Page 67 of A Twisted Gift

I roll my eyes. “No. Spending money on me.”

With a smirk, he leans down. “Makes me so fucking hard.”

I hold back a giggle. Over the past few months, Erik and I have worked to turn swear words into something that doesn’t make me panic. His main strategy has been making me laugh when he swears, and despite how silly it feels, I can’t deny that it’s worked.

“How long of a head start do I get again?” I ask.

“Thirty seconds.” He places a kiss right below my ear. “Can’t let you get too far away from me.”

I smile. Thirty seconds should be plenty, especially since I agree. Running is fun, but Erik catching me is the best part.

“Do you want to be scared?” he asks me.

“A little?”

“Good,” he whispers, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “I have the perfect idea.”

An anticipatory shiver runs up my spine. Rising up on my tiptoes, I kiss his cheek. “Now?”

“You remember your safe word?” he asks.

“Peppermint.”

We landed on it together when Erik suggested we make one. I’ve never had to use it, but it’s helped him to have the assurance that he’s not crossing any of my boundaries.

Erik nods. “Good. Now.”

Spinning around, I sprint out of my room. My strategy this time is simple: make as much noise as possible running down the stairs, find a place to quietly hide, and then sneak back upstairs once Erik is out of sight.

I stomp down the stairs before silently slipping into the closet by the front door. With only a few seconds to spare, I sink into the back so I’m hidden by all the coats hanging in here.

When I hear Erik coming down the steps, I hold my breath. I’m expecting him to open the closet and do atleasta cursory search through, but instead, his footsteps fade. I wait another minute until I’m sure he’s far enough away before making my way to the front of the closet.

As I open the door, it creaks, and I gasp. Erik is standing a few yards away, and when his gaze locks with mine, he immediately begins stalking toward me.

Shoot.He must’ve doubled back at some point.

I dart up the steps, letting out a squeal when I hear him chasing after me. “You weren’t supposed to come back so quickly,” I shout over my shoulder.

“You’re not the only one with a few tricks up your sleeve,” he calls.

Erik catches me at the top of the stairs, grabbing onto my dress and yanking me into him. I yelp in surprise, clawing at his armsin a pathetic attempt to escape. With a chuckle, Erik lets me go, but he only lets me take two steps before he shoves me against the balcony’s banister.

A scream forces itself from my throat as my arms fly out in front of me. I desperately search for anything to steady myself with, but there’s nothing to grab onto. My hips are pressed almost painfully against the wooden railing, and all I can see is the first-floor foyer below.

“It’s a long fall,” Erik taunts, grabbing at my skirt and shoving it up my body. “Better stay still so you don’t lose your balance.”

He pushes me forward, forcing me onto the balls of my feet and making my position that much more precarious. When I yelp, he chuckles darkly, but I don’t miss the firm grip he has on the hair at the base of my neck.

“No panties,” he remarks, clicking his tongue. “Naughty girl.”

His words combined with his fingers tracing up my thigh send a thrill through me. Over the past couple months, I’ve realized that I like it when he taunts me like this. If it came from anyone else, I’d hate it. But with Erik, I know he doesn’t truly mean it. I’m safe with him in a way I wouldn’t have been with anyone else at the auction that night.

“Look at this pretty pussy,” Erik murmurs. “Dripping wet and desperate to be filled. You’re going to take every inch of my cock so beautifully, aren’t you?”

I gasp as he slides two fingers into me, pumping them in and out. There’s little to no resistance since I’m so wet, and he hits that perfect spot inside me that has my knees threatening to go weak.

“All for me,” he mutters as he pulls his fingers out and rubs my clit.

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