Page 12 of Thrill of the Hunt

Her eyes leave the lodge momentarily to meet mine, and she’s quiet as she nods and whispers, “Grey.”

My cock immediately hardens at the way she says it. I shift my stance, trying to adjust myself before we approach the lodge. I can’t wait to hear her scream for me again, but this time it’ll be my Exodus name.

Such a good fucking girl.

My jaw drops as we step into the open, leaving the dark forest behind us.

I knew the lodge would be of significant size, but I never imagined this. Stacked cedar logs form a magnificent cabin, oversized and grand, as is to be expected from The Exodus. Glass windows stretch at least thirty feet high, adding to the magnitude of it all. Beyond the lodge lies a lake, and the waves are softly lapping at the shore. Very few people linger outside, and through the windows I can see most have made their way inside.

Greyson pulls his hand from mine and wraps my hand around his arm so that we’re walking more closely. He tugs me to him, and our bodies are no more than an inch apart. Glancingdown at me, Greyson’s eyes search mine, scanning them as he tries to read me.

“What do you think?” he asks, gesturing to the lodge.

“It’s more than I thought it’d be. I suppose I was imagining an underground bunker of sorts, butthis… this is exquisite.”

He gives me a small smile, satisfied with my answer, then begins leading us toward the doors. Two men dressed in black stand outside, using a device to scan people as they approach.

I stop, swallowing hard. My palms are sweating, and the nervous feeling returns to my stomach.Anythingcould be waiting for me inside.

“I can’t do this,” I whisper, trying to avoid drawing attention to us. “I don’t know what’s in there or what you’re going to do to me.”

There’s a hint of hurt in his eyes, like I’ve suddenly betrayed him. He blinks, and the emotion is gone when his eyelids open. “You don’t have a choice.”

“Why won’t you tell me what we’re doing? Do you get off on being secretive?” My words come out louder than I intend, and a couple turn away from the man with the scanning device to glance at us.

Greyson easily ignores them, turning his body to mine. “Yes.”

My brows arch, and I almost take a step backwards. “Yes?”

“Yes,” he repeats.

My lips part as my jaw opens slightly, and I’m speechless. He just fucked me in the woods like I’ve never been fucked. Is it me he’s into, or is it the thrill of fucking with me? This whole thing is beginning to feel like a thoroughly planned ploy to get his revenge on me.

Ilethim fuck me in the woods. I doubt he would have stopped if I’d said no, but webothwanted it. My stomach churns as I realize what a fucking idiot I am. He has no intention ofletting me live to see tomorrow. His plan is to get my hopes up, to make me feel like I have some significance to him, and then he’s going to kill me when I least expect it.

The contents of my stomach begin to rise as the truth of it all hits me. I bend over, covering my mouth as I try to keep it down.

Greyson’s hand falls to my lower back, resting there as I hold back heaves. “Don’t let them see you like this.”

Strained tears fall down my cheeks, and I force myself to swallow. “What does it matter?” I snap, glaring up at him.

“If the elders or bishop see you like this, they’ll think you’re weak. Show them you’re not the unsuspecting gazelle I’ve portrayed you as. Surprise them. Give them a show tonight.”

I scoff, nearly laughing at him. “Give them a show? What the fuck does that even mean?” I roll my eyes as I repeat to him, “Give them a show.”

Greyson’s face is flat and he’s clearly not amused with my mockery. “You’ll do what you’re told if you want to live.”

My back straightens as I force myself upright, widening my stance. “You keep saying that, but I’m not sure I believe you.”

His brows furrow and then he ends the conversation, pulling me toward the lodge. “Let’s go.”

“I look like a fucking mess,” I spit, annoyed with him and this stupid fucking game.

When he fucked me, Ifeltsomething for the first time in a very long time. It’s been years since I’ve let anyone see me like that. Raw and undone, desperate to be filled.

Such a fucking idiot.

How could I let myself do this? How could I let myselffeelsomething for the man who’s made it his life mission to end me? The man stalked me every day for a year, for fuck’s sake. I tricked myself into thinking this could be something, and now the betrayal will feel exponentially worse when he exposes his true intentions. When he kills me.

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