My mind whirrs back to the present. My heart lurches into my throat, knowing he is hot on my heels even if I can’t see him chasing after me. He’s smart. Calculating every one of his moves while panic claws at my skin.
If I can pull myself together when he sets my skin ablaze and makes my heart pound, just as it does now, I can do this.
I can do this.
Sprinting through the maze, a section ahead emerges where I can take a left and head back towards the yard, or a right that leads to the center, where the fountain is located. Darting right, I see the expanse up ahead opening to the center of the maze. My lungs seize, but I push through, pumping my arms as I break the threshold. A massive body slams into mine, maneuvering me so my back is plastered forcefully against his chest. Preston’s forest and smoky scent stir comfort, but I shove it away.
I can’t think about that right now.
I have to play this game as he told me: appear vulnerable at first, let their guard down, and strike when they’re least expecting it.
Gives me a more significant advantage if my size doesn’t.
So instead, the ink on his arms shifts and warps into different ones. I picture cold gray eyes and short dark hair. Xander's hold on me is tightening, trying to squeeze and suck the life out of mebefore he tosses me down and violates my body with more than just his knife. I inhale a deep breath, keeping the image of that vile man where I need it to be.
It’s working until Preston’s lips glide against the shell of my ear, making me shiver, and the spell shatters. All I can see and feel is him. Only him. I’m trying and failing miserably to picture the monster searching the ends of the earth for me, but now, all I can think about is the one I’m going soft for.
The deep timber of his voice has heat licking up my limbs. “I hear your heart racing. I feel it against my own. I like that you’re scared of me.”
Preston’s arms tighten around mine, trapping them against my body. I need to distract him enough to free one so I can slyly grab my blade.
I play into the narrative. “Please— Please let me go.”
His dark chuckle elicits a flurry of goose bumps that prick my skin. “Why would I do that? You’re so pretty. Let me have a little fun with you first.”
In any other situation, that would sound creepy as hell and have me trembling, but coming from his mouth, I almost want to drop to my knees and give him what he wants.
These are the cards he’s playing. Chase me to illicit terror flowing through my veins and use my attraction toward him at the same time.
Two can play at this game, Captain.
My breaths are ragged. “What do you want?”
His arms around me loosen a little.
Even for the game, his answer seems honest. “You.”
“Why me? You could have anyone.”
He releases one of his arms around me, lifting his hand to glide his fingers over my bare collarbone. When they dip under my tank top strap and leisurely pull it down my shoulder, I bite back the moan that wants to escape.
Only one arm wrapped around me now.
God, I shouldn’t be this wet. I can feel how damp my panties are against the inside of my thighs. I’ve been on the run for the last year, but this is the first time being chased has an erotic need zipping between my legs.
But knowing it's Preston and not someone who wants to hurt me has me melting in his grasp, no matter how hard I’m trying to role-play this scenario he’s created.
“Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I saw you at the edge of my dock. It’s like you were a drop of sun that somehow fell into my lap and made me feel warmth I haven’t felt in years.” His words freeze the breath in my lungs.
I listen intently while I slowly move my right hand along my leg, trying not to make any sudden movements he would feel.
My fingers glide under the slit in my skirt to the sheath on my thigh while he continues messing with my head. “Because you’ve tested my sanity every. Fucking. Day. You’ve contaminated my control. My work. My empire.” Preston’s gravelly tone is a drug, slipping further into my veins. He’s giving me a high I never want to come down from. “You’ve distracted me from this war on my hands, imagining what it would be like to sink inside your glorious pussy I’ve tasted. Wondering what it would feel like to fill you up with my cum so I can watch it weep with proof of my obsession for you before I thrust inside again and fuck it so deep you’ll never be rid of me.”
“Oh, shit,” I breathe at the same time I release my knife from its confinement to mask my true motive.
My body quivers against his, feeling every line and stretch of muscle. He is a master of distraction. My clit throbs for attention, my nipples aching for his rough fingers.
His lips fall against the slope of my neck, and my eyes flutter closed at their warmth and the scratch of his facial hair against my skin.
