Whoa.
Suddenly, there’s a knife to my throat. Suddenly, there’s a panting Haven, her hair falling forward into her face, her grey eyes gleaming in the moonlight… suddenly, there’s a woman on the brink of the edge standing right in front of me, her hand surprisingly still as she puts the point against my skin.
In an instant, I know what happened. She must’ve realized that I meant it. Had to know she couldn’t outrun me. So, instead, she ducked behind a tree, and rather than let me continue chasing after her while she backpedaled, Haven jumped out at me, threatening with my own blade.
Shit, that’s fucking sexy.
Especially since she’s not fucking around. She doesn’t stab me in the neck the same way that she jabbed the blade into my ass, but the way her lips are firmed like that… she’s thinking about it.
Damn it. What a time to get a fucking hard-on. It’s just about immediate, though. The way Haven’s glaring up at me, watching her wield my own weapon expertly… how could you expect my cock to behave?
Slowly, I lift my hands. She digs the knife a little deeper, a silent warning. When the blood trickles down my throat, it’s obvious she cut me, but as long as she doesn’t slash the way that I did, I should be okay.
And if I’m not? At least the last thing I’ll look at before I die will be Haven fucking Smith.
Then, because I’m Connor fucking Heyward, I give her a tiny smirk. “Tag,” I say, my voice soft because I don’t want to move my throat that much. “You’re it.”
I don’t think Haven appreciates my attempt at humor. For a heartbeat, I think she’s really going to slit my throat and wash her hands of me—but then the most amazing thing happens.
Shespeaks.
“Let. Me. Go.Connor.”
My body bucks as it hits me that that gravely voice, that hoarse demand… that wasHaven.
Holy shit. She did it. Shespoke. Each word sounds like it was ripped out of her, spat through gritted teeth, and she dug the point of my knife into my throat a little more with each word, but shefuckingtalked to me.
And that’s not all. When a single world costs Haven more than anyone should have to pay, she didn’t stop at ‘go’. No. She tacked on my name, using it for the first time since I rescued her, as though finally admitting that she knows who the hell I am. I mean, I know she knows me… but using my name? It’s like taking ownership of it.
Ownership ofme.
Fuck. This time, I really can’t help myself. Between the hate-filled look in her eyes, the delicious pain as the knife cuts me alittle more, and the rasp of my name—Connor—in her ragged, raw voice, I lose the last of the control I was clinging to and, with a gasp of pleasure, I explode in my jeans.
I haven’t creamed my pants since I was a fifteen-year-old kid who climbed the window outside of the Smith house, watching Haven undress before heading to the shower. Sometimes I made it last, stroking my cock and marking that tree as though I could claim the untouchable Offering. Other times I couldn’t hold it, and I ruined my pants before I could even get my dick out.
Since then, I’ve worked on my stamina so that I don’t embarrass myself when I eventually consummate my relationship with my wife. Tell that to my cock, though, because without her doing anything more than turning my knife on me and saying my name, I just lost complete control.
The way Haven’s expression is suddenly horrified? She might be a ‘technical’ virgin, but she knows exactly what happened.
I don’t get her to talk again. She just jumps away, throwing a look of pure disgust at me. Fortunately, she takes the knife with her, too, and she doesn’t run so… yeah. I’ll take whatever win I can.
I shrug. “Sorry, ladybug. You had a knife to my throat. You had to know that would turn me on. It’s okay, though. Chasing you through the woods… give me a couple of minutes to get it up again, and I’ll see if I can last longer for you next time.”
I want her anger. I want herfire. Shit, I wanther, and if this is as close as I can get…
Something flares in Haven’s stormy grey eyes. Could be hatred. Could be anger. It’s possible she’s rising up to my bait and my dare because, in that instant, the haunted look I’ve become so familiar with fades as murderous determination replaces it.
God, that’s so fucking hot.
I groan again, and she glares as she darts a quick look at my damp jeans before baring her teeth at me.
That’s fine with me.
“Hate me if that’s what you need to do. I can love you more than enough to make up for your dislike of me, but I promise you this, my precious Haven. One day, youwilllove me. I won’t have to keep you locked in with me. You’ll choose to stay on your own, and if you need to run, you’ll always run back to me. Because if you don’t… you need to understand that I willalwayschase you.”
Did I think she looked murderous before? That’s nothing compared to the look in her eyes as I make myself perfectly clear.
“Holy shit, Haven. You look at me like you could kill me, and, sweetheart?” My answering smile turns feral. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.”
