17. Chapter 17
We’d all tidied the cabin and then headed back into Whitby, separating off into small groups to explore more sights and then met back up for lunch.
I'd taken Miles to some famous writing spots I’d found online that morning, then we checked out the Dracula attraction to my horror.
It was borderline hellish like the scare festival, but he called me his big soft man and didn’t judge too harshly when I waited outside.
After lunch at a famous pie and peas restaurant, we all get into our cars to head to our last seasonal attraction on the trip.
It’s the final stop, so there are four cars on the road and once again we navigate a grassy temporary car park.
The large wooden sign for the corn maze is in garish orange, hanging above the entrance to the maze itself.
To the side is a space filled with vendor tents, burger vans and even though we just ate I feel my stomach signaling it would welcome some freshly battered donuts.
I’m going to have to spend some time in the gym over the next couple of days for sure, but maybe I can persuade Miles to come with me.
We’ve met up a few mornings at the gym when our classes have aligned and he can lift some serious weight.
His muscles might not be bulging out of his t-shirts, but his lean body can work out just as hard as mine can.
Before I give myself another boner thinking about his forearms flexing and his tight ass on a treadmill, I lock my car when we’re both out, I don’t hesitate to grasp his hand as we walk towards the admissions booth.
There isn’t a line which is a good sign it won’t already be swamped with families.
All the seasonal joy must turn children into tiny lunatics, or it’s the sugar fix their parents allow at one in the afternoon.
“Ok, big guy, I’m going to propose something you might find ludicrous.” Miles turns his head to smirk at me, stepping closer to bump our hips together as we step up to get tickets. He mock gasps. “I’m going to pay.”
Scoffing, I slide my hand into my jeans for my wallet. “You’re right, that is ludicrous.”
My hand doesn’t even make it back out of my pocket before he clasps a firm hand around my wrist, giving me a warning look that kind of turns me on a little. Jesus, he's unlocked some sort of needy slut inside me. I’m close to giving him puppy dog eyes.
“I’m not joking. You’re going to stand there and look pretty. I’m going to pay for us.” Still with his hand on my wrist, he beams up at the woman in the booth, who is trying to hold back a laugh. She doesn’t school her features very well, but gives me an apologetic, warm smile. “Two please.”
“Sure sweetie. You boys want tokens for rides?”
“Ah dang, we won’t have time. Not today, thank you.” Miles taps his card against the handheld machine she brings out, and then she hands us both orange wristbands.
“Thank you.” I parrot, twisting my hand out of my jeans to entwine our fingers again. “You’re so bossy.” I whisper, teasing him and receiving exactly what I want.
Miles leans down to press his lips firmly to mine, but he also grips my chin with his thumb and index finger, stroking as he controls our kiss. “You love it. If you don’t, you’ll learn.”
I laugh, pushing him gently in the chest and he breaks away with a wide smile.
All our friends pay for their tickets too and we head into the corn maze.
Faye, Mason and Micah heading off to the tents.
Emery and Teddy barrel past us into the maze and just shaking his head, Harris trudges onwards to catch up.
“Looks like it’s just you and me.” Miles whispers in my ear from behind me, causing goosebumps to ripple over my skin.
It doesn’t matter that I have three layers on, that tone does something to me and he knows.
Smirking, he leads me down the first dirt pathway.
The corn surrounding us looks like it’s double my height, which is so impressive but pretty suffocating.
I can hear children's laughter from places I can’t see, people calling out names and teasing screams I assume from people who are hiding.
I wonder what happens in here when someone gets lost, does the staff know the layout by heart?
Or do they wave a giant flag and hope the lost tourist can see?
There isn’t a maze on Pech farm, but it’d be a great all year round attraction if there’s enough space.
We move further into the maze and the sounds of families start to grow faint and with how tall the leaves are, shadows cast along the ground, swaying and lashing.
“Want to play hide and seek?” Miles asks me.
I look up to laugh, but his eyes are blazing like the wild sea. He’s serious, causing my breath to hitch.
“That could be fun.” I squeak.
