Page 52 of Delicious Prey

His grey eyes are darker than usual, and I can almost feel the adrenaline coursing through him. One of his hands grips my ass as the other cups the back of my head, pulling me closer. The rage and bloodlust he’d just felt when ending Ivan’s life is quickly turning into something else, and I’m at the center of it.

He nips at my bottom lip and whispers, “Don’t fucking move, little bunny.”

Even though my heart is racing, I try to lighten things by asking, “What if I do? You going to chase me?”

“Yes,” he says, and the deadly tone of his voice makes two things abundantly clear: I will not make it far, and when he catches me, gentle is the last thing he’s going to be. I know a sane person would go full submissive right now, anything to not draw the attention of the crazed guy who’s barely hanging on, but that’s the last thing I want to do. A grin is already pulling at my lips.

“Zaika,” he warns while running his nose along my cheek, “don’t push me too far.”

“Let me down,” I whisper against his cheek, running my tongue up his scar.

He tightens his grip on me. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t trust myself.”

I rest my forehead against his. “But I trust you.”

His grey eyes look tortured with grief when he says in a low voice, “You shouldn’t.”

My first thought is cheating, so I rear back and grip his shoulders. “Is there someone else?”

He seems confused by my train of thought, but he quickly says, “Never, baby. I would never do that to you.”

Relieved, I pat his shoulder and say, “Well, okay then. Now put me down. I feel like running.”

He groans but gives me what I want. Slowly sliding me down his body, I let out a soft moan when I feel how hard he is. When I’m standing in front of him, he meets my eyes, and the security lights on the outside of the house are giving off enough light for me to see how dark his are becoming. He looks downright feral.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.” I eye the weapons he’s still wearing and debate whether or not I should ask him to take them off but then quickly decide that I want them on. I don’t question it. I’ve given up on trying to understand my reactions to him. “But you have to give me a head start. Your legs are way longer than mine, and it’s only fair if you give me a fighting chance.”

The corner of his lips quirk up the tiniest bit. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing, little bunny.”

“I told you I trust you.”

He grabs my hand and presses it against the cock that’s straining at his pants like a monster just waiting to be set free. “And I told you that you shouldn’t.” He leans down and squeezes my ass. “If I catch you, sweetheart, it’s not your pussy I’m going to be fucking.”

Holy shit. He sees the fear in my eyes and waits for me to back down, but I don’t. When I stand up even straighter and say, “I want a full minute head start.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he groans, squeezing my ass even harder and nipping at the skin of my neck, already so close to losing control. “Run, zaika. You have sixty seconds, and then I’m coming for you.”

With one last nip of my skin, this one sharp enough to sting, he pulls back and lets me go. Giving me a wink, he starts a timer on the large, black watch that looks like he could probably sail around the world with just that and a bottle of water. I don’t stick around to see what he’s planning, I turn and run as fast as my short legs can take me. I barrel around the side of the house, looking all kinds of things but graceful isn’t one of them, and ignore the sound of his amused laughter. I bolt for the path that leads down to the ocean, hoping like hell I can manage it in the dark without breaking my neck. My heart races, my palms sweat, and the voice in my head is frantically screaming at me, Are you out of your goddamn mind?!, while my butt cheeks clench in fear. That doesn’t stop the giddy, unhinged laugh from escaping as I slip and almost somersault my way to the beach.

“Ready or not, little bunny, here I come!”

Kirill’s voice echoes around me, sending a shiver of fear and excitement straight down my spine. It sure as hell doesn’t feel like a whole minute has passed, but I’m not about to wait here so I can argue with him about it. I run faster, feeling my bare feet hit the sand right as I hear his heavy footsteps behind me. I waste a few precious seconds looking back and trying to see him, but it’s too dark, and I don’t have time to wait. I face the ocean that I can hear but not see and take off.

My feet dig into the sand as I run faster than I ever have in my life. When I hit the water, I veer to the right, but I’m quickly running out of steam. I curse my lack of aerobic stamina and my love of red licorice candy as my pace slows and I gasp for air, hoping the waves will mask my heavy breathing. My legs feel rubbery when I start to slow down even more, and I’m just about to chance a look behind me when a strong arm wraps around my middle, pulling me off my feet and against a very large, very hard body.

“What the hell?” I gasp. “I didn’t even hear you.”

He lets out a deep, sexy chuckle, not sounding even slightly winded when he says, “Caught you, little bunny.”

Sliding a hand up my body, he presses his palm against my rapidly beating heart and runs his tongue up my neck before biting my earlobe.

“Your heart is racing, baby.” His teeth graze along my ear. “Ready to get that ass fucked?”

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