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CHAPTER 13

S talker

The moniker coined in my early twenties had been about my ability to extinguish my presence, tracking my target without fail, able to bypass any security.

I was quick. I was silent. I was highly effective.

I’d never failed.

While wearing dark clothes and a mask, my entire existence had been all but silenced. I’d hunted in both daylight and darkness, but the use of shadows and shapes had become an art I’d truly perfected.

And hungered for.

It had been a long time since I’d felt this type of sheer desire. Maybe participating had been an excellent choice. Maybe I could quiet some of the demons lurking inside.

I backed away from the gravel road, watching as Lady Butterfly determined her options. The woman fascinated me. While I couldn’t see her face or clearly make out her body shape given the required uniform every contestant was wearing, I knew it was her.

The woman I hadn’t been able to erase from my mind.

My cock throbbed just thinking about the night we’d shared. I’d yet to discover her real name, other than Cassie, as I enjoyed the game we’d started.

Only neither one of us had known it at the time.

How she responded to my mild use of pressure would determine if I asked Christopher to provide me with her true identity.

Although stalking her would be more fun and certainly more addictive.

Perhaps that was my problem. I was addicted to offerings usually only found at night.

Pure sinful acts that most would deem outrageous if not disgusting.

But for me, they were fuel needed to survive and had been since I could remember.

My balls tightened as I watched her continuing to pace the wide gravel path. She was uncertain and I could almost read her thoughts. Her hunger was as significant as mine. This was my prey for the evening.

When a whistle was used by one of the society’s members, she jerked her head toward the sound. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, finally allowing me to catch a better outline of her voluptuous breasts. I’d dug my nails into the bark of a tree to keep from going to her, reminding myself again that for once, I had to play by the rules.

Lady Butterfly started to walk toward the road when she stopped suddenly, jerking her head toward where I was standing. There was no possibility she could see me. None.

Yet I sensed she was completely aware of my presence. Was she terrified of what I could do or fascinated by the strange, warming desire pulsing through her bloodstream?

I shifted my cock, more uncomfortable than I’d been in a while.

Decisions.

Decisions.

I wasn’t used to being forced to have patience, but this woman was worth waiting for. Especially since I knew she had a taste for filthy proclivities.

Nothing about her surprised me, including when she turned back toward where the truck had been parked, taking bold steps in that direction.

It would seem the beautiful woman had made a choice.

I tugged the mask from my back pocket, running my fingers over the thick latex. I’d chosen my mask with her in mind, indulging her in her darkest fantasy.

I headed back to the man considered the emcee, making it very clear that the delicious participant was all mine. The other players were told. If they touched her, they would face my wrath.

And all of them had been told not to cross a single member of the Blackwell family.

As I waited for the start of the game, I reminisced on why I’d been so against doing so in the past. Probably because not a single candidate who’d crossed my desk had remotely grabbed my interest.

The other players were waiting out of sight, none of the five men and two women truly understanding the joys of the hunt.

They were all first timers, chosen specifically since only one of the contestants had ever played Dark Nights. We certainly didn’t want to terrify them to death.

I pulled on the mask, grinning as I did so. They couldn’t possibly begin to understand the freedom of being allowed to be someone else.

Someone monstrous.

Not that I needed a mask, but for tonight, what I was participating in was considered legal. At least for the most part. After flicking on the LED lights illuminating the eyes and sharp canines of the wolf’s jowls, I envisioned fucking her while wearing it.

Christopher had been clever in asking the few questions. I’d learned a great deal about my fragile butterfly and what made her tick. And also, what kept her awake at night, her body remaining wet and hot, aching for a beast to crawl into her bed.

Tonight I’d provide her with one of her greatest desires. Soon, I’d make her every dream come true, no matter how twisted and sinful.

The whistle was blown once again, and the participants took off running. While they were allowed a three-minute head start, I gave my vision of perfection five.

As I jogged toward the starting point, I let off a deep growl.

“Run, Lady Butterfly. Run. The big bad wolf is coming.”

I didn’t know these woods as I did a few others since they were a recent addition to our portfolio. However, there wasn’t a piece of land I couldn’t navigate in the dark. The parameters were marked with light sticks, but I didn’t need to know them to navigate through the darkness.

I’d done so all my life.

That’s partially how I’d remained alive.

Never captured. Never incarcerated for my sins.

I tracked the lovely lady easily, gathering a hint of her provocative scent every few feet. I took a deep whiff, pulling it into my system. I swore she smelled a little like heaven. Not that I’d ever learn if that was true or not.

There was such an innocent yet raw beauty to her, something I hadn’t seen for a long time and certainly hadn’t experienced until the night we’d shared. I couldn’t wait to hear her scream out my name as she writhed underneath me. Soon, she would crave me, even come to depend on me.

And if she was a very good girl, I’d give her everything.

