I’d hoped she would have chosen to hide outside. The thrill of the hunt is amplified in the open air—the sounds of footsteps on fallen leaves, the hitched breathing echoing in the night. But Aurora’s smarter than that. She’s barricaded herself in familiar territory.
No matter. I can drive her out.
Moving silently along the stone path, I approach the service entrance I noted during my earlier reconnaissance. It’s an old door with an outdated lock that any halfway decent thief could bypass in seconds. I remove the lock pick set from my pocket, selecting the tension wrench and hook pick.
The metallic clicks sound unnaturally loud in the stillness as I work the pins. One by one, they yield to my touch, a satisfyingmetaphor for how Aurora herself will soon surrender. The final pin drops into place with a soft click, and I turn the handle.
The door swings open on well-oiled hinges. I step inside, my boots silent on the marble floor of what appears to be a mudroom. The house smells of furniture polish and expensive candles, with an underlying hint of sea salt from the nearby cliffs.
I pause, listening. The mansion is silent, but houses this size never truly sleep. They creak and settle, pipes hum, old wood expands and contracts. Among those natural sounds, I detect the faint rustle of movement from deeper within.
A smile spreads across my face as I move forward, keeping to the shadows. I’ve spent years perfecting the art of moving undetected, and tonight that skill serves a singular purpose.
A floorboard creaks somewhere above. Second floor, west wing, if I’ve oriented correctly. My pulse quickens. The hunt is on.
I make my way toward the grand staircase, pausing at its base to consider my approach. Direct pursuit might drive her further inside, into some hidden room or passage I’m unfamiliar with. Better to cut off her escape routes, force her toward the gardens where the real game can begin.
I pause at the base of the grand staircase, drinking in the silence. The game grows more enticing with each passing moment. I can almost taste her fear in the air—sweet, intoxicating.
“Aurora,” I call, my voice echoing through the empty halls. “You’re only making this more exciting for me.”
I listen carefully, rewarded by the faintest intake of breath from somewhere upstairs. The sound sends a thrill through my body, straight to my cock. She’s trying so hard to stay silent, but it’s difficult when adrenaline is pumping through your veins.
Ascending the stairs, I let each footfall announce my approach. I want her to hear me coming. I want her to feel the inevitable closing in.
“I can hear you breathing,” I say, softer now. “Your heart must be racing. Does it excite you to be hunted? Knowing what will happen when I find you?”
Another sound—fabric shifting against skin. She’s moving. The hunt quickens.
I follow the sound down the hallway, each step measured. The carpet absorbs my footfalls, allowing me to move more silently now. I pass darkened doorways, checking each room.
“When I catch you,” I murmur into the darkness, “and I will catch you, I’m going to take what’s mine.”
She gasps, quickly trying to stifle it. Close—she’s very close. The sound came from behind the door to my right. I press my palm against the wood, feeling the cool surface against my skin.
“I wonder what you’re wearing,” I continue. “Did you dress for me? Or will I have the pleasure of tearing whatever it is from your body?”
I turn the handle of the door that I’m sure she’s lurking behind, slowly, deliberately, giving her time to anticipate. The door creaks open to reveal a darkened bedroom. Moonlight spills through open curtains, casting long shadows across the floor.
The closet door stands slightly ajar. A rookie mistake.
I approach, blood rushing in my veins. The thrill of the chase narrows my focus to this single moment, this impending capture.
“I can smell your perfume,” I whisper, close enough to the closet that she’ll hear every word. “And something else. Are you wet for me already, baby? Aroused by this game we’re playing?”
I reach for the closet handle, a smirk spreading across my face. The hunt is about to end, or so I think.
The sudden movement behind me registers a fraction too late. Aurora slams the bedroom door, the wood catching my shoulder as I spin around. Clever girl. She wasn’t in the closet at all. She was behind the door the entire time.
“Fuck!” I growl, shoving against the door and bursting into the hallway.
A flash of movement catches my eye, Aurora’s slender figure darting down the corridor, her dark hair flying behind her. The sight of her fleeing ignites something dark in me. The real chase begins.
I launch after her, my longer stride eating up the distance between us. Her breathing comes in quick, panicked gasps that echo off the walls. The sound drives me wild.
“You can’t outrun me, Aurora,” I call, my voice bouncing through the hallway. “Every step just makes me want you more.”
She glances back, her blue eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement. That single look confirms what I already knew. She wants this as much as I do.
