Page 27 of Burn it Down

His eyes flare, but he doesn’t comment.

“I want you to chase me,” I whisper. “I want to be the only thing you desire. I want you to lose control. Snap. Take me.”

My breath catches, but I speak before he can say anything, “I want you to take what’s always been yours.”

He doesn't move, but something shifts behind his eyes. He looks like he’s barely restrained. He takes one step forward, then stops himself, fists clenching at his sides.

“Baby,” he breathes, voice tight and raw, “you don’t know what you’re asking for.”

I hold his gaze, chest rising and falling. I do know. I’ve always known deep down Riven would be wild like this, and I’m ready for it.

“If I let go,” he continues, jaw ticking, “if I chase you... when I catch you, I won’t be able to slow down. I won’t be able to be soft or gentle like you deserve.”

“I don’t want gentle, Riven. I want you.”

He’s breathing harder now, like every word is harder to get out. He looks like he’s about to short circuit. “I don’t think you understand how much I crave you. How long I’ve dreamed of sinking into you, tasting you, ruining you. I need to?—”

I cut him off, voice steady, low. “I want you, Riven. Raw. Unfiltered. I want the real you.”

I take one final step back, snow crunching under my heel.

“Give me what you’ve got.”

His eyes drop to my mouth. His chest expands like he’s holding back a war cry. I swear I see his hand twitch at his side, like he’s fighting the instinct to grab me. My pulse hammers in my throat because this is it, it’s finally going to happen.

And the worst part? I want him to lose it because of me. I want him to give in. I want to feel his control break.

My stomach tightens at the thought of him catching me, of him pressing me into the snow with his full weight, panting against my ear, telling me I’m his.

“I’m going to run now,” I feel silly saying it, but it’s not like I have much practice in baiting a hunter.

Riven doesn’t respond.

He just starts counting.

"Ten."

"Nine."

I take off running.

Snow crunches under my shoes as I dart into the tree line, and my breath is sharp and white in the cold. The wind stings my cheeks, but I barely feel it because adrenaline floods my veins, pulsing with the knowledge of what’s about to happen. I glance back just once to see him still standing at the edge of the pond, his hands at his sides, fists clenched. He's letting me run. Letting me believe I might actually get away.

But I know better.

I know Riven Kozlov. I know what it looks like when the monster comes alive inside him.

And he’s awake now.

RIVEN

My girl takes off running, and the last of my restraint shatters.

I stalk after her, slow at first with measured steps that give her the illusion of safety. But she knows. She knows I’m coming, and she wants it. Needs this just like I do. I always knew we were the perfect match, but I didn’t expect this.

I can still see her footprints in the snow. Small, fast, erratic. She’s quick, but I’m built for this with long strides. I’m a lethal combination because I’ve been trained for the chase and starved for the kill.

Branches whip past me as I move faster, breathing in the trail she left behind. Her scent. Her heat. Her need. I can sense her. She’s everywhere.

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