Chapter 6
SIX
RORY
“Hi!” My voice came out chipper, which was surprising even to myself, considering I was anything but. Instead…I could have sworn my blood was itchy. “Welcome to the Wooded Lodg—”
“Yeah,” the man in front of me said, effectively cutting me off and throwing his debit card on the counter. He was dressed in board shorts and a tank top, with sand from the beach still covering nearly every area of exposed skin on him. “One room, one night, one bed, please.”
A woman nearly identical to my height stood in his embrace, wearing nothing but a yellow bikini and flip-flops. Unsurprising, considering she was also covered in sand and was utterly soaked.
Sigh.
At least he said please.
Even if the sand mixture covering them from their apparent midnight swim was dripping everywhere.
I nodded politely and began typing the information into the computer in front of me. After a minute or so, the man sighed exasperatedly. “Anything?”
My eyes snapped to him, irritated. “The system is loading.”
“Can it load faster? I have a long night ahead. I mean, look at her.”
My face rolled in disgust at the innuendo behind his words.
I was thankful there were no microphones on the surveillance cameras…
and also for the fact that John had all but adopted me since I had started working there.
He had just begun some sort of paperwork in the backroom, but even so, my smart mouth would have probably been congratulated rather than disciplined if he overheard me.
“Let me guess. Brad? Kyle? Justin, even?”
His mouth parted in shock. “...Justin, yes. Do I know you?”
“No.” I shook my head. “You just look like the douchebag type who loves intimidating women for no reason other than, Oooh, high score, woman scared. And J names are common for such creatures. Unfortunately for you, I’ve met men who make you look like a worm, so…
I am not intimidated in the slightest, and if you’ll let me do my job, then we’ll get you on your way very shortly. Mkay? Mkay.”
The woman tucked under his arm coughed, and I had the suspicion she was biting back a laugh, which only filled me with the utmost satisfaction.
When my eyes floated up to meet the man’s gaze for confirmation that he had actually heard me, the satisfaction only grew at the sign of his blushing and embarrassed complexion.
Rory: 1
Weird Men: 0
To his credit, he stayed silent, and I smiled sarcastically before returning my gaze to the computer in front of me. I reached for a keycard, magnetizing it for usage, and spoke again. “You’re in luck. We have one last room available on the third floor. Beautiful view, too.”
He nodded. “You have an elevator, right?”
I forced a faux wince on my face as I handed him his debit card and the hotel key card. “I’m so sorry, sir, but our elevator is currently out of order. Our stairs are on the right of that left wall, though.”
He scowled as he walked to the stairwell, tugging his guest along in tow. “Of course it is.”
As I watched him all but drag her along, I almost felt bad for the poor girl. Especially since their window faced the parking lot rather than the beach.
Collateral damage, unfortunately.
I could only hope that he at least lasted in bed.
Doubtful.
I shrugged as I returned my gaze to the computer, resetting the search and availability setting, then turning behind me to keep note on the recently updated third-shift checklist—trying to keep my mind busy as much as I possibly could.
It didn’t do much, though.
Unsurprising, given that tonight was technically the night.
Either my walking fantasy was going to come to life…
or I was planning to leave Preyless—leave the kink scene entirely—and continue going to proper therapy.
Granted, there was nothing wrong with my therapist, and I’d be returning to hear more of his guidance even if everything went in the direction I wanted it to.
I just…simply refused to try again with another man who could turn the tables on me, should it all fail.
And with what I wanted? A failure and ghosting would have just been a sign from God.
It had been nearly two weeks of conversations with the men I had taken an extreme liking to on that dumb app ever since the morning I had gotten off to the thought of a proper hunted scene.
Two weeks of planning, but also two weeks of growing to trust and like them.
Romantic feelings were genuinely growing toward them.
They made me smile, blush, and swoon more than I ever had in my entire life—let alone more than I ever had throughout my entire marriage.
Not to mention…the orgasms that raked through my body at their words and promises—threatening or sensual—had me wholly addicted.
