Page 88 of Exes and Oh Hell No

HARPER

My breath rasps from my lungs as I race through the woods, my feet raw from pounding against the uneven terrain.

My arms pump as I push my body faster, knowing the ten-second head start he gave me is no match against a professional hockey player.

It’s not just his physique and the rigorous training that man puts his body through, day in and day out.

It’s the obsessive, deep, and endless love he has for me that makes me the ultimate prey.

I know Ford Brooks and there’s no way he will let me escape.

He’d fucking burn the entire world down before he’d let that happen.

But I’m looking forward to the chase, knowing that when he catches me, I’ll fight him until he wears me down.

Why am I looking forward to that?

As my eyes dart around, the cool breeze chilling my sweat-soaked skin, I hear a clock ticking down inside my head.

My pace is slowing as my chest burns, my shaky breaths coming too fast.

Breathe, Harper.

Just—

A noise to my right has my head snapping in that direction.

My eyes are frantic as I search for a shadow or movement.

But I don’t see anything.

I push myself faster, hearing the snap of a twig close behind me.

I pump my arms faster, chanting a mantra inside my head.

Legs don’t fail me now.

I don’t turn around.

Not when I hear the crunching of leaves too close behind me.

How the hell is he so fast?

Does he have wings that allow him to fly?

Awareness prickles at my scalp.

The hair lifts from the back of my sweaty neck as I feel the ghost of his breath skittering across my spine.

My energy is waning.

Fast.

My head lifts, and a spark of hope ignites inside me.

I see a road ahead, signaling freedom.

Not even thinking about the fact that I’m fucking naked as the day I was born, my muscles pump frantically beneath my skin.

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