Page 66 of Beneath the Scars
I head home to follow his instructions and hope like hellno one asks me any direct questions about what I’ll be up to tonight.
Sunset has startedto creep over town as I park next to Michael’s truck. I expected to see another tent in the middle of the field, but there’s nothing this time.
Getting out of my car, I scan the area, looking for Michael. He’s not in his truck or anywhere visible in the clearing.
“Michael?” Nerves flutter in my stomach.
I scream as a hand presses against my mouth. “Ready to play, Trouble?”
My heart pounds as I suck in a massive breath of relief at hearing Michael’s voice. Jesus, that scared the crap out of me. I nod my head as best I can.
“What’s your signal if you need to stop and can’t speak?”
I snap my fingers.
“Good girl. Now, you’ll have a one-minute head start. If you’re able to evade me for twenty minutes, you get to choose what comes next. If I catch you…I do.” The words are a deep growl in my ear.
Oh, holy shit, this is happening. My body thrums with adrenaline while my pulse pounds in my ears.
“Ready?” Michael pauses, giving me a chance to snap my fingers if I want out, but I don’t. I have never felt this alive in my life. I can’t decide if I want him to catch me or if I want the chance to play director. The opportunity won’t come very often—of that I have no doubt.
“Run.”
I take off before he’s fully let me go, sprinting across the field and darting into the forest. The trees are thick with leaves clinging to the last waves of summer.
I bob and weave through the underbrush, my panicked brain not able to choose a path.
Leaves and twigs snap behind me.
A minute’s gone by already? That was too fast. I start sprinting again with very little planning behind my steps. Maybe my sporadic choices will throw him off. Up ahead, there’s a small chunk of plants crowded around a couple of trees. I dive into the spot, knowing that I’ll never be able to outrun Michael’s long strides. Not for twenty minutes anyway.
I’m panting. The whoosh of my breaths feels too loud in the stillness of the forest. It takes all my concentration to slow my breathing down.
“You can’t hide, little rabbit,” Michael says, his voice carrying on the breeze. Covered from head to toe in black, he strides right in front of my hiding spot on sure steps. His eyes scan the area like a hunter, reading every broken branch and track to find his prey.
I let out my breath when he disappears from view. I still haven’t decided if I want him to find me or not. The things he likely has planned for me are going to make my toes curl. But how amazing would it be to finally get a turn to dictate exactly what I want to do to him?
“Time’s up,” he whispers in my ear.
A startled scream rips out of my chest. Michael grabs me by the waist, hauling me out of my hiding spot. I kick and claw at him, the instinct to fight overwhelming the logic that catching me was the whole point.
“No!” I yell as he pins me to the ground. My wrists are locked over my head in his tight grip while his body presses mine into the dirt.
Michael looks at me, his dark eyes full of feral lust that sends heat pulsing through my center. My hips kick upward without conscious thought while the rest of me is stillfighting to get free of his hold. He hasn’t moved, his gaze taking in every one of my features. It’s then that I realize what he’s waiting for.
“Green,” I whisper, eternally grateful that this man will always put my needs before his own.
I’m flipped over onto my stomach before I have a second to think about anything else.
My hands are still pinned by one of Michael’s over my head. I have no hope of moving, and despite my attempts to break free, I don’t want to.
“Spread your legs,” Michael growls.
“No,” I grunt.
“No? You sure are grinding against me an awful lot for a girl who doesn’t want this. Shall we check to see if you’re lying?”
I don’t get a chance to answer before Michael is yanking down my leggings. The waistband sits just under my ass while the front continues to cover me.
