Page 50 of One of Them

The massive four-poster bed was the room’s centerpiece, its ironed satin sheets inviting you in. It wasn’t just any bed; after what I had seen earlier, I knew its purpose was far from ordinary.

The furniture, crafted from reinforced rods, was built to last. A metal ring circled each pole, with a snap hook hanging from it. Attached to the hook was a carabiner, connected to a bungee cord, offering a specific range when pulled.

He wanted to play. And I was a worthy opponent.

I picked up the control tablet, adjusting the light settings to red, then set the timer. The room sank into darkness, and I knew the light would flash briefly, casting a red glow before the countdown began again.

Satisfied with the setup, I slipped out of my dress, leaving only my underwear. I glanced down at the pile of clothes, organizing it into a neatpath that led toward the bathroom. I’d felt pretty at dinner, but we were about to play a whole different game.

Crouching in the corner closest to the door, I waited. As the minutes ticked by, I steadied my breathing and adjusted my eyes to the dimness.

When I heard footsteps down the hallway, my heart quickened.

Anticipation spread through me, but I forced myself to stay calm.

Maxim entered the room, scanning the space as if he expected me to be sprawled out on the bed, waiting for him to devour me. That wasn’t quite the plan I had in mind.

He stepped forward, and as he passed my hiding spot, I silently closed the door behind him. The room slipped back into darkness, and the game began.

Being in the room longer gave me an edge while Maxim tried to make sense of the situation. As he moved toward the bathroom, inspecting the clothes I’d left behind, I took quiet steps toward the bed. Despite my best efforts, he sensed the movement almost immediately, his attention snapping to me. His focus played right into my hands, so I guided him closer.

Maxim didn’t ask questions or speak a word, he just followed blindly.

When his foot reached the edge of the bed, I sprang into action. My fingers traced up his chest, teasing him seductively. His muscles tensed under my touch. Slowly, I moved toward his neck, gaining a firm grip to steady him, while my other hand crept up, unnoticed. He let me get close, oblivious to my true intentions.

A loud click echoed through the room as the carabiner snapped shut around the chain decorating his neck, the same damn piece of jewelry I’d been eyeing for a while.

By now, he realized what I had done. He started the game at a slight disadvantage, but I wouldn’t call it cheating.

“You can have me if you catch me,” I whispered, close to his face, before sprinting to the other side of the room.

The attached cord restricted his movement, and while the ring was fastened to the bed, some areas of the room remained out of reach.

Navigating in the dark made it even harder.

He took a deep breath, turning to scan the room as his eyes adjusted. Like me, he shed his clothes, standing there for a moment, either in his underwear or naked. I couldn’t tell.

The sound of metal grinding on the bar mixed with our heavy breaths. He didn’t try to hide his footsteps, relying entirely on his speed.

We were in a cat-and-mouse chase, neither of us sure who was playing which role.

Every time he came closer, I leaped behind him, jumping to the other side. On my next move, I allowed him a brief touch on my shoulder before darting out of his reach.

Maxim stayed focused, waiting patiently for the right moment, but it never came. We went on like that for a while, each step growing more deliberate, until he suddenly halted.

Confused by the change, I positioned myself in the middle, trying to gauge his next move.

Just when I thought he was about to unhook the carabiner and end the game, he spun around and lunged toward the center of the bed with surprising speed.

At the last moment, I grabbed the top bar with both hands, pulling myself up in a quick, controlled motion.

The red light flashed across the room, exposing our positions.

His face was right there, in front of me. His expression, far too unhinged, made me study the man who was every bit the power machine I had always imagined.

Maxim’s gaze fixed on the strain in my abdominal muscles. Almost hypnotized, he stepped closer, running his hand up and down my stomach.

The roughness of his calloused fingers scraped against the fragile hold I had left on my control.

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