Page 18 of Hunted

A tremor courses through her slight frame, and I inhale deeply, savoring her intoxicating scent. My tongue darts out to trace the curve of her ear, and she whimpers, her nails digging into the bark at her back.

“Aksel..." It's a plea, and I revel in the desperation laced through that single, breathless utterance.

Pulling back to meet her wide gaze, I offer her a feral grin. "Don't worry," I purr, my fingers trailing down to ghost over the swell of her breasts. "Not here, baby girl," I murmur against the skin of her throat.

Zara's pulse flutters rapidly beneath my lips, and I can't resist nipping at the delicate column of her neck, loving the way she gasps and arches against me.

Every nerve screams to take what I want—to claim this sweet, tempting creature. Her scent of vanilla and roses alone makes me ache to defile her.

With a low growl, I capture her wrists and pin them above her head, drinking in the sight of her at my mercy. "You’ve got no idea how badly I want you, littlefugl." My voice is a guttural rasp as I grind my hips against hers, allowing her to feel how hard I am.

Zara whimpers, her eyes fluttering shut as her hips move upward in a desperate bid for friction. "Please..." The breathless plea falls from her parted lips.

Leaning in, I allow my lips to brush against the corner of her mouth, a mere ghost of a kiss that has her straining against my hold. "You want this?" I murmur, my tongue tracing the seam of her lips in a silent demand for entry. "You want me to take you right here, in the heart of the wilderness?"

Her only response is a needy whine, her body arching as she seeks the friction I so cruelly deny her. Desire courses through my veins like liquid fire, and it's all I can do to maintain my tenuous grip on control.

With a frustrated growl, I tear my lips from the temptation of her mouth, panting harshly as I force myself to pull back. “As much as I want to claim you here and now, we can't risk it." My voice is strained, gravelly with the effort of reining in my baser instincts. "It'll be dark soon, and we must return before nightfall."

Zara's eyes flutter open, hazy with lust and confusion. “But...I thought..." Her brow furrows adorably as she struggles to formulate a coherent thought.

I trace the delicate line of her jaw with the pad of my thumb. "Oh, don't worry. I’ve no intention of denying myself any longer. But we need to make it back to the safety of the cabin first. After that..." I lean in to nip at the tender flesh below her ear. “All bets are off."

I force myself to remove my lips from her skin with a monumental effort. "Now, let's hike to the next spot and get your data before returning." I ensure my voice is casual and calm despite not feeling in control.

I continue up the mountain trail, Zara's pack slung effortlessly over my shoulder.

The silence between us is charged and electric, neither daring to break it. Zara trails a few paces behind me, her gaze fixed resolutely on the ground before her. Gone is the incessant chatter, the cheerful demeanor that grated on my nerves. In its place is a palpable tension that has my blood thrumming hotly in my veins.

Reaching the next vantage point, I turn to face her. "Here's a good spot."

Zara starts at my voice, her gaze snapping to meet mine. In that single, heated glance, I see the conflict within her—the war between the innocent little bird and the wanton creature I've awoken. Her teeth worry at her plump lower lip, and I have to clench my fists to keep from closing the distance between us and claiming that tempting mouth with bruising intensity.

"R-right," she stammers, moving toward me to retrieve her pack before busying herself with her equipment.

I watch in silence as she works, my eyes tracing the delicate curve of her throat and the gentle swell of her breasts beneath the thin fabric of her shirt. Every movement, every subtle shift of her body, has me aching to pin her against the nearest surface and bury myself in her cunt.

After a few agonizing minutes, Zara straightens. I've got everything set up. It'll be half an hour to collect all the data," she murmurs, her voice a breathless whisper.

"Understood," I rumble, my gaze devouring every inch of her. The knowledge that she'll be standing here, within arm's reach for the next half hour, is almost more than I can bear.

Zara shifts her weight from one foot to the other. She opens her mouth as if to speak but seems to think better of it, snapping her jaw shut with an audible click.

The silence that stretches between us is thick and charged. I can practically taste the tension in the air, as palpable as the crisp mountain breeze that ruffles my hair.

Forcing my features into a mask of casual indifference, I lean back against the trunk of a nearby tree and fold my arms across my chest. The movement draws Zara's gaze like a moth to a flame, her eyes darkening as they trace the flex of my inked biceps.

A low chuckle rumbles in my chest, and I watch in silent satisfaction as her blush deepens. "See something you like?"

She holds my stare for a long, heated moment, her eyes shining with a mix of want and uncertainty.

Then, as if remembering herself, she tears her gaze away. "I...I should get back to work," she murmurs breathlessly.

I hum in acknowledgment before pushing off from the tree and prowling closer, savoring the way Zara's breath catches in her throat. “By all means," I purr, leaning in until my lips graze the delicate shell of her ear. "Don't let me distract you."

Forcing myself to step back, I offer Zara a wolfish grin. "I'll just be over here watching."

Her cheeks flush an even deeper shade of crimson. For a moment, it seems as though she might protest, might demand that I give her space to work.

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