Page 3 of Chase Me

You should run now, little doe,he sends next.Before I catch you.

I spin around, searching for him in the crowd. Where is he? Where did he snap this photo from? But I can’t find him.

The red heels I’m wearing wobble as my feet touch the ground. I throw back the last of my drink, hoping the liquid courage will prepare me for the next phase of our night.

Goosebumps rise on my skin, despite the warmth of the club as I head toward the door.

I know the layout of the land outside. I’m not in the middle of nowhere, and Connor was serious about making sure I knew where I was. He wanted me to be afraid, but he didn’t want that fear to be real.

It’s a weird twist of emotions, knowing that this man who knows all of my deepest desires, who knows how absolutely rough I want to be treated and frequently says the naughtiest things, is also adamant about making sure I am completely safe and comfortable.

I thought knowing the plan would make it less exciting, but that feeling of giddy anticipation still flutters in my belly as I push through the glass doors and exitDesire.

It’s a short walk down a concrete path before I’ll approach the edge of the small forest. A stretch of green that goes on for two miles until it reaches the highway. I walk first, letting the echo of my heels hitting the cement guide me, taking my time.

The path is coated in darkness, with only a few streetlights lending a golden glow. And the late hour leaves almost no people in sight.

Fear twirls up my spine with every noise, causing me to whip my head around, waiting to see a shadowy figure behind me. A loud thud sounds in the distance, and that has me spinning my entire body. I expect to see him farther back, but instead he’s right here, and his closeness makes me gasp.

Gloved fingers grip my arms, whipping me around and pushing me against the brick wall. Before I can scream, one hand comes around to wrap over my mouth while he presses his body weight against my back to keep me pinned to the wall.

Panic bubbles up in my throat, but with his hand covering my mouth, my terror has nowhere to go. My chest heaves, making my tits bounce and the rough bricks scrape against them.

“You’re not a very good runner, little doe,” he whispers in a deep tenor. His breath skates across my cheek as he says the words and every hair on my body rises to stand.

I haven’t even made it to the woods yet, like we agreed upon. For a moment, I wonder why he grabbed me early, and then a new fear enters my brain.What if this isn’t Connor?

But he called melittle doe,the nickname he landed on when we agreed to our terms.Like a little deer running from a hunter, you’re the prey and I’m the predator.

I wiggle in his arms, struggling to be released.

“Awe,” he coos. “You’re gonna have to try harder than that.”

The patronizing words light a fire in me, and I open my mouth wider, letting one of his gloved fingers inside before I bite down as hard as I can.

He hisses loudly, his body backing up from mine as he grabs the injured finger with his other hand.

I take the opportunity to run, kicking off my heels and abandoning them on the sidewalk. When I hit the edge of the forest, I keep going, letting the stale leaves crunch beneath my toes as I sprint.

“You can run!” I hear him shout from somewhere behind me. “But you can’t hide. I’ll catch you, little doe.”

3

Sticks crunch beneath my feet, and just like in my fantasy, I can feel them leaving little cuts on my soles. I’m going to be sore tomorrow, I can already tell, but right now adrenaline pumps through my veins, dulling the stinging sensation.

The scent of damp earth fills my nostrils as I suck in as many deep breaths as I can. Branches beat against my body as I fling myself through the wooded area.

I try not to peek behind me, knowing it will slow me down, but I can’t help it. The first time I check, I can see him in the distance, hear the slow snapping of wood beneath his stalking feet as he gains ground on me. I keep running, my feet pounding against the forest floor.

The second time I check, he’s too close for comfort, and I pick up my pace, huffing breaths into the warm, foggy air as I push my body farther into the forest.

The third time I check, he’s gone. That has me slowing down, my head spinning as I search the sea of trees for him.

When his body reaches mine, I don’t see it coming. His arms wrap around my torso, and he pushes me to the ground. I hit the mess of dirt and old leaves with a thud and an ache shoots through my body. His weight presses into me and despite the pain, the bruises I can feel forming, there’s an invigorating spark of excitement that winds up my spine.

With spread palms, I slap at him, push, kick, and scream. It’s the scream that gets him to loosen his grip on me, as he brings up one hand to cover my mouth. It’s enough for me to stretch out my arms, clawing at him with my nails. One slices down his cheek, and in the dim light, I can see the tiniest drop of blood forming.

My assailant hisses, his free hand coming to his cheek to swipe the blood away.

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