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Ava'spretty face flushes at my words.

"I'llcount down from ten,"I say."If I catch you, you make up for trying to escape."

Her lips part as ifshe'scaught between fear and lust, but no sound comes out.

I grin. "Your time starts… now."

For a moment, shejuststares at me in shock. But her paralysisdoesn'tlast long. A secondlatershe'sdarting away out of thegallery'sdoors. She stumbles in her heels as she disappears into the darkness.

I finish my countdown under my breath—games are no fun when youdon'tplay by the rules.

My heart races as I step out into the darkness of the street, the thrill of the chase igniting every nerve in my body.Icatch a glimpse ofher kicking off her shoes and disappearingaroundinto the alleyway at the back of the building.

I follow her trail, each step bringing me closer to her. The air is heavy with tension, a heady mix of fear and desire.

"Come out, little dove,"I call into the darkness.She"slike a ghost, fleeting and ethereal, but Iwon'tlet her slip away. Not this time.

Motion catches my eye in the darkness.She'scrouching low at the end of the alley, nearly hidden behind a jutted section of the concrete wall.

She peeks around the corner. Terror flashes over her face as she sees me.

She jumps to her feet and runs barefoot, her breathcomingin ragged gasps as she tries to flee. But with a surge of adrenaline, I close the distance between us.

I grab her, my arms closing tight around her trembling form. I can hear the heat and fear in her breath as she whimpers.

"Found you, Ava. Something tells me you wanted to be found."

She meets my eyes.In the dim light,her features are cast in shadows, but her eyes shine with an intensity that draws me in like a moth to a flame.I can feel the heat between us, a palpable energy cracklingin the air.

"Is that right, Detective? Do you want to be punished?"

"I won't apologize for trying to escape," she hisses.

I smirk."Youdon'tneed to say sorry, sweetheart. But you can use your mouth for something else."

She gasps as I push her down to her knees. Jesus, the sight of Ava in that dress, staring up at me with those parted lips and big gray eyes, is enough to drive any man insane.

I pull my cock from my pants, already hard.There'sno time to waste. I needherright fucking now.

"You want it, don't you, Detective?"

Her wide eyes are fixed on my cock. She bites her lip as if shedoesn'twant to answer, but eventually she whimpers out the truth."Yes."

Fuck, it turns me on how she can never deny how badly she wants it. Her needy desire breaks down all her precious morals untilshe'sjust an achingnerve,begging to be played with.

I grab her silky hair, pulling her toward me. She moans, one hand rising to grip at the base of my cock as her soft lips wrap around its tip. Pleasure bursts through me.

Her cheeks hollow as she sucks at my length, pausing occasionally to lick up and down my length as if she wants nothing more than to please me. The realization of that is nearly enough to tip me over the edge.

I grip her hair, thrusting harder into her mouth. She whimpers in pleasure as I push further and further into her, and the sound sets me on fire.

"Fuck, Ava,you'renearly making me come right now. But I need to feel that pussy first."

I grab her, pushing her against the wall as I yank down her panties. My fingers circle her clit;she'salready fucking soaking.

"So wet just from sucking my cock, Detective.Don'tforget thatyou'remy little slut."

She squeezes her eyes closed and nods quickly, as ifshe'lldo anything just to stop me talking and just fuck her already.

I laugh, the sound quickly turning to a groan as I sink my cock deep inside her. She moans, gripping tight at my neck. I can feel her pussy tensing around my cock already; I make a mental note that being chased really fucking turns her on, even if shewon'tadmit it.

"Jackson,"she murmurs as I bury myself deep inside her again and again. I knead at her clit untilshe'sconvulsing with a wild orgasm, her nails digging into the skin of my neck. The feel of her pussy clenching around me sends me over the edgeandI feel myself coming deep inside her. Pleasure sweeps through my whole body.

For a few moments, only our breathing breaks the silence. I shift but keep my grip onheras I murmur a question.

"Why did you run from me tonight?"

Her voice is trembling."Because I was scared."

"You fear me, Ava?

She shakes her head, staring at the ground. "That's not what I mean. It's because… I'm scared of myself when I'm around you. I'm scared of what you bring out in me."

I press my thumb to her lips, forcing her to meet my gaze."Don'ttake what makes you beautiful and lock it away."

She stifles a sob."I'mscared that you make me happy, Jackson."

Joy explodes in my chest. I make Ava happy.

"You protect me,"she continues."Noone'sever done that for me before. My team looks out for me, butthat'sjust because ofthe badge I wear, not because of who I am. You make me feel likeI'mnot actually broken."

"Don'tyou want to feel that all the time?"I murmur.

She nods.

"Then come with me, Ava. Come home with me."

She hesitantly shakes her head."I—Ican't. I made a promise to myself."She haltingly rises to her feet."I need to go, Jackson. Please let me go."

I clench my jaw. After whatshejustconfessed to me, how canshestill try to run?

It'llclearly take more to make her see that shedoesn'tneed to live a life defined by her past. Ifthat'swhat she needs, thenthat'swhatI'llgive her.

"Fine,"I snarl."You want to run from me? Then run."

Surprise flashes over her face, but she slowly nods. She looks back just once as she turns and flees.

"Fly away, little dove,"I call after her."Because next time I catch you,I'mgoing to break your fucking wings."