Page 58 of Voracious

He shakes his head. “Do you want me to stop? Do you want me out of your life for good?”

Silence.Dammit,Luciella, you know you like him!I want to yell at her, but I stay frozen in place, watching this unravel. I’m shocked Kade hasn’t barged in yet.

Maybe he knows I’m trapped in here and that his sister and best friend are currently in the middle of an… argument? I don’t know what this is.

“Tell me right now to stop and I’ll walk out that door and forget the obvious chemistry between us. I’ll cease all contact. Just say the word and I’m gone.”

Lu hugs herself, and I really want to break out of here and cuddle her, to tell her that it’s okay. I feel horrible that I’m witnessing all of this without them knowing.

Base goes to her again and tucks a blonde strand of hair behind her ear. “Princess…”

“I can’t,” she says, closing her eyes. “I can’t.”

“Then say the words and I’m gone.” He strokes his thumb across her cheek gently. “You’ll never have to deal with me again.”

“I want…” She clears her throat, her jaw shaking as a tear slips down her cheek, and she closes her eyes and presses her cheek into his palm. “I want you to stop,” she replies quietly, opening her eyes up to him. “Please.”

He lets her go and takes a step back, nodding. “Right.”

“I’m sor—”

Base is gone before she can finish, the door slamming behind him.

Lu is silent, chewing on her painted red lips before blowing out a breath, wiping under her eyes and closing them. “God, you’re such an idiot, Luciella,” she mutters to herself, sniffing and grabbing her mask. “Such a goddamn idiot.”

Revealing myself will put her in a position I don’t want to put her in. She’ll feel the need to explain, but she’ll tell me when she’s ready. If there’s anything to tell.

She walks to the door, stops and takes a few breaths, plants a fake smile on her face before it drops again, then puts on her mask and vanishes.

My phone vibrates as I push out of the closet.

Kade:You can’t hide in there forever.

I grab my bat, sneak out of the room and slowly make my way through the wing. The main stairway has a couple at the bottom and a very drunk girl on the phone with someone. I go to the left wing, nervously checking each room – walking in on people fucking and shouting an apology before slamming the door.

The lights in the hallway cut off when I reach the furthest part of the manor. I spin around, unable to see a thing, my heart racing. “Hello?” I call out, getting nothing in return. “Bathroom” by Montell Fish starts playing in the distance, and as I hear a door slam behind me, I scream and run as fast as I can in my heels.

I manage to get to the stairs, but instead of going down, I climb them to the top floor, rushing down the left wing again, my bat still in hand.

There, the lights cut off as well, and I press my back to the wall, breathless and hating how tight my corset is as my heart rate accelerates to a dangerous level. Fear and excitement engulf me, yet between my legs is soaked, and my core pulses as a shadow appears from around the corner.

Deep, dragged-out inhalations, the bright ember of a cigarette burning bright as he comes towards me, blowing the smoke in a cloud above him. I gulp, wet my lips and bite the bottom one.

One step. Two. Another. Slowly, he closes the distance between us, and slowly, butterflies go from fluttering to causing absolute chaos deep within me. But I’m not ready to be found – I’m getting a hot thrill from the chase.

I press the tip of the bat to his chest, stopping him in his tracks, and I back away. “Not yet,” I say. “You’re not getting anywhere near me unless you put in some effort.”

He tilts his head, and God, it shouldn’t be hot, the silence from him, but it is.

The more I back away, the less I see of him in the dark corridor. Until the only things reminding me that he’s really there are the sound of his breaths and the bright ember burning.

We’ve never done this before. Sure, he chased me through the manor grounds once, but not with the intent to fuck me. Plus, I doubt I’m going to be getting it slow and gentle.

Once I know he’s going to give me a head start, I run again. I get to the second floor before I need to catch my breath.

My phone dings.

Kade:If you keep heading downstairs, people will see us. I think you really want them to witness you getting your ass fucked.

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