In fact, I’ve never felt more alive.
Xave cocks his head to the side like he’s studying me, and another rush of that mix of fear and excitement flows through me.
I don’t understand any of what’s going on, and I know there has to be something seriously wrong with me for being into this, but I am. And there’s no point denying it.
Slowly, I take a small step backward.
Xave doesn’t move, and the effect is eerie as he keeps staring at me with his head cocked to the side and his face hidden under the shadows of his hood.
I take another step, then another. But before I can take a third one, Xave darts forward, halving the distance between us in one lightning-quick stride.
I let out a pathetic squeal and stumble back, my arms windmilling as I struggle to stay on my feet.
Xave’s low chuckle filters across the air between us, and something about the gravelly sound makes my dick go from mostly hard to impersonating a steel pipe in only seconds.
Before I can fully get my balance back, he makes a move forward, like a fake out or an aborted step, and I nearly fall flat on my ass as I stumble back with another pathetic cry.
Laughter rings out in the distance, and I instinctively turn toward it, my heart pounding like I just finished doing wind sprints. I can’t see anyone, but the laughter continues, getting softer as whoever is out there moves further away.
When the laughter fades completely, I turn back to Xave and nearly swallow my tongue.
He’s so close I can see just enough of his face under the shadows from his hood to know for sure that it’s him, and my entire body is flooded with more of that fear/excitement mix.
“Run.”
The single, raspy word is like a gunshot to my senses, and I’m practically vibrating from the surge of adrenaline that hits as I turn on my heel and sprint away from him at full speed.
My instincts are telling me to run back to the main part of campus where there are other people, but instead of veering to the right, I stay on the path.
The heavy footfalls behind me are way more exhilarating than they should be, and my chest is tight with more than just fear as I take a hard left and race across the grass.
I don’t need to turn around to know that Xave is still chasing me, and without thinking about what I’m doing, I run between two buildings and race toward the forest.
I don’t know what he’s going to do to me when he catches me, but something tells me it would be best if we were away from the cameras when I find out.
The tree line is approaching fast, but my boots slip on the soft grass, and I’m forced to slow down so I don’t go sprawling.
The heavy footsteps behind me are getting closer, and unlike me, Xave isn’t slowing down.
Tossing a quick look over my shoulder, I nearly trip over my own feet when I see he’s only a few feet behind me. I try to speed up again, but a firm hand clamps down on my shoulder, then a strong arm curls around my waist as a solid body presses against my back.
I let out a high-pitched squeak as Xave lifts me right off the ground and half carries, half drags me into the dark woods.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that’s just happened when he stops a few feet beyond the tree line and deposits me on the ground.
I can hear him breathing behind me, and the harsh sounds send tremors of that fear/adrenaline mix through me as I slowly turn around.
It’s so dark that I can only see the outline of his body, and even though I know it’s Xave, I’m filled with a sense of dread and terror as we stand there, both of us breathing hard as we stare at each other.
I’m so frozen with fear and uncertainty I don’t notice him raising his hand until he catches me by the throat.
16
DAMON
He’s not squeezing hardor restricting my air at all, but the threat that he could is enough to make me whimper like a cornered animal.
I’ve heard enough rumors about Xave and his cousins to know he’s dangerous, even if I hadn’t watched him kill three men like it was just another day. I’m not under any delusion that he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, end me right now if he wanted to.
