A soulmate. A bond written in the very universe.
The entire concept is ridiculous to me, so the fact I no longer feel an urge to deny it is indicative of some form of otherworldly interference within my current existence. The fact I so easilytrust Zion and no longer feel like I’m responsible for taking care of everything all on my own should freak me out, but it doesn’t. It just is. Like my future, a future that always felt disjointed and fractured, is slowly shifting onto the plane of truth it was meant to be on.
I have no idea what Zion has been up to. I haven’t seen him since he left, which is kind of confusing, considering I would think if you wanted to make a night special, you’d have to enter the kitchen at least once.
I’m having a laugh at a funny scene on the television when suddenly, the screen goes black. I jump, my palm pressing against my chest as I look up to find Zion standing beside me. “What the hell?”
Meeting his eyes, my breath catches in my throat. His gaze is heated, and when he swallows, I trail my eyes down his face and along his throat to his bare chest. For some reason, he’s shown up wearing nothing more than sweatpants.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
He extends his hand, and I take it, allowing him to help me to my feet. “We’re gonna play a game.”
“A game?”
He nods, and his mouth curves up into a small smile as he leans slightly toward me and replies, “Yeah. A little game of the hunter and the hunted.”
My eyes widen, my heart rate increasing rapidly. “The hunted?”
“That’s right.” One of his hands lifts, his fingertips stroke along my cheek. “You’re going to run and hide, and I’m going to hunt you.”
I swallow the sudden lump in my throat. “And when you find me?”
“I’m going to claim you.”
“Claim me?”
He presses his lips together, stares at me thoughtfully, and then says, “Are you going to just keep repeating what I say?”
I nod and shrug at the same time, and he chuckles lightly. And then he says, “Let me be clear. I’m going to give you a head start. You’re going to use it wisely. And then I’m going to hunt you down.”
He pauses, his other hand moving up so he’s cupping my face, he leans in and whispers against my lips, “And when I find you, I’m gonna fuck you right there in the dirt.”
My eyebrows raise, and I press my lips together as I watch him watching me. Because even though I’m not entirely opposed to the scenario, I have to ask, “And this is your idea of romance?”
He scowls, that glow dissipating from his eyes. He drops one of his hands, moving the other so he’s gripping my face, and he yanks me close, his eyes glowing even brighter. “Is that what you want? Romantic sweet nothings?”
I manage to shake my head in his grip, and the smile he gives me is lazy but no less carnal. Then he leans in close, so our breath intermingles, his lips just hovering over mine, and the electric current that runs between us settles right between my legs. A strangled whimper falls between us, and his expression turns smug. “Are you going to do what I say?”
I resist my urge to refuse just out of principle. It’s not like I can’t mess with him while he’s hunting me. I just manage to nod, and his grip on my cheeks eases, and then his hand falls away as he steps back. Then he stands there watching me, his jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring, those glowing eyes boring into mine.
Nonchalantly, I take a step toward the door. When he doesn’t stop me, I take another and another until finally, I find myself scurrying and then bolting out into the yard. Luckily, I did a fair amount of exploring with Camilla, so I already know whichdirection to go to the woods the quickest. No way in hell I’m getting caught out in the open too soon.
I‘m sprinting across the field, whipping my sweatshirt up over my head and leaving it on the ground behind me because even though I don’t want him to catch me right off, I want him to hunt me.
I hit the tree line at a dead run. I consider cutting through the thick brush, knowing it would make it more difficult for him to find me, but as my shirt hits the dirt, I decide to stick to the path. I know I’m basically leaving a trail for him that’s impossible to miss, but I think his realizing the likelihood that he’s going to find me naked will throw him off more than anything.
I run for what feels like miles until I finally stop behind a tree, gasping for breath. Glancing around, I stoop over, taking my shoes off so I can get my pants down, intent on wearing my shoes until the end.
A branch cracks to my right, and I whirl around. Gathering my pants and underwear against my chest, I shove my feet back in my shoes and then creep out from behind my hiding place. The sun is starting to set, deepening the shadows while also illuminating the area in a fiery haze.
“Vivian,” a whisper washes over me. I whirl toward the sound, but seeing nothing, I continue in the direction I was creeping. Hurrying, I pick up my pace, feeling rather awkward without my clothing, but also excited for the end.
I drop my pants onto the ground, running another thirty or forty feet before dropping my underwear, fully aware of the looming presence behind me.
I sense he’s closing in on me.
The crackle of electricity intensifies, a searing heat in my chest slowing my progress. And then I hear it. His panting breaths, not from exertion but from excitement. That low,teasing growl that has my feet slowing even as I try to force them to go.
