Page 85 of Pretend
“You shouldn’t.”
He leans into my neck so that every time he exhales on my skin, it sends shivers down my spine. “Run, little Valentine. Run away from me. I’ll give you a headstart, but you better run fast because if I catch you, you will regret asking Creature to come out to play, and I’ll show you just how mad you’ve driven me.” I can feel the sadism through his fingers.
“We’re on a military base. There is nowhere to run.” I barely choke out as I feel the blood pounding in my head from the circulation getting cut out, and I swear I’m about to pass out. Darkness clouds the edges of my vision, color fading in and out. I glance at Daegan, and for the first time, his ice eyes beam black with anger. I blink slowly, trying to beg him to stop, but I’ve grown weak, and my lips are paralyzed. I’m trying to let him know I’ve found a boundary I might want him to break.
I can’t fucking breathe anymore. Wetness flows down my cheeks, like a rainstorm, when I realize this is exactly what he wants. And that makes everything so much hotter. The fucked up side of me is smiling, and my clit throbswith need. My feet grow weak, and alas, my hearing goes silent as he continues to choke me. He tightens his grip one last time just before everything goes full obsidian.
He lets me go, and like the earth needs the sun, I gasp for air over and over again, coughing as I recover. I fall to my knees, and pain strikes back hard as I hit the floor. I desperately inhale the air that was stolen by the devil in front of me, like it’s my last day on Earth.
This man is going to kill me…and my dumbass would say thank you.
“That’s your problem, Alessia. Your headstart starts now. You better run to your barracks room for the night because I swear to God, if I see you with Zeke again, a bodybag will be filled tonight.”
“You’re an arrogant, self-centered asshole. Let me live my life. You’re supposed to watch over me. Not control me.” I argue.
“Watch me.”
“Fuck you.” I massage my neck, yet I’m so turned on by his unforgiving hand necklace.
“By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be begging me too, baby girl.” He stares me down like he’s starving.
31
ALESSIA
I wantto tick him off even more, I whip around fast, my hair whirls around to my other shoulder, as I head for the exit.
“I’m going to finish my date with Zeke.”
“Alessia,” He growls as I throw the door open, “Don’t.” He finishes his stark warning from behind me, and I take off running.
I hear a feral groan over his indignant steps, like I’m being chased by a monster.
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
I zip out of the building as fast as my feet let me. I run into the night’s dry air, passing the fire pit. I sneak a glance at everyone surrounding it, and Zeke looks confused as he sits next to Doom, texting vigorously on his phone. He’s oblivious to what’s going on behind him.
“To your room, Valentine.” Daegan barks out from behind me.
A vast shadow is catching up to me, and I smirk, taunting my bodyguard further.
Where I go, he has to follow.
“No,” I murmur.
His eyes darken under the moonlight, and his head tilts to the side. “You want me to chase you?”
I walk backward, biting my lip until I taste iron.
He keeps stalking toward me as his ice-grey eyes light up. His scars tweak with madness.
“You want me to break you?”
I take another step back, inhaling sharply.
“You want me to lose control and take you?”
My cheeks are on fire, and my panties are soaked.
