Prey Drive by Jen Stevens

Chapter 19

the lamb

my back and beneath my knees, hoisting me out of the water before I realize what's happening. The cold air against my wet skin shocks me, pulling a gasp from my lips. I should fight against him more. I should fight for myself more—to care like I used to. Somewhere along the way, I just gave up.

Bash is unpredictable. If I take my eyes off him for one second, I'm left flailing around and trying to catch up. He said I should be afraid of him. I don't doubt that's true, and if I'm completely honest with myself, I think he's quite terrifying. But there's also this electric thrill that trails along my spine with my terror, and it's just strong enough to make me want to stick around and see what he'll do next.

I've never met anyone as contradictory as him. Someone who I'm completely unable to read. He's like an impossible puzzle I want to solve—a riddle I want to crack. It pisses me off that I haven't.

He carries me over to the bed, completely unconcerned with the puddles of water he leaves behind or the way his clothes are being soaked and melded against our skin.

“I want you,” he says in a deep, lusty tone as he releases me from his hold and drops me onto my bed.

Just like before, the words come out like he's admitting something taboo. Like, for some reason, he can't stand the fact that he holds any desire for me.

You and me both, Stalker.

I gaze up at him, too afraid to let him out of my sight. “So take me,” I dare, and I immediately want to take the words back when his shocked gaze crashes against mine.

This man broke into my home, demanded I strip in front of him, and then insisted he give me a bath like some child. Not to mention the probability of him stalking me outside of the cottage. How else could he have timed all of this so perfectly?

But deep down—like, really deep—I still want him. I'm drawn to him in a way I can't even begin to describe and refuse to put words to. Perhaps it's the desire burning in his stare every time we meet. Maybe it's the fact that I'm not entirely convinced he's real. Or maybe it's because I'm completely fucked in the head from all my abandonment issues, and the idea of anyone wanting me is enough to make me spread my legs and hand myself over to them.

Even if they're likely a psycho, stalker, killer.

Okay, that's probably it.

Regardless of the reason behind it, that's exactly what I do as he moves toward me on the bed, positioning himself between my legs. Long fingers stroke my thighs while his eyes openly roam over my body. His gaze feels like an extra hand caressing my skin. Goosebumps pebble my skin, and I shiver when he reaches my slit and runs his finger down the middle.

“So wet for me,” he muses, bringing his hand back up to rub my clit. “You'll be my undoing.”

“I'm already undone,” I admit in a voice soaked in sex, one I don’t even recognize.

I'm trying to figure out how he thinks he'll be the one walking away from this destroyed, when the admission falls from my lips. If I'm going to Hell, I might as well have a good time on my descent.

He cocks his head to the side.

“I don't think you get it, Stardust. The second I coat my tongue with your cum, you're going to be mine. No other man will ever touch you again and live to talk about it. When I eat this pussy”—he glides his finger down my slit again, and I shudder out a breath—“I'm taking ownership of it.”

His hands fall onto the bed as he leans over my body to cage me in, dropping his face until only a few inches separate our mouths. His is still covered by his mask, but I can still feel the heat from his erratic breaths over my lips.

“Do you understand now?”

Once again, I can't tell whether I should be afraid or aroused. Why does the idea of being owned by him sound so fucking appealing?

I won't show him my fear, though. Something tells me that's exactly what he wants to see. Instead, I swallow roughly and nod my head, then thrust my hips into his so he knows what I want him to do next.

His understanding hums from his chest. “Mm. Good girl.”

There is no other warning. In one blink, he's off the bed and kneeling on the floor, his shoulders nestled between my thighs as his tongue makes one long, thick stroke over my entire center.

I jump at the sensation, sending my pussy farther against his hot mouth, and the bastard laughs.

“So sweet. So fucking delectable,” he says into my folds as I'm arching my back into the mattress with a moan.

He's devouring me, just as he said he would. Kissing, licking, biting me in the most erotic way. This is a man who knows how to manipulate my body into doing exactly what he craves. A man who is used to getting what he wants. His face is obviously uncovered now, and I'm frustrated with myself for being so incapacitated by his mouth on my pussy, I can't even lean forward to see it.

“Fuck,” I drawl, bucking my hips forward to find some sort of relief from his constant attention.

His large hand drapes over my stomach, anchoring me onto the bed as he drives his tongue and fingers into my pussy. I'm sitting on the edge, ready to fall apart against him, when the low rumble of his knowing voice vibrates against my center.

“Come for me, baby. Scream my name so everyone in this shitty, Podunk town knows who you belong to.”

It's all the encouragement I need to take a nosedive off that cliff and fall into a euphoric state. My legs clamp together against his head and my hips fight the hand holding me down. Deep moans like I've never made before fall out of my mouth, and just when I think there's no way it can get any better—that I can't fall any further—he jams another finger inside me and hooks it against the perfect spot.

I see stars. Balls of fire explode behind my eyes, igniting a whole new wave of ecstasy to course through me.

“Holy shit, Bash,” I moan.

I can't think straight. Hell, I can't even open my eyes until the shock waves stop reverberating through every limb. And when I finally do, Bash is standing over me with his mask pulled down for the first time.

A cocky, unguarded smile graces beautiful, plump lips. He's licking his fingers in a crass show of ownership. My legs are still spread wide open, my breathing inconsistent.

He's right. No other man will compare to what he just did. That shit terrifies me worse than anything else he's done. I'd chase this high to the ends of the earth.

I'm afraid I'll wake up tomorrow and realize this was all a dream. What then?

Bash comes around the side of the bed and leans forward, hovering over me while taking great care to make sure we aren't touching at all. “Tell me… who do you belong to, little Stardust?”

I don't even hesitate to answer. “You.”

“That's right, baby.” Green eyes flick down my body as he brings his palm down to cup my center.

“This pussy is mine.” His hands move up my body in a long, teasing caress that has me dripping all over again. When he reaches my throat, his fingers wrap around either side.

You're mine.”

I want to touch him. I want to wrap my lips around his cock and repay the favor. To make my own feeble attempt at staking my claim on him the same way. But before I can do anything, Bash steps away from me and disappears into the bathroom. Seconds later, I hear the spout for the bathtub turn on, and he walks back into the room to grab me up from the bed again.

Wordlessly, he brings me back to the bathroom and lowers me into the warmed bath.

“Relax.”

It's all he says before turning his back and leaving me alone.