Page 2 of Savage Daddies
I don’t hate my job as a Manager, but in this moment, as I stand in the middle of a beautiful forest during springtime, I think I would give anything to be a Ranger. Or maybe a Diplomat. Diplomats travel between techno-cities on sleek airships. I would love to see the world—the real world,notsomething from a VR story—from high up above.
My thoughts are treasonous and my heart races. I look around, hoping no one is watching me, only to discover I’m all alone. The group has moved so far ahead, I can’t see a single person on the trail before me. Alarmed, I walk faster. I don’t run. Not yet. There’s no reason to panic. At least that’s what I tell myself—until I round a bend and still don’t see the group.
But before I can break into a run, two huge and rugged-looking men emerge from the forest. The bearded men stand directly in my path, blocking my way. Confusion spirals through me. Only Workers are allowed to grow beards, and Workers aren’t eligible for Happiness Raffles. I stare at the strange men, startled by their very nature, even as I tell myself there must be some rational explanation for their odd appearance.
Upon further inspection, I realize one of the men has a scar across his cheek, and both have dark hair that’s most definitely not regulation cut. It’s nearly past their broad shoulders. Their clothes are strange too. Both are wearing snug black pants, button-down shirts, and dirt-covered boots, rather than the dark green uniform of a Ranger. But when I see their backpacks, I assume they must be Rangers, for they always carry backpacks filled with supplies in case of an outdoor emergency. The wildlands aren’t safe for anyone.
“Excuse me, but I seem to have lost my group. Have you seen them? Are they very far ahead?”
The men exchange a glance. “She’s young, but definitely of age,” the man with the scar says. He happens to be the tallest and he stares at me with an intensity that makes me uncomfortable. “Very pretty, too.”
“Let’s take her,” the other man says, his voice deeper than his companion’s.
Take me where? Back to my tour group? Back to Emerald?
Unease sweeps through me, but certainly these men must be Rangers. Sure, they have longer hair than most men, as well as beards, but maybe the rules out here are a bit lax. If I showed up at the Management Office not wearing a perfectly pressed black pantsuit, I would receive a letter in my file. Too many letters and you aren’t eligible for Happiness Raffles. But maybe these men don’t care about the raffles.
The men move toward me and I take a step back. “I was with Ranger Warren’s group,” I say, standing as tall as I can.
They exchange another look. “I’m Ranger Axel,” says the man with the scar, “and this is Ranger Nash.”
Ranger Nash holds out his hand and says, “Come with us and we’ll make sure you get home. In fact, we know a shortcut that’ll get you there faster.”
Suspicion flares in my mind, but these men have given me no reason not to trust them. I take a deep breath and move closer to them.
“Here.” Nash grasps my hand. “We’ll help guide you through the forest. Sometimes navigating through the underbrush can be tricky.”
“Okay, thanks.” I glance down at our joined hands and a heated flush sears my neck and face, even as a shiver courses through my limbs.
He smiles down at me and his nearness affects me more by the second. I’ve never held a man’s hand before. To my further shock, Axel appears on my other side and grabs my free hand. I gulp and look from Ranger to Ranger. An unexpected warmth pulses between my thighs and I resolve to use the VR story with the musclebound merman as soon as I get home.
“Come on, little girl.” Axel gives my hand a squeeze. “Let’s get you home.”
“I’m a twenty-year-old Manager,” I say, affronted. “I’m certainly not a little girl.” Had he meant it as an insult? Or does he think I’m short? They’re both over a head taller than me, but all Rangers are quite tall.
Axel doesn’t reply but they continue guiding me through the forest, each of them holding a hand. Despite my annoyance at being calledlittle girl, I find myself enjoying the off-trail walk through the trees. A rapid drumming noise soon catches my attention, and I squeal at the sight of a bird pecking fast on a tree.
“What-what is that? I mean, I know it’s a bird, but why is it behaving like that?” I’m astonished by the sight even before I understand what’s happening. There are no animals of any sort in the techno-cities. The Wise Leaders say they’re unclean and spread diseases, though I’m not afraid as I stare at the bird, marveling at its unique markings. It has a white stomach, black wings with a spot of white, and a bright red head. “Is it pecking for worms? Are there worms in the tree?”
Nash appears to be repressing a grin. “It’s called a woodpecker, little one. Woodpeckers are birds that peck on trees in search of food, like bugs, or to create a nesting site.”
“I believe they also peck on trees to establish their territory and attractmates,” Axel says, putting an emphasis on the wordmatesas he catches my eye.
“Excuse me,” I say, glaring back and forth between them. “While I appreciate the wildlife lesson, I must make something clear. If either one of you calls melittle girlorlittle oneagain, I will have no choice but to report you for unprofessional conduct and the use of demeaning language.” My tone is harsh and unforgiving. It’s the kind of tone I reserve for Workers who aren’t performing their jobs at satisfactory levels.
“What is your name?” Axel lifts one dark eyebrow at me.
I stare at him, wondering why we haven’t reached the group yet. We’ve been walking for a while and at a fast pace. “My name is Joselyn.” Though it shouldn’t, revealing my name to them feels oddly intimate. More pulses affect me between my thighs and I decide it’s been far too long since I’ve had a good, long VR sexual relief session.
“Joselyn,” Nash repeats. “That’s a very pretty name for a very pretty little girl.”
“How dare you!” I’m seething. I will report these men to every superior I possibly can. They will have so many letters in their files by the time I’m finished complaining, they will be lucky if they aren’t sent to a Rehabilitation Center. I try to yank my hands from theirs, but they both hold tight. They also increase their pace through the trees, forcing me into a slow jog just to keep up. “This is outrageous treatment. I demand you let go of me at once.”
Maybe I should scream. I think about it and I even draw a deep breath, as if preparing to yell out. But in the end, I exhale sharply and keep quiet. I worry such an act would be an overreaction. I shouldn’t allow myself to become emotional like the Workers sometimes get when they are tired or required to perform a double shift. Soon I’ll be back with my tour group and Rangers Axel and Nash will regret their poor conduct.
I’m shocked when we come to a clearing that contains a large blue lake. I don’t see the walls of Emerald anywhere. Where are we? Surely we haven’t traveled closer to the group. It’s as if we’ve been traveling in the wrong direction the entire time.
“Fucking dumb rude ass Ranger fuckers,” I say, continually mumbling curse words and insults I learned from the Workers to the Rangers under my breath. I know it’s not polite, but I can’t help it. I’m not used to my orders being ignored. My ire rises and I’m about to chastise the idiotic Rangers further, but Nash releases my hand and Axel turns me in his arms, holding me by my shoulders as he gives me a disapproving look.
