Rising to my feet, I carefully brush the crisp, decaying leaves from my ass, the remnants of my momentary repose clinging stubbornly to my jeans. With a sense of finality, I tuck my journal back into my worn canvas bag.
A chill runs down my spine as an unsettling sensation washes over me, creeping into my thoughts like a shadow. It feels as if invisible eyes are upon me, scrutinizing my every move.
With a surge of anxiety, I whip my head to the right, straining to catch a glimpse of anyone nearby, but the area remains eerily empty, the silence almost deafening.
I take a cautious step to the left, my heart racing in my chest, when suddenly my breath catches in my throat. A figure looms in the distance, impossibly tall and shrouded in darkness, clad in what seems to be a metal mask that obscures his features. He leans leisurely against the trunk of an ancient tree, and a scream erupts from my lips, echoing into the stillness of the evening.
My scream is abruptly muffled by a rough, calloused hand that clamps down over my mouth, sending a wave of panic crashing over me. The suddenness of it steals my breath, and my heart races as fear grips me tightly.
Warm lips touch my ear, and a hard, muscular body presses against mine. One hand covers my mouth, the other gently slides to my stomach, pulling me harder against his... erection?
His laugh is wickedly delicious. My body responds in ways it most certainly should not be responding right now.
His warm, wet tongue slides over my earlobe, causing my insides to flip, as he whispers, “If you scream, we will punish you. If you run, we will chase you and fuck you right where we catch you…” His voice, a sultry whisper with a smooth timbre, rings deeply, sending a delicious thrill coursing through my body, igniting every nerve with an electrifying warmth.
“But why do I sense that that’s exactly what you want,Dani?”
Chapter 6
Dani
How does he know my name? I shake my head, not important right now.
Think, Dani.
My mind races with a whirlwind of thoughts, each one battling for attention like waves crashing against the shore.
As adrenaline surges through my veins, I feel a heightened awareness of every detail around me—the faint sounds of a bird cooing, the rush of my heartbeat echoing in my ears, and the electric energy that seems to pulse against my chest.
I lift my foot off the ground and slam my boot heel into the man’s foot as hard as possible.
He hisses menacingly, “That’s not going to do anything, little dove.” His voice drips with condescension, cutting through the night like a cold blade.
The leaves crackle beneath the weight of movement to my right, and another figure emerges from the shadows—with a metal mask. As he shifts, the patterns etched into the surface seem to dance and ripple, giving the impression that the metal is alive.
“Now, Dax,” he says smoothly, his tone almost playful, “this isn’t any way to treat our lady. Let her go. She won’t run.”
‘Our lady’? The fuck I am!
The words linger in the air, thick with implications, as I process the unexpected claim, my heart racing with trepidation.
His voice flows like silk, smooth and soothing, complemented by an underlying gentleness that wraps around me like a warm embrace, as if he is calming down my emotions. “Dani, it’s ok, we aren’t going to hurt you. Butwe do need some things from you…” His masked gaze shifts from me to the man, Dax, behind me. “Drop your hands, Dax!”
“Calm down, Killian,” Dax grits his teeth while still holding me tightly. “Only if she promises not to scream,” his low voice sends shivers down my spine and legs.
His grip tightens around my mouth, warm yet unforgiving, and the familiar surge of panic rises from my throat, threatening to burst forth.
He leans closer, the metal on his face cold on my skin. “If I let go, Dani, will you behave like a good girl?” The weight of his words send a chilling challenge that makes my heart race.
I nod slowly, feeling a surge of determination, and Dax immediately retracts his hand from my mouth, relief washing over me like a cool breeze. Warm and salty tears cascade down my cheeks as a mix of fear and adrenaline courses through my veins.
The instant his other hand relinquishes its hold on my stomach, I spring into action, bolting forward with every ounce of strength I possess.
The man Dax called Killian yells at Dax. “Now you’ve done it! I told you not to sneak up on her! She is terrified of us!”
As I sprint into the thick woods, my feet pound against the uneven ground, branches clawing at my arms and legs. A branch with massive thorns rips through the fabric of my shirt, tearing my skin open. I whimper. Blood rushes down my arm.
My arm burns, but I push myself to go straight, the underbrush rustling beneath my hurried steps. I can feel the weight of the other man’s presence nearby; his silhouette starkly etches against the soft silver glow of the moonlight.
