3. Karolina
KAROLINA
The next morning, I resolutely keep worry over my promise to Bones from claiming my thoughts. Instead, I dedicate myself to my studies at the library. My first class starts on Monday, and I want to be prepared for my MA.
I mostly manage to keep my focus on Viking history for several hours, until it’s time to go home and get ready to meet Bones.
On the short walk back to my rented flat, I debate canceling my plans with him. It’s insane to meet in person.
I’m not scared of what he might do to me. But the idea of going to a kinky masked hunt when I’ve never even been with a man is definitely not normal.
The mask will stay on. I remember Bones’ gravelly promise. We don’t have to change the anonymous nature of our relationship. And he won’t take more from me than I’m ready to offer.
After years of online dirty talk and orgasms on my own hand and toys, my body craves more.
I can’t allow myself a romantic connection, but I might be able to permit myself this clandestine relationship.
In a strange way, it’s far safer to allow him to chase me through the woods than it would be to date a normal guy like some of the boys on my course.
There are rules in my relationship with Bones. Boundaries.
Tonight, some of those physical boundaries will shift, but I don’t have to offer him anything more on an emotional level. I won’t make my heart vulnerable.
By the time I reach my building, I’ve resolved to attend the hunt as planned.
My resolve wavers slightly when I find the huge box waiting for me outside my front door. The mask and dress inside the package make the prospect of this kinky meeting all too real.
There’s a short, typed note included with the outfit:
Wear your running shoes. Let’s find out how fast you really are, kitten.
The dress is baby pink silk, the pale color reminiscent of my ballet days.
Lightweight boning in the bodice makes a corseted silhouette, but it’s not so restrictive that I won’t be able to draw in deep breaths.
The sweetheart neckline will put my modest breasts on display, and the full skirt will swish around my knees.
The dress is overtly feminine, but I’ll be able to run in it.
The mask is rose gold, a simple design that’ll conceal the upper half of my face. Bones knows what I look like, but no one else will truly see me tonight.
I take my time to prepare my body, losing myself in the methodical ritual of self-care to keep my nerves at bay.
The bath in my student accommodation is small and cramped, but I manage to make it luxurious with a fizzing, rose scented bath bomb.
I intentionally practice deep, meditative breathing, a habit I’ve fostered for years to manage my most tumultuous emotions.
I’ve set my mind on meeting Bones, and I won’t allow anxiety to ruin my resolve.
If I had time, I’d go for a long run to work out the lingering fizziness in my veins, but it’s getting late. Besides, I need to conserve my energy for the hunt.
Two hours later, I’ve finished my makeup and put on the pink silk dress. I’m just perfecting the black satin bow on my high brunette ponytail when my phone chimes with a message.
Bones
The car’s here for you. Are you ready?
I take a breath and will my fingers not to tremble as I type my reply.
Karolina
I’ll be right there. Two minutes.
I secure my rose gold mask in place with the pink velvet tie and take one more moment to check my appearance in the mirror.
The dress he’s selected for me exudes innocence.
I can’t help imagining it torn and smudged with dirt. My clit pulses, and the first hint of arousal dampens my white lace thong that I’ve selected just for him.
No one has touched me in years. Not since the night I ran through the woods from Carter and Brandon at our foster home…
I grimace and cut off that line of thinking.
I’ll be safe with Bones. Safe and anonymous.
No strings attached. No romantic feelings or emotional entanglement.
No painful fallout when everything inevitably blows up in my face.
I square my shoulders and walk outside, focusing on my excitement to finally engage in a real chase scene with my masked man.
A shiny black limo waits on the street in front of my building. The driver stands beside the back door, and he gives me a nod of acknowledgment when he opens it for me.
I murmur my thanks and slide into the padded leather seat.
The shadows shift inside the limo, and Bones’ demonic crimson skull mask leers at me. My breath catches.
“Don’t be afraid,” he rumbles, massive body coiled tight to keep several inches of space between us.
I had no idea how big he is. Dark athletic clothes hug an imposing, muscular frame, cladding every inch of skin in inky black.
The limo starts moving, and my heart leaps into my throat. For a moment, raw fear grips my mind at the innate knowledge that I’m trapped with a predator.
He seems to sense my spike of terror. “Give me a safe word. If you use it at any point tonight, everything will stop, and I’ll bring you back home.”
I lick my dry lips. “We’ve never used a safe word before. It’s kind of silly when I could just talk to you like normal.”
