Page 110 of Prey for You

“Sam?!” I gasped, then snapped my head up to look around. If he’d been following me that long… I turned quickly, then again, eyes darting. “Where are y—”

The only warning was the rustle of a bush about twenty feet to my right. Even as I snapped my head to look, I was already moving because I knew what I’d find.

My heart leapedagain,because sure enough, as I took off, I caught a glimpse of him tearing out of the bushes, his hood up—though no mask, thank God—and body pumping, sprinting towards me.

“No fair!” I shrieked, laughing as I bolted away from him. “No fair—you were supposed to find me—”

“Shut up andrun,”he growled.

I laughed breathlessly, I couldn’t help it. But I sprinted too. I wasn’t going to give in easily, especially if he’d cheated and come early and been following me.

“Sneaky bastard,” I gasped as I juke-stepped between a couple trees and changed my line, trying to keep my head down below the level of the bushes and undergrowth that slowed my pace, but also gave me more cover off the trail.

My heart slammed in my chest, adrenaline flooding my system, giving my feet wings.

But the one thing I hadn’t anticipated was that we were hunting in daylight. And there were a lot fewer trees here. He could see me with every step—and I could hear him gaining.

I felt a swipe claw at my back and squeaked, darting to the left and over a tree stump.

Either Sam tripped on it, or something went wrong, because I heard him curse and his steps fall back. I laughed.

“You’re losing your touch, Sam!” I called back over my shoulder, turning to look for his snarling face, but I couldn’t see him at all.

Wait.

Had he hurt himself?

I stopped running, still looking left and right, catching my breath as my head spun. Was it a trick, or was he hurt?

“Sam?”

He didn’t answer. I leaned right to peer past one of the larger trees that I knew was close to that fallen trunk, but I still couldn’t see anything.

Then the hair on the back of my neck rose.

Someone was watching me.

Shit.Was it Sam or was there someone else out here? Had we been followed?

“Uh… who’s out there?” I said, turning a slow circle, but darting my head left and right at random times to try and catch sight of any movement.

Nerves tingled in my belly alongside the anticipation. I wasn’t afraidyet,but there might be reason tonotbe excited right now.

I took a few, hesitant steps back the way I’d come. I’d find that fallen tree and see if he was hurt. And if he wasn’t, then I’d know this was a trick and start running again.

I nodded my head once. Good plan.

Then my neck prickled again. As I sucked in a breath, a deep, ragged growl rumbled in my ear.

“Gotcha.”

I shrieked, half-laughing, half-pissedbecause I’d fallen for his trick, and whipped around, yanking my arms back and away because I felt him at my back.

“Sam!” I gasped, but he was too quick, one hand snaking out to grab the sleeve of my high-necked jacket, the other whipping around my waist.

I twisted, struggled, tucked my elbow into my side and snapped my wristoutto break his grip, then turned to run—but my second step was on air because he’d grabbed me around the waist and lifted me off the fucking ground.

“No fair!” I hissed through my teeth, kicking and twisting, fighting his grip, but struggling because I had no leverage with my feet peddling in the air.

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