Page 147 of Ly to Me

Squinting up through the heavy brush, I finally saw what I’d expected to see—a red light flicking on. I’d noticed a few more cameras around the outside of the house and the barn since the day he’d told me he could see my every move. That I’d be unable to run from him. Though I knew he got the cameras to protect his property, something told me the future of those cameras and whatever app he streamed the footage through would become his new favorite on nights like this.

Mine as well.

I held the knife and waved it, hoping he’d see the movement—get a notification of it—and—

That clanking grew louder, approaching from behind me, followed by a drawn-out call of my name. This far away from thehouse, the music was nothing but a distant melody—still twisted, but not nearly as heart-stopping as the idea of Carver dragging around chains while he tried to catch me.

“Little Ly, I know you’re close. You just set off another one.” He chuckled and I ducked, as if doing so would avoid triggering another camera. “You want me to find you that bad, huh?”

I bit down on my tongue, knowing any ounce of sound would only lead him to me faster. And I was rather enjoying hearing the strain in his voice as he continued calling out for me.

Being tracked down should have traumatized me more. Being hunted, knowing it would more than likely end with Carver fucking me, should have brought back that day I’d left Alliston Springs. Instead, it did the opposite. It made me feel like running was an option, no walls barring me from a freedom inches away. The biggest difference in it all was trust—I trusted Carver with my life. I trusted him with my heart. I trusted him in ways I’d never trusted another man before.

And it was that trust that made me stand straight up from the brush I was ducking behind and bolt toward the sounds of water in the distance.

The metallic clanking jostled together more abrasively as I imagined him picking up speed, not too far behind me. Maybe if I just turned my head over my shoulder to see, I’d—

I slammed into a sturdy wall of heat and muscle, my sheathed knife falling to the ground a moment before I should have. Instead, I was hoisted up by my waist, where the sting of cool metal bit into my flesh.

“Caught ya.” Carver slapped my ass as I squirmed in his hold, though as much as I told myself it was to get away, it was clearly not as my desperate pussy ground against him.

“I can feel how wet you are, sweetheart. Is that all for me?”

“Are you the boogeyman?” I shot back, almost wishing I had that knife to try to press to his neck again.

Like he knew my thoughts, he said, “Got another knife in my pocket for you.” His words were sweet, but his hold on me—not so sweet. No gentleness there. Just pure animalistic desire.

“Where—” I was going to ask where we were going, but then my back hit a large tree. My toes dipped into the dirt as I braced my arms back, using the trunk for support.

The chains Carver had snaking up his arm and over his shoulder started to work free as he pinned me against the tree with his thigh pressed to my core. I shamelessly ground into him.

He grinned and shook his head. “You made it too easy to catch you.”

“Did I?”

“You know you did. Runnin’ in view of the cams the whole time?”

“Is there somewhere theywouldn’tsee me?” I countered.

He tilted his head. “You’re smart. I’m sure after a few more of these nights, you’ll figure that out.” His breath fanned over my lips as he added, “The harder you make it, the harder I’ll fuck you.”

I swallowed. “Your song choice distracted me.” Along with the chains laid over his shoulders, slinking down the length of him.

“Idowant to fuck you like an animal, regardless of how easy you made your predator’s hunt.” I whimpered as he gripped my wrists and pinned them above my head. “Keep these here.”

I arched a brow as he slowly stepped back, though whether he could see my facial features under the slim moonlight was questionable. I do know that he didn’t see it coming when I bolted from the spot, aiming for the sandy trail that would take me over the bridge. I was so close, sofuckingclose. I could smell the water and see the moonlight pooling over it. Crazy what your body picked up on with heightened adrenaline surging through your veins.

And then it was ripped from beneath me, grass rushing past as I flew over an arm. I smacked into the sand, then rough hands gripped my ankles and yanked my body down several feet, skidding solely on my back.

I tried kicking, lunging up to punch and claw and fight harder, but it was useless as Carver pulled me into the grass.

He dropped to the ground, spread my legs wide, then pushed his knees into my thighs. And then, his fingers were in me—deep and unforgiving.

“So soaked for your husband.” My back arched as he scissored them, stretching me, readying me to take all of him. I tried snapping my legs shut, fighting him more, slapping his hands from me like I’d turned feral.

Just as I tried to reach above my head to grab for the sand I’d been dragged from, hoping to send it straight into his face so I could run again, he pinned my wrists together with one hand and surged into me.

“That’s it, Ly. Scream for your husband as he fucks you raw on the ground.”