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He growled, his hands returning to me, holding me tight but not pulling me closer.

“Fuck.” He let out a slow breath. “This is not how I planned this.”

“So what?” I tried to close the distance, but he was too strong.

He tipped his head back as if praying for strength, then pushed me further away.

The cold taste of rejection made me flinch. What was I thinking, practically climbing onto him?

“What’s that look in your eyes?” he asked, reaching toward me. His thumb ran along my jaw. “You have no idea how much I want to fuck you right here. Sink my cock into you and feel you clench around me.”

My core clenched, suddenly feeling empty.

“I want that too.” Shock thundered through me. I’d actually said it out loud. But the way he looked at me made me want to believe him. At least for tonight.

His gaze burned into me, and I felt a slight tremor in his hands where he held my hips, keeping me back. “I promise I’ll break that shell of yours.”

“Then do it.” Somehow, with him, I wasn’t afraid to ask for what I wanted.

He let out a low growl, his fingers digging into my hair and tugging my head back. “I changed my mind. Broken isn’t enough. It needs to be shattered to the point where you can never hide yourself from me again.”

Goose bumps raced up my arms, and my words died. There was something primal about him that set off my instincts, screaming at me to run. My heart raced, my breaths coming in shallow pants with anticipation.

I wanted to know what Thorne planned to do to me.

“Do you trust me?” His voice strained with the effort of holding himself back.

“Yes.” It slipped out without thought, but it was truer than I’d imagined. I knew nothing about him, but something in the way he looked at me left no room for rational thought.

He smiled as if he’d gotten everything he wanted. It was different from before. His teeth showed, and all humor was gone. The air grew thick, and the hair on the back of my neck rose as one word washed over me. Predator.

“Run.” It was more warning than command, and I spun on my heels without hesitating.

There was a small opening between two mirrors, and I rushed through it.

He started slowly counting down from thirty behind me.

As expected, it was a maze inside. I held my hands out in front of me, feeling my way through. My heart pounded with the need to run, but I kept having to backtrack when my hands met cold glass at dead ends.

As Thorne’s deep voice counted below ten, excitement flashed through me.

I could stop and let him find me. I knew he wouldn’t touch me if I said no. It was what the men of the last three years would have done.

But I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to end the chase that had my blood rushing in my ears. Hearing him call out that he was coming sent a thrill through me and drove me faster.

“Gwen.” Thorne drew out my name in a low, coaxing voice as he closed the distance between us.

I grew slick between my thighs. My nipples were sensitive against the fabric of my dress as he drew closer.

Despite the prickles along my neck, I felt fearless. Like I could do or take anything I wanted. And I wanted him to catch me.

Catch me and erase every thought, every worry I’d been holding on to until all that was left was him.

But I wouldn’t make it easy.

I strained my ears, but I couldn’t hear anything over my ragged breathing.

He’d grown quiet. Instead of making me think he’d gone the wrong way, the silence made every nerve ending come alive. He was seconds from catching me.