Page 8

JAGGER

I 've been waiting at the outpost for forty-five minutes.

I should have known better, that no matter what I told her tonight, no matter how much heat I saw in her eyes, Delaney Holt is too stubborn to give in that easily. Too afraid of what she wants to just take it.

It's past eleven now. She's not coming.

But I'm not giving up. Not even close.

Maybe I'll wait until everyone's asleep and slip into her cabin, pin her to the bed and make her admit she wants this. Make her beg for what she's been denying herself.

Or maybe I'll corner her during tomorrow's training, find some excuse to get her alone so I can remind her exactly what she's missing. How good it felt when I had my hands on her, when she was falling apart under my touch.

I'm not backing down. Not when I know she wants this as much as I do.

I lock up, ready to head back and start planning how to make her mine, when I see movement in the trees.

She's standing about twenty feet away, just at the edge of the tree line, caught in a shaft of moonlight. She looks like she's been standing there for a while, working up the courage to either come closer or turn around and run.

Our eyes lock across the distance, and I can see the war playing out on her face. Want versus fear. Desire versus that stubborn need to do the right thing.

She came. She actually fucking came.

"I didn't think you'd turn up," I tell her.

"I wasn't going to."

I don't move toward her and make this easier for her by closing the distance. If she wants this, really wants this, I need to know.

"Remember what I said," I tell her. "This is about me removing your choices. Removing your guilt. This is me controlling you, taking what I want without you having to make a decision you'll regret later."

She takes a shaky breath, and I can see her hands trembling at her sides.

"The only thing I need from you right now is a nod. Tell me you're giving me complete control, and then you don't have to think anymore. You don’t have to choose. Don't have to feel guilty about wanting something you think you shouldn't have."

Slowly, she nods.

"Good kitten," I say. "Now turn around."

She hesitates for just a second, then obeys, presenting me with the elegant line of her back. I move toward her.

When I reach her, I don't touch her immediately. Instead, I let my presence wash over her, let her feel how much bigger I am, how completely I could dominate her.

"You can't change your mind now, kitten," I say against her ear. "You gave me control, and I'm keeping it."

My hands find the hem of her sweatshirt, and I pull it up. She raises her arms without being asked. Instead of yanking it off, I pull the fabric around her eyes, twisting it so it closes off her vision.

"What are you…" she starts to ask.

"No talking," I cut her off. "No questions. When I want you to speak, I'll tell you what to say."

She goes quiet immediately, her breath quickening. I step back and circle around her, taking in the sight of her standing there blindfolded and vulnerable.

Without warning, I bend down and hoist her over my shoulder in one smooth motion. She makes a sharp gasp as I carry her into the forest.

We head deep into the woods, and I eventually set her down where the darkness swallows everything.

“Don’t move. Don’t speak. Don’t touch the blindfold.”

Her breath stutters.

“You stay here for five minutes,” I continue, circling her. “When the time’s up, you can take off the blindfold and run. Make it to the outpost, you win.”

I pause, close enough that my beard brushes her neck.

“If I catch you first?” My hand grazes her throat. “Then I get to do whatever I want to you.”

I press a kiss to her jaw. “Five minutes. I’m counting.”

Then I step into the trees, climbing a nearby pine, settling into the branches high enough to see everything. From here, I have the perfect vantage point.

Let her wonder how far I’ve really gone. Let her feel that silence crawl up her spine. Let her imagine me behind every tree.

At exactly five minutes, she tears the shirt from her eyes, gasping as the darkness hits her full force. She spins, eyes scanning the trees, disoriented and alone in the thick silence.

Then she bolts. No hesitation, no second-guessing.

I let her run.

Let her think she has a chance.

From my perch in the tree, I track every frantic movement. The slap of her shoes against the ground. The ragged breath tearing from her lungs. Her curls whipping behind her like a flag of surrender.

My cock pulses at the sight.

She’s fast, but sloppy. Her panic makes her careless. She stumbles over a root, catches herself, keeps going.

Finally, she breaks through a clearing. The outpost is just beyond the ridge.

She won’t make it. I won’t let her, of course.

I leap down from the branch, landing soft and silent. She keeps running, but her speed’s no match for mine. Just like I planned.

