Page 135 of Malachi
“Everything?” I asked again, my hands moving back up her body, up her stomach until my thumbs could lightly brush against the swell along the underside of her breasts.
“Said I could run a marathon,” she moaned, sinking back into my chest further.
“A marathon, hmm? I have a better idea,” I groaned, my lips finding the lobe of her ear, flicking it with my tongue.
“I had hoped you would,” she gasped. It did not escape my attention that she was already kicking off her shoes. She always preferred to do this barefoot. My wild little nature thing.
“Little Bird?” I growled, low and deep.
“Yes, my beast?” she gasped breathlessly.
“Run.”
CHAPTER31
MALACHI
The night air cooled my skin as I stayed perfectly stone still in the darkness. My breaths came in a slow, shallow, and even rhythm so as not to make any noise. I had to be quiet. I had to keep my ears trained on the sounds of her.
I was unfamiliar with this territory and had to rely solely on my hunter’s instincts to find her. The chase had begun. I had given her a head start, as I always did, but it felt like the stakes were higher in this uncharted terrain. Insects chirped and the wildlife of the night skittered across the forest floor. But no sounds of her.
Then a giggle tittered ahead of me, just to the right. My head snapped to the sound, my eyes narrowing as I peered into the darkness for any sign of her. Any shifting of leaves or hint of movement was all I needed.
My pulse thrummed wildly with excitement, my heart thudding against my ribcage as I stalked carefully forward, mindful of every step I took. The chase gave me the excuse I needed, gave me theabilityto actually let go of all things that made me Malachi Temple and let the Beast within come rushing to the surface. I embraced that change, accepting it with everything I was. I was the Beast. Her Beast.
The scent of change filled my nostrils, the August breeze giving way to the rapidly approaching fall winds. Pine and grass, water and earth. A million scents assaulted me as I closed my eyes, searching for her. Vanilla and cinnamon and something else wholly and undeniably her.
I snapped my eyes back open, searching intently for any sign of movement. I could see little in the moonlight filtered by dense tree cover.
Each step I took was calculated, slowly inching forward. I wasn’t chasing her; I was stalking her. Stalking my prey. The surrounding sounds shifted as I moved ahead. The sound of rushing water notifying me I was nearing the stream we had fished in earlier.
The trees grew closer together, making my steps slower as I carefully stepped over branches and scattered twigs that had fallen onto the forest floor. Deeper into the woods, I moved, the light growing dimmer as the moonlight became even more filtered through the treetops.
A twig snapped to my left, and I heard her.
“Shit,” she cursed in the slightest of whispers. But it didn’t matter. I had her. A predatory grin curled up my face as I turned and stalked with purpose towards my delicious, delectable prey.
I could barely hold back a chuckle as my eyes zeroed in on her. She had hidden behind a large tree, her head leaning around to look for me in the dark. I slipped behind a bush, giving myself cover as her eyes scanned the space between us.
Silly little bird. What a mistake to make when you’re being hunted,I taunted in my mind.
I skirted around, moving faster, but just as carefully, to the other side of where she hid. As I neared her, I slowed, my eyes scanning the ground for a rock. I found one quickly, picking it up and tossing it back to where I had hidden just a moment ago. The bush rustled noisily, causing her to whip back behind the tree trunk’s cover with a barely stifled gasp.
She was falling perfectly into my trap. She thought I was behind her, when in reality, I would approach her from the front, using the element of surprise to capture her and lay claim on my desirable prey.
Her pale skin shone in the moonlight as I watched her struggle to calm her breathing. Her chest rose and fell in short pants that she tried to quiet, unsuccessfully. The movement drew my eyes to her breasts. I wanted to rip the shirt from her body, laying her open to my gaze before taking my fill of her. I wanted to devour her, biting her flesh and tasting her sweetness.
Such sweet prey. Such beautifully sweet prey,I thought to myself as I stepped carefully closer. It was nearly impossible to keep my mind off of just how sweet she was in other areas.
The taste of her skin on my tongue, salty with sweat, with a hint of sweetness that was only her.
The taste of her tongue sliding against mine as I claimed her lips with passion.
The taste of her gasping into my mouth.
The taste of her sweet cunt orgasming, gushing against my lips and wetting my beard.
But there was nothing so raw, so dirty, so fucking primal, as my teeth biting down on her flesh as she cried out my name, the skin giving way, and the metallic taste of her blood hitting my lips. Oh, sweet bliss. It made me ravenous, filling me with a carnal thirst that could only be slaked by her.
