Page 203 of Hunting Pretty

At least he’d been alone and afraid in the end, even if it was a quick end.

Rigor mortis hadn’t yet taken hold of his slightly parted jaw. Shame. I would have liked to snap the bones in two.

I shoved his eye into his mouth and then wedged it deeper into his throat. He would never lay eyes on Ava’s body ever again. Never touch her again.

No one ever would again, but me.

And whentheyfound him, they’d think twice before touching what was mine again.

I wiped my bloodied hands on his shirt and stood.

I turned back to Ava—myAva.

The moment I saw her again, the world around me stopped.

I tried to keep my composure, the control I’d spent years mastering, but it slipped.

Just for a heartbeat.

In that moment, nothing else existed. Not this cellar, not Cormac or the ever-growing darkness that threatened us.

Ava was all I could see, and for a brief, reckless second, I let myself feeleverythingI’d buried for so long.

My chest tightened, the air catching in my lungs as if I’d forgotten how to breathe.

Overwhelming heat rushed through me, tightening my muscles, making my hands tremble despite myself. I clenched my fists, trying to steady the flood of emotions, but it was useless.

I stumbled as I walked back to her, my thighs feeling weak. I dropped to my knees before her.

Only then did I pull out my knife again, still dirty with Cormac’s blood, and cut away the last knot tying her in place.

Her hand slipped free.

I caught her with my free arm before she fell and gentlylowered her onto the mattress so I could tuck away my knife.

The tatters of her top fell about her waist, her full and shapely breasts on display, the color of fresh cream. Her nipples looked so much like red berries that my mouth watered.

I relished in the softness of her skin as I ran my fingers over the swell of one breast.

Blood surged into my cock and I pressed painfully against my zipper, begging for release, for friction between her breasts, her thighs, her lips.

Begging to be allowed to claim her.

Not here. Not like this.

Self-control waseverything.

I was an expert at depriving myself of what I needed. I’d perfected controlling myself.

But I feared the days to come. Feared I wasn’t strong enough to hold myself back the way Ihadto.

The basement was silent, the woods outside still. But this would not last.

I knew of at least one other person who would be on their way to steal what was mine. What hadalwaysrightfully been mine.

I would not allow him, or anyone else, to interfere.

I didn’t have time to enjoy Ava here.

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