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Whimpering, I tried to bite his palm, but all I succeeded in doing was licking it.

“You lasted eight minutes, I’m proud of you.”

I didn’t want his backhanded praise. I wanted to run.

Jerking my head, I managed to free my mouth from his hold and spat, “Fuck you! Let me go!”

His hand found its way back to my mouth, closing around it tighter. My muffled screams made laughter rumble in his chest and the vibrations against my back sent me on another kicking spree.

Greyson let me flail against the air, holding me captive without much effort. After a while, he set me back on the ground and I didn’t notice until my feet were kicking up chunks of white powdery snow.

I was wearing myself out. Heknewthat and he was letting me. A sharp tug against my braids and I was hissing again, the sound not enough to make Greyson show me mercy.

“Oww,” I whimpered, sagging against him.

“What did I tell you was gonna happen when I caught you, True?”

“I—” He yanked my hair harder, until my head snapped back and I was forced to look up at him over my shoulder.

There was a vicious glint in his eyes and heat gathered at my center.

I was almost ashamed of how wet I would be if he reached between my legs right now.

“Let me go…please.” I tried to make my voice meek, but Greyson wasn’t buying it. He clicked his tongue before releasing his hold on my shoulders and my hair unexpectedly.

I stumbled on my feet, not having enough time to steady myself before Greyson growled, “You wanna run?Run, Red.”

He shoved my back and my legs buckled, sending me to my knees in front of him.

When I looked over my shoulder, he hadn’t moved. He looked down at me with a menacing tilt of his head.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he seemed bored and anger rose in me, burning my esophagus. I was on my knees, in this fucking snow and he towered over me, looking like he was out on a casual stroll.

Get up, True.

Fight back, God damn it.

Greyson echoed the pep talk I was giving myself, but his came out rough and unforgiving.

“Get the fuck up andrunsince you wanted to so bad.”

His words cut through my pity party and I was back on my feet. Huffing and puffing, but back on my feet, nonetheless.

I retraced our footprints in the snow and made it to the clearing behind my cabin before fatigue set in.

I did it. I made it back without getting caught.

Except, I made the mistake of slowing down to celebrate and before I knew it, static filled my lungs.

Out of nowhere, I was shoulder-checked and tumbling to the ground, this time with Greyson on top of me.

His mouth was on mine before I could scream in protest. He kissed away every whimper and half-hearted yell. And with force, he pushed his tongue past my lips and wrapped it around mine.

Thanks to the thickness of my overcoat, the snow wasn’t too cold beneath me. I was still overheated from the chase and Greyson’s body on top of me was helping.

Still kissing me roughly, he pinned my gloved hands above my head.

“Such a fucking tease. Why were you running from me like this isn’t exactly what you wanted?”