By the time we got to the paintball grounds, Mark’s knee was jiggling and he was antsy.
“Whatisthis place?” he asked, staring out the window at a large sign. The multicolored letters made from splotches of paint formed the word Splattered across the billboard that stood on two metal pipes on top of a small shack.
“It’s paintball.”
He spun to stare at me with wide eyes. “Paintball?I can’t play paintball. I don’t know how.”
“It’s easy and fun. And I get to hunt you.” I gave him a sly smile as I opened the door and hopped to the ground. He did the same, nearly falling out, then straightening up.
“I can’t. I don’t know how. It’ll hurt.”
I walked around to his side of the vehicle and grabbed his shoulders, massaging them. “You’ll be wearing protective gear. Trust me. You might get a few bruises, but you’ve been through worse with our fuck sessions. It’s fun.”
“Is it?” He gave me a narrowed look and I had a feeling he didn’t believe me. “You can’t just show up and expect to play paintball, right?”
“No, but I booked, and they have some other players, too.” I locked the truck and guided him toward the shack. He dug his feet in a few times but finally relented and let me lead him inside the small wooden door. A familiar face greeted me.
Dunn was a fellow primal-play kinkster. We’d met a few times at parties and hit it off, but like me, he was the predator. He wasn’t as tall as me, but he was wider. In every way I called him a bear. He was soft around the middle, and he had a bushy beard and long hair he kept in a bun on top of his head.
When we walked inside, he raised his hand from where he stood behind the counter and grinned. “Fuck yeah, I’m glad to see you, man.”
I reached him and we clasped hands in a friendly hello.
“Is this him? That sweet piece of prey ass you were talking about?”
“Hey, watch it,” I warned, resting a possessive hand on Mark’s back. “He’s mine now.”
Dunn laughed and held his hand out to Mark, and while Mark hesitated, he eventually relented and put his hand in Dunn’s. “You’re fucking delicious.”
“Dunn…,” I warned low in my throat, the urge to protect Mark coiling inside me. The thing about guys like us was that we were animals in the way we claimed ownership over what was ours. If he kept pushing, I’d have to show him who Mark belonged to, and by the way Dunn was grinning, he knew all about that impulse. I rolled my eyes and waved my hand. “You know why we’re here.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Dunn strode around the counter, yanking up a piece of it to step through a gap near the back wall before he came around to us. “Come on. We’ll get your gear.”
We followed him into the room he used for the protection equipment. He explained what each piece was for Mark because I’d been here more times than I could count, and I helped Mark slide them onto his body.
Dunn left when he heard the front door open again.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Mark asked, his voice wavering.
“Do you trust me?”
He nodded so quickly it surprised me. I expected he’d have to think about it first.
“Then this will be fun. All you have to do isrun, little rabbit, and I’ll chase you.” The thought turned my blood to lava. “And if I catch you, I’m going to fuck you so hard tonight that you’ll forget your own name.”
His lashes fluttered and he sucked in a deep breath. Even clothed in the padded protective jacket and knee and elbow pads, he was the most delicious man I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t help but run my hands down his shoulders and arms.
Dunn walked back in with a few guys following behind him, and he clapped his hands together. “All right, boys, safety-video time. I know some of you are veterans, but you know the rules.”
I wrapped my arm around Mark’s shoulders and led him to the room used for the safety video. About twelve chairs were arranged in three lines, and I guided Mark to the two in the front center. The guys followed behind us and took their own chairs after Dunn got them their safety clothing.
“How much will this cost?” Mark whispered.
“I already paid when I booked. Don’t stress.” I rubbed his shoulder.
Once everyone was seated, Dunn switched off the lights and turned on the large projection screen. The safety demonstration went through the basic rules, like not shooting the gun at anyone who didn’t have on protective gear, and not leaving the designated shooter area. The droning voice went on and on, and when it finally finished, I was eager to get going.
Dunn turned the lights on again, then directed us back into the safety room and armed us. He explained how to use the paint guns, mostly for Mark, who’d never shot one before. Last but not least, he gave us our helmets. Dunn got into a padded jacket and helmet as well because as referee he would need them, but his gear was white to signal he wasn’t part of the game.
