The Prey: A Dark Enemies to Lovers Romance (Oakmount Elite Book 3)

It’s strange how one single moment can change your entire life.

One choice. One word. One act.

Even though he hasn’t said anything, I know everything has changed. It’s all I can think about—that and what will happen next. I try not to let the lack of answers send me into a panic while I listen to the steady, strong beat of his heart. He’s careful with me, gentle, and it’s a stark difference from the usual way he throws me around like he owns me.

Instinctually, I know I should be scared right now. I should be wondering what else he might do, what other pain he might inflict. What revenge he might be contemplating. I can’t be bothered by thoughts like that, though, not when all I feel is…safe cradled in his arms. I’m satiated in a way I’ve never felt in my life. It feels like I’ve unlocked this secret door I didn’t know existed inside me, a gaping hole that needed to be filled, and he’s the single thing I needed to make myself whole.

Sebastian carries me through the woods without complaint. Part of me wonders if I should ask him to put me down since, you know, my legs work just as well as his, but there’s something about being carried through the woods by the man who claimed me in more than just a physical sense that makes me all warm inside. It makes me feel cherished.

A few yards ahead, he pauses and grabs his suit jacket off a low-hanging branch, and as much as I’m enjoying him caring for me, it’s still more than I’m used to.

“Am I getting heavy? Do you want to put me down? I can walk.”

He makes a low noise in his throat, almost like a grunt. “No. If I wanted to put you down, I would have done it already.”

He places the suit jacket over my torso, covering me from mid-thigh to chin and I’m grateful, considering he shredded the lingerie I’d been wearing. Ahead, the trees thin out, and soon enough we’re exiting the woods. Sebastian passes numerous couples that are mid-fuck, their moans stirring the air around us. He doesn’t even blink as he walks past them, almost like he doesn’t see them at all.

He carries me all the way to his car and cradles me one-armed against his chest while he opens the passenger door. I let out a squeak when my bare ass kisses the cold leather as he places me inside the car. It takes a minute to get around the other side and turn on the car.

Once in his seat, he fiddles with a few of the controls, and I let out a content sigh when heat blasts out of the vents. I hold my chilled fingers up to soak it in.

“Oh, that’s nice. I didn’t realize how close to icicles my fingers were.”

“Gimme a minute, and you’ll be nice and toasty.”

I toss him a curious look as he backs out of the driveway, then navigates the car out onto the main road that leads back toward campus.

Heat from the leather seat envelopes my legs and bare butt after he presses another button on the console. “Mmm, now that is way nicer than a little heat. I think I can finally feel my toes.” I flex them in my shoes, the feeling slowly returning.

I sink into the seat and cover myself more fully with the suit jacket.

Sebastian peers over at me, his gaze filled with possession. “I hope you know that tonight changes everything. I tried to stop, tried to fight against the inevitable, but I can’t keep fighting against something we both want. You gave yourself to me, and that means you belong to me, and not just in the sense of being my property, Elyse. I mean physically, emotionally, mentally.”

I can’t even put into words how that makes me feel. It’s hard not to have doubt when you’ve lived a life like I have. I’m happy to know he doesn’t just plan to toss me away.

“I don’t want to be anyone else’s, so I’m happy to hear that.”

“Good,” he replies gruffly, returning his attention to the road. His hands tighten around the steering wheel, and it looks like he’s trying to strangle it.

“Are you okay?” I whisper.

“Yes, just trying to control my emotions. I’m fighting with myself right now because I want to fuck you until I’m under your skin and in your blood, but that’s not really what you need right now so…”

Why does that make me shiver, my nipples hardening to the point of pain? A tiny gasp escapes me at the sensation, and he continues speaking.

“You have no idea how hard I’ve fought against myself in the last couple of months. How much I tried to tell myself that I can’t have you, that I can’t let my darkness touch you. Now, the dam’s broken, and that one little taste has done nothing to subdue the need. It makes me crave you more. I need to unleash myself on you, claim you, mark you, fuck you.”

“Is there something wrong with me?” I ask, mainly myself.

He lets out a dark chuckle. “Did you not hear what I just said?” Shaking his head, he continues, “And you ask me if there’s something wrong with you?”

I smile. “Yes, only because I want that, too. I want you. I’ve never wanted anything in my life like I want you, and I’m afraid of that feeling. Afraid that it might end before it can begin.”

