Chapter 30 – Vale #2
I take off across his front garden. When I see those red roses, I remember my thoughts from weeks ago and know without a doubt that I’m going to fall into them, so I run away from the house.
I run away from rosebushes and the karmic thorns that will definitely pierce my flesh if I get anywhere near them.
“Stay away, sucker,” I yell back, not looking because I know I’m screwed if I look back. I’ll stumble into the nearest rosebush. I know it!
I’m running in an arc in his large front yard, laughing like a loon.
This house is so much bigger than it used to look.
I’m going to lose steam soon if I don’t find a place to hide quickly.
I finally make it to the opposite end of the house and stare in fright at the formal garden full of roses.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I turn a sharp curve back to the front yard, and that’s when I see him.
“No!” I yell with my hand out to stop him. “We can’t. These rosebushes have a bone to pick with me. Trust me when I say I need to run away from them.” I’m yelling this stupidity out and it doesn’t occur to me that he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
He stands there watching me bolt from left to right, trying to figure out which way to get around him.
His eyes are a beautiful bright green, so unique I believe it’s truly a color that doesn’t exist in the real world.
He’s all lit up with mirth, and he’s so gorgeous.
His man bun has fallen to the side, so I point at the crown of my head, bend forward, and start laughing hard again.
“Oliver, please, your hair.” I laugh as tears start streaming down my cheeks. Tears of absolute, utterly amused, delight. If I don’t stop this crying-laughter, snots going to start flying, and it’s not going to be sexy.
He falls for it and grabs his hair, taking the elastic out.
As he’s trying to fix it, I dart left and right, waiting for him to give chase.
He’s distracted, thinking something’s in his hair, so I fake left and run around him back to the front yard, back to the evil roses.
I’m out of breath when I get close to the front door.
He yells, “You cheat, get back here.”
It renews my vigor, and I keep pumping my legs, feeling like I could fly. The sun is shining so his fancy, vintage Ferrari is out front in the circle with the top down, waiting to go. It’s blocking my way.
I hear him behind me, and it inspires me to fake left toward his front door, but at the last minute I go right toward the car.
I jump over the front end so he can’t grab me.
My ass comes down on the hood. I lift my legs, sliding across and praying I don’t damage it.
I hadn’t meant to touch it at all. I was trying to jump it like a hurdle because, duh, I’m suddenly athletic.
For some reason I thought I could do it.
“Oops!” I screech as my sunglasses fly from my face and fall to the faux cobblestones. I don’t stop to grab them.
“Different game now, I’m going to kill you,” he growls, and he actually sounds angry. I refuse to fall for it.
I know how much that car means to him, but I can’t find it in my heart to care at the moment. I don’t give two shits that I may have scratched the paint on his fancy car. I’ll care later.
I’m laughing again, tears streaming down my face (or is that sweat). “Come at me!” I yell and make it around the other side of the house where there are no roses. I hope there’s not, at least.
“Baby, you promised you’d never hurt me. Remember?” I say, then start chuckling again.
“Leave the car out of this.”
He sounds so close. I pump my legs harder. “Yep,” I agree. It’s all he’s getting from me as I round the house. I run toward the pool house instead of the veranda that will take me back to those evil rose bushes and the formal garden I almost ran into.
“Fuck you, rosebushes!” I yell with laughter, flipping them off while I run toward the woods.
I can get lost in the woods, meaning I’ll find a place to hide.
I feel powerful. Who knew being chased was so much fun?
I would have knocked him on his ass earlier had I known.
This is the best. I’m happy, like a child suddenly.
The world is at my fingertips even as my sides start to protest. I can’t even let the memories of what happened in the pool house distract me.
I’m giving it my all as I try to escape.
“What is it with you and those roses?” His voice sounds farther away now. I’m getting away. He must be getting tired too.
I pass the pool house, running left. There’s a small, covered patio in the back, but I don’t linger.
I have to make it to the tree line so I can lose him.
I’m a jungle cat, all lean muscles and coiled power.
I can outrun this Lilu behind me. I already have.
I don’t hear him anymore as I make it to the line of beech trees covered in Spanish moss.
I slow down enough to jump over a fallen log.
Then I take off again, toward a large oak.
