Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
I want it. Whatever he does to me, whatever wicked, filthy things he craves, I want them too.
I spot a small trail, nearly overgrown by the thick underbrush, off to the left. I dash toward it, my heart pounding. My lungs burn. So do my legs.
I'm nearly at the little trail when his rough hand clamps down on my shoulder.
I spin without conscious thought, wrenching away from him and lashing out with my foot. It connects with his thigh.
He throws his head back and laughs—the deep sound bouncing back from the trees. "Oh, sweetheart," he practically purrs. "You really shouldn't have done that."
I take off again, sprinting down the narrow path, my heart pumping fire through my veins. I've never felt so free, so desired. Out here in the middle of the forest with him chasing him, I feel more at home than I ever did in my own kingdom.
I dodge around trees and crash through the underbrush, my lungs on fire. But I don't stop running. He's still behind me, still chasing me.
And God help me, I love every second of it.
I see the clearing ahead, the blue water of the pond stretching from one side to the other. I'm almost there.
His arms close around me from behind, yanking me backward. "Caught you," he growls against my ear, dragging me up against a tree. His mouth comes down on mine in a hard kiss.
I bite his lip.
He laughs again, grabbing the hem of my yellow sundress and ripping it up over my head. The cool breeze hits my naked skin, pulling a gasp from my lips.
"I warned you," he murmurs, his hand sliding down my belly. My muscles clench beneath his palm, arousal flooding between my legs.
"Troy!" I shout, my head flying back as he thrusts two fingers inside me.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
"You're mine now, sweet little Thalia. Mine."
No. Not yet.
I rip myself from his arms, shoving as hard as I can against his chest. He stumbles back, nearly falling on his ass.
I take off again, racing away. I burst out into the clearing, triumph coursing through my veins. Desire eating me alive.
"If you want me, come and get me," I shout over my shoulder, running toward the edge of the pond.
"You're in so much fucking trouble when I catch you this time, Thalia," he growls, his voice a lot closer than I expected. I can practically feel his breath on the back of my neck.
I run faster, laughing. I'm not afraid of him. He doesn't scare me. This is the most fun I've ever had.
"Thalia, look out!" His sharp warning comes too late.
My feet tangle on a massive root, pitching me forward. I cry out in shock, spinning to the side to avoid being impaled on a giant, jagged rock.
The pond rushes up to meet me.
"Thalia!" Troy roars in terror as I crash below the surface, sinking.
The cold water sends a shock through me. For a moment, I can't move. I can't think. I simply sink, too stunned to do anything. And then a powerful jolt rips through me—my instincts kicking in.
Before I can even bunch my muscles to propel myself to the surface, Troy is there, his strong arms closing around me, dragging me toward the sunlight.
We break the surface, water sluicing from us in a flood. I gasp, choking. He clings to me, running his hands all across me, almost frantic.
"Thalia," he says, panic in his voice. "Talk to me. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Please, tell me you aren't hurt."
The same stark fear reflects in his eyes. It's stamped across every line of his gorgeous face. He's afraid for me. Terrified, even.
My heart melts at the realization that this powerful prince just dove into the pond fully clothed to rescue me—that he's trembling in fear because he was afraid to lose me.
No, he's not a tyrant. He's the man I'm already falling in love with.
I crash my lips against his, wrapping my legs around his waist, trying to meld us into one person. Desperate to feel every inch of him.
He groans, his hands digging into my hips. "Thalia," he breathes against my lips. "Fuck, Thalia."
Fear from my fall and excitement from the chase race through me, creating a maelstrom of need. It hurts. God, it hurts.
"Troy, please," I whimper, clawing his back. Biting his lip.
He knows what I want, what I need.
One hand slips between our bodies. Two fingers plunge inside me. I throw my head back, crying out in ecstasy as he fucks me with them right there in the middle of the pond.
"I'm not stopping until you scream for me, sweet Thalia," he growls. "I want every fucking animal in this forest to hear you."
They're going to. I know they are because I'm already on the edge. I grind against him, chasing the pleasure, sobbing his name.