The Devil’s Plaything

Chapter 12

Gabriel

I take small sips from my cup of tea while I check my email. At this hour, the café isn’t too crowded yet. Most of the members are still sleeping after last night’s hunt. A couple of hours of sleep is enough for me to recover, though to be honest, I haven’t exactly been expecting much action these past few nights. I’ve played with a few prey, yes, but none of them have caught my attention enough for me to hunt them.

The image of my prey—with her defiant gaze and perfect teeth—flashes through my mind, and I feel my c**k harden. I’ve been searching for her, but I haven’t been able to find her. She’s the first prey to slip through my fingers, and that’s something that’s got me obsessed. I have just one more night to find her, and I have to be ready.

As the members start waking up, the cafeteria begins to fill up, so after greeting several acquaintances, I leave the largest building—which serves as a common area for all the hunters—and return to my cabin. I talk on the phone with Xander to find out how our little brother is doing, and I also discuss some important casino matters with Nancy, my executive assistant. Apart from my brothers, she’s the only person I trust.

I spend the rest of the day shut away in the cabin. I take a relaxing bath, read a good book, and, above all, I wait and keep waiting while I replay in my mind the images from that first hunt. There’s something special about that prey. I don’t know if it was her fierce nature, the way she stood up to me, or the fact that she kept fighting even when she was practically defeated, but the truth is, I can’t stop thinking about her. I had her right there, right in front of me, ready for me to do whatever I wanted with her, and I wasted the opportunity. It won’t happen again. As soon as night falls, I’ll go out to track her down again, and this time I’ll find her. I’m going to hunt her down, claim my trophy, and finally be able to stop thinking about her.

At twelve o’clock sharp, I’m walking through the entrance to the members-only area, dressed in my dark clothes and mask. I run into several members who, like me, are hurrying to start the last hunt of the week. It doesn’t take me long to head into the woods with just a thin rope in one of my pockets. It’s always useful to have it on hand in case the prey gets unruly. I walk along the trails I know by heart in search of my prey—not just any prey; I want her, and I won’t rest until I have her. I ignore the nearby footsteps and the occasional panting coming from the hunters who are enjoying their catches as I press on.

The hours pass. I search the grounds inch by inch. From west to east, passing by a few isolated cabins, then I go around the retaining fence and head back inland, crossing the stream. For a moment I think I’ve found her, but after chasing a prey for several hundred meters, I realize it’s not her, so I let it go and keep searching. With every hour that passes, my frustration grows. It’s not possible that she’s just vanished—she must be somewhere. I stop next to a tree and strain my ears. I hear the cicadas, the birds moving high up in the branches, the sound of a reptile or rodent scurrying through the grass, but no breathing, no footsteps—nothing—and I’ve already wandered too far. In a few hours the sun will rise, and I’ll have to go home angry and having failed to achieve my goal.

I decide to go back to the stream and look for some other prey that might at least ease my frustration a little, though as I walk briskly, I can’t stop thinking that the one I really want is the one with the defiant gaze. I stop suddenly when I hear a strange sound coming from one of the trees. I look up and frown. There’s a sort of shadow among the branches. Could it be…? Before I can take another step, my suspicions are confirmed. A prey leaps down and lands on her feet and knees with a muffled gasp. She knows I’ve seen her and is about to run away. I run toward her and manage to catch up just as she’s about to leave.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I ask, gripping her arm tightly.

Her gaze locks onto mine. She doesn’t seem scared.

“It’s you,” she whispers.

I tilt my head and study her closely. I consider the possibility that she might be the prey I’m looking for, but before I can reach a conclusion, she takes me by surprise, shoving me hard and running off. I smile. I’ve found her!

I chase after her in long, powerful strides. She’s fast and very agile. She glides across the grass and weaves through the trees and vegetation as if she were used to doing this every day. With only the faint moonlight illuminating the area, it’s not easy to find my way, but this prey seems to know exactly where she’s going—luckily, so do I. I keep up with her, and when I notice she’s getting tired, I slow down a bit to give her a head start. The most exciting part of the hunt is the chase—the adrenaline coursing through my body, the way my heart races… The anticipation—I know of no sensation more pleasurable than that.

I let her tire a little and even let her believe she’s managed to escape. I hide, but I keep watching her. She hides behind some thick bushes, and I creep closer.

“I know you’re close,” I whisper, taking a deep breath through my nose. I can almost smell her fear—it’s intoxicating. “Today is the big day. I won’t let you run away from me again.”

I’ve got her pinpointed. It would be easy to ambush her in her hiding place, but where’s the fun in that? I’d rather take her by surprise. I wait a while and pretend to walk away, but I stay hidden near the bushes. A few minutes later, I see her hooded head peek out, and I smile again. Even with her face covered, I can sense how beautiful she must be. I imagine her with delicate features and full lips. I watch her as she emerges from her hiding place. She looks like a beautiful wildflower growing among the rocks and weeds.

I approach silently, and before she can even realize it, I’ve got her by the throat. I circle around her and lock my eyes on hers. I think I’ve finally managed to scare her, and I love it. I squeeze her throat harder and feel her pulse throbbing against my fingers.

“Please,” she pleads in a whisper.