It’s so different from the forest on the other side of the street that’s mostly pine.
My feet slap against sticks and forest debris, making all kinds of noise, but if I can get behind that wide oak trunk, surely I can hide. I can be still and quiet, then get away when he passes me.
I make it around to the back of the tree and stop.
I’m about to peer around the wide trunk, but instead I take a moment to catch my breath.
I’m leaning right to see where he is, when my chest is suddenly thrust up against the rigid bark, my hands stretched high over my head.
Oliver steps into me, pushing me harder into the tree so every breath is a struggle to expand my lungs.
His chest is heaving against my back, his breath hard against my ear, my neck.
“Thought you could escape?” he asks, his voice so gravelly and low that I shudder. “You’ll never escape. Now bend over, Vale. I win.”
A shiver runs up over my spine. I’ve imagined this very scenario. I’ve imagined him fucking me against a tree, bound and helpless. Fantasy number three hundred twenty-two, I think.
He releases my hands, and I grab the tree trunk the best I can with my fingertips.
I walk my legs backward so I’m bowing. He drags me by my hips back against his, and the palms of my hands slide down the tough bark.
I want him to see me bent over. I want him touching me. I want him just as crazed as I am.
I’m breathing so hard, trying to catch my breath, but his fingers at my hips, those that are caressing gently under the elastic waistband of my shorts, are ramping it right back up. We stand like that for minutes. Time begins to move slower and slower in my brain. Why is he just standing there?
Move! Do something! Say anything!
I press my hips against his, rocking. I’m so turned on I can’t stop moving. My frustration is only amping up.
“Vale.” He says my name like a prayer, his voice deep and sexy. “You’ve been a bad girl.” His words are like a fiery caress over my too sensitive skin, creating fire in its wake. We’re still playing a game. Okay, I’ll play.
“Have I?” I ask with a smile on my face. I’m going to win this time.
Oliver growls like a beast. His fingers wrap around my ponytail, then he rolls it around his fist so slowly I want to scream. I love it when he does this. He presses his hips into my backside. I feel that rigid, thick hardness. I weep for it. I’ll get on my knees and beg for it. I’ll do anything.
He yanks my hair back so fast the breath comes rushing out of my mouth with a whimper. My body is arched back at an unbearable angle. My hips being held back against his cock. Who knew he could bend me to his will so thoroughly?
“Yeah, Vale, you have.” His words are so low, rumbling deep from within his chest.
I try to tilt my head to the left with the little slack he’s given me, but he doesn’t let me move very far. I’m on fire, burning so hot one stroke and I’d be coming against his hand. That’s all I need. I’d say please, but there’s a part of me that’s still fighting.
“What are my crimes?”
I can barely see his lips, but what I do see is an incensing smirk. He sure is cocky right now. Does he think he has me? I’m ready to play some more.
“You existing so close to me is a fucking crime, especially dressed like this. I imagine you knew that though when you decided to work on your core strength out on the deck.”
I smirk right back. “I’m a free woman. I can do whatever I want, baby.” My voice is breathy with desire and a wee bit of confidence. Why is it so hot for him to have such complete control over me?
“Is that so? So you think you’re free of me? You think I don’t own this?” He lets go of my hip before stroking up over my belly, the rung of each rib, until his hand slides right under my sports bra. “You’re saying I don’t own these tits?”
I can’t speak as he pinches my nipple. It hurts so much I cry out.
Soon his fingers journey back over my rib cage and farther down till he cups my sex in his hand, squeezing it tightly.
I try to push myself into his hand harder, rocking my hips, needy for the smallest amount of friction.
That’s all I need. Why won’t he give me what I need?
“Is this hungry pussy not mine, baby?”
My breathing is so fast I’m dizzy. I think I’ll hyperventilate if he doesn’t stop soon.
“You better fucking answer me,” he demands next to my ear while I squirm against him. He’s never been so rude to me, so demanding. He talks dirty, but this is different. His words wrap around me, choking me where I can barely get enough oxygen, much less speak.
“You’ve got five seconds to tell me I own your pussy or I’ll punish you. Do you understand me? On the count of five, got it?” he asks, but there’s no use. I can’t answer.