Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
He grinned and traced the line of my clenched jaw. “I haven’t even begun toying with you, pet. But if you’re ready to beg me to fuck you, I’ll take you back inside.” He clicked his tongue at me. “I didn’t think you’d give in so quickly. You must like me more than I thought.”
I recoiled from his familiar caress. “I hate you,” I spat. “Don’t touch me.”
“You don’t want me to touch you? Then you’d better run fast, darling. Feel free to take off the dress and heels if that makes it easier for you. I’ll even give you a five-minute head start.”
I stood stiffly, forcing my back to remain rigidly straight when instinct warned me to drop my eyes. Suddenly, his hand wrapped around my throat, squeezing. I tried jerk away, but his other arm banded across my lower back, trapping me against his hard body. His eyes flared with sick pleasure when I gasped for air and found none. My lungs seized, and I thrashed against him. He kept my arms pinned at my sides, tucking me closer to him like a lover. My heart hammered in my constricted throat, all my instincts for flight igniting as I twisted in his firm grasp.
He leaned into me, until his shockingly green eyes filled my wavering world. His full lips brushed mine as he commanded, “Fly, little bird.”
He released me abruptly, and I stumbled back, gasping for air. My lungs burned, and the trees swam before me. I took a stumbling step away from the monster, desperate to escape. His low laugh drew a shudder to the surface of my skin, and I lurched toward the woods.
“Four minutes and fifty-two seconds,” he prompted. “You’ll have to move faster than that, pet.”
A growl caught in my abused throat, and I kicked off the high heels that hobbled me. My fists sank into the organza skirt that hampered my movement, hiking up the material until it cascaded around my upper thighs. I didn’t have time for embarrassment to stall my flight for so much as another thundering heartbeat; I had to get away from Dante.
My feet pounded against the cold asphalt as I raced down the driveway, sticking to the smoother track for as long as possible. I’d have to veer off into the trees soon, but I would spare my tender soles for the first few minutes to put distance between myself and my insane captor. Taking to the woods would be my only option if I wanted to hide from him, but I had no idea how to get off the grounds if I strayed too far from the drive.
His laughter faded beneath the whoosh of my own panting breaths as I sprinted away from him. When the drive curved to the left, hiding me from his view, I sped right, breaking into the tree line. Slick leaves cushioned my bare feet, a small mercy that protected me from rocks that might pierce my skin.
“Nora!” Dante thundered my name from the direction of the path, and I pressed deeper into the woods, away from him. He’d started to pursue me. I would have to evade him amongst the trees and pray that I could find my way off his property somehow.
Something grasped my skirt, yanking me to a stop. I shrieked, terror spiking through me at the prospect that Dante had caught me. I stumbled and fell, the organza ripping as I tumbled into the leaves. I clamped my mouth shut, cursing myself for my scream.
“Nora.” This time, his voice was melodic, amused at my folly. He was getting closer.
I grasped my skirt and wrenched it free from the tangle of thorns that’d caught it. Some of the gossamer material remained strewn over the grasping vines, but I didn’t have time to cover my tracks; I’d already given away my location when I’d cried out, and Dante was too close.
I clambered to my feet and started running again, forced to move more slowly as the trees grew thicker. More brambles clung to the traitorous skirt, leaving a shredded white trail for him to follow. For an insane moment, I considered ripping off the dress and running naked through the woods.
But the fear beating at the base of my skull wouldn’t allow me to stop long enough to strip. My feet kept moving, altering direction every time he called out my name, trying to keep as much distance between us as possible.
I burst into a small clearing, and damp grass sprung beneath my feet, such a different sensation than the slick leaves that’d slipped and slid beneath me as I’d tried to run through the woods. A large wooden shed dominated the center of the grassy space; this must be where the groundskeepers kept their equipment.
My heart sank. I probably wasn’t very far from the house if I’d stumbled upon this place. I had no concept of how long Dante had been chasing me, but night had fallen, and the full moon illuminated the clearing.