Page 23 of Harvest Maze

I managed to keep a healthy distance from my pursuer. While I was proud of stamina despite my lack of athleticism, the truth was that he was letting me think I could escape him.

The masked man didn’t want to end the game either.

Breathing hard and trying to calm my racing heart, I wondered what on earth possessed this man to follow me. How did Demyan know this was a game I would like? The idea of being chased was intimate. It didn’t have the same ghoulish aspect as traipsing through movie props and being freaked out.

As the black shape moved past my hiding place, I covered my mouth and held my breath. He didn’t look in the patch of corn but walked right past me.

The moment his shadow disappeared, I crept out, preparing to run in the opposite direction.

There was no warning. Not a sound as two arms snaked around my waist and plucked me off my feet.

The squeak cut into a huff as I was hauled against a warm, solid chest.

“Found you.” His voice wasn’t bright or carefree, but a deep, velvety rasp. “Now…what should I do with you?”

The words made my skin prickle with a fresh burst of anticipation. I felt both hunted and desired all at once.

“I don’t know, what can you do to me?” I baited him. How far was this man willing to go? The fact that he was here, chasing me, should have made his answer obvious. But his next words were still a tantalizing surprise.

“Anything I want, kráska.”

I thrashed about, but he only tightened his grip.

“I’ve caught you,” he growled, the heat of his breath making me shiver. “I’m not letting you go.”

This was better than any book or daydream. Demyan was real, and he was obsessed with me.

“I won’t surrender!” I baited him.

He grazed his knuckles down my front. “You already have.”

I could have gone back to the others. But we both knew I didn’t want to rejoin them.

“Have I?” I taunted. “Maybe it’s you who’s surrendering?”

To make the point, I ground my ass against him. I felt his erection, rock hard and straining.

“You’re playing with fire, little one.”

Then burn me.

He must have heard my unspoken words, because he dropped to his knees behind me, flipped the short velvet skirt up over my back, and groaned at the sight of the fishnet tights. One large palm covered my ass, kneading the flesh.

“I can’t wait to fuck this ass.” He drew the tip of his finger down the seam, making the tights stretch and strain. “It’s perfect.”

I wasn’t about to tell him no one had ever done that to me, because I was pretty sure it wasn’t something I would like. However, if Demyan did it….

Those thoughts zapped out as a sharp sting blistered over my cheek.

“Did you just bite my ass?” I yelped.

With a chuckle, he thrust his fingers between my thighs, ripping the tights as he explored. The strip of my panties was pushed to the side. “Look at you, already wet and ready for me.”

I groaned.

His fingers scissored. The pressure on my clit was incredible.

“See, already surrendering,” he rasped.