Page 28

27

O nce Shadow’s two minutes are up, Blade and I pull our masks on and slip into the shadows of the forest. We turn in opposite directions, each of us taking a different path, the thrill of the hunt coursing through my veins. The night air is cool against my skin, my footsteps silent as I move through the underbrush. I listen carefully, straining to catch any sound—any hint—that Red has been found. But there’s nothing. No moans of pleasure, no screams of fear. The thought excites me. She’s still out there, still running or hiding, still playing the game.

I had already made peace with the idea that I wouldn’t be the first to find her. Shadow had his head start, and Blade—well, Blade is Blade. But now, with every passing second, the possibility grows that I might just be the one to catch her first. And the thought of that, of her being mine, even if only for a few moments, sends a surge of adrenaline through me.

I move quickly but carefully, my eyes scanning the darkness, my ears tuned to every rustle, every snap of a twig. And then, suddenly, I see her—a flash of red hair in the moonlight, just ahead, moving through the trees. My heart skips a beat, excitement bubbling up as I realize I’ve found her.

She hasn’t seen me yet, and I take a moment to savor the sight of her—barefoot, exposed, still trying to escape, still thinking she has a chance. But she doesn’t. Not anymore. I slip through the shadows, closing the distance between us until I’m right behind her.

She must sense me at the last second because she whips around, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and defiance. I grin beneath my mask, loving the way she looks at me, the way she fights even when she knows it’s hopeless.

Before she can scream, I’m on her, my hand clamping over her mouth as I press her back against a tree. “Shhh,” I whisper, my voice low and commanding. “You don’t want to make this harder than it has to be.”

She struggles against me, her body writhing as she tries to break free, but it only makes me hold her tighter, my other hand grabbing her wrists and pinning them above her head. I can feel her heart pounding against my chest, the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her lingerie. She’s terrified, but there’s something else there too—something darker, something that mirrors my own desires.

“Be quiet,” I hiss, my lips brushing against her ear. “Or I’ll make sure you regret it.”

She stills, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps, and I know she’s not going to scream. Not yet, at least. I ease my hand away from her mouth, watching her carefully, ready to silence her again if I have to. But she doesn’t scream. She just stares at me, her eyes wide, her lips parted, and I can see the uncertainty in her gaze. She’s wondering what’s going to happen next, if she should fight or submit. And that’s when I know I’ve won .

“On your knees,” I command, my voice rough with desire.

She hesitates for a moment, a flicker of defiance in her eyes, but then she drops to her knees, her movements slow, deliberate. The black lace clings to her in all the right places, and the sight of her like this—kneeling before me, vulnerable and exposed—sends a surge of heat through me. I step back slightly, unzipping my pants as I watch her, the thrill of the power I hold over her sending a rush of blood straight to my cock.

“Good girl,” I murmur, grabbing a fistful of her hair and guiding her mouth to my hard cock. “Now, show me how much you want to please me.”

She hesitates for just a moment, but then she opens her mouth, taking me in. The warmth of her mouth surrounds me, and I can’t help but groan softly, my grip tightening in her hair as I push her down further. She fights at first, a small, desperate struggle, but I hold her steady, making her take me deeper, forcing her to accept her place.

“That’s it,” I breathe, my voice thick with pleasure. “Keep going. We’ll wait here for the others to find us.”

I can feel her trembling beneath me, the mix of fear and arousal that’s coursing through her. It’s intoxicating, the way she submits, the way she gives in even as she tries to hold on to some semblance of control. But she’s mine now, at least for the moment, and I’m going to enjoy every second.