The Hunted (The Killing Hours Book 1)

by Christy Anderson

  Fuck!

  “You send that girl to her fucking room right now. Right. Fucking. Now.”

  I pointed at Raven tucked into Ratliff’s side. Ace followed to where I was pointing. His face scrunched like he didn’t see that sleazy fucker putting moves all over her. My head begins to throb as I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth hurt.

  “I don’t see her doing anything wrong, Knox.”

  I rolled my neck; the muscles had begun to knot.

  “Send her to her fucking room or I will fucking kill that man.”

  “Do you want to fuck her or something?”

  I tensed. Shit. I liked to look at her and jack off while I watched her live her life here, oblivious to my very existence.

  “The fuck? Do you like her?”

  He smiled that fucking toothy white smile of his and I wanted to throttle his ass.

  “Send her to her fucking room. I want her pulled out of circulation. No one fucking touches her.”

  I turned and stormed out as Ace’s laughter echoed behind me.

  What the fuck am I doing? This woman is getting under my damn skin. I need to fuck her out of my system. I fucking want her for myself.

  When she was drawn for the Hunt tonight, I knew this was my chance to take her as I’ve wanted, without pretense. So, I showed up to claim my prize, and move on with my damn life. Now, I sit here, staring, waiting for my little bird to fly into my trap.

  A flash of her white dress passes through the open spaces between the trunks of the trees, the glow of the moon dancing on the strands of her silky black hair. She may be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. If I were a better man, I wouldn’t pursue her. My life isn’t something any woman should be tangled in, but I find I can’t resist her pull. She’s captivated me with her innocence. Something never seen in my world. Sadly, for her, that’s not a good thing.

  I silently track her through the trees, back in the direction of the manor now. She’s fast, but she’s no match for me. I know this property better than anyone. I quietly stalk her as she unknowingly runs right toward me. No fucking way these assholes are going to lay a finger on her. I stalk through the tall grass toward my prize. What fun is Hunting if you don’t toy with your Prey?

  3

  Prey

  I know he’s watching me before I see him. I can sense his eyes on me, sizing me up. He’s toying with me. A tremble of fear skates down my spine as I turn to face him, and my eyes widen at what I find. He is huge. His tall frame and beastly build cloaked entirely from head to toe in black would almost allow him to blend into the dark forest that surrounds him. If that were his intention, but it isn’t. Not at all.

  He is built for intimidation. He doesn’t strike me as one to hide from anything, and right now, I’m trapped in place by my fear, the knowledge that he comes to me, to claim me. The tall weeds pull through his long fingers, as his powerful build carries him on silent feet. His gaze trained on mine, his target. I gulp down the lump of emotion gathering in my throat. Everything about this man is predatory. He’s every bit the Hunter.

  I stand frozen, awaiting his unhurried approach. This man has no doubt that he will catch me. Neither do I.

  I will my body to turn and run, fear and survival guiding my steps. I hear the pace of his footsteps pick up as the dried leaves and twigs snap under the pressure of his weight, his black jacket rustling on the breeze. My heart races so fast, it physically hurts from the fear of the man giving chase behind me. I have never been more afraid. This man is a wall of terror. His sights being set on me is the single most intimidating moment of my life. I’ve never felt so insignificant, so small. In my haste to escape this man, the skirt of my long dress snags against a snarl of bramble and I stumble, but two hugely muscled arms wrap around me from behind before I fall. His chest hits my back so forcefully, I grunt out a huge, painful breath as all the air pushes from my lungs. We’re falling to the ground. I’m bracing for impact when I’m suddenly turned in mid-air. He’s twisted us, to absorb the brunt of our fall. His back thuds onto the cold, hard ground. A low groan escapes his lips, and his warm breath feathers against the hair at the nape of my neck. The sensation causes a shiver to wrack my body. His grip around me tightens, drawing me in snug against his chest, his very muscular chest.

  “You okay?” His voice is more of a purr as it caresses my ear.