The warning tilt of his head is all too familiar, and a little thrill races down my spine—an ingrained response to his threatening posture.
“Karolina…” He grinds out my name. “Nothing we’re about to do tonight is normal. Give me a safe word. No and stop don’t count.”
“I always thought you were using a voice modulator,” I say instead of answering his slightly alarming demand. “But you’re all growly in real life too.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Does it hurt your throat to snarl like that all the time? Do you need a cough drop or something after we talk?”
“I want a safe word, or I’m turning this car around and taking you back home.”
I scoff, sinking into familiar teasing with him to avoid the budding fear of everything that comes along with making our relationship real. “You’ll turn the car around? Sure you will, Daddy.”
He crosses his thick arms over his broad chest, as though restraining himself from reaching for me.
“So, that’s how you want to play this? I’ll take pleasure in taming your bratty mouth, but I don’t intend to coddle you tonight. You’re not my babygirl, Karolina. You’re my prize. My prey. You’ll get no softness or mercy from me.”
My lips tremble slightly at the edges of my sly smile. Keeping up my bravado is getting more difficult with every passing second.
“Promises, promises,” I taunt. “You’ll have to catch me first.”
He spreads his arms wide. “Look at me, kitten. Do you really think you can evade me for long? You’re fast, but you’re so much smaller than I am. So delicate and fragile. So deliciously breakable.”
I force a shrug and a breathy laugh. “I bet you’ll lumber through the woods with all those bulky muscles. You can’t possibly be faster than I am.”
He edges closer, and I instinctively scoot back.
His low chuckle rolls over my flesh, drawing goosebumps to the surface of my skin.
“There’s nowhere for you to run right now. I could make you my pretty little plaything until we arrive at the hunt. Your legs will be shaking so hard that you won’t be able to run at all. Are you sure you don’t want to adjust your attitude?”
I cross my arms over my chest and remark, “So stern. These Daddy vibes aren’t hot, Bones.”
He’s in my personal space, his body heat pulsing against me.
“Liar,” he drawls. “You’re already trembling for me. I bet you’re wet.” He inhales deeply. “I can practically smell your arousal, greedy girl.”
My laugh breaks slightly. “As if you could smell me through that mask. Who’s the liar now?”
His gloved fingers stroke my cheek, buttery soft and warm.
I go completely still at the first contact I’ve ever shared with him.
His touch trails over the contours of my face, as though he’s memorizing me.
The reverence of the gesture makes my belly flip, and I’m not sure if it’s in arousal or fear.
No one has touched me like this in years. Suddenly, my eyes sting with a swell of emotion, and my heart threatens to crack open. The intimacy is sharp enough to cut.
I blink rapidly to ease the burn of tears, focusing on the decadent sensation of his glove on my mouth. The flavor is slightly salty, and the heady scent of leather suffuses my senses. My lips part on a small gasp as all of my sensitive nerve endings light up.
For an insane moment, I want him to tear off his mask and claim my lips in a fierce kiss.
I swallow hard and suppress the mad desire. This connection is safe because his mask will stay on, a firm barrier between us.
This isn’t a romantic meeting.
It’s purely carnal, and I’ve needed this release even more desperately than I realized.
My entire body comes alive for him, and he’s barely brushed his fingers over my face.
“Your safe word, Karolina,” he prompts. “Now.”
“Blue,” I sigh without fully thinking through my answer.
He cocks his head at me. “Why blue?”
Brandon’s eyes flash through my mind: darkly twinkling sapphires.
I shrug off the memory of the beloved foster brother who betrayed me all those years ago.
“It’s my least favorite color.”
“Alright,” Bones allows after a heavy moment. His gloved hand skates over my hair, as though he senses I need soothing. “If you say blue, everything will stop.”
“What about you?” I ask. “What’s your safe word?”
His touch trails down my neck, testing my racing pulse.
“I don’t need a safe word. There’s nothing you could do to hurt me.”
I tip my chin back. “I can be very intimidating. What if you decide to run away from me?”
I expect him to laugh, but his deep voice drops to an even lower rumble. “Nothing would ever make me run away from you.”
“Bones…” His name is somewhere between a protest and a breathy plea.
This is suddenly too intense. Too real.
And I’ve never been so aroused in my life.
He releases a purely masculine, satisfied hum. “I do love when you say my name like that. It sounds even sweeter in person. I wonder if your cunt is as sweet as your voice.”