Page 54 of Prey Tell
She’s holding black trainers in her hands. “Just need to put my shoes on.”
“Let me get changed,” I add, walking into the bedroom.
My eyes scan my bed—her things scattered over my duvet. Her suitcase propped open, clothes overflowing out of it and onto the ground. I see an assortment of toiletries sitting on my bathroom counter, and my lips twitch with the hint of a smile. Both her and Jackson are quite sloppy. I’d forgotten.
I quickly change into a t-shirt, jeans, and lace-up boots. Grabbing a flannel and throwing it on, I walk back out into the living room.
Her eyes rake over my outfit quickly before she smirks and raises one eyebrow, as if she approves.As if she thinks she has a say and not the other way around.
I grab two water bottles from the fridge across the room. “Leave your phone here,” I tell her, handing her one of the bottles.
She looks up at me, mouth parted. “Why?”
I cock my head. “Because I said so. We’re starting today off with an exercise in listening to our instincts, and I don’t want any distractions.”
I expect her to fight back, but if she’s displeased, she doesn’t show it. She sets her phone and wallet on the coffee table.
“Let’s go.”
I hold the door open for her, inhaling her scent as she passes me. She smells like fresh cut flowers and heaven.I truly am royally fucked.
She presses the button on the elevator. Her hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail. The doors slide open, and she walks in, turning around and facing me as I enter the elevator with her. As the doors slide shut, I slowly take a couple of steps so that I’m right in front of her. I bring my hand to a loose piece of hair, tucking it behind her ear.
“I’m not going to do anything sexual today, Parker. I want you to learn how to listen to your body.” I run a finger down her jaw. I smirk when she visibly shivers under my touch. “A big part of primal play is listening to your animal side. And while you might claim I don’t know you anymore, I think I know you well enough to suspect that foregoing logic is hard for you. For this to work, you’re going to have to let go of everything you think you know.”
She swallows, and I watch the delicate skin along her neck move with the motion. Tracking my eyes back to hers, I take a step away.
“You’re right,” she says quietly. “I mean, you know how I am. I have to research everything. I think I’ve scared my intuition away.”
I chuckle. “Not possible. I’ll show you, don’t worry.”
“I’m serious, Chase. I overthinkeverything.Even what I’m going to eat for breakfast.”
I cock my head and take another step backward. “You have to trust me. Okay?”
The elevator door chimes as it slides open. She studies my face for a second before nodding.
We walk past the kitchen, where a couple of professional chefs are preparing lunch. Past the library—her head nearly swivels all the way around as she glances inside—and then we pass the study, the formal sitting room, and finally, the back patio, which leads out into the back garden. Since I like to keep these hunts exclusive and small, that means that Parker and I will be joined by a few other couples, single submissives, and a couple of dominants that I’ve pre-approved—including the three ladies who make up The Domme Group.
The plan for the weekend was supposed to be casual fun, but the second Louis texted me about a ‘Ms. Parker’ at the gate, I knew it would be anything but.
Though I host the event, I don’t interfere. People stay in various bedrooms we’ve set up with anything and everything they could need, and aside from Parker, every single one of them was invited personally by me. They are free to play however they want. The invite I send Miles is always a joke, and I should’ve known better. But Juliet is here now, and Miles will get a tongue-lashing the next time I see him.
Once we walk outside, I turn to the right—away from the Olympic-sized pool—knowing the stone path will lead to the back of the house and into the forest. It’s foggy today, despite it being Spring, and it gives everything an eerie feeling. I haven’t been back here in years—since everything happened as a kid. But Parker needs to learn how to let go, and I need to give her the full experience. An hour in the woods is nothing.
The trees behind the castle extend for miles. My great-grandfather wanted to ensure we could build a hundred more castles if needed, so he snatched up the land behind the house I grew up in. The stone path weaves around the side of the house, past a large fountain, and then we walk through an iron gate that leads to the woods beyond. I have to use my key to get us through. From there, the path weaves deeper into the thicket of trees, and Parker continues walking at my side silently. The noise of the fountain disappears after a few minutes, and soon, the path disappears, leaving us to walk over the uneven dirt. The sun beats down on the cool earth, causing a thin layer of fog to pool along the ground.
“Do you know where we’re going?” Parker asks, stopping as she turns to face me.
No. I have no fucking idea.
Of course I used to play back here all the time as a child until the accident. Until the thought of being back in the woods sent me spiraling. However, my goal today is to get Juliet away from the lodge. From other people. From anything that can distract her. I want to unnerve her a bit. Bring her out of her element.Showher how to listen to her body, her breathing, quiet her thoughts to avoid overthinking.
“Do you want to go back?” I ask her, intentionally not answering her question.
This is a challenge for me just as much as it is for her.
An opportunity to throw all my fucking caution to the wind to help her.
