Split(83)

The trance is broken when she whips her head around and takes off up the hill. The animal inside me can’t stand to be run from, so I squash my thoughts and allow the hunter to take over.

I zero in on her back while my legs eat up earth at my feet. She must hear me gaining on her and cries out as I give chase. She zigzags through trees, pushing past overgrown bushes, but she’s no match for me and the distance between us dissolves.

I reach out and snag the back of her sweater, pulling hard. She stops, stumbles, then slams back into my chest. My arms wrap around her stomach in a vise grip and I brush my lips against her ear. “Nice try.” I’m breathing heavy and her entire body shivers against me. “I’ll always win, Shyann.”

She arches, just enough that her ass presses into my stiff groin. I groan and take a few steps, pushing her with me and pressing her into the trunk of a large pine. Her hands come up to shield the tender skin of her cheek against the rough bark. We’re both breathing hard, my heart racing against her back, and the pulse at her neck flutters against my lips.

“Gage . . .” My name falls from her mouth on a needy whimper.

“What are you doing to me?” I don’t know why I ask, other than it’s the only question flaring in my mind, pushing at my skull, and I need to know the answer. Need it so bad I’d be willing to break her in half to find it.

I pin her hips with mine, making sure she can’t get free, and dip my hand under her sweater. Her skin is hot and sticky with sweat and my mouth waters to taste it. I roughly drag my palm up her side, branding her with a heavy hand, until I reach the silky fabric of her bra. I pull impatiently at it, more desperate than I’ve ever been to capture the weight of her breast.

She pushes back, freeing space between her and the tree’s trunk. “Yes, please . . .”

“Shhh . . . don’t beg.” No, I can’t stand the sound of her begging, the weakness, proof that I broke her. “Fight.” I rip the cup of her bra down harshly and she moans at the snap of stiches being torn. The heat of her tit falls heavy into my hand and I squeeze it hard. “Where’s my tough girl?”

Her body stiffens. Muscles coil.

“That’s it, baby.”

She pushes back, rubbing me with her ass. My forehead drops to her shoulder on a moan. “Fuck . . . you don’t fight fair.”

“Gage, I—”

“Shhh . . . I’ll give you what you want.” It’s what I’ve seen glowing in her eyes since the first time we met. The hunger, raw lust, simmering below the surface of a heavily controlled fa?ade. As much as I want this woman to leave Luke alone, to stop f*cking with his emotions, stop toying with his heart, I also want to taste her. I want to drive into her tight little body and hear her scream my name so loud the entire town will know who I am. I want to punish her for being irresistible and reward her for her silence, for her protection.

I pull at her stiff nipple, and she digs her nails into my arms. My hips roll against her ass, encouraging her to open her legs, while my free hand slides up to wrap her silky black hair around my fist. Once, twice, and I tug her head back. Her dark lips are parted, eyes closed, and she’s writhing against me. Damn, never seen anything so beautiful in my life.

“Fuck, look at you.” My mouth claims hers in a brutal kiss. Her head wrenched back and the long column of her neck so tempting that if I weren’t toying with her breast, I’d wrap my hand around it just to feel the life blood pumping through her veins.

I pillage her mouth with my tongue, coaxing her to meet me with equal force and she accepts the challenge. Her teeth nip at my lips, chasing me down until she finally grabs my lower lip and bites. I growl, whirl her around, and slam her back against the tree.

Her hands go to my chest as I pin her between me and the trunk. “Gage, wait.”

“What? No.” I pop the button on her jeans and shove my hand between her legs, cupping her possessively over her panties. “Don’t tell me to stop, Shy.”

Her cheeks flush and she bites her lower lip, her eyes flashing with carnal need. My hand has little room to move in the confines of her tight pants, but I manage to create some friction that has her body falling limply against me.

“It’s not right . . . this, us, it’s . . .” A low moan vibrates in her chest as my palm zeros in on the sensitive spot between her legs. “It’s not fair.” Her hot breath ghosts against my neck. “To Lucas.”

My body stills. Shit.

Luke.

He’s the one she’s into. Not me. She practically hates me.

I pull back and gaze down at her and the bitch has the decency to at least look embarrassed.

Suddenly I’m painfully aware of my body. The banging of my heart behind my ribs, the jolt of electricity I feel where her skin touches mine, my fingers aching to explore every inch of her naked flesh. And she’s asking for Luke.

My eyes pull tight and I press hard between her legs. “This for him, Shy?”

“I . . .” Her eyes search mine, as if she’s looking for Luke to save her. “I care a lot about Lucas, Gage. It’s his body, he should be here.”

“His body.” My jaw hardens and I step back, pulling my hands free of her.

She scampers to cover herself and button her jeans. Her eyes avoid mine as she smooths loose strands of her hair back into place. A tick of pride at knocking her off kilter swells in my chest. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let that go on for that long.”