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The trees in the woods are dense, and the wind rustling the leaves makes it sound almost like they’re howling, groaning amongst themselves. The cool air has made the leaves on the ground and the grass hard, so they crunch as we step on them.

Lawson walks me to the edge of the woods, before quickly spinning me around as he pushes my back against a large tree. He lowers the hood covering my head and pulls the mask off my face before ripping off the tape, making me yelp in surprise from the sting that ripples across my face.

Blood splatter covers his face, and the crimson liquid drenches his robe, though the dark fabric obscures it. He pulls off the blood-covered gloves he’s wearing, before wrapping his long fingers around my neck, pushing against my throat until I gasp.

“Are you scared of me now, sweetheart?” he asks, tilting my chin so I’m forced to keep eye contact with him.

Even though I want to tell him I’m not, a different response slips out without me thinking about it. “How could you do that? Torture him, then kill him so easily?”

Lawson shrugs, the look of cool indifference remaining in place, but there’s a flicker of something I can’t identify in his silver eyes. “I would have done it simply because I was told to, but I did it easily because he touched you. He drugged you and kidnapped you. Fuck knows what he would have done to you if we hadn’t found you in time. So, yes, I enjoyed torturing and killing him, teaching him a lesson he won’t ever forget.”

I’m frozen in place, not entirely sure what to say as I look into the eyes of a man who just tortured and killed for me. Lawson presses his hard body against mine, crushing my handcuffed wrists, as he lets me feel how much he enjoyed what he just did. That alone should have me running a mile, but I’m not. As always, I’m trapped in his orbit.

Lawson rips my robe open and roughly slides my leggings and knickers down, before pressing his hand between my legs. He’s rough as he slides his finger into my pussy, making me yelp before it turns into a long moan as he sinks deeper.

His lips are beside my ear, his tone sounding almost taunting as he says, “I don’t think you’re scared of me at all. In fact, I think you got turned-on watching me avenge you.”

As if to prove his point, he pulls his fingers out, making sure the moonlight catches how they glisten with my juices when he holds them between us. His smile turns wicked as he pushes his fingers into my mouth, forcing me to lick them clean before pulling them out.

“Okay, sweetheart, here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll untie you and give you a ten-second head start. If you don’t want me to catch you, you’ll have to hide or escape. But if you want me to make you come like never before, you’ll be a good little slut and let me catch you,” Lawson says, his voice deep and gravelly.

“So, if I escape, will you actually let me go? Like I won’t have to be your Prize anymore?” Even as I voice the possibility aloud, I’m not sure how I feel about it.

Fuck, that’s a lie. I don’t want him to let me go. Lawson has a hell of a lot of red flags that should make me run a mile, but I find myself drawing closer to him instead. I’m worried I might be falling for him, red flags and all, but even that fear isn’t enough for me to run away.

When Lawson nods his head, my stomach sinks, but it’s quickly eased by his words. “I’m only saying yes because I know how this is going to go. You’re mine. You’re desperate for me to fuck you and make you come. So I have no doubt you’ll let me catch you.”

I keep my mouth closed as he unfastens my hands, making sure to massage the wrists once they’re free in an oddly sweet gesture. Only when he finally takes a step back, letting me know he’s ready for the game to begin, do I speak, hoping my words will unbalance him as much as he does me.

“I think you want to catch me and keep me because you can’t let me go. You’re supposed to hate me, to treat me as nothing more than a whore, but we both know you feel more for me than that.

“You’ve almost kissed me several times, and though I have no idea why you won’t, I can tell you’re close to breaking your rule because you like me, and that scares you. So run as fast as you can, because maybe when you catch me, I’ll give you all of me, my heart included. And maybe that’s exactly what you’ve always wanted.”

I don’t wait for him to respond; I quickly pull up my leggings, turn on my heels, and start running as fast as I can, but not before confusion flashes across his face. His silver eyes are shining bright, and I think I may have told him a truth he hasn’t been brave enough to face himself yet.

My heart pounds in my chest as I run as fast as my legs will carry me, the thrill of the chase rushing through me, and I hate to admit that I’m already enjoying it. Even though I feel like prey being chased by a predator, the excitement and anticipation is intoxicating.

Lawson was right; I crave his touch, and I’m desperate for him to catch me. I just hope I didn’t ruin the game by throwing our emotions into the mix. All I can do is cross my fingers that when he catches me, I won’t regret putting my heart on the line.

As Harper runs off into the forest, I’m left standing with the weight of her words sitting heavily on my shoulders. Am I in deeper than I ever intended to be? Has this shifted from her just being my Prize?

As the thoughts roll around in my head, I can’t help but wonder if she was ever just my Prize. I can’t deny I’ve been obsessed with her since the first moment I saw her, and no matter how much I’ve tried to hate her—or get her to hate me—I’ve never truly felt it.

Then again, I’m not entirely sure I can label my feelings at all. It’s not like I grew up surrounded by love and affection. I didn’t have role models teaching me what it’s like to care for another person, or how to let them love you.

All my father taught me is how to be cold and emotionless, and to follow instructions. I don’t even know if he likes Mum, let alone loves her.

Obsidian Order members don’t marry for love; everything is transactional. Who you tie yourself to for life has nothing to do with your feelings. It’s what they can do for your name, your power, or your wealth. So it’s hardly fucking surprising I’m caught off-guard by Harper throwing around words like feelings.

I have to admit, it’s getting harder and harder to resist those fucking tempting lips of hers, but that’s my last rule still standing strong, and if I allow that to topple, I really will have given her everything.

Bram thinks I’m a massive fucking pussy for having a no-kissing rule, but it just feels too intimate—or at least it has with every other girl I’ve been with.

In the past, I’ve never cared about the women I’ve fucked. Hell, I can’t even remember some of their bloody names. I’m more than happy to fuck them until we’ve both got the release we need, but kissing isn’t essential to achieve that goal. Kissing someone is intimate, and I don’t want to open myself up in that way. I have never even been tempted before…until Harper.

She’s never directly asked me about it, but she knows there’s a line I don’t want to cross, and so far, she’s been respectful of that. It’s clear she wants to, and her staring at my lips like she wants to devour them only makes me want her more.

Fuck, Harper really is messing with my head, and I need to remind us both that this is nothing more than sex. So I’m going to chase her down and teach her the lesson we both need.