Hunted: A Highgate Preparatory Academy Prequel Novella

A few weeks pass with the same tiring routine. Waitressing at the club in the evening, sleeping most of the day, and getting up at lunchtime. Often myself, Lexi, and some of the other girls go into town, Lexi insisting that she show me the sights of London. I don’t have the heart to tell her I’ve seen many of them before, and anyway, going with her and the others is like seeing London for the first time. They all have such life and vitality about them, it’s as if I’m waking up from a deep slumber and seeing the world in all its technicolour.

Luckily, I’ve not suffered from any morning sickness, although I’ve had a couple of episodes of vomiting that I managed to easily explain away. What I can’t do anything about is the tightness of my high-waisted uniform skirt around my middle. It’s becoming more obvious that I’m getting bigger, and I’ve finally gotten my curvy figure back. Although I have put on weight with eating properly for the first time in years, it can’t explain the roundness of my stomach.

One evening, just before I’m due to start, Sami tells me that Grey would like a word with me in his office. I can’t stop the nervous butterflies that flutter in my stomach as I climb the stairs to the top floor. Or they could be my baby, I’m sure I’ve started feeling it move a bit.

Reaching the upper landing, I stop outside his door, knocking lightly.

“Come in, Laura,” his deep voice invites me in from the other side, and I open the door to find Grey sitting behind his desk smiling warmly at me. Lexi is also in the room, and I feel myself hesitate as my flight mode kicks in.

“Please take a seat, Laura,” Grey gestures to the other empty chair next to Lexi, taking away my decision to flee with the kind way he makes the order almost a request.

I can feel my chest rising and falling with shallow pants as I sit on the edge of the chair, looking down at my hands which are wringing in my lap. Lexi’s hand reaches over to grab one of mine, stilling the movement and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“You’re not in any trouble, gorgeous, no one is angry,” she assures me softly, ducking her head and catching my gaze, giving me a smile.

“Lexi is right, Laura, please don’t worry. You’re not in any kind of trouble. We just want to help,” Grey says kindly, making me look up at him.

“O-okay,” I stammer out, trying to calm my racing heart by taking deeper breaths.

“Am I correct in assuming that there will be a happy occasion in a few months’ time?” he asks gently. There’s genuine warmth in his eyes, and it gives me the courage to nod my head in confirmation. “Congratulations my dear, what wonderful news.” He beams at me, his handsome face becoming even more devastating than before.

Tears prick my eyes as my breath rushes out of me in relief. Lexi squeezes my hand again, and I look into her green eyes only to see a touch of excitement there as well as happiness.

“Do you know how far along you are, babe?” she asks me.

“Um, maybe about three months, I think. I’ve just started feeling flutterings.”

“Well, may I suggest we get you seen by someone as soon as possible to check you and baby over and get a scan?” Grey proposes in his business-like manner. “I know an excellent consultant and midwife on Harley Street who I can call in the morning.”

“Oh, um, I’m sure I can see a local doctor. I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Nonsense.” he assures me. “I told you before that I look after my girls, and I meant it.”

“Your girls? I thought once you…” I trail off when I see him shake his head grinning, like I’m amusing him.

“You thought that when I found out, I would terminate your employment?” he asks kindheartedly.

“You’re not?” I’m so confused. Why wouldn’t he?

“No, Laura. I’m not going to terminate your contract. Although, I can’t have you serving drinks in your condition, especially with the stairs,” he tells me, and I nod, still a little puzzled as to what exactly I’ll be doing.

“Have you ever considered dancing, Laura?” he asks, fingers steepled.

“Dancing?” I repeat, still none the wiser.

“Like Lexi and the others do,” he prompts me, and I just sit and stare at him.

“But…I’m pregnant! Surely no one would want to see a pregnant stripper?” I question. He can’t be serious, can he?

“On the contrary, my dear. A great many men find pregnant women incredibly attractive. It’s a primal urge. You see, many men will seek out women who are fertile, it’s an evolutionary tactic, and none are more so than a woman who is already carrying a child,” he informs me, and I must confess I’m in shock. I had no idea this was even a thing men would find so attractive.

“You don’t need to decide right now, take time to think about it. And be assured that I’m having a maternity package drawn up as we speak so that you can have plenty of time off to prepare before and after the baby arrives,” he says, and my head reels.

I’m lost for words. I can’t find any to express my delighted surprise at this turn of events.

