Chapter Twenty Seven
The first time I ran a mile was in middle school and I threw up when I finished. Buffy had to hold my hair and rub my back while I got sick a few feet away from the finish line while the rest of our class made fun of me. It was embarrassing.
“She’ll get faster one day. Leave her alone!”
That’s what Buffy had yelled at everyone until they all scattered.
She was right. I did get faster and I haven’t puked once.
I don’t know what made me do it when Jaak said not to.
Maybe it was fight or flight, or maybe it was the part of me that knew exactly what his silver eyes meant that I took off the second he said not to run.
I’ve been running for about five minutes now in a game of cat and mouse with Jaak.
I’m smaller than he and quicker when it comes to slipping in and out of rooms.
At least, I am so far. Again, we’ve only been at this for five minutes. Time will tell how long I’m able to hold out or if I even want to hold out. I’m running with one goal in mind.
To be caught.
I pump my arms and force myself to go harder.
I sprint down a hallway and rush up a hidden set of stairs that I didn’t notice until the house opened the door for me.
Jaak isn’t far behind. He slams into the door the second it shuts behind me.
I trip once rushing up the small staircase when I hear him roar on the other side of the door.
“Meadow!”
Jaak’s voice is deeper, more wild, almost more roar than man. I love it.
“You’re not normal, Meadow. Forcing a sexy monster chase.
Seriously, what is wrong with you?” When I get to the top of the stairs the bottom door bursts open just as soon as I get to the top.
I look down and see Jaak, light from the hallway spilling over him.
He looks frenzied and bigger than he was before and oh my gods, I can see his horns.
His face has started to change as well, mouth turning to a maw, fur sprouting along his arms. He grips the doorframe and takes a step towards the stairs.
I hear the sound of cracking wood and only realize it’s the doorframe he’s crushed when he lets go of it entirely and part of it falls to the ground.
He’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
I don’t wait for Jaak to say a word, I’m off the second he makes a move.
I don’t know where I’m going, the massive house feels more like a maze than anything.
I turn left and then rush into the first room I come across.
I close the door and look around the dark room to get my bearings.
It’s a library, a big one. No, make that massive.
Rows and rows of bookshelves taller than me flank either side of the room.
Moonlight pours in from floor-to-ceiling windows on the opposite side of the room.
I wonder what side of the house I’m on. I go to the windows and look out and see the backyard.
There’s a hedge maze outside that I didn’t see this morning, but that seems a whole world and time away.
Never in a million years would I have thought I would be standing here thinking over my next move while Jaak chased me.
I have every intention of being caught but I want to make it worth it. To do that I’ll have to take Jaak right up to the edge of his control. I’m strong enough to take what he can give me, even if I know he’s scared to fully give into his desire.
“I want to protect you.”
My dear, sweet, husband. Of course he would want that.
He wouldn’t dream of doing the things he said, not without worrying about me and my sensibilities.
That’s okay though, that’s why I have freewill and I’m using it now to drive my husband mad.
He’s going to give us what we both want before the night is through.
A door opens and shuts in the hallway. He’s almost here.
There’s a row of books to my left that blocks off my view of the rest of the room.
I go that way to look for a hiding spot.
I’ve only made it three aisles down when the door bangs open.
It hits the wall and I hear a painting fall.
Adrenaline rushes through me and I have to put my hand over my mouth to not give away where I am.
There’s a heavy footstep and then another.
Why are Jaak’s steps heavier now? I tilt my head to listen better and I wait for him to pick a direction.
He’s only in the library a few steps now, plenty of room for me to sneak back out.
I duck low and start to walk towards the back wall so I can circle around to the door.
Each step fills me with excitement. Why am I so turned on by this?
If he chases you, then you know he wants you.
I bite my lip at the intrusive thought. Rude, subconscious.
Also yes, okay, there’s truth to the thought.
I know Jaak wants me already, I can feel it in my soul with every breath he takes but this is different.
This is proof to my brain, the part of me that feels lost and unloveable, that it’s not out of duty or some heroic sense of obligation that Jaak feels he has to take care of me.
He’s in here looking for me because he wants me.
I can’t believe it takes my gentle husband stalking me through the dark while I’m straight up creeping around to make me feel truly desired.
The imposter syndrome that makes me doubt someone would love me, really and truly want me with them breaks and falls away from me.
It’s nice, even if it comes at such drastic measures.
I leave my negative-nancy thoughts behind when I hear Jaak walking.
He’s picked a direction. I hold my breath and listen to his footsteps grow fainter.
Perfect, he’s going the other way. Escaping the room will be a snap if I’m patient.
I make it to the end of the aisle and pause.
I don’t see Jaak at first but when he moves to turn down an aisle on the other side of the room, I do.
My breath catches, it’s a short quick sound but it’s plenty loud in the library for Jaak to hear me.
He doesn’t move though, he keeps going and it’s not in the form that I’m used to seeing.
His human glamour has completely fallen away.
The curved horns and massive bulk of the Minotaur moves into the aisle.
He’s all monster now, or demon, I guess.
That’s why his footsteps are heavy. I wait a second and then another for him to get deep enough into the aisle before I make my move.
I rise up from my crouch and take off for the door but in my haste, I hit the edge of a bookcase and send a pile of books crashing to the floor.
He might have let my gasp go but there’s no ignoring the books hitting the floor.
“Mulberries,” I whisper. The library goes completely still.
I can’t hear him move or breathe, but I know why.
He’s about to pounce. I can feel it through the bond.
The link glows brilliant gold for a second and that’s when I give up all pretense of creeping and sprint for the door.
Jaak moves the same time that I do, but he’s a minotaur, which means there’s no reason for him to run around the bookcases like I’m doing.
He crashes right through them and barrels towards me like a freight train.
I let out a shriek and force myself to stop before I run right into his arms. I’m not serving myself up on a silver platter to him when this chase is just getting good.
My legs grow weak under me and they give out.
I hit the ground with a thud and barely have time to register the fall before I see Jaak.
He stands in the moonlight. Powerful, terribly beautiful, all mine.
I let myself drink in the sight of my horned husband before I leap to my feet and run in the opposite direction.
The abilities he gave me through our soul-bond are in full gear now.
There’s no way that head mage stands a chance tomorrow.
The second I’m out of this house and after them, there’s not going to be any saving them.
I’m fast and powerful, the chase with Jaak lets me settle into my skin with each passing minute.
I exit the library and power on down the hallway.
Windows line the hallway and there are no doors for me to hide behind.
Behind me, Jaak leaves the library. He doesn’t call out to me but I can tell he’s close from the sound of his steps, but even if the sound didn’t give him away, the way our bond shines bright would.
The closer he is to me the brighter it glows.
Interesting.
I make good time down the hallway, the doors in front of it are within arm’s reach. All I have to do is reach out and grab them and I’ll be out of the hallway. I never reach the doors though. Jaak catches me.
The bond between us glows golden, so bright it feels like the sun on my skin. I laugh when Jaak’s hand catches my hip, his other arm curling around my chest to pull me back into him. He lifts me off the ground and against him.
My laughter turns to a moan, joy mingled with pleasure in one sound. I feel his warm breath on my neck and then my shoulder before his mouth is there.
“My prize.”