Page 158 of Ride With Me

“Car troubles,” he explains.

I glance at his bare companion, and before I can voice my confusion, the man at my window interjects, "He doesn't handle the heat very well, so he figured it was best to cool off by stripping down."

"Right?" I respond, forcing a nod as if his reasoning makes complete sense. "Do you guys need a ride somewhere?" The moment the words leave my lips, a loud crack of thunder rumbles overhead, causing the naked man to squeal in surprise and bolt towards us in a frantic dash.

Before I can say anything else, the man is climbing into the back seat of my car, naked and soaked.

“Sorry about him,” the man at my window says, a hint of frustration in his voice. “If it’s not too much trouble, could you give us a ride?” I expect him to climb into the back with his friend, but to my surprise, he slips into the passenger seat beside me instead.

“So, where are you boys heading?” I ask, making sure to keep my tone as friendly as possible, before starting the car.

The nude man in the back snorts, but doesn’t answer my question.

“We were heading to Happy Natures camping ground,” the man beside me explains, his tone tinged with disappointment. “It’s our anniversary, and we had big plans. But then our car broke down, and honestly, I’m not familiar with the area, so walking back just isn’t an option.”

“Oh, well, happy anniversary to you both,” I say, attempting to lighten the mood. However, the man in the back lets out a sarcastic snort, a sound that cuts through the moment and leaves an uncomfortable tension hanging in the air.

“Thanks,” the man beside me replies, his voice tinged with irritation that undermines his words. “Is there a train station nearby where you could drop us off?”

“There’s a station about twelve miles from here,” I reply, glancing out at the downpour that has turned the world into a grey blur. “But given this torrential rain, I can't promise the trains will be running on time.”

“Fantastic,” the nude man mutters under his breath, sarcasm dripping from his words.

“Are there any hotels around here?” the man beside me asks, his voice dripping with frustration, pointedly ignoring his boyfriend sulking in the back seat.

I shake my head and reply, “Not a chance. It’s like a hotel desert out here.”

I realise what I’m about to suggest next could come off as quite weird and creepy, but I ask it anyway, “How about I take us to my cabin and we’ll figure something out from there?”

The guy behind me leans forward, his tone sharp. “How do we know you’re not just taking us there to off us? Ever heard of stranger danger? Because right now, you’re making that sound pretty real.”

I can’t help but laugh, it’s the most I’ve heard the naked man talk. “I promise you I’m not here to hurt you—unless, of course, you’re into that kind of thing,” I mutter the last part under my breath. “Anyway, I’m Magnus and all I really want is to get home and kick back with a cold beer.”

“I’m Leo, and this is Mason,” Leo says, gesturing to his partner with a nod. “We’d really appreciate your help, so we’ll gladly take you up on your offer.”

We fall into a comfortable silence as I navigate the winding road to my cabin. The rain continues to pour, creating a rhythmic backdrop against the car. Once we arrive, I glance at Leo and Mason. “Stay put,” I say, my voice cutting through the steady drumming of the rain. Then, with a quick nod, I leap out of the car and dash through the downpour toward the front door.

CHAPTER 4

MASON

As Magnus ushersus into the cabin, I'm taken aback by its cool atmosphere—perhaps there’s an air conditioning unit tucked away somewhere. I quickly snatch my bag from Leo, refusing to acknowledge him, and head toward a door that I hope opens into a bedroom. The anticipation of having my own space, even just for a moment, is all-consuming, and I push aside any lingering thoughts about our earlier conversation.

After I change into some comfortable clothes, I tell myself I’ll head back to find the guys. But as I glance around the room, my curiosity gets the better of me. I can’t help but wonder what else lies behind Magnus' cheery attitude. Just a quick peek through his belongings—surely it won't hurt. After all, I need to ensure he’s not hiding any dark secrets. What if he’s a secret murderer? My heart races at the thought, and I feel a rush of adrenaline as I snoop through his belongings.

I rummage through his dresser drawers and crack open the bedside cabinet, but come up empty-handed, my excitement waning with each fruitless search. Just as I’m about to give up, I spot a door at the far end of the room—one that I assume leads to an ensuite bathroom. My heart races at the prospect of finding something, anything, that might reveal more about the man.

What I end up discovering isn’t a bathroom, not even close. As I step into the room, I can’t help a little gleeful laugh from escaping my mouth. I may be as vanilla as they come, but I know a large collection of dildos and butt plugs when I see them. The room is dimly lit, but the shelves are filled with an array of colourful and intriguing toys, each more unique than the last.

My cheeks flush at the sheer audacity of it. A secret room of pleasure hidden away. It’s both surprising and oddly thrilling. I find myself torn between shock and amusement.

As I take a closer look at the array of items, an unexpected thought crosses my mind: maybe this isn’t the smoking gun I was looking for in proving he’s a secret murderer, but it definitely adds a layer to his personality that I hadn’t anticipated. I stifle another laugh, wondering just how different he is when no one’s watching.

My brain is screaming at me, telling me not to touch other people's sex toys, but I can’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity. I think it’s safe enough to pick up something that’s in a sealed box, a sort of way to satisfy my intrigue without crossing too many boundaries. Just as I’m about to reach out and grab a sleek black box marked, I hear my name echoing through the cabin.

“Mason?” Leo’s voice calls from somewhere in the living room, and my heart nearly stops. Panic surges through me as I freeze in place, my hand hovering just inches above the box.

I quickly move to step out of the room, making sure to leave everything exactly as I found it. The last thing I need is to give Magnus any reason to suspect I was snooping. With one last glance at the tantalizing collection, I take a deep breath and walk back towards the living room, where the guys are casually lounging on the sofa, sipping beers and engrossed in conversation.

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