  Am I okay? No. Not really.

  My body pulses with adrenaline and chills erupt across my skin, and suddenly, this long dress is even more restrictive, suffocating. The hardness of the bulge in his pants presses against my ass. I should be repulsed, degraded, and in some ways, I am, but his warmth, his presence against my body, isn’t as unwelcome an intruder as it should be. That thought scares me even more.

  “Yes.” It’s all my brain can force out of my mouth.

  “Let’s get up then, Prey.” He pushes us both up to stand.

  When we make it to our feet, he spins me around swiftly, drawing me into his embrace. My palms fly up to land on his chest, my gaze lingering there. His warm finger dips under my chin and pulls my face up to meet his. I slowly lift my eyes, and I find myself gazing into the most beautiful amber, whiskey colored eyes I have ever seen.

  He’s handsome. Painfully so. Inky brows frame those mesmerizing eyes. A prominent nose resides over his full lips. My eyes trace his strong jaw lined with dark stubble. My fingers dig into the soft material of his shirt. Dark hair covers one eye. The cool breeze causes the strands to wave, but the chilly air does nothing to stop the warmth spreading through my limbs from the scrutiny of his intense focus on me.

  Perfection stands before me. I can’t stop looking at him, and he can’t stop looking at me.

  “You’re sure I didn’t hurt you?” His slightly dimpled smile eases my nerves just a bit.

  “I’m perfect.” The seductive tone in my voice surprises me.

  “Yes, you are.” His whispered, raspy response spreads through my bones like warm honey, thick and rich. A smile ghosts my lips at his words. His fingers drag in a lazy circular pattern across my arms, his touch almost maddening.

  “Are you ready to go, Prey?”

  Just like that, the spell he cast over me has been broken. I’ve been so entranced by this man, I’d forgotten where I am. Almost.

  “Yes, Hunter,” I reply somberly as he takes my hand and leads me out of the forest.

  My fear returns to the surface, overshadowing the almost tender moment we shared. Maybe it’s because I’ve felt so very alone in my time here. My roommate and I are cordial but the girls here don’t fill that void. It was nice, if only for a few moments, to feel like a normal woman attracted to a normal man. That isn’t something that can ever happen here, though.

  He’s captured me. I’m his to do with as he sees fit for the night. My nerves take hold as I can only imagine what I will have to endure this time. The only other time I was involved in the Hunt, I narrowly escaped that hunter’s savagery. The memories of that night invade my brain. I shake my head slightly, trying to rid my mind of the images that still haunt me. I know I have to keep up appearances or else they will figure out the true reason I’m here. I can’t trust anyone. Running away is no longer an option. I’ll have to take whatever he decides to do to me. It could be worse, I suppose, like last time. He is attractive, I can’t deny that. My fingers begin to mindlessly pull at the material of the dress, a small motion that does nothing to ease my anxiety. How do these women do this? Is it as terrible for them as it is for me? Never for one moment of my life did I think I would allow myself to be so vulnerable to someone else in such a way.

  4

  Hunter

  Taking her hand in mine, I lead her to my quarters. Stroking my thumb back and forth across her palm, her skin is so soft and smooth. Completely different to the rough, calloused skin of my own. Her long black hair compliments her pale complexion, and she has the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen. I desperately want to kiss and stare at those luscious, full lips as m
y cum drips from them. I have no control over my cock right now. I’m hard as fucking nails. I’m not the only one turned on, though. I could smell her arousal in the forest as I pressed her body into mine. The scent was fucking delicious, intoxicating. I can’t wait to be covered in it.

  We reach the manor, and I press my thumb to the bio-metric lock. I hold the door open and stand aside so she can enter. Her brown sugar scent drifts through the air as she passes. It only serves to turn me on that much more. I place my hand on her lower back to guide her down the hall. She has no idea what’s about to happen to her. I can tell she’s nervous, scared even. It only acts to heighten my arousal. I’m likely a sick fuck but truly, I can live with that. I’ve obsessed over this moment for weeks. I’m going to use her until I get my fill. I can tell she’s confused that we’re entering the manor rather than retreating to one of the cottages. She’ll find out soon enough that this is my estate.

