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She was right about that. Heathens Hollow was often known by people as the kinky vacation destination. The Vault was a club located in an old bank that had themed sex parties for the members and the invited. The Vault was also co-owned by Locke Hartwell, though it was a topic of conversation not allowed between us. It was almost as if I was supposed to pretend I didn’t know he owned it with a few other men.
I also knew that after the party at Olympus Manor tonight, many would end their evening fucking at The Vault.
Including Locke.
And The Hunt represented all that was Heathens Hollow. There wasn’t a soul on the island who wasn’t aware of what happened here after the Harvest Moon. We might not know exactly what happened in the forest when someone was caught or all that was entailed. But we knew it happened. We knew there were rules to the game. An etiquette to be followed.
Once you agreed, you put up the red light bulb on your porch. This was your one, and only one, time to consent. Once you turned the light on, there was no backing out. The hunt was on.
We sat in silence for a few moments, watching the waves crash against the shoreline, as I contemplated Fiora’s words. The idea of The Hunt was both terrifying and alluring. The thought of being chased and caught by a stranger ignited a primal instinct that stirred something deep inside me. But the idea of putting myself in such a dangerous position was also frightening.
I couldn’t believe I was even considering it, but the idea of feeling alive and free was tempting. Fiora was right—I was tired of the same thing every day. I wanted something more, something different. The Hunt could be that something.
“What about Locke?” I blurted out, surprising even myself.
I hadn’t meant to mention him, but his presence at the party tonight had been weighing heavily on my mind. I still felt his presence nearby, as crazy as that might sound.
Fiora raised an eyebrow in question. “What about him? He’s not your daddy.”
I smiled at her words and her petulant tone. “No, he’s not my daddy, though he gives off those vibes for sure.”
“You two seem to have a… complicated relationship.”
I snorted. Complicated was an understatement. “If he finds out I did this… I think his head would explode.”
Fiora gave me a sympathetic smile. “Don’t let him get in your mind.”
Easier said than done.
I stared out at the ocean, weighing my options.
“I’ll do it,” I said firmly, shocking myself as the words easily escaped my lips. “Yeah… I’ll do it.”
Chapter 5
Locke
I needed to be closer to her. Normally, I could quench my thirst by watching from the woods, far enough to not risk being seen, but close enough that I could still see her.
But not tonight.
Tonight I needed to be outside her window… looking in.
The moon was nearly full and bright, casting an eerie glow over the forest. Creeping silently through the darkness, I could feel the cool breeze on my skin as I approached her window, my eyes locked on her silhouette.
I could see her figure through the window, painting as she often did every night. Wearing a white tank, splattered with colorful stains, she looked completely lost in her work. I watched as she dipped her brush into different colors, mixing them together effortlessly, creating a beautiful masterpiece.
I couldn’t help but watch her every move, my desire for her growing stronger with every passing moment as she occasionally sipped from a glass of red wine. As I watched her, I longed to be a part of her world. To be the subject of her paintings, to be the muse that inspired her art. I knew it was impossible, but the desire burned within me with an intensity I couldn’t ignore.
Normally when I watched, it was to make sure she was safe. Or at least that was what I told myself to help ease the guilt. I never wanted to admit that I secretly wanted her.
But fuck me… I did.
She didn’t have curtains. Why the fuck didn’t she have curtains? Anyone could look inside and see her.
I glanced down at my boots on the wet dirt beneath her window. There needed to be bushes or something to get in the way of someone being able to break their way inside. Bushes with thorns. Something that would slow down an intruder.
Why was there nothing outside this window to protect her?
