Page 114 of Beautiful Prey

I grinned, my face going hot as he froze and stared at me, his gaze falling down my dress. I twirled a little and saw a flicker of fire in his eyes.

“You like it?”

Carefully, he placed the plates on the table without looking away. He came around to me as if I were some mythical creature that had appeared before him, and any wrong move would make me slip away and disappear.

He lifted a hand to his ear as if to block out something I couldn’t hear. Or someone.

His hand at his ear clenched into a fist and fell.

“I thought it was your birthday, not mine,” he mumbled so softly I almost didn’t hear him.

Smiling, I passed by him, as a shiver ran down me from his eyes following me. I sat, then reached over and patted the seat next to me.

He came around again, first going over to turn off the stove so the eggs didn’t burn. Then he took a seat next to me. His eyes never faltered from me.

I saw his hands clenched into fists as he set them on his thighs. I picked up the honey, pretending not to notice his stillness and put a small amount on my pancakes, letting it soak through. I picked up my fork then bit my lip, glancing at him.

“Well, are you going to eat?” I laughed nervously.

He unclenched one fist to pick up his fork. He cut into his pancake and took a bite and I laughed quietly again, covering my mouth.

“Um, you want some of this with it?” I picked up the honey and shook it.

His eyes darkened as they shifted to the bottle, his lips thinning into a tight smile. He took the honey and distributed some of it on his plate.

We ate in silence for a moment, but I didn’t mind, enjoying the way he watched me. The way he hardly seemed to look down at his plate as he ate his food without a care. Only taking a few bites. It was like I was all he cared to see; not even food could satiate him.

“It’s really good,” I said.

He took a drink of water and set it down. “Is it?”

I picked at my food then said without looking up, “Will you tell me more about your story?”

He didn’t respond right away, but then he started, “There’s forest around us, keeping us hidden so no one can see. There’s a house with a garage and a barn behind it. We’ve got several cats that mostly stay outside only because they prefer it. A guard dog just in case. I got you a horse and pony. Some gray mare called Catherine and a black one called Heathcliff ’cause I thought you’d like that. That part of the story didn’t come till later.” He shifted in his seat. “A little piece of the ocean to ourselves less than a mile away where we have the boat. You can see it on the hill. Take the car or sometimes walk. There’s a campsite by the beach where we go, that’s where we huddle together. Maybe…maybe watch the kids play.”

My face heated up. I cleared my throat. “You’ve really thought this through.”

“Yeah.”

“Did that part not come till later too?”

“Yeah.”

I clenched the fork in my hand.

“Then we go out.” His voice turned into a whisper. “We go out dancing or something. And…then I take you back to the campsite, just us this time, the night surrounding us. Can hardly see the waves. And I…I rip the clothes right off you—just like this sexy little dress— and eat you out like a starving man.”

I leaned in, placing my elbows on the table. “Oh?”

He nodded. “And you're pleading with me to give you release but I won’t, ’cause I love hearing you beg. I fucking love it.”

I pursed my lips, not realizing I was pressing my thighs together. “I like this part of the story.”

His fork clattered on to his plate. Before I could even move, he was out of his chair and shifting mine around to face him, pulling me closer. He hitched the skirt of my dress up to my waist and pulled my legs apart. He bit my inner thigh, and I gasped. I took a hold of the sides of the chair, keeping my legs bent, a moan tearing up my throat as he ripped my panties to one side and buried his face between my thighs.

The heat of his mouth on me made my body tighten almost instantly. I arched, throwing my head back. He was deliberately pulling away every time I tried to bring my hips closer. I reached out to him in desperation, and he took hold of my wrists, pulling back to lift his head.

“What do you really want, Evee?”

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