  We step out of the elevators, and I guide her to the door of my quarters, which encompass this entire floor. I open the door, allowing her to enter first. I hear her breath hitch when I touch the small of her back as I join her in the room. I watch while she takes in her surroundings. Everything is set up for this. The lights are perfectly dimmed. Fire in the fireplace. Champagne is chilling. I’ve set this up to be memorable, my one taste. The firelight dances across her skin. I am floored by her. Fucking beautiful.

  It’s been a long time since I’ve been this drawn to a woman, if ever.

  Weeks of watching her walk around the estate on my camera feed nearly drove me to insanity. Jacking off to her image on a screen no longer satiated my curiosity. There was something about her that drew me in. Obviously, her beauty has me intrigued, but there’s something deeper, this need to have her beneath me, bending her to my will, that I have yet to figure out. After I realized she had been drawn for the Hunt tonight, I knew I had to participate. It may have been selfish of me, but I had to see her. Also, the thought of some other man inside of her drives me insane.

  “Would you like a glass of champagne?”

  “Champagne, please,” she answers softly.

  “Please feel free to make yourself comfortable, Prey.”

  I turn to get our drinks and hear the fabric of her dress crinkle as she settles onto a chair. I make my way over to her and hand her the champagne. She downs it in one gulp then sets the glass down on the table. I smile at her nervousness. I find it amusing.

  “Prey, please come here.” I extend my hand and help her from the chair. The tremble from her nerves reverberates into me. I have to bite back the urge to call her by her name. Names aren’t exchanged during the Hunt. It’s supposed to add to the animalistic quality of the scene. As if this place isn’t already full of fucking animals.

  “Drink.” I hand her my glass, and I watch as she brings the crystal to her beautiful mouth. The urge to consume her overwhelms me. I can’t wait to taste her any longer. I take the glass from her mid-sip, set it on the side table, and pull her to me.

  “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Prey?”

  “Thank you, Hunter.”

  She barely gets the words out before I crash my mouth to hers. Her kiss is reserved, timid as I lick the seam of her lips, coaxing her to open to me. I press my tongue in her mouth and groan when the taste of her and champagne explodes across my tongue. A small growl escapes me before I take a handful of her hair and angle her head to control our kiss. She squeaks at the force of the tug on her hair. It only serves to excite me more. I move my other hand up to cup her chin. She tries to resist at first, but her resistance slowly fades and she begins to melt into me. Her hands press against my chest, and the heat from them sears my skin through my shirt. I pull back slightly and tug on her bottom lip with my teeth. A moan escapes her. I swallow that mother fucker, claiming it as my own, as I place my lips back on hers. My hand slides from her face to her back, and I tug the zipper down on her familiar dress. Unbidden memories from long ago try to work their way into my mind, and I push them out. It’s just a dress, I remind myself.

  She tenses under my touch. I stop unzipping her dress and rub the exposed skin with my palm. Pulling back from our kiss, I fix my gaze onto hers.

  “Is it okay if I take off your dress?”

  I have no idea why I’m I asking. I never gave a shit to ask before. Hell, I’ve never had to ask before. Something about her uneasiness doesn’t sit well with me. Her eyes, clouded with lust, lock onto mine. With her breathing heavy, she manages a whispered, “Yes.”

  If we weren’t so close, I likely wouldn’t have heard her. I search her face for a moment, then pull down the zipper the rest of the way and slide my hand up the side of her body to her shoulder. Her warm, soft flesh pebbles under my touch. I grit my teeth as I try to keep from just taking her. She seems to need a gentler touch. I take my other hand from her hair and push the dress down her body. It falls in a puddle around her feet. I look down on her small form. She is so much smaller than I realized. The white lace bra and panties she wears looks like painted on perfection against her flawless skin. She’s unbelievable like this. I scan the length of her body, then travel back to her face and notice she doesn’t seem comfortable at all. I have to know…all the other times I’ve watched her basically run from members when they try to approach her…

  “Do you not want this?”

