Page 17 of Nowhere to Run

A dark nod followed, the corner of his lip twitching in approval.

“Very nice,” he sneered, his voice thick with lust.

But his eyes told me a look wasn’t enough. His fingers brushed my bare midriff, trailing upward with an unhurried precision that left my skin tingling.

I gasped, a flash of heat rushing through me—an unwelcome, traitorous thrill.

His fingers slipped beneath the elastic of my sports bra, cupping my breast like he owned it. He let out a low moan, his eyes slipping shut for a moment, savoring the feel of me. Then his thumb grazed my nipple, and the sensation shot through me like lightning. I bit my lip, stifling the whimper that threatened to escape.

“You like that, don’t you baby?” he murmured.

I gritted my teeth, forcing resolve. “How can you think I’ll let you take whatever you want?” I spat, breathless.

His smile grew darker, more menacing. “I told you… I get what I want.” His fingers traced my body, sending electric pulses racing across my skin. “I don’t care if you ‘let me.’”

His other hand slid up the back of my sweatshirt, tugging the hood over my head with a mocking tenderness. He framed my face with the drawstrings, chuckling to himself as his piercing gaze locked onto mine.

“Are you afraid of me, little girl?” His voice was a low, taunting drawl.

“Little Red Riding Hood, all alone in the woods with the big bad wolf.” His eyes roamed over my body, hungry—like he was ready to devour me whole. He licked his lips.

“Sorry, Little Red,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “You won’t make it to Grandmother’s house.”

I stiffened.

Did he know I lived in my grandmother’s old house? Or was this all part of his sick fantasy?

His hands landed on my shoulders, firm and unyielding. In one smooth motion, he turned me around, positioning me exactly where he wanted.

“Walk,” he commanded.

My pulse lurched.

“Where are we going?” I breathed, my voice unsteady, my heart pounding against my ribs.

“Don’t worry about that,” he said, pressing me forward. My movements were clumsy with him directly behind me, his feet practically on my heels. He guided me off the path, deeper into the woods, until we reached a small clearing. The trees stretched high, pines thick and endless, swallowing the last hints of daylight.

The path was gone. Like it had never been there at all.

It was hard to believe we were still in town.

“What are you going to do?” My voice trembled, barely above a whisper.

My hands shook at my sides as he finally released my shoulders from his tight grip.

The corner of his lip curled, his gaze dragging over me, slow and assessing.

“You’re faster than I expected,” he murmured. “Impressive. Tell you what.” He rubbed his jaw between his finger and thumb, casual, like he had all the time in the world.

“I’ll give you a ten-second head start.”

I froze.

He sneered.

“You want to run from me so bad? If you can get away—make it back to your house—you win. I’ll leave you alone.”

He paused a beat.

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