Page 16 of Tainted Deception

“Over there.”

I could hear them moving before the words were even out of Kian’s mouth, and I sprang back to my feet, my eyes straining to see in the darkness. If I fell again, I was fucked. I pushed branches out of my way, deciding to head back toward the dorms. I could find a couple of hiding places before trying to find Alicia. I didn’t want to get her involved, but I was running low on choices now.

“Run or hide, Rynn,” Jace taunted, his voice getting louder. “Either way, we’ll find you.”

7

Runninglong distances had never been my thing. I could sprint from one place to another without any issue, but this whole nonstop running was seriously testing my endurance. My chest was tight as I inhaled short, rapid breaths. To get back to the dorms, I had to circle back, but with them chasing me, I hadn’t been able to.

And now I was sure they’d split up, making my neck prickle as I weaved through the trees. The darkness was both a blessing and a curse. It kept me hidden, but it also made it impossible to know where they were unless they were right on top of me. I could vaguely hear one of them behind me, and I pushed myself faster. If I could go around the back of The Pit, then I could take a shortcut back to the dorms.

“Shit,” I breathed out, skidding to a stop when a shadow popped up in front of me about twenty feet away. I couldn’t tell whether it was Jace or Kian, but I didn’t take the time to find out. I spun around, delving deeper into the woods, going the opposite fucking way of where I needed to.

“I see you,” Kian sang out from behind me. “Stop running. You have to be tired.”

A smart-ass retort was on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it, not wanting to give him a hint of where I was in the darkness. I veered to the left, darting around a thick cluster of bushes in an attempt to disappear again. Until I slammed into a hard body. I fell back, landing on my ass. He was on me in a second, not giving me a chance to get off the ground.

“Hey, Rynn,” Jace said quietly, his breaths heavy as he pushed me onto my back. “You didn’t think we’d make it easy for you to leave, did you?”

“Fuck you,” I hissed, flailing my arms to keep him from pinning me down.

He chuckled. “On the contrary. Kian told me what you said would happen if he catches you. I think you’ll be the one getting fucked tonight.”

The heat that curled through my stomach had no business being there, and I jerked my arm away before he could grab it. Instead of going for my wrists, Jace pressed his body onto mine, and he dropped his head. I froze in shock when his lips touched my throat before he nipped at my skin.

“What about me?” Jace breathed in my ear. “I caught you first. What do I get?”

Since my arms were still free, I decided to play along until I had a chance to escape him. Shooting him a wicked grin, I lowered my hand, letting my fingers drag down his stomach until I reached the waistband of his jeans. He stilled, his eyes darting to mine with challenge filling them.

“What did I tell you before?” he murmured roughly. “Don’t play chicken with me.”

“Who says I’m playing?” I tossed back, bringing my other hand down to unbutton his jeans. “Have you ever fucked in the woods?”

“Rynn,” he warned, not making any move to stop me from unzipping his jeans.

“What?” I taunted.

He was still hovering over me, his knees digging into the dirt on either side of my hips. He didn’t make a move when I tugged on his waistband in a silent command for him to pull off his jeans.

“I don’t think so,” he tsked, amusement in his voice. “I’m stripping you first.”

My heart thudded as I grinned up at him. “Why?”

“Because you’ll get me naked and then run off.”

I feigned a gasp. “I would never.”

“Please. You think I don’t know you?”

One of his hands suddenly slipped under my shirt, and he didn’t waste any time lifting my bra and grazing his fingers over my hardening nipple. A sharp breath left me when he pinched it just hard enough for a jolt of pleasure to rush through me. He stared down at me, a smirk lifting his lips as he switched his attention to my other breast.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked. “I know you’re going to try to get away.”

“Why would I do that? I remember how hard your tongue worked when you ate me out at The Pit.” I giggled when his mouth dropped in shock. “Be a good boy, Jace, and put your head between my legs so you can do it again.”

“Oh, Rynn.” The strangled words came out between a groan and a laugh as he dropped his head, his lips going back to my throat. “I was going to let you get away just so I could chase you some more, but that’s not happening now.”

He slipped his hand out of my shirt, only to put it between my thighs, pressing his palm against my pussy through my leggings. My back arched as I swallowed back a moan when he rubbed harder right over my clit.

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