The car slows, and the gate opens as we turn onto the road.

“It won’t. No one is taking you from me, and if anyone is stupid enough to try, I’ll kill them.” The conviction in his voice should terrify me, along with the ownership he’s claiming on me, but it doesn’t. In fact, it has the opposite effect, and that’s almost just as terrifying.

He drives the car up the driveway, stopping at the entrance of the house.

“You don’t want to take the car to the garage?” I sit forward and wrap the jacket around my back so I can slip my arms in the sleeves.

I’m hit with a wave of anxiety then, the thought of any other staff seeing my bare ass, or hell any of them seeing me with Sebastian in this condition at all. I don’t need rumors being spread about me.

Soothing some of the worry, he puts the car in park and tells me, “Anyone who sees us and or says a word will suffer the consequences.” He’s out of the car before I can reply, and he wraps me up in his arms, carrying me into the house. I press my face against his chest, so I don’t have to see if anyone notices us. If I don’t know, then it won’t matter.

We make it to the bedroom in seconds, and using his foot, Sebastian kicks the door closed. The sound of the lock being turned in place echoes through my ears.

And somehow this all suddenly became even more real.

What happens now? I glance at the bed as we pass by it and head into the bathroom.

The overhead lights are bright, and I blink a few times to adjust my eyes. Once my eyes adjust I see the dirt caked under my nails, the scratches, and bruises that dot my skin, hidden under the jacket. He places me on the edge of the counter and then pulls away to turn the shower on.

A shower sounds amazing right now. “I can help. I’m not dying or anything.”

“I’m aware, but I want to take care of you. So let me.”

Turning away, he starts the bath, the tub filling with water. When his gaze returns to me, I feel the heat in it, the flames of desire flicking against my skin.

What would it be like to let him burn me to ash?

“Stop looking at me like that, or I’ll have to bend you over and fuck you again,” he snaps, the warning in his tone making my core clench.

“I’m not looking at you like anything,” I lie, my cheeks heating, giving me away.

“Yes, you are, Little Prey. You’re looking at me like you want me to fuck you until there’s no way to tell where you begin and I end. I would love nothing more than to do that right fucking now, but I can’t be selfish with you. I have a duty to care for you, to ensure you’re clean and content. And fucking you would go against that, especially knowing how sore you’re going to be, so please…don’t look at me like that right now because I’m barely controlling myself.”

I swallow thickly, my mouth suddenly dry. How do I even respond to that?

Instead of trying to come up with a response, I shove the suit jacket off my shoulders and unbutton the dress shirt with trembling fingers, shrugging it off as soon as the final button is undone.

A wave of self-consciousness washes over me now that I’m naked in the glaring overhead lights. I’m tempted to wrap my arms around my middle, and use my hands to cover myself, but I don’t.

He’s already seen all of you, fucked you, I remind myself. He crosses the space, his steps predatory, but I don’t dare look away. I don’t think I’ll ever get over seeing that look in his eyes—the possession, the need to claim. It’s such a far cry from the anger and annoyance that I used to get.

“Undo my pants,” he orders.

Reaching for him, I slowly loosen the belt on his dirty dress pants until they hang open to frame the bottom of his tan eight pack. I swallow my tongue as I get a closer look at his body, inspecting it like I’ve never seen it before. Yes, I’ve seen him shirtless, but I’ve never openly stared at him, drinking in every little indent and muscle twitch.

He leans in so his face is level with mine, his green eyes burning into mine. “Fuck, Ely, you’re so beautiful. I don’t think I deserve you… actually, I know I don’t deserve you, but I don’t give a fuck. It’s too late to undo what’s done.”

Something tightens in my chest at his words, like I can’t breathe around the declaration.

He grips my thighs hard and spreads them, his gaze trailing down my chest, over my belly, and then lower. The grip of his fingers changes, becoming almost painful as he takes in the sight of my body. I look down to see the red on my thighs. Not from the cuts or scratches but a lot of red right at the juncture of my thighs.

It looks worse than it really is. I’m sore, yes, but not any more than I expected to be after the first time. I can almost feel his guilt building, stirring deep in his gut. I don’t want him to be sorry or feel bad. I don’t want him to regret what we shared.

“Sebastian…”

Even as he holds me with all the possession and pride, a tinge of guilt reflects in his eyes when he lifts his gaze back up to mine.

