Page 127 of Prey Tell
Chase chuckles. “I’ve started calling him Mr. Rooster.”
I turn to face him when Mr. Rooster crows—loudly.I jump, eyes wide, looking at Chase.
“I thought he didn’t crow?” I ask, looking between the rooster and Chase.
Chase shrugs, looking at the fancy coop as a small hen comes wandering out into the open. She must be the same breed as Mr. Rooster—she has the same orange and turquoise feathers.
Chase puts his hands in his pockets and walks up next to me as I watch the two animals strut around their sizable courtyard.
“Turns out he just needed a hen. Hasn’t stopped crowing since I introduced Mrs. Chicken. Roosters, unbeknownst to me, prefer to have a flock to care for. And to dominate,” he murmurs. “Guess we have that in common,” he adds, his smile broadening as he walks up and wraps his arms around me. “Why don’t we go inside, yeah?” he purrs, his intention obvious.
I twist in his arms and grin, wrapping my hands around his neck. “Wherever I go this fall, we’ll need to make sure we have room for them,” I say, standing on my tippy toes and planting a kiss on Chase’s lips.
“Already thought about it, Parker,” he says against my lips.
“There’s probably a lot we should talk about since we’ve only been dating for less than a week and we’ve both said ‘I love you,’” I whisper. “It’s like we’re doing everything backward.”
“I know. And I don’t give a fuck about what order we do things in. Because right now, all I want to do is drag you into my bedroom and fuck you until you forget your name,” he growls, pulling me behind him.
“Fine with me,” I squeal, trailing behind him as he marches through his apartment with the kind of intention that makes everything inside of me coil with anticipation.
Yeah, I could get used to this.
EPILOGUE
THE MAZE
Juliet
Four Years Later
I wake up early as the sunrise bathes our room in a soft, pink light. Turning over, I find the other side of the bed cold, meaning Chase is already gone and has been for a while. Yawning, I roll over and check my phone, noticing a black envelope propped up against my bedside lamp. My heart beats faster as I sit up and rip it open, grinning as I take in my husband’s perfect scrawl.
Mrs. R,
Enjoy your breakfast, love. No need to go on a run or get dressed. You’ll be running enough as it is, and you’ll be naked within seconds of me finding you.
I know you have some papers to grade, so take your time this morning.
I’ll be waiting at the front gate of the maze at 10:00.
Do NOT be late.
Welcome to The Hunt…
Mr. R.
I tamp down the thrill that runs through me at his words, glancing over to my dressing table where I see a silver tray of food and a steaming cappuccino. My eyes flick to the letter, to the way he used his—our—family crest to seal the wax. I’m both scared of what’s to come and entirely aroused, but I push it all down in favor of the delicious breakfast he prepared for me.
After I’m done eating, I work through the essays I’d gotten back from my students. Hunched over my desk in my office, I keep a close eye on the time, pulling my silk robe tighter when a cool breeze flutters through my open window. It’s sunny and cool today, the perfect spring day in Northern California. I’m on my second cup of coffee when I notice it’s nearly nine thirty. Jumping up, I walk down the hall to our bedroom, shedding my robe and taking a quick shower.
I pull my hair back into a sleek ponytail—something I know Chase loves. The feel of him wrapping my ponytail around his fist is enough to elicit goose bumps. Pulling the silk robe back on, I go downstairs and make my way to the back garden. There is still dew on the grass, but the sun is already out and the warmth hits my skin perfectly. I use the stone pathway since I’m barefoot, and when I get to the entrance of the maze, I see another black envelope with a gold wax seal propped up against the slightly ajar iron gate.
Mrs. R,
I hope you weren’t late, because you only get a five-minute head start.
I’m going to find you, so you better run…