I catch up, my arm wrapping around her waist as I drag her back into the trees. I spin her, slam her against the earth, and pin her beneath me. I fist one hand in her hair, yanking her head back. The other braced beside her hip.

“You really thought you could outrun me, kitten?” I let my words scrape along her skin. “Cute.”

She thrashes under me and I tighten my grip.

“You lost, kitten. And now you’re mine.”

She writhes, kicks, claws. For a second, she manages to break free, scrambling upright. She runs, but I’m already moving.

I catch her from behind, one arm around her waist, the other locking across her chest as I drag her back and slam her against the nearest tree. The impact rattles through both of us. She gasps, stunned, and that’s all the opening I need.

I strip off her sweatshirt with a hard yank. Her bra goes next. Then I reach for the button of her jeans.

She squirms, pretending to twist away, but I see through it. She wants this. She just doesn’t want to say it out loud.

So I’ll say it for her.

“Keep fighting me, kitten. You don’t want the guilt, right? This is my choice, not yours. So go ahead. Scratch. Claw. Make it look good. I’ll play the villain for you.”

She kicks out half-heartedly, her fists pushing at my shoulders, but it’s all for show. Her breath hitches as I hook my thumbs in her waistband.

She’s not making it easy, and I don’t want her to.

I grab her by the waist and take her down until she’s on her back in the leaves. I kneel over her, straddling her thighs, then start to peel her jeans down inch by inch, savoring the way her body arches beneath me.

She thrashes once more, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

“Keep fighting, kitten,” I command, biting down on her shoulder. Just enough to mark her and make her gasp again.

“Jagger, no,” she whimpers as her nails dig into my arms, scratching, drawing blood.

I flip her over so her ass is exposed to me and tug down her panties so they're trapped mid-thigh.

“You ran from me too many times,” I snarl, grabbing a thin stick from the ground. “You don’t get to run anymore.”

I bring the stick down on her ass. She cries out, her body jerking, but she doesn’t tell me to stop. I spank her again, harder. Red welts bloom on her skin, and my cock’s so hard it hurts.

“Count,” I order.

“One,” she gasps, her voice shaking.

“Keep going,” I command.

“Two.”

I spank her again. And again. Three more times. Her counts turn into moans as her body shudders.

I drop the stick and my fingers find her cunt, soaking and ready.

She plays her role, scrambling forward on her hands, crawling like she thinks she can escape me.

I grab her ankles, yanking her back across the dirt, her body jerking under my grip. My knees pin her legs, locking her in place, her squirming only making my cock harder.

I drag my zipper down and free myself. I line up with her perfect cunt and drive my cock into her. Her scream splits the night, her cunt gripping me so tight it’s a delicious kind of pain.

I fuck her mercilessly, each thrust slamming her against the ground, her moans blending with the rustle of leaves.

“You’re mine,” I growl, fisting her curls, wrenching her head back until her throat’s exposed. “You hear me?”

She writhes beneath me, playing her role like she was born for it. Her nails scrape the dirt, her body bucking against mine, fighting even as her slick pussy betrays her.

I fist her curls tighter, pinning her cheek to the earth. “No use fighting, kitten. I’m taking what I want, whether you fucking like it or not.”

She moans but keeps struggling, her hips twisting like she can throw me off.

“No, Jagger, please.”

Her voice is a perfect mix of fear and need, the role-play pushing us both to the edge.

I lean down, my beard scraping her back. “I’m gonna force you to come, kitten. I’ll make this tight little cunt beg for me, no matter how much you scream no.”

I thrust into her again, slow and punishing, my piercing dragging along her walls, hitting that spot that makes her body jerk.

She’s still fighting, her hands clawing at the ground, her “No, no!” ringing through the forest, but her hips tilt up, chasing me even as she plays the part.

“Fuck, I know that piercing’s hitting you where you can’t deny,” I growl, picking up speed, each stroke more punishing. “You’re gonna break for me, kitten. Right fucking now.”

Her moans turn frantic, her body trembling as she tries to hold out. I don’t let up, slamming into her until her resistance shatters.

She finally explodes, her scream echoing through the trees, her cunt pulsing around me as her body bows under the force of her climax. I keep moving, riding her through it.

