looking over at Chad’s sleeping form. The steady rise and fall of his chest, his face squished against the window, made Peter’s heart swell with a kind of love he’d never thought himself capable of until he met the younger man. It was possessive and hot, and just the idea of losing him made Peter’s teeth itch for blood.
“I can feel you staring at me,” Chad mumbled, startling Peter and making him jerk the wheel harshly to the right. He corrected himself immediately, the car jerking unpleasantly. They’d been driving for two hours, and Peter had gotten used to the quiet.
“You’re awake,” he said, surprised.
Chad sat up straight, yawning wide and wiping his chin of drool before looking at Peter with a sleepy grin.
