Page 74 of Prey Tell
He releases a cruel-sounding laugh. When he looks back at me, his eyes—now the color of dark denim—bore into mine. Once he finishes rolling his second sleeve up, he cracks his neck before turning his gaze back to me.
“All right. I’ll give you a ten-second head start.” His voice is deadly soft. Something shifted in the last minute. He went from Chase to… someone else.
Somethingelse.
My skin tingles with anticipation as my heart hammers against my ribs.
“What do you—”
“Run,Parker.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
THE PREDATOR
Chase
My eyes focus on the way Parker’s throat bobs, the way her eyes widen like she’s a deer in headlights. It only reinforces the notion ofpreyin my mind. I clench my fists at my side as she turns and runs. The pull I feel to run after her immediately is potent, and my cock hardens as I watch her slip away from me, as I close my eyes and take a deep inhale, counting to ten. My heart pounds through my veins, beckoning me forward. When I get to nine, I open my eyes, and when I get to ten, I start after her.
I pass a couple of people lounging in the formal living room, but otherwise we’re alone. I don’t pay them any attention. Right now, my focus is on one thing, and one thing only.
Juliet.
I see her small form slip through the back door of the kitchen, and I clamp my jaw in displeasure.Of fucking course.I shake it off and follow her out of the door. She’s about a hundred feet away from me, and I jog as she runs. She glances over her shoulder, a look of pure excitement on her face.
Having fun, Parker? Well, that won’t do.
I want her scared.Terrified.If she wants to be caught, I don’t want to see it. It’s all a part of the game—all a part of why I play.
Twigs snap under my feet as I follow her past the pool, past the garden, and into the wild forest. She veers off the trail immediately, pushing past bushes and weaving between large trees. When she looks back over at me again, she looks a little less sure of herself. I grind my teeth as I slowly jog after her. She’ll tire herself out before I have to use my full speed.
And then she’ll be mine.
I push away all the doubts I had prior to this moment.
She fucking wanted this.
She wantsme.
And I want her so fucking much that it hurts.
My cock strains against my jeans when I think of catching my prey. When I think of showing her how rough I like it and what I can do to make her fucking scream. Of claiming her in every way I physically can.
I prowl closer.
I can hear the little pants of air escaping her lips as she continues. Her endurance is impressive, but of course, it is. She’s a runner. She’s probably able to run through this forest for miles. She can try, but I’ll always outrun her.
She turns and sprints through a clearing, heading toward a set of concrete stairs that leads away from the trees, toward the lagoon. A prickle of unease runs through me, but I push it down. Breathing heavily now, I focus on my target.
She takes the stairs two steps at a time, slowing considerably.Amateur.It tells me one of two things—either she doesn’t train laterally, only running on flat ground. Altitude is the quickest way to slow down a seasoned runner. Or… she wants me to catch her.
My nails dig into my palms when I think of the latter.
When I think of what she’s allowing me to do.
She crests the top of the hill, tripping before stumbling up and running some more.
Come on, Parker. Let me catch you.
