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“Greyson,” I chuckled, “You didnothide my gift in the woods.” Denial crept into my tone, and my neck flushed from the thought of having to look for it while he looked for me.

The snow had stopped for a couple days, but there was at least six inches of it still on the ground around our cabins. I knew the woods would be even worse since no tires had broken it up.

Now I wouldn’t only be running, I’d be looking for something too?

“Don’t tell me what I didn’t do, True.” His hand collared my neck, yanking me closer.

I could feel my heart thud against all the layers of clothes I had on and swallowed hard when his fingers flexed.

“Okay…” A thrill shot through me at what was coming. Because I didn’t know what Greyson planned to do to me when he caught me.

I fidgeted with a button on my overcoat, hoping it was enough to keep me semi-warm outside. I had on a black turtleneck, fleece-lined tights and a bright red, suede skirt under it. Not a lot of clothes for winter, but I told myself the cardio would keep me warm.

“I feel like you need a reminder, so listen carefully.” He plucked the earmuffs from my ears so I could hear him, and I swore my breaths were getting further apart. “You can run as far and as long as you want, but when I catch you, you’re mine, Red.”

Greyson’s hand flexed again and he used his strength to drag me flush against him.

The pressure around my throat lessened when we met eyes. He studied me silently, his dark orbs fixed on the pulse point at the base of my throat. “You said you wanted a fight. And you said you wanted it to hurt,” he clipped out, jogging my memory of the boundaries we’d put in place when we talked last week.

I said I was open to everything and he told me that was too vague.

Then he pulled out a list and read me every item on it, checking the boxes I agreed to and triple checking that I was sure.

If Greyson was nothing else, he was thorough. And it made me trust him more. Made me want to test my limits with him because I knew he didn’t do anything by halves.

With a gulp, I held his gaze, determined not to cower.

“If I catch you and you try to run from me again, remember it’s just us in those woods, True. The only person who will hear you scream is me, and I’m going to love every fucking second of it.”

Chills skated over my body at the reminder. Noah had gone out to lunch with his sister. Besides Duchess, it was just us in this house and it would bejust usin those woods.

You can run as far and as long as you want, but when I catch you, you’re mine, Red.

Emboldened by his promise, I asked, “What kind of box is the gift in?”

He studied me as his lip curled into a devious smile. “Now, why would I tell you that, Red?”

My brows pinched, my bold facade cracking a little. “So I know what to look for.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” His question was calculated. Taunting. Irritating.

We weren’t even outside yet and I was already losing my cool.

Kissing my teeth, I cut my eyes and looked away from him.

Without warning, his hand was gone from my neck and he was reaching in his pocket. When I heard what sounded like dice colliding, my intrigued stare fell to his hand.

Thereweretwo dice sitting in his palm, the pips on all sides a deep red instead of the usual black.

“What are those for?” I asked as he placed them in my hand.

“Roll them.”

“Why?”

Greyson shot me a sidelong glance. “To see how much of a head-start I give you before I come looking for you.”

There was something dark and ominous in his tone that made my fist close around the dice. My palm was clammy out of nowhere, and I didn’t want them to slip against the moisture and give me snake eyes if I wasn’t careful. I needed more than two minutes to get away from him.