“I’ve found you.” I pull her toward me, and she falls straight onto me. I suppose the chase has left her too exhausted to resist. It’s a shame—I was enjoying this—but the time has come to claim my trophy. I study every contour of her face, covered by the black stretchy fabric; several strands of brown hair peek out from under the hood. It looks long and wavy—“A beautiful flower among the weeds.”

I see her close her eyes and a smile crosses my lips. She’s giving in. Good, now comes the fun part. I press my face against hers and inhale her scent. Sweat, dirt, and a floral aroma that I quickly recognize. Lilies—I remember that scent because my grandmother loved them.

“No,” her whisper snaps me out of my childhood memories, and I pull away aggressively.

“No? Is that all? I thought you’d put up more of a fight.” I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her back toward me. “I’ve really enjoyed the chase, but we both knew it would end this way. No prey has ever slipped through my grasp, and you weren’t going to be the first.”

She pushes me away, but this time she doesn’t catch me off guard. Besides, I think she’s too exhausted to keep putting up a fight. I have her completely at my mercy.

“Let me go,” she pleads, though she still has that defiant look that makes me even harder, if that’s possible.

“Of course. You’ll be free to leave right after I’ve f****d every single f*****g hole in your body, one by one.”

I take a step back, though I’m careful not to let go of her neck. I don’t trust this woman. I have a feeling she’ll try to run as soon as she gets the chance, and I’m tired of chasing her. I want my prize—I’ve earned it.

“Now tell me… Flor.” I pull the rope out of my sweatshirt pocket and show it to her. “Am I going to have to tie you up, or will you be an obedient girl?”

She seems to think about it for a few seconds, and finally, she gives in. I smile again. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

“I’ll do whatever you want,” she replies, lowering her gaze.

I nod and feel my c**k twitch inside my pants.

“First comes the struggle, then the begging, and finally, submission.” I loosen my grip on her throat and let the rope slip through my fingers. “This is my favorite part. On your knees, Flor. I’ve been dying to shove my c**k into that dirty mouth of yours ever since I first heard you speak.”

“You son of a b***h,” she mutters.

She keeps struggling. I don’t know if it pisses me off or turns me on even more—I think it’s a little of both. I pull her toward me again by her neck and press my face against hers.

“On your knees,” I repeat.

I pull back a little and wait for her to obey my order, but she seems to be having second thoughts again.

“Let’s get this over with once and for all,” she says softly, and falls to her knees at my feet.

I force her to lift her chin, pulling her up so she’ll look at me. I’d almost given up hope of having her, but here she is, right in front of me, ready to fulfill my darkest fantasies. I’m a lucky man. Still, I don’t trust her.

“If you use your teeth, I swear I’ll tie you to a tree and won’t stop f*****g you until blood runs down your thighs.”

My threat seems to have the desired effect. She lowers her gaze again while I unbutton my pants and pull out my c**k, hard as f*****g steel. I don’t remember ever being this turned on. Suddenly, she lifts her head, and I think she’s about to say something, but before she can, I lift the fabric slightly—just enough to expose her mouth. I don’t want to see her face, but those lips… They’re full, reddish, and incredibly inviting. I’m dying to have them wrapped around my c**k. I grab the back of her neck and thrust with my hips until I feel the tip hit the back of her throat.

I usually take my time with foreplay; I like to toy with my prey until they beg me to f**k them, but there’s something about this woman that makes me keep thrusting my hips. I bury myself in her mouth over and over, changing the rhythm every time I feel her choking; I push her to the limit, and before she can even realize what’s about to happen, I’ve already come. I take a step back and watch as my c*m drips down her chin. It’s a f*****g work of art that I want to recreate. I reach out and scoop up a few drops with my thumb, slip my hand inside the hood covering her head, and draw a cross on her forehead. This moment deserves to be christened.

“You f*****g lunatic,” she whispers softly.

I almost burst out laughing. Is she really going to keep fighting? By now she should know that defying me won’t do her any good.

“Did you say something, Flor?” I ask, crossing my arms. “It’s not polite to talk while you’re eating. Is it good? I made it especially for you.”

I’m gloating and also taking the chance to relax a bit before the second round. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that tonight I’m going to f**k her like no one ever has before. She’ll beg me to stop, and even then I’ll keep tearing her apart until my strength gives out.

I notice her posture shift as she stands up, her legs trembling. My surprise grows when her defiant gaze meets mine again. She’s a f*****g warrior! Even though I came just a few seconds ago, my c**k is hardening again.

“Is that all you’ve got?” she asks, her chin raised and still stained with my fluids.

I tilt my head, smiling. Is this girl for real? Why is she still fighting?

“Where did you come from, Flor?” I murmur to myself. “My best prey, the fiercest warrior. I like that.”

She takes a step toward me without looking away. She’s confronting me again. Doesn’t she know what self-preservation is?

“The fiercest warrior and the fastest.”

The corners of my mouth stretch as I try to understand the meaning of her words, but before I can, I take a blow to the groin that knocks the wind out of my lungs. The pain is so intense it forces me to double over.

“If you want to keep playing, you’re going to have to catch me again, you son of a b***h,” she spits before taking off running.

I watch her run off, powerless to stop her. I try to breathe slowly, but the pain persists. I’m angry, frustrated, and yes, I’m still turned on—which doesn’t exactly help with my aching balls. It takes me several minutes to pull myself together, and as the pain gradually subsides, I follow her trail. I won’t let her get away again.