Page 85 of Cruel Vows

SEAN

Even facedown in the mud with the rain pouring around us, it’s easy to roll onto my back and grab Ellie by the ankle, dragging her down with me.

She kicks back, her foot catching me hard in the forearm until I release my grip.

Ellie lurches to her feet, nearly falling back down as more mud slips beneath her foot. Thunder rolls overhead as she darts into the trees at the edge of the property, nothing more than a flash of soaking wet hair and a bright-orange sports bra and matching shorts.

I’m hunting a damn pylon.

After taking a moment to shake out the ache in my wrist, I push to standing.

The mud is slippery beneath my feet, sending me careening like a newborn deer taking its first steps.

Fucking Christ.

The second I catch her, she’s dead meat.

Chasing after her through the woods in the rain has me soaked to the bone, smelling like a barnyard, and wishing I had just thrown her over my shoulder and carried her to the bedroom to teach her a lesson.

My cock twitches at the thought of a bright-red handprint or two on her ass.

Groaning, I stare up at the trees for a moment longer before pushing to my feet once again.

Another patch of mud nearly trips me, sending one leg stretching far from the other, pissing me off more.

If I could’ve been given a less irritating wife, I might be a happier man.

I certainly wouldn’t be doing this shit.

As soon as I have my footing, I take off into the trees after her, dodging the branches and nearly slipping on some of the rust-brown leaves that have fallen to the ground.

To my right, a bright flash of orange streaked with mud flashes between the trees, and I lunge after her.

My muscles scream as I try to keep up. I don’t know the last time I ran this much, but it seems like she spends most of her days running.

At least, that’s the conclusion I’m coming to when I finally catch up to her and she’s not even breathless.

Ellie glares at me, the look in her eyes challenging. “What do you really think you’re going to do? You can barely keep up with me.”

“Barely. I’ve caught you again.” I lunge and catch her around the waist, twisting so my shoulder takes the brunt of the impact when we hit the ground.

She wriggles against me, my cock standing at attention as I flip her onto her back and climb on top of her.

Her nails rake into the side of my hand as she fights to get free, thrashing against me like she’s in the fight of her life.

Though, I know she’s holding back. I can see it in the way she rolls her eyes when my grip tightens.

Her nipples pebble against her sports bra as she strains against me. I bite back a low growl, pressing her harder into theground and grinning when her thighs shift beneath me, pressing together.

She might not want to run around like this, but she’s turned on by it.

Ellie might like to give me hell all the time, but we both know she loves it when I take control, molding her to my every whim.

And right now, I’m in the mood to take her back to the house instead of chasing her through the downpour for the rest of the day.

She thrashes beneath me again, but there’s no real power to it, only the glare that makes her look like she’s torn between begging me to fuck her and ripping my head off.

Ellie’s lips press together, and I know which one she’s settled on. “Is there a point to all this beyond proving that you can control my life in whatever way you see fit?”

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