Page 48 of Stags

He caught up to the stag just inside the tree line of the woods.

Tawny was up ahead, disappearing between two trunks of the trees.

The stag was going after her.

Athos yelled, “Hey, I don’t think so, old man.”

The stag really wasn’t that old, but Athos wanted to taunt him.

Tawny turned, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him, and that made something in him feel lit up too.

The stag turned, grinning too. “Up for a bit of a spar, then?” he said, as if he was eager for it.

Well, okay, Athos had never fucking done this. But he put his head down, antlers first, and rushed at the other man.

The other man let out a noise like a roar, some kind of battle cry, and rushed at Athos, copying his stance.

When they collided, it hurt.

Their antlers tangled, and the stag pushed at him. Athos could feel that there was a playful element to it, but that there was also real force behind it.

He pushed back.

Locked together, the stag gave ground and then redoubled his efforts.

Athos was forced back.

The other stag pressed his advantage.

Athos stumbled backwards, antlers locked in with the other stag’s. He collided with a tree trunk.

The stag pressed against him. “Yield,” he grunted.

“No,” said Athos. “No way, that doe is mine.”

“You’re such an asshole!” came Tawny’s voice, but it was breathy. “And you can’t even fight anyone off, anyway.”

“Watch me,” said Athos, feeling his muscles flood with strength. He would proved to this woman what he could do. He would prove to her that he was worthy of this. He would prove to her that she wanted his sperm. Uttering a cry, he pushed with all his might back against the stag.

Who lost his balance and went sprawling.

Athos advanced on him, hands clenched in fists.

“Yield,” said the stag, laughing, hands up in surrender. “Yield, yield. Have fun, you two.”

Athos paused.

The stag got to his feet and ran off, further into the forest, right past Tawny, who was gazing at him, lips parted, eyes bright. “Shit,” she said. “You won.”

“I just fought for you, yes,” he said. “Told you I was going to. Now, I’m going to kiss you.”

She let out a breath. “I said you had to catch me first.” And she took off running, her little white tail bouncing ahead of him. The sight of it made him feel out of control, as if it was whiting out some rational part of his brain.

He ran after her.

CHAPTER TWELVE

TAWNY GASPED FORair as she ran like she was being chased by the hounds of hell. She hadn’t even been aware she could run this fast. She was out of shape. She didn’t work out very often. When she did, she liked to do crunches and to walk. She was not one for vigorous cardio.

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