Page 15 of Hunted

My chest presses flush against her back as I loom over her petite frame. Zara's breath comes in shallow pants, her pulse fluttering wildly beneath my fingertips when I brush them over the slender column of her throat. So delicate, so fragile. Like a newborn fawn taking its first, unsteady steps.

I could so easily overwhelm her, crush her against me until she surrendered to the storm raging between us.

"You seem tense, littlefugl," I murmur, allowing my lips to graze the delicate shell of her ear. Zara shivers, her grip tightening on the plates until her knuckles turn white. "Perhaps you need to relax."

Slowly, deliberately, I trail my hands down her arms until I cover hers. I guide her movements, gently prying the dishes from her grip and setting them on the counter.

Zara doesn't protest, doesn't pull away from me. If anything, she melts further into me, her back arching in a way that has me gritting my teeth.

"There, that's better," I rumble, letting my hands linger on her hips. "Wouldn't want you to overexert yourself."

A breathy whimper slips past those full lips as I tease the sensitive skin at the base of her neck with my lips. Zara's head falls back against my shoulder, those emerald eyes slipping closed in silent surrender.

The beast preens at her reaction and how she instinctively bares her throat. It would be so easy to mark that creamy flesh, to sink my teeth into her until she cries out my name in euphoric agony.

Instead, I merely brush my lips over her wildly fluttering pulse point, relishing the full-body shudder that wracks her frame. Zara clutches at my forearms, where they're wrapped around her midriff, silently begging for more.

I finally release her from my embrace and step back with a chuckle, leaving her flushed and trembling against the counter.

"Get some rest," I toss over my shoulder as I head for the living room. "You'll need your energy for tomorrow."

As I settle onto the worn couch, the scent of Zara still clings to me like a heady perfume. Closing my eyes, I commit every hitched breath and whimper to memory. She may have escaped my clutches for now, but the game has only just begun.

The hunt is still on, and my prey has yet to learn how determined her hunter can be.

9

ZARA

Iwake with a start, my heart pounding as the scent of fresh pancakes and rich coffee wafts through the cabin. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I try to shake off the vivid dreams that plagued me—dreams filled with Aksel's intense gaze and his powerful hands roaming my body.

My stop flips as I recall the way he touched me last night, his fingers and lips making patterns on my neck with a feather-light caress. One minute, he was all heat and barely restrained desire, caging me against the sink. The next, he walked away, telling me to rest before sitting in the living room.

His hot and cold treatment is driving me insane, stoking the fire of want burning low in my belly. I can't deny my magnetic pull toward this wild, unpredictable man. But I know I need to focus—I'm here for research, not to be some rugged Norwegian's plaything.

Forcing my whirling thoughts aside, I throw on a cozy sweater and a pair of jeans and go to the small kitchen. Aksel stands at the stove, his back to me as he flips a golden pancake. The domestic scene is at odds with the raw, predatory energy that crackles around him.

Clearing my throat, I give him a tentative smile as he turns to face me. "Morning. Those pancakes smell amazing."

He turns to me, his lips quirk in a half-smirk that makes my heart flutter. "Morning, little bird. Hungry?"

I nod, unable to find my voice as his heated gaze rakes over me. Grabbing a plate, I load it with the fluffy pancakes.

I sit and pour myself a mug of coffee, eating and trying to ignore the brooding Norwegian.

“Are you ready for your first hike? I will accompany you since it's too dangerous to go alone," he says, breaking through the silence.

I plaster my brightest smile, determined not to let Aksel rattle me. "Of course, I'm excited for you to join me! The more the merrier."

His eyes narrow as if he can see right through my cheerful facade. I hold his intense gaze, refusing to let him shake my resolve. I may be drawn to this man in a way I can't quite explain, but I won't let him intimidate me.

"Wonderful." His deep voice sends a shiver down my spine. "We'll leave after breakfast. Dress warmly, littlefugl. The Norwegian air can be unforgiving."

I give a firm nod, focusing on clearing my plate. The pet name rolls off his tongue so easily, both endearing and possessive. I shouldn’t like that this stranger has given me a nickname, and I know I should tell him not to call me it to establish healthy boundaries. However, I like it when he calls me it.

Shoving that dangerous thought aside, I rise and rinse my dishes. "I'll go get ready then. Thank you for breakfast. It was delicious."

His eyes burn into my back as I head for the bedroom to add more layers. I can feel the heat of his stare like a physical caress. Grabbing my warmest clothes, I quickly strip and redress, my movements efficient. There is no need to linger and let my mind wander to inappropriate places.

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