Page 5 of The Hunted

3

Prey

Iknow he’s watching me before I see him. I can sense his eyes on me, sizing me up. He’s toying with me. A tremble of fear skates down my spine as I turn to face him, and my eyes widen at what I find. He is huge. His tall frame and beastly build cloaked entirely from head to toe in black would almost allow him to blend into the dark forest that surrounds him. If that were his intention, but it isn’t. Not at all.

He is built for intimidation. He doesn’t strike me as one to hide from anything, and right now, I’m trapped in place by my fear, the knowledge that he comes to me, to claim me. The tall weeds pull through his long fingers, as his powerful build carries him on silent feet. His gaze trained on mine, his target. I gulp down the lump of emotion gathering in my throat. Everything about this man is predatory. He’s every bit the Hunter.

I stand frozen, awaiting his unhurried approach. This man has no doubt that he will catch me. Neither do I.

I will my body to turn and run, fear and survival guiding my steps. I hear the pace of his footsteps pick up as the dried leaves and twigs snap under the pressure of his weight, his black jacket rustling on the breeze. My heart races so fast, it physically hurts from the fear of the man giving chase behind me. I have never been more afraid. This man is a wall of terror. His sights being set on me is the single most intimidating moment of my life. I’ve never felt so insignificant, so small. In my haste to escape this man, the skirt of my long dress snags against a snarl of bramble and I stumble, but two hugely muscled arms wrap around me from behind before I fall. His chest hits my back so forcefully, I grunt out a huge, painful breath as all the air pushes from my lungs. We’re falling to the ground. I’m bracing for impact when I’m suddenly turned in mid-air. He’s twisted us, to absorb the brunt of our fall. His back thuds onto the cold, hard ground. A low groan escapes his lips, and his warm breath feathers against the hair at the nape of my neck. The sensation causes a shiver to wrack my body. His grip around me tightens, drawing me in snug against his chest, his very muscular chest.

“You okay?” His voice is more of a purr as it caresses my ear.

Am I okay? No. Not really.

My body pulses with adrenaline and chills erupt across my skin, and suddenly, this long dress is even more restrictive, suffocating. The hardness of the bulge in his pants presses against my ass. I should be repulsed, degraded, and in some ways, I am, but his warmth, his presence against my body, isn’t as unwelcome an intruder as it should be. That thought scares me even more.

“Yes.” It’s all my brain can force out of my mouth.

“Let’s get up then, Prey.” He pushes us both up to stand.

When we make it to our feet, he spins me around swiftly, drawing me into his embrace. My palms fly up to land on his chest, my gaze lingering there. His warm finger dips under my chin and pulls my face up to meet his. I slowly lift my eyes, and I find myself gazing into the most beautiful amber, whiskey colored eyes I have ever seen.

He’s handsome. Painfully so. Inky brows frame those mesmerizing eyes. A prominent nose resides over his full lips. My eyes trace his strong jaw lined with dark stubble. My fingers dig into the soft material of his shirt. Dark hair covers one eye. The cool breeze causes the strands to wave, but the chilly air does nothing to stop the warmth spreading through my limbs from the scrutiny of his intense focus on me.

Perfection stands before me. I can’t stop looking at him, and he can’t stop looking at me.

“You’re sure I didn’t hurt you?” His slightly dimpled smile eases my nerves just a bit.

“I’m perfect.” The seductive tone in my voice surprises me.

“Yes, you are.” His whispered, raspy response spreads through my bones like warm honey, thick and rich. A smile ghosts my lips at his words. His fingers drag in a lazy circular pattern across my arms, his touch almost maddening.

“Are you ready to go, Prey?”

Just like that, the spell he cast over me has been broken. I’ve been so entranced by this man, I’d forgotten where I am. Almost.

“Yes, Hunter,” I reply somberly as he takes my hand and leads me out of the forest.

My fear returns to the surface, overshadowing the almost tender moment we shared. Maybe it’s because I’ve felt so very alone in my time here. My roommate and I are cordial but the girls here don’t fill that void. It was nice, if only for a few moments, to feel like a normal woman attracted to a normal man. That isn’t something that can ever happen here, though.

He’s captured me. I’m his to do with as he sees fit for the night. My nerves take hold as I can only imagine what I will have to endure this time. The only other time I was involved in the Hunt, I narrowly escaped that hunter’s savagery. The memories of that night invade my brain. I shake my head slightly, trying to rid my mind of the images that still haunt me. I know I have to keep up appearances or else they will figure out the true reason I’m here. I can’t trust anyone. Running away is no longer an option. I’ll have to take whatever he decides to do to me. It could be worse, I suppose, like last time. He is attractive, I can’t deny that. My fingers begin to mindlessly pull at the material of the dress, a small motion that does nothing to ease my anxiety. How do these women do this? Is it as terrible for them as it is for me? Never for one moment of my life did I think I would allow myself to be so vulnerable to someone else in such a way.

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