Chapter Nineteen - Heat of You - Maya's POV

I don't stop to look back because I know he's going to chase me. There is no room in my mind to doubt his promise. When I hear him let out a deafening roar, I stop in my tracks and look back. My body won't allow me to go further. He's just coming out of my room, stripping his black t-shirt over his head. I can see his glowing eyes from here and know that I'm in a world of trouble. 'Run," he calls out. 'Run, little one. You already started it, so let's do this." Maybe if I apologize and head back to my room, he'll give up on this. It's the only thing I can think of to stop this. But it's too late. Damian strips out of his jeans, and they land on the door. Loud snaps fill the air as another snarl escapes his throat. 'No," I breathe out. Several slow seconds pass. A wolf stands in the place of a man and he is huge. I let out a scream as I start to run again. My breath is ragged as I sprint down the hallway, my heart hammering in my chest. Every step feels like a challenge and I've just begun. Though all I hear is growls behind me, I know he's taunting me. A shiver races down my spine, but I push forward. My bare feet barely make a sound against the cold floor. I don't know where I'm running to or where I can go. All I know is I need distance. Away from him. I squeeze my eyes shut for a split second before turning the next corner. My eyes quickly scan the area, hoping there is a door leading outside. If I can reach the trees, then maybe I can escape, if only for a little while. But just as I push toward the last stretch of hallway and think there is a door leading outside, the air around me shifts. A deep, rumbling growl vibrates through the space. I feel it more than hear it. Every hair on my body stands on end. My legs falter as hesitation seizes me. And that's all he needs to catch me. A blur of movement to my left catches my attention. Then I feel heat. Before I can react, arms wrap around my waist, yanking me back against a solid wall of muscle. A gasp rips from my throat as I struggle, but Damian's grip is unbreakable. Just as I think it can't get any worse, one of his men strolls around the corner. The man's eyes widen as he sees us. 'I see there is a problem," the man says. 'Get back, Simon," Damian growls. The man called Simon throws his hands in the air, showing submission. 'I guess she tried to run." 'I said get back," Damian says again, his voice becoming guttural. 'Yes, alpha." Simon slips back around the corner and apparently runs into more roaming down that hallway. He explains the situation from what I can hear over Damian's ragged breathing. I barely have time to process any of it before he spins me around and presses me flush against the nearest wall, his body caging mine in completely. My pulse goes wild. His hands rest against each side of my hand on the wall as he heaves in another breath. His glowing eyes are locked on me. 'I caught you," he murmurs, his voice husky and full of satisfaction. I reach up, pressing my hands against his chest, but it's useless. He's not moving. 'You are a wolf shifter and shifted," I huff. 'I never said I'd play fair. You ran from me." Damian's lips curl into a wicked smile. His scent surrounds me, and it's all consuming. Then his body heat seeps into mine, making it impossible to think straight. I should push him away and demand my freedom, but instead, I stare up at him and become trapped in his gaze. My breath catches when he reaches over to stroke the line of my jaw. 'You ran from me," he whispers again. 'Now tell me, Maya. Did you want me to catch you like this? Do you like driving me wild to where I'm no longer a man, but a borderline animal?" His thumb brushes over my lips, and I almost stop breathing. My lips part as his thumb moves to the side of my mouth. No words come out because I don't know the answer. Or maybe I do, and I just don't want to tell him what it is. I dismiss the thoughts and shake my head, trying to not think like that. 'You're impossible. I was running because I don't want to be claimed." His eyes darken as the glow fades. 'Maya, you can lie to yourself all you want, but not to me. I said if you run, I'll catch you and claim you. If you didn't want to be claimed, then you shouldn't have run from me." He leans in just enough that his breath brushes my lips, but he doesn't kiss me. Instead, he glances at me every so often as he moves over my jawline to right below my ear. 'Should I mark you here?" He asks as his lips barely press against the tender flesh there. Then he moves lower to the base of my throat. 'Or here?" I should do something, but I can't. It's too much. The sensation of having his lips against my throat is driving me insane. 'You're shaking," he whispers against my shoulder. 'Maybe I should mark you here." 'Let me go. Please. You're suffocating me." A slow, dark grin spreads across his lips and I only catch sight of it out of the corner of my eye. 'Am I?' I hate how my body betrays me, especially when he leans in and inhales. 'Something tells me you are enjoying this." 'No, I'm not," I say, knowing I'm lying. 'Yes, you are. I can smell it and I think you want this." The worst part of all this is a tiny, traitorous part of me is truly enjoying the way he makes me feel.