Page 23 of The Huntress and Her Hound

But still, I feel a pull to follow more, to stop her from walking into that hotel room with that guy. I could take her home, kicking and screaming, give her a lecture about sleeping with strangers, and then punish her for being so careless. However, it’s all null and void because she’s not mine.

She’s. Not. Mine.

Chapter Nine

The Huntress

“What’s your name again?” Samuel, a very drunk—and very horny—trust fund baby asks me as we step into the elevator. “I keep missing it.”

“Emily,” I answer him with a wicked smile.

“Emily,” he repeats, nodding his head. “I can’t wait to get you alone and in private. It’s so sweet that you won’t get naked in public. I like that.” He arches his body over mine, his bloodshot eyes focused on my face. I run my fingers down his chest and then back up to his tie.

“I think we should loosen this.” I wrap my black nails around the material, gently tugging at it. The elevator is empty, and I’m surprised he’s not trying anything given how handsy he was on the walk here.

“You can do whatever you’d like. I like a woman who thinks she has control.” His hot, tangy breath is vile as his nose brushes my jaw. I swallow hard, hoping that if he notices, he’ll think it’s just my nerves getting the best of me.

The doors chime at the seventeenth floor, and he pushes off the wall. He wraps his large hand around my wrist and drags me behind him.

Eager. And rough.

I nearly trip as he picks up his pace—and I struggle to keep up. “Why are you running?" I try to laugh it off, but my stomach is doing somersaults now.

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he pulls the keycard out of his pocket and swipes it, opening the door to his suite. Sirens go off in my head. Something feels off about the way he’s jerking me around.

But something’s felt off all night.

I swallow hard, trying to put on the brakes as he slings me inside. He lets go then, and I lose my balance, thudding to the floor. A cry escapes my lips at the impact, and he bursts into laughter.

“I knew you’d be fun. You were so fucking modest, trying to come across like a little innocent bird. Are you an innocent bird, Emily? Or are you just another closet slut?” He rubs his hands together over me, and then drops to his knees.

Get in control, Cher.

“Can we have a drink first?”

He raises a brow. “Are you nervous all of the sudden?”

“Um... I just like to loosen up a little.”

He narrows his dark gaze. “Okay. Fine. Let’s drink.”

I nod, my gut churning nauseously. What is wrong with me tonight? My head is spinning, and as he stands to his feet, I find myself remaining on the odd, burgundy-colored carpet, trying to catch my breath as I feel the heaviness seep into my mind.

‘You’re losing your edge.’

I squeeze my lids shut, darkening out the scene in front of me.

‘Come on, little girl, get up and play along.’

My eyes flutter open to a drink in front of me, and Samuel is giving me a curious gaze. I take it from him and kick my heels off. He doesn’t stop me.

“You’re so nervous,” he chuckles as I stand shakily to my feet, without his help.

“I just need to freshen up,” I tell him, though I feel more like I might need to vomit. “Can I use your bathroom?”

“Sure?” He gives me a strange look. “But hurry up.”

I nod, and trudge out of the sitting area to the bathroom off the entrance of the room. I push down on the handle and step inside, taking a deep breath. It reeks of more expensive cologne, and something about the scent takes me back to Jude.

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