“Excellent. Now, take the night off. I’ll have Ryan drive you back so you have time to think. Let me know what you decide, say in a week, but Laura,” he looks at me seriously, “there’s no pressure if you don’t want to dance. We will find something else for you to do.”

“Th-thank you,” I say around the lump in my throat. Getting up, I head towards the door with Lexi by my side.

My mind swirls with questions. Would I want to dance like Lexi and the others? Take my clothes off for men to admire my body. My changing body? I’m not sure I would want that. Yet, why am I a little excited by the thought?

I step out into the brisk evening breeze, wrapping my coat around myself. It’s late October, and it’s gotten chilly with the dropping temperature. It’s getting darker earlier too, and winter is definitely on the way.

Shivering, I walk over to the waiting black SUV, and get into the passenger side, figuring there’s no point sitting in the back by myself when I could sit next to Ryan.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed him. A lot. He’s always watching me, not in a creepy way, but like he can’t take his eyes off of me. It’s intoxicating and makes my cheeks burn. I can’t help seeking him out if he’s nearby, and the small smiles he gives me set my heart racing in my chest.

At the same time, I feel guilty. I left Tom behind, and I can’t help but feel like I’m cheating on him somehow, even though it’s unlikely we will see each other again. I loved him, still love him. So how can I also have feelings for Ryan? You can’t love more than one person at a time, right?

“Penny for your thoughts?” his gruff voice sounds, breaking me out of my confused thoughts.

“Oh,” I reply, flushing and squirming at the question, my hands fidgeting in my lap. “Um, well, I was considering an offer that Grey made me.”

“And what was that?” He growls, and I look up to see his hands tighten on the steering wheel and his jaw clenched.

“Well, he suggested that I might consider becoming a dancer at the club,” I admit, watching for his reaction.

“Will you?” he asks, brown eyes flickering to me then back to the road. I can’t read his facial expression, whether he’s happy or angry at the suggestion. And that bothers me. I realise with a start that I want to know what he thinks, whether he approves or not. This desire for his approval bothers me, I’ve had a lifetime of pleasing others at my own expense, yet I still wanted to do just that for him. “There’s good money to be made in tips, so the girls tell me,” he adds.

“I hadn’t really considered it before now, however, I think there must be something freeing about taking your clothes off and being watched like that,” I tell him, and his brows dip in confusion.

“How so?” he enquires, like he’s genuinely interested in what I’ve got to say.

“Well, society expects women to cover up, to conform to certain standards. To be beautiful but not vain, to be admired but not to revel in it. Getting up on a table and taking your clothes off for the sole purpose to be, well, worshipped and to have your body lusted after, it’s kind of like a big F-you to society and its rules. Don’t you think?” I ask back, not realising that I actually felt so strongly about it. Although, it’s not surprising given the way my parents and then Ace tried to repress me and force me to conform to their ideals.

I look to Ryan as we pull up outside mine and Lexi’s building and can see that he’s really considering what I’ve just said.

“I’ve never thought about it like that before,” he tells me, “but I guess you’re right. I don’t look down on any girl who dances, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

He brings the car to a stop and parks while we sit there for a minute in silence.

“So, are you going to dance?” he asks me, his tone curious but not judgemental as he turns the full weight of his chocolate brown gaze onto me.

“I don’t know. I mean, I didn’t think it would be an option considering…” I trail off, realising that he’s going to find out sooner or later but not quite able to make myself say it.

“Considering?” he queries with a raised brow, and I take a deep breath.

“Considering I’m pregnant,” I say, staring him straight in the eye like I’m ripping a plaster off. Both his brows go up, his eyes falling straight to my stomach as he chews on his full bottom lip in the most distracting way.

“Ah,” he starts, releasing his lip. “And Grey knows and wants you to dance anyway?” he questions me, and I nod in confirmation. “Well, pregnant birds are hot as hell,” he mutters, and I can’t help the bubble of laughter that escapes my lips.

“That’s what Grey said,” I chuckle, and he smiles in return. It’s a smile so full of warmth that I can almost feel it seep into my skin, heating me from the inside out until it feels like the sun is inside me. Damn, he really is pretty.

“Would you like to come up?” I offer. “You know, if you don’t have to rush back?”

“I’d love to,” he responds, his blinding smile firmly in place as he switches the engine off.

We get out and head up to the apartment, the chilly night surrounding us as we walk towards the building. We’re both quiet as we get the lift up to Lexi’s floor, and it’s only then do I realise how awkward things are between us. It’s like I’ve invited him up for coffee, which I guess I have, but you know, like coffee. As in, well, sex. Or, maybe, just making out? Gah! Even my brain is nervous rambling.

