Page 24 of A King So Savage

Her vision swam at the sight of it andhim.This man enjoyed hunting her through the forest. And his obvious skill at it was terrifying.

“Stay away from me,” Ava choked out, holding out a hand as though she could ward him off.

“I don’t think I’ll do that. In fact, I plan on coming even closer. Hoping you’ll run again so I can keep chasing you. It’s quite exhilarating.”

“You’re crazy!” Ava shouted.

“Yes.” He laughed. “Crazy to think you wouldn’t try escaping so soon. What a surprise you are, Ava Blue. A bloodthirsty, murderous, wicked little lamb.”

Murderous? I couldn’t have actually killed Doctor Abbott. I did not strike him that hard.Regret swelled inside her. She truly had not meant to hurt the man too badly.

“I’ll kill you, too, if you don’t let me go,” she bravely declared, pushing away the remorse at taking another man’s life.

Kingston’s head cocked. “Do you think you killed Neil?” He chuckled, striding toward her as Ava backed away. “Oh, don’t worry. You did not harm him too badly. His pride took a beating more than anything.” Those cold, dark blue eyes swept her, taking in the ripped gown and the blood seeping through the material from the cut on her knee. “Do you like being hunted like an animal, Ava?”

She refused to answer as he sidled closer, but her feet automatically moved in the opposite direction. Back, back, back until she stumbled and caught herself against another tree.

“I like hunting you,” he admitted with a wicked grin. He began rolling up the cuffs of his dress shirt, revealing muscled forearms. Ava swallowed hard at the implicit threat of violence conveyed by such a simple action. “I like chasing you, hearing your frantic breathing. Knowing you’re scared of me. I like knowing I’ll catch you. And I really like what happens next.”

Internally, Ava was already coiled into a tight spring, ready to bust out running again. Being lost in the woods was a far better alternative to being caught by this man. She feared her reaction to him. So much so that she questioned her own sanity. What sane, normal woman would enjoy being caught by a madman?

“What happens next?” she whispered, dreading the answer but morbidly curious. Her mouth was dry with fear mixed strangely with excitement.

His lips curved with amusement.

“Punishment.”

ChapterEight

Come into my arms again

And let me set you free

While the stars shine bright.

Kingston lacedhis hands behind his back, studying Ava closely.

She truly was prey at this moment. Lust, anger, and that annoying bit of admiration swirled together in his gut while he contemplated what he would do once he got his hands on her. Of course, he could not fuck her senseless like he wished, but there were other ways of ensuring she obeyed him.

The chase left him with an aching need to conquer. And this girl, this little bit of a girl who continued defying him would now experience a taste of his wrath.

“If you can escape this little clearing, Ava, I’ll show a bit of mercy. When I recapture you, as I undoubtedly will, I’ll conduct your punishment here. In these woods where no one will hear your screams. But if you cannot get past me, we’ll see to matters back at the main house. It’s all up to you.”

Ava’s eyes were such a bright green, they glowed in the twilight. Dark blonde hair tumbled over her slender shoulders, and her hands clenched into fists at her sides. That virginal white gown he’d purposefully dressed her in was ripped, dirty, and bloody, but Ava somehow still managed to give off the air of a goddess.

He wanted to sink balls deep into her and never come up for air.

“Which will it be?” he asked evenly.

Kingston knew her intention immediately. Knew which way she would run probably before she even realized it herself. Instead of darting in the opposite direction of where he stood, she sprinted to the left.

As she made her move, Kingston snagged an arm around her waist, hauling her back against him.

“Not quick enough.” He laughed softly in her ear as she pounded his chest and shoulders with her good hand in a frenzied attack. She landed a couple of blows to his chin, but the strikes certainly did not hurt. If anything, they inflamed his appetite.

His rough hand coiled in Ava’s hair, pulling so tight the strands were in danger of being yanked out by the roots.

“Stop. Let me go this instant,” she gasped in pain.

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