Page 86 of Cruel Vows

My teeth grind together as I look down at her. “The only reason I’m controlling anything right now is to keep you safe. When things die down, I’ll consider you going back to work without the security detail inside.”

“And that’s the problem right there. You’ll consider it. You’re not the boss of me and you know you’re not, so why the hell do you keep acting like you are?”

“I’m the head of this family whether you like it or not.” I tighten my grip on her wrists again, shifting back so my knees are nestled between her thighs, the bulge of my cock pressing through the thin layers of fabric that surround us and grinding into her pussy.

“I don’t like it.”

She uses the opportunity to get her legs under my stomach, kneeing me in the chest and shoving me away.

I’m left in the mud as she rips her wrists from me and gets to her feet.

As I stagger to mine, she takes a large step back from me.

Sighing, I advance on her, stalking her between the trees until her back hits the rough bark of one nearly as wide around as she is tall. “You should make this easier on yourself and stop trying to fight me every step of the way, Ellie.”

She cocks an eyebrow, a saucy smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, even though frustration still shines in her eyes. “You like it when I fight back, or is that erection just a coincidence?”

I grab her chin, tilting her head back until my mouth is hovering inches from hers. “You better get running before I make you run.”

“I’d like to see you try.” She swats my hand away, but there’s nowhere for her to go, every inch of our bodies pressed together while she’s trapped between me and the tree. “I’m done with this, Sean, and I won’t be running anymore.”

“You’re going to keep running. We’re not done training yet.”

Her chin juts out as she reaches up to plant her hands on my chest, trying to push me back a step. “If you want to be running through the woods and hiding in the rain and the mud while an asshole chases you around and tackles the hell out of you, then be my guest, but I’m done.”

I take a couple of large steps back, opening my arms wide to the sides. The last of the mud washes from her body, leaving her soaked and angry in front of me.

Just the way I like her.

I smirk at her, knowing that it’s only going to infuriate her more. “You want to be the one doing the hunting and tackling? Try it. Unless you’re too weak and this is all just talk.”

She leans back against the tree, not giving anything away.

And then she lunges, throwing herself at me.

Except, just when I think she’s about to make contact, she dodges me and heads deeper into the trees.

The rain starts to slow as I chase her into the woods, but there’s no sign of my little pylon.

She’s gone, and as I turn and try to pick up her tracks, I can’t see anything.

Then a weight collides with my back, arms wrapping around my neck and legs locking around my waist.

Ellie drags my earlobe between her teeth. “And you thought I was weak.”

One leg drops from around my waist and slams into the back of my knee, sending us toppling to the ground. She lets go of me and jumps free before I bring her down with me.

The moment I’m back in the mud, she leaps on top of me, pinning me down and leaning with her forearm too close to my throat for my liking.

She leans closer, grinding against my cock as she does. “What was that about thinking that I couldn’t handle myself?”

“You might be sneaky, but that doesn’t mean that you can handle yourself. It just means that you think fast. You might be willing to do what it takes to survive in theory, but when it gets down to it, we both know you’re going to be the woman who saves people, and not the woman who kills them.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” she asks, sitting back just enough that I can grab the back of her thighs and shove her off me.

I roll and get on top of her, yanking her hands above her head once more and holding her wrists in one hand. “What’s wrong is that you’re going to get yourself killed one way or another. Whether from being too weak to fight back or too righteous to kill when you need to.”

Ellie’s scowl deepens as she wriggles beneath me. “You don’t know the first thing about me if that’s what you really think.”

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