I raced through the woods, jumping over limbs before dropping low and doing nothing more than listening. The most successful monsters were those who did more listening and observing than reacting. She was clever, never staying in a straight line, keeping close to the perimeter for guidance while paying full attention to her surroundings.

She was a woman obviously used to paying careful attention to her surroundings. Perhaps she’d had more than one beast stalking her in the middle of the night. Every contestant had been given a flashlight to guide their way but were otherwise left to only their wits and hopefully a decent sense of direction.

If not, they could double back easily, the denseness of the forest creating a thick maze that could be unforgiving.

My muscles ached from the thought as anger swept through me. My butterfly would no longer need to worry about anyone hurting her. I could feel her blood pumping, could almost taste the combination of fear and excitement.

I’d been right about her from the moment I’d seen her on the street. Even then, the electricity had come close to becoming a wildfire.

I continued inching closer, allowing her to believe she was making headway. A smile crossed my face when she stopped and turned, tilting her lovely head as she looked directly at where I was standing.

Only she couldn’t see me.

What a pity.

There was so much feistiness in her that I was more and more intrigued. She was the kind of woman any man would hunger for, the bastards acting like fools as they sought her attention. I wondered if she still thought about our night of passion, thinking of the rush I’d given her, the moments of pure ecstasy.

Even wearing a mask, I could still envision her face and her luscious lips, especially the way they pursed when experiencing a blissful orgasm.

Fuck, I was hard as a rock.

She took a step closer then another. As she swept the beam directly over where I was standing, I was shocked she hadn’t captured my figure. If she had, she didn’t respond. Strands of her long hair were peeking out from around the edges of the required hoodie. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my hand around her hair, digging my fingers into her tender scalp as I fucked her asshole from behind.

When she laughed, I knew it was an invitation. She loved the chase but would soon learn the joys of capture.

She bolted forward, once again zigging and zagging, laughing softly as she did. Did she not know a predator was following her? I remained close, allowing her to hear the crunching as my boots crushed sticks underneath my feet.

Nothing seemed to frighten her.

Finally, I let a howl loose, throwing back my head as I did. As expected, my prize stopped running, now hiding behind a tree. Was it to catch her breath or to stifle her nerves? Or was she anticipating I was coming for her, eager to experience what only I could provide?

“I feel you,” she half whispered. “You make this too easy, bad man. Why not come out and play?”

Of all the things she could have said to me, her request added to the rush of endorphins. It would take so much control to keep from fucking her tonight.

Time was running out. She was getting close to the finish. Whether or not she won the competition no longer mattered.

At least to me.

We’d continue this delightful dance another night. Only after I spent more time watching her.

Learning about her.

Hungering for her.

Preparing her.

Some would say what I had planned was sick. Being a stalker was considered reprehensible to some, but it was one of the few passive recreational activities I did that kept me calm. Some men enjoyed horseback riding or rock climbing. Like my brother.

I preferred the joys of the hunt.

Did that make me a better or worse man than my brothers? I snickered and as soon as her back was turned, I took off running directly for her.

She spun around just in time to witness my approach. When she flashed the light this time, true fear registered on her pretty lips. But I could easily see the look in her eyes.

True excitement, the kind only registered by a kindred spirit was highlighted brightly. She remained stunned; the product of both her nightmares and wet dreams had surfaced, the creature now standing right in front of her.

I stopped only a few feet away, allowing her to grasp what awaited her. I yanked the mask up to my nose, needing to taste her. Just as a scream bubbled up from her throat, I lunged forward, capturing the sound before it escaped. The feel of my lips crushing hers pushed my cock to a full state of arousal.

With the full weight of my body, I pressed her against the tree, yanking one arm over her head before the other. Every action I took was methodical, slow and easy, yet she still dropped the flashlight. Instead of the bulb exploding as it crashed against a tree limb, it provided a perfect stream of light.

The accented glow was almost close to adding the evocative addition to the moment. I thrust my tongue inside her mouth, tasting both her fear and a hint of something sweet and delectable.

Cinnamon.

With the taste infusing my senses, her perfume adding to the high-octane moment, I was in no rush to end the task.

I could kiss her soft lips for hours.

The fight in her was surprising. When she managed to shove both her palms against me, she gained just enough space to bolt free. Without hesitating, she took off running, her long hair flying behind her.

Did she honestly think I’d allow her to remain free from my clutches for very long?

As soon as I had her in my arms, the desire for her became even stronger.

“A very naughty girl. What am I going to do with you?” I eased her down slowly, ensuring our bodies were locked together. When I cracked my hand against her bottom, she yelped, but her shadowed expression was just another indication of the woman hiding below her conservative surface.

I smacked my palm across her bottom several additional times until she tried to push away from me once again. This time, I drove her into a tree, her laugh indicating she was startled.

