Page 16 of The Wallflower

I still stalk forward and crouch beside her head to stare down into her eyes. There's pain there as the man between her thighs shoves her legs apart roughly and enters her in one brutal thrust.

She stares up at me as pain morphs into pleasure, and I lean closer. "Where is she?"

A moan escapes her lips, and her eyes flutter closed for a moment. "I...don't know."

I catch a stray tear at the corner of her eye and squish it between my fingers, my gaze flicking to the man. "Stop for a moment."

Without a word, he stops, holding himself against her, his fingers clenching tight as he wars with himself.

She whimpers and digs her feet into the dirt to get some movement. He's too snug against her, though, so she doesn't succeed.

"Tell me where she is, and I'll have him start again. Was she with you for a while, or did you lose her from the outside? Give me a little hint."

She whimpers and tries to move again, and this time, I press on her chest, holding her there, not letting her shift even a tinybit. "Give me something here. Don't you want her to feel just as good as you do right now?"

She shakes her head, thrashing back and forth on the ground. "She's not like me. She didn't come here for the sex."

I nod. "You're not telling me anything I don't already know. She's here for the money. But sadly, she won't make it to the cabin to claim the prize.”

She laughs and struggles between us. "You're in for a fight, then. She's stronger than she looks andreallywants that prize money."

I release my hold and stand. "Carry on, then."

Back between the trees, I continue my trek. More and more people are fucking now, and their moans of pleasure fill the air. A few lucky ones are still in the race, and I scan the dense forest, watching for her to make her grand appearance. Any whisper or sight of her. Each second that ticks by without seeing her ramps up my anxiety. I’m strung tight like a bow and barely restraining myself. The longer it takes to find her, the harder it will be to stay in control once I catch her.

I trot along, scanning the woods now, peering across couples to make sure someone else hasn't taken what belongs to me. I'm not sure I wouldn’t kill any fucker who catches her first. I’ve finally found the perfect challenge, the perfect girl, and I won’t let anyone take her from me.

As frustrating as it is that she’s not making it easy for me, I have to give her credit for being quicker and far more clever than the majority. Almost an hour in and she hasn't been caught yet. At least that I can see.

I pick up my pace, my trot becoming a jog now. It helps to work off some of the pent-up energy. An electric current ripples through me when I see the glint of glass off moonlight about two hundred feet up ahead.

Is it her?

I grit my teeth and clench my fists as I transition to a full run. My lips pull into a prideful smile. She's full-on running, hopping over logs and a few rocks that haven't been cleared near the falls.

It doesn't take long to close some of the distance between us, and the closer I get, the easier it is for me to see her and follow her movements. Yes.Fuck yes. That all-too-familiar exhilarating rush pulses in my veins. There’s nothing like hunting them down, cracking them open, and seeing just how far you can push them before they break. That’s what I want more than anything… to own her, to make her see that she doesn’t have an option. She’s mine, even if she doesn’t want to be.

I'm strung even tighter as I watch her run, and the only thing pounding in my head is… catch her. Catch her. Fuckingcatchher.

She's all I need and all I want.

I run faster, my chest heaving. It takes a minute to close the distance, twenty feet now. She's so close that I clench my fists to avoid reaching out and giving myself away too soon.

Faster. Harder. Get there.

I jump over a log and keep crashing forward. I’m so close now I can see the pale length of her hair coming out of the messy bun she'd thrown it into.

Yes.

A shape to the left comes out of the darkness, and I watch as another man rushes toward her.

Ohhellfucking no.

I sprint dead out and take him down hard, throwing him across the dirt and grass. When I'm able, I shove off him and catch him in the ribs with my boot. "Stay the fuck down, and don't touch what's mine."

There's a soft gasp, and she's standing frozen, rigid, her hands cupping her face as she watches me.

CHAPTER 6