Page 15 of A Little Tempting

Rounding the edge of the street, I spot a tall fence ahead of me. Finley dashes to my right, but I stay straight and use an empty flower pot as leverage, grasping the edge of the fence, pulling myself up, and sliding down the slick surface on the other side.

The cold from the metal seeps into my romper as I try to catch my breath, waiting for the stranger to hurdle over it like I did, but I’m gifted with silence. He must be following Finley instead. The footsteps recede, and within seconds, I’m left with nothing but my own unsteady breathing for company.

Holy shit, it worked.

I’m…well, I don’t know what I am. Terrified? Yes. Shocked? Definitely.

Did I really do that?

I feel…exhilarated. Invincible, almost, which is ridiculous, but still. I cover my mouth to hide my laughter when another set of squeals grabs my attention from the main street, twenty feet in front of me.

Do I stay? Do I leave? Dammit, I have no idea.

Where’s Finley?!

Okay, Dylan. You can do this. You can…I don’t know? Maybe make it back to the house? Sneak in through your back door? Hunker down until…what exactly?

Slowly, I tiptoe along the fence and dash across the grass. With my back pressed to the side of a house, I peek around the corner. Finley’s nowhere in sight, but there are two men in masks. I don’t recognize either of them.

Shocker.

With legs spread wide, they stand in the middle of the empty road, scanning the surrounding houses for girls.

“Truck,” one of them grunts. He lifts his chin toward a white F-150 parked in a driveway. In a flash, they run toward it, closing the distance within seconds. When they reach the truck, they pull themselves up until they each stand on the tailgate, towering over whoever chose the bed as their hiding spot. More squeals of surprise cut through the night air, and the wolves laugh, each spotting their own prey. The one on the left leaps into the truck bed with the girls. My eyes widen when the other joins in, pouncing on them.

I catch myself smiling as I wait for them to reappear, but all I hear is, “Time to pay up, Lace,” as another group of wolves round the edge of a yard on the opposite side of the street. They spread out like a legion, their heads swiveling from left to right until I’m pretty sure I’m seconds from being caught if I don’t start moving. Keeping them in my sight, I start to back away when a hand slides over my mouth. I gasp, clutching at the wrist as the masked stranger spins me around and pushes my back against the house, pressing his forefinger to his lips.

With my pulse thrumming in my ears, I hold my breath but stay quiet, waiting for…honestly, I don’t even know. The man in front of me leans closer, whispering, “Caught you.”

My brows tug, and I swear I recognize the voice, but I’m too amped up to place it, let alone reply. My mouth feels like it’s filled with cotton as I watch him, the glowing eyes staring down at me, his body pressing into mine while his friends check the front of the house we hide behind. The wolf mask hides his expression and true identity from me, but he’s tall. With broad shoulders and the same dark clothes as every other guy on the street. He peers around the edge of the house and watches the rest of his pack leave as I continue staring up at him, taking in every minute detail, no matter how few there are, in an attempt to place the culprit, but I’m as lost as ever.

Once we’re gifted with retreating footsteps, I wait for him to back up and give me some breathing room, but he doesn’t. He continues pinning me to the house, his hard muscles pressing against the front of my body in a way I’ve literally never experienced in my entire life. He’s warm. Hard. Every inch. The rough stucco scratches me through the thin cotton of my outfit, and I wet my lips, unsure what to say or do since he caught me and has me right where he wants.

“What happens now?” I whisper.

He lifts the edge of his mask, revealing his strong jaw and mouth as it curves up on one side, keeping most of his face hidden from view. “Now, you pay up.” I gulp, and his smile widens. “Where do you want your kiss, baby deer?”

“Who are you?” I ask.

“Does it matter?” There’s a growl in his tone. Like he’s altering it on purpose. Like he doesn’t want me recognizing it orhim. It makes my heart pound faster.

Who are you?

He leans closer, his breath kissing my lips. It’s too dark. If I had more light, I might be able to tell who’s jaw this is, but right now? I’m clueless. My pulse flutters faster and faster with every passing second. “You won’t tell me who you are?”

“What’s the point of the game if you know who I am?” he counters. “Now, choose your location, Dylan Thorne.” He touches the side of my face, letting his gloved hand trail down my cheek and along the curve of my neck. It’s slow and sensual and turns my insides into mush.

“I, uh, I’m not sure,” I whisper.

His mouth lifts. “Would you like me to choose for you?”

When I nod, my forehead slams against his mouth, and I gasp in horror. “Shit, sorry!”

His deep chuckle swallows my curse and pulls low in my belly as he rubs the edge of his full mouth with his gloved hands. “Giving me a fat lip in exchange for your payment?”

“Apparently,” I mutter. My face feels like it’s on fire, and I look down at my feet. I’m standing in a flower bed, the green plants smashed beneath my shoes.

Oops.

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