I pressed my lips together and sat as still as possible, begging the universe to make me invisible, undetectable.
“Are you scared,Avery?” He drew out my name mockingly.
I heard leaves rustling—the sounds got louder by the second. My skin rose with goosebumps, as though it could feel his touch already, anticipating his hands on me.
“You can’t escape me,” he called out, his voice filled with a darkness that sent chills down my spine. “I will find you. I will fuck you. And I will leave my mark on you—inside and out. You’re mine. You can fight it, deny it, run from it, but I will always find you and drag you back to where you belong—on your knees, worshipping me.”
My spit was suddenly hard to swallow, and I closed my hand over my mouth to keep myself from coughing, but soon, I was choking, which turned into a sob as I gave myself away.
“Got you.”
I screamed when he suddenly appeared from around the tree, his tall frame looming, his masked face getting closer and closer to mine. I scrambled backward, falling on my ass, wincing as sticks and stones dug into my palms. I kicked my legs out frantically, scooting across the dirt floor, desperately trying to put as much distance between us as possible.
His head tilted like he was studying me, and an amused chuckle shook his shoulders.
He wassavoringthis—my reaction, my fear.
He stepped around the tree, leaves crunching under his feet. His outfit was similar to the one he’d been wearing last time: a darkpullover and jeans, his hood pulled over his head, making him seem all the more intimidating.
I’d be a filthy liar if I said it wasn’t hot.
But right now, he stood over me in the middle of the woods after threatening and chasing me.
It wasn’t supposed to be hot.
Then, I saw the bundle of rope in his hand.
What in fucking hell did he have planned with that?
A fear I’d never known before surged through me, and I screamed again.
There had to be a special place in Hell for the stepbrothers whose cocks stiffened at the sight of their stepsister’s eyes wide with fear, mouth gaping on an earsplitting scream as they tried to crawl away.
Party of one. Thank you, Satan.
Hunting Avery was so much fucking fun, though.
Watching her ass bounce as she sprinted away from the house, disappearing into the trees like I’d told her to—it was nearly impossible to ignore the itch in my legs telling me to run after her.
No.
I needed the chase, the thrill, and she gave me just that.
My sister wasn’t hard to find, the sound of her sprinting through the woods giving her away. Poor thing was so terrified of herstalker,she wasn’t thinking about covering her tracks or being careful with her surroundings.
She was scrambling to escape me, face stricken with the most beautiful fear I’d ever seen. Avery was a gorgeous woman, but this view of her was erotic beyond belief.
“Please,” she begged, her lips quivering, eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “Please, don’t hurt me. I won’t tell anyone, I swear it.” Her voice was cracking with desperation. “Just go home, and this will be our secret. Just please, don’t hurt me.”
I liked it when she begged—music to my ears.
“Flip over,” I commanded in a deep voice.
She went silent before her lips pinched together, holding back a cry.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked quietly.
I bent my knees to crouch down in front of her. My eyes glided over her, noticing her rapid breathing, the thin veil of sweat on her skin and her plump, pink, delicious lips. I wanted to devour her, but kissing her was too risky. I couldn’t let her get her hands on my mask. She’d tried to reveal me at the maze; she wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