“So, the weather has gotten colder recently…” I start, wanting to smack my hands over my face. The weather?! Really?!

He lets out a deep rumbling laugh that helps break the tension.

“That was…” I say cringing.

“Terrible?” he spits out in between bouts of laughter, and this time I join in with him.

The lift pings our floor, and the doors open. It’s a short walk down the hallway; there are only maybe five apartments on each floor. Letting myself in using the spare key that Lexi gave me, I turn on the lights. Ryan follows behind me, closing the door softly and cocooning us in the quiet.

I turn around to offer him, well, coffee or something, but end up finding him standing so close that I’m enveloped in his comforting scent. He smells like cardamom and spicy cinnamon, like safety and warmth and comfort. My breath catches on an inhale, trying to keep his scent inside of me. His hand reaches out to brush my now red hair behind my ear.

“I want to kiss you so badly, Laura,” he rasps out, and a shiver travels over my body at his words. I desperately want him to place his lips on mine, I ache with the need to feel them against me. It may be pregnancy hormones or sheer attraction, but it’s taking everything inside of me to hold back in this moment.

“I-I can’t get into anything serious, Ryan,” I tell him, closing my eyes as his fingertips glide down the side of my face. I feel a warmth along the front of me and raise my eyelids to see that he’s stepped up to me and is so close my breasts are brushing his hard chest. “But I need…”

“What do you need, baby?” he asks me quietly, cupping my jaw and tilting my head so that I’m looking up at him. My cheeks flush at what I want to say, and a knowing sexy as sin smirk crosses his lips.

“Oh baby, I’ve got you,” he croons, lowering his lips until they are brushing against mine. A needy moan escapes me at the light caress. “Nothing serious,” he states right before he closes the distance.

Our kiss starts off slow, an exploration of each other’s mouths and tongues. It quickly turns heated, burning, as weeks of pent up attraction come to the surface. He strips off my coat, and I do the same to him, marvelling at how hot his body is. I can feel his body heat through his shirt.

His hands tangle in my hair as he guides me backwards until the backs of my knees hit the leather sofa. He breaks our kiss to gently push me back until I’m sitting down and looking up at him. There’s a fire in his eyes that burns me from the inside out, and he’s panting, his chest heaving. He gives me another devastatingly sexy grin and he undoes his tie, throwing it aside, and unbuttoning his white shirt. As the fabric parts, it reveals dark tattoos covering his entire ripped torso, starting at his collarbone and disappearing into his suit trousers, which have a definite bulge in them.

I gasp audibly as he pushes the shirt down his arms, and I see that the beautiful drawings on his skin go all the way down to his cuffs. They are in a kaleidoscope of colours, like a beautiful rainbow, chasing across his body. Looking back up into his face, I see he has a self-assured grin on his lush lips. I like this side of him, this confident swagger. He toes his shoes off, kicking them to one side as he kneels down in front of me.

Grabbing one of my legs, he slowly unzips my knee-high leather boot, pulling it off before doing the same to the other one. He reaches underneath my checkered miniskirt, grabs the waistband of my tights and knickers, and pulls them over my hips and off my legs. My heart is racing, my breaths shallow as his fingertips brushing over me leave trails of fire in his wake. Grabbing behind my knees, he pulls me to the edge of the sofa and spreads my thighs wide. He growls in appreciation when he sees how wet I am for him, licking his lips as he moves his head towards my core.

I’m panting, my chest rising and falling rapidly with each breath as his head disappears underneath my skirt. I feel his hot tongue on my inner folds, and I almost come off the sofa. I would have too had his arm not clamped down across my hips, holding me into place. It feels incredible, tingles of pleasure racing across my whole body as his tongue works me like I’m his last meal on earth and he’s savouring every mouthful. My head tips back with a guttural groan as the pleasure starts to build to a crescendo, lightning racing across my skin.

“Ryan,” I gasp as he picks up speed, sucking and nibbling my clit. Two fingers tease my entrance, coating themselves in my juices before they push inside me and start fucking me, hitting my g-spot every time. My climax crashes over me like a wave as I scream out his name and grip the leather of the sofa tightly.

When I open my eyes, it’s to see him looking up at me from his kneeling position, his chin glistening with my release and a satisfied smirk on his face. Bracing his hands on my knees, he leans up and into me, kissing me hard, and I can taste myself on his tongue.