  The shock in her eyes is evident as they narrow slightly on me.

  She didn’t expect me to care.

  Fuck, neither did I.

  5

  Prey

  I can’t believe he asked me that. I want to say no, but I know what can happen if I don’t comply with a Hunter’s wishes. I’ve lived it before. It was a lesson I won’t soon forget.

  That confusing, terror-filled night floods my mind. I had barely been at the manor more than a week when I was chosen for The Hunt. The chase alone was intense and horrifying because I didn’t understand any of it. The aftermath is an entirely different story.

  Everything at the manor was a mystery to me, and most of it still is. I had often heard the rumors floating around our small town about Hale Manor. The mammoth stone structure, the oldest residence in Silver Lake. Murder. Devil worship. Sexual deviance. You tend to blow off such talk in a small town since everyone loves to gossip.

  But the manor practically begs for speculation. You can’t even see it from the road because it sits so far beyond the massive gates and stone walls. If you search, you’ll find some dated photos of the property. Nothing relevant to the current owners or anything that could point to what transpires beyond the gates.

  When I entered those gates, I signed the same contract as the rest of the women here. That day, Ace laid the contract out on the desk and smiled while he handed me a pen. It wasn’t even a decision for me. My mind, however unwilling my heart may be, was made up. I voluntarily agreed to be a prostitute. That contract indentures you to Hale Manor for one year—mind, body, and soul. We have no contact with the outside world. Our phones are taken away. Our very existence after signing that contract is practically eliminated.

  The Manor as the staff call it, provides each girl with a cover story, and once every few weeks, we’re allowed to send our family a staff supervised postcard or letter. How they post mark those letters with the location of our fake destinations for hundreds of girls, I still don’t understand. There’s still so much about this place I haven’t been able to grasp in my weeks spent here.

  The staff told us we’re allowed to refuse advances if we choose. Some of those advances, I have learned, are disgusting, and the members I have turned down didn’t seem very pleased by it. Hale Manor caters to the richest of the rich. The type of people used to getting whatever their money can buy. Here, their options are of the sexual nature and seem to be limitless.

  Every member enjoys different scenes, and the majority of those scenes are catered to their tastes. Some are rough, some gentle, but I’m still finding it hard to participate. Ultimately, we are h
ere to please the members. So far none of the staff have approached me about not engaging.

  Well, the other women are here for that. I’m here for Scarlett.

  If my sister is here, I haven't found any evidence thus far, but I'm hoping to change that soon. I know I need to participate, work my way to the inside, make contacts so I can gain better access to this place. I’m just still struggling to move beyond the shocking scenes that unfold before me nightly.

  I knew I’d be at a loss when I arrived at Hale Manor, but if there was a remote possibility my sister was here, I had to take the chance.

  Scarlett had been missing several months when I stumbled upon two young women in the local bakery. I’d stopped in to distribute a missing person flier when something one of them said caught my attention. She was just back from a year at Hale Manor.

  She told her friend about the lavish parties and kinky debauchery that happened at The Manor, as well as the money she made working there, all without her family or friends ever knowing. The Manor provided the girls cover stories, and as far as anyone was concerned, she was working overseas. She had essentially disappeared for the year she was under contract with The Manor.

  I wondered if she disappeared…like Scarlett.

  Would Scarlett go there? I tried to imagine a scenario where my sister would willingly bind herself to something like that. She was in college, and although she’d lived with me rent free, school was costly and her hours at the local diner were cut dramatically. Wouldn’t I know if she had grown this desperate financially? Why wouldn’t she come to me? Surely, she wouldn’t leave Ethan in the dark. He was her fiancé, for Christ’s sake.

  That conversation led me here, to Hale Manor.

  To find my sister.