Page 54

It’s like I can hear his frantic breathing from here.

I’ve never been so excited.

I take off at a run, eating the distance between my cabin and the woods in seconds. Every muscle in my body is ready for the fight, and the nerves curling in my gut over the thought of finding him are intense. Blinding. I’m struggling to keep my mind on the hunt and not the way it keeps slipping to that body. His smile. The way those blue eyes locked on mine and I forgot that I was even supposed to be resisting.

Because what’s the fucking point?

I resist that base-level instinct to take his body and stay distracted all night and day until I give in? Or get it over with, knowing I’ll have that second of vulnerability, but being able to move on afterward?

We’re in my woods. No one knows this land the way I do.

If anyone is going to sneak up on us in the trees while I tear this rabbit apart, I’ll know about it before they will.

My boots make moving through the rough forest path easy, and I can only imagine how torn up Sasha’s feet will be after this. Can only imagine the damage I’m going to do to that precious skin the second it’s in my grip.

It’s only when I reach the fork in the path that I slow my steps. My breathing is measured and deep, hands shaking with need, and I look down the path I’m sure he would have taken. It’s not as dark as the left and eventually curls back around to the crop field.

I let my eyes fall closed and strain my ears for any sign of a struggle. Maybe he’s just that loud, or maybe I can sense him, but any doubt that he took the path to the right disappears. I know he’s down here.

I don’t run this time, just pick up my pace to move as quickly and silently as possible. I’m sure I’ve almost caught him, sure it’s only going to be minutes before he’s in my grip. The adrenaline is pounding in my ears, and all I can think, feel, smell is Sasha and how desperately I need to catch my prey.

To hear him whimper as I take him down, as I overpower him and prove that I was right.

The snap of a twig breaking up ahead piques my excitement. My footsteps become more purposeful, every one of my senses locked on the trail up ahead. This is it. I’m gaining on him.

I’ve never had another experience like this before, and even I’m caught off guard by how excited I am. The movement up ahead makes me smile, and I slip off the path and into the shadows, using long, practiced strides to move through the trees without noise.

Sasha stumbles into view, eyes still not properly adjusted to the dark as he makes his way along the path. My mouth is watering over the sight of him, and I take a long, greedy second to drink in his naked form. He’s a skinny runt of a thing, skin paler than mine and bleached further by the moon. He’s all legs that are topped by an ass that looks out of proportion to the rest of him.

I drag my tongue over my lips as I crouch down to pick up a stick, then toss it to the other side of the path.

The sudden rustle has Sasha freezing and whipping toward the noise. His back is to me as he stares into the darkness, and his shoulders are hitching up and down along with his rapid breaths. He takes a shaking step backward, bringing him closer to me, and I’m itching to reach out and grab him. To drag him into the trees and touch every inch of the skin he’s been taunting me with all day.

I’m so ready for it, I can taste the victory already.

Before I can make my move though, Sasha turns and runs again.

Shit.

I forget to be careful or quiet, just tear out of the trees and onto the trail, following him at a sprint. He was so close. Almost in my grip. Losing that chance has my need going feral.

Sasha picks up his pace, clearly aware of how close I am, but it doesn’t take much for me to gain on him. He’s barefoot, can hardly see, and has no idea where he’s going. I have every advantage, and as soon as I’m close enough, I pounce.

My shoulder hits Sasha’s back, toppling us both to the rocky path. We roll over each other, dirt flying, and as soon as the momentum leaves my tackle, Sasha pushes back to his feet. I grab his leg and drag him back down again, scrambling to crawl up and over his body as Sasha throws an elbow back into my ribs.

It briefly winds me, but I ignore it and fight back against Sasha’s scrambling limbs until I have both his wrists pinned to the path above his head.

He’s gasping for breath, and seeing him lying so helplessly beneath me unlocks a wildly protective side of me. He’s got gravel burn on his cheek, his hair is a mess, and his eyes are locked on mine with the kind of challenge no one this vulnerable should be issuing.

Through my need to absolutely feast on his body, a small voice asks me if Sasha is still sure, but before it can make its way to my lips, Sasha smirks.

“You caught me. Now what are you going to do with me?”

I can’t hold back anymore.

Saliva is flooding my mouth, and I immediately drop it to his throat. The soft, delicate skin melts under my tongue, and I lose my fucking mind over the taste of him.

A moan shivers from his lips, right by my ear, and it makes my cock unbearable. Every sense narrows into a pinprick of awareness that’s taken up completely by Sasha. I forget to be paranoid, to worry about who else is around, to assess risk or safety or anything I’d normally be doing, and instead, all my brain can process is how much I need to bite his fucking collarbone.