“Patience, little girl.”
The next five minutes dragged on, feeling like half of forever before he stopped in front of an unassuming rustic lodge, almost completely surrounded by trees. The crude wooden sign above the door read The Wild Stalk.
“A hunting lodge. Is that what we’re doing?” Seth’s question was laced with intrigue, as if he suddenly understood tonight’s activity.
Heavenly didn’t want to hurt Beck’s feelings, but…what had he been thinking? “I-I don’t know anything about hunting.”
“You don’t have to.” Beck reached over the console and patted her thigh.
Maybe he’d meant that touch to be reassuring…but it seemed a lot more sexual, given his lingering palm and wandering fingers.
“In fact, it’s better if you don’t.” Seth grinned enthusiastically as he unbuckled his seat belt.
Heavenly turned in her seat to frown at Beck. “Okay…but I’m not killing Bambi. I-I can’t.”
Sending her a tender smile, he threaded his fingers through hers, then softly kissed her knuckles. “We’re not here to kill anything, little girl. I promise. Come with me. You’ll see.”
Suddenly eager, Seth hoisted up the duffel beside him and hopped out of the back seat. Before she could even reach for the handle, he opened the passenger door and held out his hand.
His wolfish grin told her he grasped what Beck had planned. As she slid her hand in his and eased from the SUV, she studied his face for clues, but his expression didn’t tell her anything—except that he was impatient.
Seth gripped her tight while Beck settled his palm at the small of her back. Together, they surrounded her as they led her up the stairs. She could feel excitement pinging off them.
When they entered the wooden building, a forty-something bearded man lifted his head and studied them with a sharp, assessing stare. “Beckman?”
“Yes.”
A little frown burrowed between his graying brows. “Are you waiting for other hunters…or is this your whole party?”
“This is it,” Beck confirmed.
The proprietor shrugged. “Sure. Usually, hunting packs are bigger, but…whatever. You’re paid up for four hours. Don’t be late. There’s a midnight hunting party booked after yours.” The man handed them each a release form. “These are standard waivers. If you want to play…sign away.”
Play? Play what?
Beck and Seth stepped in close, flanking her as Heavenly scanned the document. Words like pursuit scenario, safe words, and consensual adult role-play jumped off the page. She tensed. Her pulse quickened. The air grew thick.
Beck stroked her arm while Seth skimmed his fingers down her spine.
“What exactly are we hunting?” Her gaze bounced between them.
But there was one obvious answer. And the way they both stared, eyes hot and hungry, made her tummy knot and her blood pool even lower.
“You’re not hunting, little girl. Seth and I are. And we’ll be hunting you,” Beck murmured against her ear.
The Wild Stalk.
I hope you can run. She finally understood Beck’s cryptic comment.
She gaped at him. “You’re…serious?”
He didn’t reply, but his grin turned into a wicked smile that made her womb clench.
On her other side, Seth’s entire body tightened as he leaned closer. “Oh, yeah. We’ll even give you a head start.”
They want to chase me. Hunt me like prey.
A tremor of fear and yet contradictory excitement quaked through her. “And…if you catch me?”
