"Run, roza," he murmured, his eyes flashing. "Run as fast as those legs can take you. Hide in the deepest cave on this mountain. Scream for your friends. Cry for help." He leaned in close, his voice dropping into a whisper so cold, so terrifying, it shook me to the very core of my soul. "Because when five minutes are up... I am coming to hunt you down. And when I catch you this time, Cherry-and I will catch you-there will be no more runs. No more fake names. No more mountain villages. I am going to drag you back to my estate, throw you into my room, and lock the doors forever. I will cage you so deep beneath my foundation that you will never see the sun again." He leaned down, pressing his lips against the shell of my ear one last time. "One," he whispered. Terror, violent and absolute, exploded through my veins. Lucian raised his palm, resting it flat against my shoulder, and gave me a single, gentle shove. "Two." I stumbled back, my feet catching on the wet pine needles before I turned and bolted into the dark, screaming inside my own head as I sprinted blindly into the deepest, blackest part of the forest. "Three." I ran.

"You are not spanking me," I breathe out, horrified. "I am a grown woman. I am not a child." "You are a brat who just tried to flee her soon to be husband," he corrects smoothly, taking a step toward the bed. "And you currently have two choices, Trixie." "One," he holds up a single finger, "you take off those sweatpants and bend over the edge of the bed like I asked. Or two," another finger joins the first, "I rip them off and spank you over my knee like a fucking brat." Something in my brain snaps. I'm not bending over. I'm not presenting my ass. I'm not letting this man discipline me like a brat. Which I'm not. Right? I launch myself across the mattress with a feral scream, aiming right for his throat. My fingernails rake toward his face, ready to draw blood. He doesn't even flinch.He catches me mid-air. Literally catches me. One massive arm hooks around my waist, trapping me against his chest before my fingernails can even scratch his skin. My legs kick wildly, my nails digging into his forearm, scratching, clawing, screaming pure murder. "Bad fucking girl."

"Hmm, getting turned on during your class?" His left hand cups the side of my breat, "Bad girl." I slap his hand away, face burning. "Fucking stop it, asshole." But Daelan just chuckles darkly, his hand sliding back, fingers tracing over my thigh. "You say stop, but your body's screaming yes, baby." "Stop calling me that," I hiss, squirming, but he tightens his grip on my thigh. "You're such a brat," he murmurs, voice rough near my ear. "I should put you in your place, right here, make you come apart under the desk, let everyone wonder why you're shaking." "Fuck you," I snap, but my voice comes out breathy, shaky. He grins, cocky as hell, fingers slipping higher, sliding under my skirt. My heart slams against my ribs. "Daelan-" "Shh," he murmurs, palm pressed right over my panties. "So wet, baby." I jolt, eyes wide, looking around frantically. Everyone's paying attention to Coach Karen ranting at the front. No one's looking back here. "Stop," I whisper harshly, but my thighs tremble as he rubs slow circles on my clit. "Tell me to stop again, baby, I dare you," he whispers. "You're soaking." "F-fuck off," I gasp, but it's weak, so fucking weak. He slips a finger past the edge of my panties, dragging it through the wetness, groaning softly in my ear. "God, you're dripping for me." My head drops back slightly, hips jerking against his hand. "D-Daelan..." He pushes a finger in, slow but firm, right there under the desk. I bite my lip hard, trying not to moan, my hands gripping the seat. "Fuck, you're tight," he breathes, finger curling just right, sending sparks shooting up my spine. My pussy clenches, body arching helplessly. "You're such a dirty little girl," he murmurs, pressing closer, his breath hot against my neck. "So needy, so desperate."