Page 41 of Forbidden Harvest

“You’re welcome, baby. I wanted to take care of you.” His voice softens. “I know you’ve been through a lot.”

After breakfast, I help him clear the table. The electric tension lingers between us like a living, breathing entity.

“Do you want to walk in the woods?” he asks.

My pulse quickens. “What did you have in mind?”

He leans closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “We strip down, wear only our masks, and play a game of chase. I’ll give you a head start.” His lips curve in a wicked smile. “If I catch you...” He lets the sentence hang.

My breath catches at the prospect. “Okay,” I whisper.

We step out onto the terrace and undress, the cool air caressing my skin as I pull off each layer.

Once we’re both completely naked, Jared steps close, his body a tempting proximity to mine. He hands me the porcelain doll-like mask I wore at the party. I secure the ties, the eyeholes allowing me a tantalizing glimpse of his chiseled form.

“Jared, wait.” I hesitate, my fingers trailing along his arm. “Can we incorporate consensual nonconsent again, too?”

A feral gleam enters his eyes, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “You want me to force you again, Aria? Claim you against your will?”

My heart skips a beat as forbidden fantasies flash through my mind. “Yes...”

“Fuck, Aria. You have no idea how hard I get when you scream for me to stop.” He leans closer, his warm breath fanningmy cheek as he speaks in a low, gravelly tone. “I want to bend you over a log in the woods and fuck you from behind while you scream for me to stop. Do you want that?”

My breath catches in my throat as my body responds to his crude suggestion. “Yes,” I whisper, my voice hoarse with need.

A dark smile stretches his lips. “Your wish is my command, baby sister.” His thumb brushes my lower lip, sending a jolt of desire straight to my core. “Remember the safe word, ‘mercury.’ If you need me to stop at any point, just say it.”

I nod, my pulse pounding in my ears. “I’m ready.”

Jared’s eyes darken with hunger as he steps back, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He dons his skull mask, his gaze moving between me and the forest. “Run,” he growls.

I bolt into the woods, my heart drumming wildly. The soft ground springs beneath my feet as I dash between the trees, my laughter ringing through the forest. I want him to catch me, my body yearning for his touch.

The cool air bites my naked skin.

I know he’s close behind, his eyes feasting on the sight of my bare body in motion.

I’m acutely aware of every sensation—the wind teasing my skin, the soft earth beneath my feet, the scent of pine filling my lungs. The forest echoes with our presence—my breathy laughter, the soft crunch of leaves under our feet, and the occasional snapping of branches as we tread off the path.

Entering a small clearing, I spin around, searching for him.

Then I hear it—the swift padding of footsteps closing in. I dart away, my skin tingling with anticipation, every nerve ending alive.

He’s gaining on me. Suddenly, his hand closes around my wrist, and he yanks me into him. A scream tears from my lips, and Jared slaps his hand over my mouth to stifle it.

“Careful, princess. You don’t want to draw unwanted attention to our game,” he growls, holding me against a broad tree, his body a wall of heat pressing into me.

I struggle against him, my hands pushing at his chest.

Jared’s hands are everywhere, and I quickly fall into my role as the victim.

“Please, stop.” I gasp, a mix of reluctance and need in my voice as I try to wriggle free. “Not out here.”

But my half-hearted protests only spur him on. He lifts me, pressing my back against the tree, his body wedged between my thighs. He’s thick and hard, and I know what’s coming.

“You don’t want this, Aria?” He growls. “Say it again.”

“I don’t want it.” My voice shakes as I lie, my body already responding to him. I can feel my arousal gathering between my thighs, betraying my true desires.

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