Page 198 of Upon Buried Embers
We watch each other, prolonging the inevitable.
I never knew I could feel so much intense pleasure, and I want it all.
“Ro—”
“Quiet.” The command is like a whip, and my mouth closes automatically. “You’re good at taking instructions, aren’t you?” I nod, my breath hitching as the deep gravel of his voice flows over me. “Yes, you know you are, Little Whisperer. Here’s what I want you to do.” He reaches down and unhooks the mask at his hip, letting it dangle from a single finger. “I’m going to put this on, and we’re going to discover just what else you like, hmm?”
My chest rises and falls heavily as I watch him place the mask upon his face, and I lick my lips when he tilts his head. The mask covers half of his face, and it makes him seem more powerful, more scary with the moon highlighting his form.
“You know the woods behind us?”
“Yes.”
“Hush, just nod.” I nod. “You’re going to go in there, and you’re going to try and hide from me, understand? And know that when I do find you, because it will bewhennotif, I won’t be gentle. There’ll be no holding back, not even a little like the other night. I can’t tonight.”
I look back at the woods just behind our tent and curl my fingers into fists.
“Do you understand?”
I nod.
“Do you want that?”
I nod.
“Good.” His smirk is predatory. “Then, what are you waiting for?”
I still as he takes a powerful step toward me, full of dominance and authority.
“Run.”
I spin, running past the tent and into the woods, feeling the predator watching me.
With not much light to show the way, it heightens my fear, a rush flowing through my limbs as I run past trees, checking behind me to see where he is, but finding no one.
Then I hear him, the dark laugh, and goosebumps rise over my body, my breath catching as I search for a hiding spot. But there’s none.
Another laugh, and I spin around, squinting in the darkness.
A noise to my left, and I turn toward it. Nothing.
“Oh, you have to run faster than that.”
A squeak escapes me, and I run again, faster this time, feeling like fire is nipping at my heels as it also burns within me.
Seeing a larger tree ahead, a branch low enough, I aim for it, then pause at the sound of a twig snapping.
Slowly. So very slowly, I turn, heart hammering in my chest, breathing loud even to my own ears. There he is, standing between two trees, watching me.
Waiting.
I take a step back, and he moves forward, stalking his prey.
Stalking me.
His body is tense, biceps bulging and his strong legs take another step toward me. I retreat, and I can tell he likes that when he moves faster. I back up even more, that fear ever present, I don’t know where I’m going until my back hits something, a tree.
I look up, a shiver going down my spine. I reach for a branch just there, but I gasp when hands land just above me, trapping me against his body. I look through the holes in his mask.
