4. Gunnar
GUNNAR
I should take Rue back to the clubhouse.
Instead, I keep her hand in mine when the shift is done and tell the prospect at the exit that I’m taking the next perimeter check.
“Keep the entrance covered,” I order.
“Sure thing, G-Man.”
Rue waits until we’re past him before she asks, “What exactly is a perimeter check?”
“We walk the fence and make sure no one is climbing over it, cutting through it, or doing something stupid in the woods.”
“Do people normally do stupid things in the woods?”
“At our parties? Always,” I grumble.
The compound noise fades as I guide her down the narrow trail. Music still pounds behind us, but the trees swallow most of it. Out here, I can hear her dress brushing the leaves and the quick little breaths she takes every time I look at her.
She keeps glancing at my mask.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing.”
I chuckle. “Liar.”
Her smile flashes pale beneath the zombie makeup. “I was wondering if you’re always this bossy.”
“Yes.”
“That must be exhausting for everyone around you.”
“You didn’t complain when I told you what to do in the maze.”
Fuck, I like the way her lips part when she’s shocked.
“Stay right here.” I release her hand long enough to check the fence behind a cluster of pine trees. When I return, Rue has moved several feet away.
“Stay close.”
“Or what?”
Well, that’s interesting. There’s a new kind of challenge in her voice. Teasing. I take one step toward her. She takes one back.
“Rue.”
She gathers the front of her skirt, turns, and runs.
For half a second, I stare in disbelief… until she looks over her shoulder and laughs.
The sound slices through me and cuts the leash on my control. With a guttural growl, I go after her.
She doesn’t make it far in that damned dress. The skirt catches a low branch and spins her sideways, but she yanks it free and keeps running, laughing harder while I close the distance between us.
I catch her, lashing my arm around the middle before she runs again. Rue shrieks as I lift her off the ground. Her eyes are bright, excited, and completely unafraid.
My entire body burns like a torch. “You wanted me to catch you, didn’t you, little hellion?”
“No. No. Let me go.” She winks at me over her shoulder as she twists in my arms.
My pulse rate triples. “You want to pretend to fight me? I need to be clear on this, Rue.”
Her breath catches. “It just feels… exciting. After you chased those people in the maze, it made me start fantasizing.”
Two thoughts blast through my head. First one is hell yes. The second is that we’re playing a dangerous game.
Gravel-voiced, I say, “You need a safe word.”
She only hesitates a beat, then blurts, “Chainsaw.”
I set her on her feet. “Run.”
Her breathing is already shallow and her hands are trembling as she jerks her skirt up from the ground again and takes off.
Goddamn.
With my hand on my throbbing dick, I stalk after her. “I’m coming, Rue. Get ready.”
She squeals. Makes a right on a smaller trail. Then a left. She’s panting, the sound of her breathing loud in the dark woods. Every little gasp makes my blood surge.
We’re all alone except for the faint laughter from the fundraiser and the smell of the bonfire filtering through the trees.
“I see you.”
“No!” she wheezes, crashing through the brush.
These trails are tattooed on my brain, so I know exactly where she’s heading. With a feral grin, I cut across between the paths and intercept her. She stumbles backward, her hand grabbing a small tree. But I’m on her, looming over her.
When I grab her this time, she fights. Those delicate hands pound my arms. Her feet kick every which way under the dress.
“Let go, you beast!”
She weighs nothing. I could pin her with one hand. I will pin her with one hand.
“You’re never getting loose,” I growl near her ear.
Her heart is pounding beneath my arm, her body trembling, and every little wiggle makes me grit my teeth.
“Remember your safe word?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” I drag her to the ground, pinning her thighs between my legs as I capture both her hands in mine. “You’re mine now.”
She struggles against my hold, her legs twisting in the yards of fabric, and I lean close, letting her feel all of me pinning her. “Fight all you want, you can’t get away.”
When my free hand goes under her dress, she gasps and whispers, “Yes.”
This time I don’t bother with untying her undergarments. I rip them open with a growl.
Rue moans wildly.
Fuck. She’s wetter than before and the restless way her thighs move makes my vision blur. Wasting zero fucking seconds, I finger her, getting her ready for my size.
“Gonna fuck you unless you tell me no. Unless you use your safe word.”
Rue’s eyes are bright as she looks up at me and all she does is bite her lip.
Fuck. Me.
My belt buckle rattles loudly as I rip it open. I’m in such a frenzy to get inside her, I almost forget the condom. After one-handing my wallet, I pull it out with my teeth and rip it open.
A groan hangs in my throat as I roll it on. “Fight me, little zombie,” I rasp as I shove her legs wider with my thighs.
Her nails bite into the hand that’s pinning her wrists and she twists her body wildly below me.
Goddamn. I never knew I had this in me. Didn’t know I’d get off on holding her down. Or how hard I’d be because Rue is play fighting me. But I am. My cock has never throbbed like it does now.
“Off. Me,” Rue growls, yanking her arms, her legs twisting on either side of my thighs. The leaves rustle. The darkness folds in on us as a single driving thought takes over my brain.
Claim her.