That’s want. That’s need.
That’shunger.
“I mean it.” He lets go of my wrist, grabbing for my arm, careful not to touch my scar. “You get a fifteen second head start, then I’m coming for you, baby.”
I arch my eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
And not just the weird “running” part, either. But “baby”? Hallie was Chase’s baby, not me. Sucking his dick doesn’t change that, but when I open my mouth to tell him so, he squeezes his hold on me.
“Run.” This time, the word is guttural, the lust in his eyes from before fading as something…darkerreplaces it.
Chase has to be kidding. Running for my life when there’s a lurker after us, sure. But running through the woods after dark… fuckingexercisingfor no reason other than that he thinks he can order me to… “Run?” I echo.
He nods. “Go. Try to stay ahead of me. Let’s see how long it takes for me to find you. If you sense a lurker, shout. If we hear a rogue, we stop. But otherwise, I’m coming for you, and you’re going to let me.”
Am I? Well… wait a second.
“Don’t tell me you and…” No. With the taste of his dick in my mouth, I can’t bring myself to utter my sister’s name. “What? Hide and seek is your kink, Chase?”
Reaching up, he strokes my collarbone with his thumb. “Let’s say that my mom named me well.”
I’d say that, too. He chased me around the Grave. He chased me out of Madison. He chased me all throughout the Outside, into East Jersey, and now to New York. He won’t stop, but I never expected anything like this.
And yet…
“Okay. Let’s say I play along. What happens if you do manage to catch me?”
He leans in close, lips brushing the height of my cheek. “Whatever I want.”
My heart jolts as my whole body shivers. “I told you before?—”
“That you’re not fucking me. I know. Andyouknow I would never force you. But you just made me blow my load in your mouth. If you think that that’s finally done a single goddamn thing to take the edge off… there’s so much more we can do besides me pumping into your pussy.” He shifts his position, taking the top of my ear between his teeth before nibbling lightly. A short laugh follows, the heat of his breath burning me up. “Though I remember you seemed to like me doing that.”
As if I needthatreminder. Shit. I’ve relived that night so often, even I can’t deny that that was some of the best sex I’ve ever had. Isn’t that why I followed him out here in the first place? Why I had to make my boundaries clear, that I’d suck him off, but I wouldn’t bang him? Because, otherwise, he’d already be thrusting away between my legs?
And he would. If I told him he could, he’d have me flat on my back in the dirt, fucking me with no regrets.
I wish I could say the same…
This wasmyseduction. With Chase so close, waiting for me to obey him, I’m stunned stupid. I mean, who the hell is this guy, and where the fuck is the golden boy he’s always been, the high school hero, the responsible hunter who is adored by the entire Grave? Where is the Chase Knight I thought I knew?
And why do I have the sudden urge to get to know this one very, very well?
But I shouldn’t. For a thousand different reasons, I shouldn’t, and I purposely step away from him.
I shrug Rory’s jacket back on. “Sounds like a good time, but I can’t. I really should head back.”
“Chicken.”
I freeze. Did he just…. “What was that?”
I shit you not, but Chase tucks his hands under his armpits, folding his elbows, flapping his non-existent wings as he clucks.
Ah. There’s the Chase Knight I remember from the playground. “Cute, Chase. Real fucking mature.”
He gives me a crooked grin. “Doesn’t change the fact that I’m right. You’re afraid of me.” He gives up the chicken schtick so that he can pat his chest… or hisheart. “Of this. Just admit it,Xandra.”
I swallow the lump that’s suddenly lodged in my throat.
