“No, Lex,” I say in a firm voice that won’t waver.
“No isn’t an answer because it wasn’t really a question, Selena.” He releases me from his grasp. “But I’ll give you a head start.”
He kisses me, and it feels like a goodbye. My worry shifts from him taking my ass to him chasing me off to leave me. That idea makes me more scared than being held beneath the water. It makes my stomach clench and my heart gallop.
“When the wolf growls, the bunny runs.” Lex leans close to me. Cold water drips from my hair and mingles with his warm breath, creating the perfect storm against my neck. He growls in my ear, sending a vibration through my body. “Run.”
I stay planted where I stand, with the lake’s rocky bottom beneath my feet.
His eyes narrow and he begins to count. “Ten...” He smirks. “Nine...”
I draw a sharp breath. He isn’t joking. I can see the seriousness all over his face. He ticks down the seconds, giving me less time to get away from him. This is his little hunting game. Well, I guess it was mine first, but it has much higher stakes this time.
This game will hurt.
I turn and head for the shore, but the weight of the water slows every step. It’s like moving through a nightmare, only I won’t wake up when his fingers grasp my skin. Sharp rocks dig into my feet with each step I take. I ignore the pain. What he has in store for me will make these rocks feel like walking on cotton balls. I’m already winded by the time I reach the bank. He slowly walks behind me, still counting down. His usually pleasant voice becomes ominous as each number leaves his lips.
I scan the terrain, trying to adjust to the foreign surroundings. The only light to be found is from the glow of the sun just breaking the horizon. A path loops around the lake, and I bolt toward it. The soil is wet with dew, and my feet sink into the earth. It’s cold mush between my toes. Embedded stones cut at my feet, and I try to ignore the pain. I have to keep going.
I can’t hear him behind me anymore. I can only hear my feet pounding against the path. I run toward the trees, using the thick trunks to steady myself as I climb up a hill. I don’t have time to think about my nakedness or my healing bruises. I don’t even register the branches thwacking against my skin. None of that will matter if his hungry hands catch me.
At the top of the hill, I lean over to catch my breath, scanning the direction I came from. I can’t see Lex, and I again worry he’s done all this just to leave me, that he’s run me off like a dog he doesn’t want anymore. This thought hurts more than the sharp stab I feel in my side with each breath I take.
A raindrop splatters on my arm, and I look up at the sky. Lightning cuts the waning darkness above me before the sky opens and the rain falls in a steady downpour. Fantastic. The drops roll over my skin and ice my bones. They travel over my chest and chill my breasts, hardening my nipples. I wrap my arms around myself to warm them.
“Rabbit?” Lex calls out, and I whip my head toward his voice. I spin on my heels and take off again toward a small pond surrounded by large rocks. The rain cuts across my eyes, blinding me. I blow it from my lips as I run. Just as I reach the first large rock, Lex pops up from beside it.
“God, I know you,” he growls.
I dodge his grasp and take off around the pond. My lungs burn, and it feels like there’s not enough air in the world to satisfy my need for oxygen. My heart races, thumping against my chest almost painfully. A sharp rock cuts my ankle, and I limp a few steps before the adrenaline helps me forget the pain.
My thoughts are wrapped up in Lex.
In my mind’s eye he looks like a predator, transforming into an actual wolf in front of me. I imagine his paws moving the earth as he runs after me. I’m the rabbit, using sheer speed to keep ahead of his gnashing jaws.
I stop at the tree line and turn, looking back as I lean against a tree to catch my breath. There is no sound. Nothing but the patter of heavy rain. He can easily hide his steps beneath that sound. I can’t see anything through the thick raindrops, and blinking does nothing to clear the haze collecting around my eyelashes.
The rain is relentless, just like Lex.
“I don’t want to play anymore, Lex!” I yell to nothingness.
An arm wraps around my waist from behind, and I scream out. A hand covers my mouth.
“Got you,” Lex snarls against my ear.
He presses his chilled, wet body against me, and I whimper into his hand. He keeps his arm around my waist and pushes me toward a large rock. He bends me over it, running his hands along my arms until he can grip my wrists and put them out in front of me, dropping my chest to the cold, slick stone.
“I’ve never let myself be fully selfish with your body,” he whispers, “but right now, the wolf is going to be a wolf.” He drops his hand from my mouth.
“Lex,” I say with a shake of my head.
“Shh, rabbit.” He comforts me for a moment by running his hands over my sides. I feel the grit of mud on my skin. “Do you trust me?”
I swallow. His hard cock presses against my ass. “I have to,” I whisper.
“Yes, you do.”
The rain patters against me and drips down the pebbled skin of my back. I tremble, not only from the cold but from fear of the pain he’ll cause me.