“Shh, kitten,” I say, slowing just enough to let her catch her breath. “No reason to feel bad for this. I’m making you do this, remember? You don’t get a choice.”

I lean my face closer to her neck. “But I’m not done with you. Not done until I come deep inside that pretty pussy.”

“You can’t, Jagger, you can’t.”

“Oh no,” I cut her off, smacking my palm against her ass. “You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.”

I pick up speed, fucking her harder. “Take my fucking come, kitten. Now and whenever I want.”

Her moans turn to cries, her body shaking as I drive into her until I explode, spilling inside her with a roar. The intensity whiting out everything else in the forest.

Her body’s still shaking, her cunt gripping me like it’ll never let go. I don’t stop, thrusting through the aftershocks, my piercing dragging against her oversensitive walls.

“You’re mine now, kitten. Forever.”

I pull out and tug her up, turning her to face me, her eyes glassy with pleasure and exhaustion. I scoop her up immediately, cradling her against my chest as her legs give out.

"You okay?" I ask, softening my approach.

She nods against my shoulder, but I can feel how unsteady she is. How completely wrung out.

"Are you sure?" I press, carrying her over to a fallen log and settling down with her in my lap. "Talk to me, kitten."

She's quiet for a long moment, just breathing, her forehead pressed against my neck. When she finally speaks, her voice is soft.

"I've never experienced anything like that in my life."

"Good," I tell her, my hand stroking through her hair. "That should wash the guilt away. You didn't choose this, remember? I took control. I made the decisions."

She pulls back to look at me, and there's something sharp in her eyes despite her exhaustion. "What we just did… it’s fucked up, Jagger. You know that."

The criticism stings because she's not wrong.

"Maybe it is," I admit. "But I'm not sorry it happened."

She stares at me for a moment, then shakes her head.

"Let me take care of you tonight," I tell her, meaning it. "Let me just... be here for you."

Something in my tone must reach her because she nods, settling back against my chest. I hold her for a while, listening to her breathing even out, feeling the tension slowly leave her body.

After a few minutes, I shift her gently. "I’ll help you get dressed. Then we'll go back to the outpost."

I find her clothes scattered around us and help her into them, my hands gentle now. She's still shaky, still processing what just happened between us, and I want to take care of her properly.

The walk back to the outpost is quiet, my arm around her waist to steady her. Once inside, I guide her to the old wooden chair and dig into the pack I'd left here earlier.

"I brought you something," I tell her, pulling out a small bag of Sour Patch Kids.

Her eyes widen in surprise. "For me?"

"Remember move-in day at college? You had a bag of these in your hand when you opened Maya's door. Said they were your survival food." I shake a few into my palm and offer them to her. "Figured you might need some survival food tonight."

She takes them, and I see her throat work as she swallows hard. "You remembered that?"

"I remember everything about that day." I hand her a water bottle and settle on the floor beside her chair.

She eats the candy slowly, and I can see some color returning to her cheeks.

"I owe you an apology," I tell her finally. "For the way I've been treating you here. For threatening your career. That was fucked up, and I'm sorry."

She looks down at me. "Why did you do it?"

"Because you get under my skin in ways I don't know how to handle. Because watching you try so hard to pretend you don't want this was driving me crazy." I lean my head back against the wall. "That's not an excuse. It's just the truth. You make me lose my mind, kitten."

"That doesn't make it okay."

"No, it doesn't." I meet her eyes. "I was wrong. You deserved better than games and threats. You deserved honesty."

She's quiet for a long moment, turning the candy over in her palm. "So what is this? Honestly?"

"This is me telling you I love you. That I've loved you for years and I'm tired of pretending I don't." I reach up to touch her hand. "You have a week left here. Let me show you how I feel. If you still think it's a bad idea when the program ends, it's over. I won't bother you again."

Her breath catches. "Jagger..."

"One week, kitten. Let me prove to you that this is real. That it's worth the risk."

She stares down at me for what feels like forever, war playing out across her features.

Finally, she nods. "One week."

The relief that floods through me is overwhelming. One week to show her that what we have is worth fighting for. One week to convince her that we can make this work.

One week to make her mine for good.