His chuckle rumbles low in his chest and again he presses into me from behind, dropping my hand to run both his palms up my arms. “It could be very fun. What do I win when I find you?”
“W-win?” Swallowing thickly, I grapple with getting myself under control, but he’s doing this on purpose.
He knows how that low vibration from his body gets me hard as a rock.
Brushing his nose along my neck, his lips brush my ear and I’m pretty sure I’d be on my ass in the dirt if he wasn’t letting me lean back into him.
“Yeah baby, what do I win when I find you? Any ideas? Or do I get to choose?”
I shake my head and Miles laughs, before gently kissing behind my ear. It's like I can feel his lips on me everywhere that my skin is exposed, but then his warmth is suddenly removed.
Jolting, I spin around and am met with corn. The path is empty and the tall husks rustle in a cold breeze, making the loss of touch feel emptier. I didn't think he was being serious, but when I wait a few more minutes in the same place, Miles doesn't return.
Running my hands through my hair to push back loose curls, I let out a long stream of air before deciding the only route to finding him is forwards.
Or maybe it's the best way for him to not find me?
I'm not sure, but soon I'm already getting turned around by a dead end and walking further away from what I think is the center of the maze.
I don't hear any footsteps, nor do I see a flash of blonde hair to reassure me Miles is following.
My fear about actually getting lost in here starts to become a palpable thing, so I'm thankful when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Pulling it out, I expect a text from him or one of the guys also in the maze, but to my surprise it's a notification from social media.
Yourghostboy is live. I stop dead in my tracks, hand attacking my hair again as I stare down at the device.
Why could he possibly be going live? Is he showing who he is underneath the mask?
Desperately needing to know, I click the notification and it takes me to the live footage.
Dread, as cold as an ice bath pulls me under.
It's mutilating how quickly I'm paralysed with it.
The live already has thousands of viewers, hundreds commenting in real time, wondering what he's showing them, telling him how much they love his content.
Yourghostboy doesn't fill the screen. No, all I can see are tall strands of corn, moving slowly as whoever is holding the camera walks.
My user name, Inkedreaper appears to have joined the live in the comments and when it appears, he holds his movement.
The corn rustles around me, it sways in the video. I'm so confused.
@yourghostboy: @Inkedreaper did you really think you could go away and I wouldn't know where you were?
It looks like you've had a lovely vay-kay
But I bet you've missed me
His messages appear in the comments section and everyone goes feral.
My phone starts to vibrate with no doubt new followers and messages, but the sentiment is mute, because all I can focus on is the guy on screen appearing through the corn hedge, black curly hair, my checked shirt jacket.
I spin, turning around and seeing no one.
Stomping forward, my eyes constantly flicker down to see the screen is now compact corn husks. He's hiding.
“This isn't fucking funny.” I shout, looking around the space, finding nothing, but I hear my voice echo back on the phone screen.
The comments are flooding in, strangers excited to know what's going on, usernames I recognise now speculating that were a couple.
Of course they'd think that after the video he posted when he was giving me a blowjob.
I am not thinking about that right now though, I need to find Miles.
No, I don't want this fucker anywhere near him.
This guy has followed me all the way to another town, so I don't want to think how it would go down if both men found me in the maze. Miles had said he wanted to go slow and keep things casual–more for my sake–but having the guy I’ve been experimented with show up here, on the best weekend probably of my life, was taking things too far.
“Missed me, Baby?” The distorted voice speaks clearly over live, but I also hear it near me.
That's when my circling starts, before I take off further into the maze, brushing back leaves, peering around corners to find him.
When I move, the footage changes on screen; he's following me deeper, away from where the sound of people congregates.
Gritting my teeth, I hit harder at the husks, taking corner after corner, trying to figure out where the hell he is.
Before I can shout out—god knows what I’d even say—a thick arm wraps around my upper body and slams me backwards, my shoes kicking up a cloud of dust. A gargled noise crawls out of my throat, turning into an audible growl as I’m restrained against a firm, broad chest. He’s wearing a plain black hoody, which is all I can see from where his hand presses into my chest bone.