Page 178 of Claiming Pretty

My pulse thundered in my ears as I reached the base of the stairs, the faint creak of the back door swinging open and slamming against the frame sending a chill down my spine.

The door swayed on its hinges, the night breeze pushing it back and forth. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to move toward it, to close it.

My eyes flicked around the living room as I passed, thefurniture sitting in eerie stillness, their silhouettes strange and unfamiliar in the dim light. The clock on the mantel ticked faintly, each second stretching longer than it should.

Every instinct screamed at me to turn around, to go back upstairs and lock myself in the bedroom. But I couldn’t. The unease gnawed at me, demanding answers, driving me forward.

Just as I reached for the door handle, I heard it.

A voice behind me, low and taunting.

“Run…”

I froze for a split second, every nerve in my body on high alert.

And then I ran.

The cool night air hit me as I burst through the door and into the yard, making my nipples harden. My bare feet pounded against the damp earth, and I cast a quick glance over my shoulder.

He was coming for me.

My warden and my stalker, his tall broad frame cloaked in shadow, the glint of moonlight catching the half skeleton mask covering his face.

His icy eyes locked on mine, and the dark thrill in them mirrored the surge of adrenaline coursing through me.

My fear and excitement tangled together in a dizzying rush. I sprinted toward the pine forest, my breath coming fast and sharp, heat rushing into my core.

The tall trees loomed ahead, their silhouettes stark against the night sky, a haven and a trap all at once.

The sound of his footfalls grew louder behind me, each one steady and deliberate, like a predator toying with its prey.

I pushed myself harder, the pounding of my heart urging me forward, a manic giggle trapped in my chest.

The forest enveloped me, the air smelling like pine and damp earth. The ground was uneven, twigs snapping beneath my feet as I darted between the trees.

But no matter how fast I ran, he was faster.

I felt his presence just behind me, the air shifting as he closed the gap. The thrill of the chase still hummed in my veins, but now it was mixed with need—dark and dangerous, intoxicating, and impossible to deny.

And then—impact.

Ty tackled me to the ground, his weight pinning me as we tumbled through the underbrush.

He pinned me to the ground underneath him and a gasp tore from my lips, and for a moment, all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the rough sound of his breathing.

He loomed over me, his intense eyes over the skeleton mask crinkling with dark hunger as he wrapped his hand around my throat and squeezed, stopping me from screaming for help.

Even if I could scream, Ty purchased so much land around our house that no one would hear me anyway.

I was here alone with him and helpless.

He used his knees to kick out my legs, exposing me for him, my slip riding up around my waist.

As I struggled for air, clawing at his hand, he calmly unzipped his black pants with his free hand and pulled out his hard, thick cock.

Only then did he loosen his grip on my throat.

I sucked in air.

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