I wrapped one hand around both her wrists as I brushed my other palm down her arm to her neck, allowing my fingers to trace the contour of her luscious body. Just being able to dominate her tongue, sucking on the tip was joyful as fuck.

She writhed in my hold, arching her back so I was easily able to press my hard cock between her legs. When I broke the kiss, we were both panting like animals.

“My Lady Butterfly. Now, you’re mine.”

“The game isn’t over yet.”

The moment I wrapped my fingers one at a time around her throat, she stiffened. The fear was once again palpable and her eyes were locked onto mine.

As I squeezed, she seemed to stand taller, refusing to give into her terror. That only made me want her that much more. It was almost as if she was daring me to do something harsher, perhaps punishing her for some misdeed.

Perhaps for fantasizing about the darkness, indulging in a taste of twisted kink.

When I rolled my fingers underneath her breast, she wiggled in my hold.

Only when I curled the hem of her sweatshirt into my hand did she actively attempt to escape. She would soon learn there was no getting away from me.

Her whimpers and moans continued, but grew softer now as I bit her bottom lip. She arched her back more than before, grinding her hips against mine. There was no doubt she knew exactly what I hungered for.

Just the feeling of having her body crushed against mine was a powerful aphrodisiac, but tonight I’d maintain control.

Tonight was all about a taste.

Touching, not taking.

Restraint wasn’t my greatest attribute.

I slid my hand under her shirt, teasing her already taut nipple by flicking the tip of my finger back and forth across the lace. The feel was magnificent, my mouth watering to suck and bite down.

She did her best to turn her head, even ripping her lip from my teeth.

I yanked the bra up further on her chest, exposing her voluptuous breasts. The shimmer of light from the fallen flashlight provided a perfect halo as I basked in her beauty.

Then something caught my eye.

A mole.

A beautiful representation of her stunning physique.

And a question pushed into the back of my mind, a knowing that surprised me. Was it possible the luscious woman who’d sparked an awakening I hadn’t expected had a very naughty side?

The video I’d taken from Drew’s house. The thought both enraged and enticed me. Had she been on the monster’s list? Fuck. I should have slaughtered the man.

In my arms was a woman I wanted to control.

One that I longed to possess.

My breathing slowed only when I reminded myself the fucker was behind bars.

I was more intrigued than ever.

“Bad girl,” I whispered and pinched her nipple in response. I was delighted to see how much she relished the limited pain. If only she knew how much more I longed to provide.

“Who are you?” she managed.

I pulled my head away, able to see the single drop of blood on her lower lip. I dragged my tongue through it and she seemed surprised, once again meeting my gaze. Her eyes were still open wide, searching mine to determine my plans.

“Either your greatest fear or your indulgent fantasy. That’s for you to decide.” My laugh was darker than normal and I reveled in seeing the defiance in her eyes.

If only she knew what twisted deeds were running through my mind.

Fucking her naked on all fours right here on the forest bed was one of them. Shackling her to a tree was another. Perhaps soon I would do both things.

But all in good time.

She needed to hunger more than she was at this moment. She needed to crave it until she begged me for more.

I squeezed her breast, enjoying the way it felt in my hand. A perfect fit. One meant only for me.

“Do you like the way I touch you, Lady Butterfly?”

“I… How could I?”

“Because this is exactly what you crave. Tell me the truth.”

She laughed, the sound turning into a husky purr. “Fine. Yes.”

I released her hands, rewarding her by yanking up her sweatshirt, ripping away the bra, and sucking on her nipple.

Her moan rushed into the sky, one of pleasure and longing. When she wrapped her arm around my head, I allowed myself to smile all over again.

She’d passed the first test.

Her hunger was as significant as mine.

Now I knew her foray into darkness was something she craved as much as I did.

I knew her type. I worked with them. I’d grown up with them in different homes. They portrayed themselves as sweet and innocent, only confessing to liking sex while lying on their back. They even managed to blush when and if talking about oral sex. Yet deep inside the vanilla lifestyle bored the hell out of them.

My Lady Butterfly preferred it rough, longing for the thrill of having a man’s hand wrapped around her throat, squeezing until she was at the point of passing out while erupting in a powerful orgasm. Just like tonight, she’d craved the fear even if her decent upbringing and conservative job hadn’t allowed her to explore any options.

She’d fantasized about a man taking her, not knowing if the freak underneath the mask would satisfy or ultimately kill her. She’d envisioned herself naked and tied spread-eagled, force to wait until her masked man returned to taste, punish, and fuck her.

Yes, I knew exactly what my fragile butterfly craved and if she was a very good girl, she would soon experience everything she wanted.

When I leaned back, I noticed her eyes were closed.

“Soon, Lady Butterfly, you’ll have everything you want. Very soon. Just be my good girl and have patience. I’ll come for you when you’re ready.”

Sadly, that was the moment the magical moment needed to end. I backed away into the shadows and out of the line of sight.

But not before issuing another primal howl.