“Perhaps we should take this to your bedroom?” he asks, pulling back. I nod, unable to form words.

He picks me up under my thighs, giving me a second to wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as he stands up, taking me with him. My bare, wet pussy touches his hot skin, and I groan at the contact, grinding into his hard abs and creating a delicious friction. He growls at me, nipping my neck and heading towards the only hallway in the place.

“The last on the right,” I manage to croak out.

Somehow, he is able to use one hand to open the door, kicking it shut behind him and striding across to my bed. He places me down onto it, before straightening up, his hands going to his belt. My eyes rapturously follow his movements as he undoes the buckle, then the button, and finally the fly on his trousers. He pushes them over his hips, along with whatever underwear he’s wearing, and steps out of them. I take a sharp breath at the sight before me.

He is simply huge, hung like a horse! And I had no idea you could get a tattoo, well, there. Across his upper thigh and hip is a stunning Japanese style scene, with rolling blue-grey clouds, and floating pink cherry blossoms. This beautiful artwork extends over his balls, and up onto the other hip, interspersed with red peonies. Above his impressive length is a green double-headed dragon, one head looking up towards his torso, and the other…the other is his head. Like his dick. His cock is tattooed completely, from base to tip, his tip being the second dragon head! He’s clean shaven down there, so the picture is completely uninterrupted.

“Like what you see, baby?” his gruff voice asks, sounding amused and pleased at the same time.

“Um…I’m not sure you’ll fit!” I blurt out, then clap my hands over my traitorous mouth. Hello! Brain to mouth filter, anyone there?

“Oh trust me, baby, it’ll fit.” A deep chuckle sounds from between his kiss swollen lips. I see him reach down to the floor, taking his wallet out of his trouser pocket, and pulling out a foil packet. He opens it, rolling the condom on with ease which surprises me a little given his size. Maybe he buys extra large ones? He kneels onto the bed, crawling towards me with a wicked look in his eyes.

“You are wearing too many clothes, Miss Darling,” he informs me, reaching out to unzip my skirt and pull it down off my hips. My black long-sleeved top is next, and I’m so grateful that all the bruises have long faded. I’m sure he’s heard the rumours that have no doubt spread around the club, but at least he won’t see the evidence. I can’t help feeling a twinge of shame that I let someone do that to me for so long. I know it’s not my fault, but I’m starting to slowly realise that I am worth more than someone’s fists. I deserve so much more, and it took getting pregnant for me to see this. Ryan then takes off my soft bra, I can’t stand to wear normal bras at the moment, my breasts are just too tender.

Once we are both naked, he gently pushes me down until I’m lying before him. He’s still kneeling above me on the bed and looking down at me with such desire that I feel the flush spread over my skin. I’ve always been quick to blush.

“You are so beautiful, Laura,” he tells me, admiration clear in his voice. His hands reach out and gently caress my slightly rounded stomach in reverence.

“It doesn’t bother you?” I ask him, curious but suddenly worried that it will.

“Far from it,” he tells me softly, still stroking my abdomen, sending tingles across my skin.

His gaze meets mine, and I see the truth in his words. He really doesn’t care that I’m carrying another man’s child. He leans down over me, capturing my lips with his as he settles in between my legs, his tip nudging my slick opening.

“You tell me if you want to stop or if anything is uncomfortable, okay?” he asks and waits for my nod before he starts to push inside of me.

My hands come up and grip his shoulders, the stretch of him entering me is so exquisite I can’t stop the deep moan that leaves my lips.

“Shit, Laura,” he growls out as he finally bottoms out, fully seated deep inside of me. He’s up on his elbows, and he uses the leverage to slowly pump in and out, gyrating his hips so that he’s massaging my clit too.

“Ryan! Yes!” I rasp out as he picks up speed, sending blissful tendrils of pleasure shooting all over my body.

“Laura, you feel. So. Fucking. Good,” he groans out, every word punctuated with a thrust of his hips until he’s practically slamming into me. I tip over the edge, falling into another mind shattering orgasm, and I hear him cry out his own release moments later.

He rolls off me, pulling me in his arms so that my head is resting on his sweat covered chest. It rises and falls with his panting breaths, and I can feel his heartbeat racing like my own as we both come down from our high.

“Feeling better, baby?” he asks me, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Much, thank you,” I reply primly, then burst out laughing. He huffs out a chuckle too, and we lie there wrapped in each other’s arms, and surrounded by our happiness.