Porn already didn’t compare. Frankly, it was terrifying, considering I didn’t know their names or what their voices sounded like. And yet, I was still craving more.
My phone sat heavy in my back pocket as I wondered about either of the men—if I should text them to confirm or if I should throw my phone into the goddamn ocean; if they actually like-liked me, like they said they did, or if they were just placating me until they found someone better for their needs.
Just like that, my thoughts began to spiral. Again.
Though, as the sound of a man clearing his throat softly filled the air—signaling the need for my attention—I turned around and blinked in shock, and all thoughts flew directly out of my skull.
He was an unbelievably attractive man. Who I hadn’t even known was there. Who probably had been watching me twiddle my fingers and buzz anxiously for who knows how long. And who quite literally towered over me in a black hoodie and shorts…even with the desk in between us.
Just great.
I wanted to face-palm. “H-hello!” I stuttered out. “I’m so sorry. My head is everywhere tonight. What can I do for you?”
He smirked down at me as he handed me his keycard. “It’s no problem. I have a cardholder on my phone, and like a dumbass, I slid this in it with the mixture of all the RFID tags in my wallet. I think it’s demagnetized now. We can’t get in our room.”
“Oh! That’s no problem. What’s your name? I can look you up and repair the data.”
“Aiden West. It could also be under my boyfriend’s name. Casey Bennett.”
I nodded as I typed their names into the system. Thankfully, the first man’s name popped right up, and I looked through their information to find their assigned room right as the man spoke again. “How’s your night going so far?”
I smiled up at him. “Not many complaints, other than a lot of sand to clean up now. How about yourself?”
He looked down at the floor and grimaced. “I noticed. That sucks. Are you here alone? Is there anyone else that could help?”
I shook my head. “The owner is in the back tonight, but I’m sure I’ll be the one cleaning it up. It just comes with working on the beach. What can you do, ya know?”
“Well, if it was the guy who was rude to you earlier, then I like you even more for telling him the elevator was broken…when it’s not, considering I just used it.”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “Have you been here for that long?”
“Yup. That was very clever actually. I had debated tripping him on the way to the elevator, but you beat me to it.”
I laughed as I returned my gaze to the computer, only for it to return to him after quickly repairing his keycard. I locked eyes with him, handing him his card before centering my pointer finger on my lips in a shushing motion. “Don’t tell my boss.”
He tapped his fingers on the desk and winked before turning toward the exit. “Your secret is safe with me, pretty girl.”
It felt like a lightning bolt hit me as I blinked in shock.
That nickname…
Right on cue, the elevator dinged, and another man walked out. He was nearly as tall as the one who had just stood before me. As he approached the front desk in an extremely similar hoodie, nervousness bloomed in my stomach tenfold.
The hoodies had the Navy SEAL emblem on the breast pocket area.
Holy shit.
The man from the elevator smiled at me before placing a bouquet of flowers on the front desk.
It was only then that I realized he had been carrying them, or that his other hand was carrying a heavy duffel bag.
“Good evening, darlin’. Just wanted to keep that promise of getting you flowers first. Being chivalrous is important in a relationship, ya know. ”
My face stayed frozen.
Wolfe and Wraithe.
The man standing near the exit spoke again, and I jumped, realizing he hadn’t left yet. “Casey, babe, c’mon. We gotta get ready.”
The man in front of me winked, just like the last man had, and I watched as they left the building without a backward glance to me. It wasn’t even a full sixty seconds later when my phone buzzed in my back pocket, forcing me to nearly jump out of my skin.
PreyForUs
We wanted to give you our real names and faces to make sure you felt safe.
Give us five minutes.
You know what to do after that, pretty girl. If you still want this. Last chance to back out.
I looked at the clock. 11:12 p.m.
Regardless of my nerves, I didn’t hesitate.
It was really happening.
They came.
I watched the clock for an entire five minutes, drumming my fingers along the desk anxiously.
And at the exact second the clock turned to 11:17, I slid my phone back into my pocket, walked into John’s office with a claim that I felt extremely ill and needed to leave, and followed my Preyless men right out of the building, into the darkness.
Just like we had planned.