Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“You put yourself in unnecessary danger,” he continued. “You don’t know the kind of people that are involved in The Hunt. You don’t know what they’re capable of.”
“There are rules to The Hunt,” I defended.
“Rules don’t apply to men who have broken them their entire lives. Remember that. These men are not all rule followers. Their wealth, their power all came because of that. Ruthlessness is the currency in my world.”
“I understand,” I said, feeling the weight of his concern. The same ruthlessness was what got my father killed. I wasn’t immune to ruthlessness.
Locke’s eyes softened a fraction, and he reached across the table to take my hand. “I just worry about you. You mean everything to me, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. I also don’t want to ever picture you running through the woods being chased by a man. It makes me homicidal. And unless you want to visit me twice a month for our lunch dates at the prison because I’m serving time for murder, grant me this one wish. No more hunts.”
I couldn’t hold in the laugh. “I see your point. I do.”
Locke’s expression relaxed slightly at my laugh, but his grip on my hand remained firm. “Good. I’ll always worry about you, you know that.”
I nodded.
“Then it’s settled,” he said. “Unless you want a repeat punishment like the one I gave you, you’ll stay away from The Hunt.”
The heat returned to my face at the mention of the spanking he had given me.
“I’ll be good,” I promised, biting my lower lip, hoping he didn’t notice that I wasn’t exactly saying I wouldn’t participate again.
The truth of the matter… I still wanted to.
Tonight. The weekend wasn’t over yet.
And I could barely wait.
But my ass didn’t have a death wish, so there was no way I was going to admit that while sitting across from him.
Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Locke grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Good. Now, let’s eat. I don’t want to talk about The Hunt anymore.”
Chapter 17
Locke
I fucking loved The Vault. You wouldn’t know it by the way I’d insisted Storee stay away from my club, but I loved everything about the place that my best friends and I built from just a kinky idea.
It exuded class and elegance even though it was coated in sex and desire. The decor was tasteful and refined, with plush velvet couches and dim lighting that just begged for intimate encounters. I loved watching the patrons, dressed to the nines in their fetish gear, exploring their deepest desires in our safe and nonjudgmental space.
As the night went on, the club was filling up with more and more people. The air was thick with the scent of leather, sweat, and lust. I made my way through the crowd, checking on the staff and ensuring everyone was having a good time. My business partners were in the conference room waiting for me for our scheduled meeting.
As I made my way toward the conference room, I noticed a woman sitting alone at the bar, nursing her drink. Her eyes were trained on me, and I could feel her gaze following my every move as I walked. I was accustomed to women watching me, but lately I hadn’t been in the mood to partake in any of the fun.
I had only one person on my mind.
She was becoming my drug.
A pull that I couldn’t control.
I itched to see her again. I craved to be outside her cottage watching from afar. But after last night, I promised myself that I’d behave.
I’d somehow break the addiction.
I’d focus on The Vault. I’d spend all my attention on work.
Not Storee.
Not her.
The truth of the matter was that I didn’t want to see her with another man. And I most certainly didn’t want to see her acting in a sexual way with anyone. My possessiveness grew stronger by the day even though I couldn’t have her.
And since last night and my own self-imposed promise, I found myself constantly thinking about Storee. She was gorgeous, with a perfect body and a sharp wit that always kept me on my toes. And her pussy had been so tight, so—
I tried desperately to push her out of my mind, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. I saw her naked, her curves accentuated by the moonlight as I chased her down in the forest like prey as I hunted what was mine—should be mine.
I pictured her writhing beneath me, her body quivering with pleasure. And every time I saw her, my desire for her grew stronger.
“You look a million miles away,” Soren said, waving his hand in front of my face. “You good, man?”
I blinked away the image of Storee moaning beneath my body. “Yeah, fine.” I nodded for my partners to continue with the meeting.