“I should’ve been gentler. Fuck. I’m sorry, Ely. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“No, you didn’t!” His expression is tortured, and I lift a hand to soothe the rigid line of his jaw. “I’m fine, I promise. Better than fine. It’s just a little blood…everyone bleeds⁠—”

“Yeah, they might bleed, but it doesn’t need to look like a fucking bloodbath. God. What is wrong with me? Your first time should’ve been different. Instead, I took you in the woods like a fucking animal⁠—”

“Stop, please. I loved it.” Grasping his face with both hands, I force him to meet my gaze. “I fucking loved it, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Please don’t guilt yourself into regretting what we did.”

He gives me a small smile, and my heart clenches a little in my chest. “I could never regret what we did.” Gently, he strokes the inside of my thigh. ““I can’t get over the fact that I’m your first, and I know it’s fucked up but I’m almost sad to clean you up. It feels like I’m washing away the proof that you’re mine, that I’m your first.”

Oh crap. The reminder of Tanya’s pregnancy test pops into my head, ruining the moment. I already told him it wasn’t mine, but I haven’t explained anything more.

I wince. “We haven’t really talked about it, but…”

Shaking his head, he presses a finger to my lips. “No. Stop. I don’t want to know right now. All I want is to sink as deep as I can into this moment with you. Fuck everything else. The problems will still be there tomorrow; let’s take tonight for us.”

I nod and open my mouth to tell him I’d enjoy nothing more than that, but before I can speak again, he scoops me up in his arms and carries me into the shower. His gaze gravitates back down to my thighs, like he’s trying to take a picture with his eyes. Once he has me under the hot spray, he steps out and quickly shoves off his pants and shoes. I stand there staring like a stalker.

How can a man look as beautiful as he does?

He might as well be a Greek statue, every muscle perfectly formed and sculpted like he’s cut from stone. The glaring overhead light that makes me feel boxy and short highlights every beautiful curve on his body. He’s a masterpiece. A priceless art piece.

Looking at him, I forget to breathe, forget to function. I snap out of it when he grabs his already hard length, a sinister look filling his features as he strokes himself, the blood of my innocence staining his cock.

He steps into the shower stall, turning the big box into a tiny one with his size.

Normally, I’d feel anxious with his frame towering over me, but I feel safe and secure, and the hot water feels so good beating against my sore muscles that I can’t be bothered by any other emotions at the moment.

“Mine. All mine,” he whispers. I’m not sure if it’s to himself or me, but I don’t ask. Even if there are a ton of unsaid things hanging in the air between us, I can believe in one thing with complete trust, and that is that I belong to him.

When I grab the loofah and put soap on it, he crowds me and takes over, running the suds over my slick skin until I feel like I vibrate from his touch. After scrubbing me clean, he puts me back under the spray and rinses the suds away.

With a smile, I grab the loofah from him before he starts washing himself.

“Please, let me.”

He releases his hold on the sponge, and I run it across his chest, cleaning him just like he cleaned me. There’s a calmness that fills me, the pressure, fear, all of it melting away, and it’s like I can breathe for the first time in my life.

“You didn’t get as many bruises as I did.”

“Well, you were the one running.” His response is casual.

“I guess you’re right.” He rinses and turns off the taps, then he reaches for me.

Pausing, he steps out of the shower and helps me to do the same. A puddle pools on the floor, but I can’t be bothered with the mess we’re making.

Leading me over to the now full bath, he turns the faucets off. A startled gasp slips from my lips when his hands circle my waist and he lifts me, gently placing me in the water. A blanket of warmth covers me from head to shoulder, and I sink into it.

“Oh my God…” I moan by accident.

It feels even better than the shower, and when he reaches forward and presses a button that makes the jets start, I swear I could melt into a puddle. I’ve only ever dreamed about taking a bath in this thing. He perches on the edge of the tub, his gaze sweeping over me.

“There’s enough room in here for three people if you want to get in, too?”

“I would, but then I’d be tempted to fuck you again.”

I can feel the heat creeping into my cheeks. He’s so blunt about sex. That’ll take some getting used to. I shake away the embarrassment and relax into the water, letting it soothe my aching muscles. I tip my head back against the lip of the tub, and his fingers sink into my hair, massaging my scalp gently.

Holy shit. My eyes flutter closed, and I greedily accept his touch.

“I didn’t know touch could feel this good. My whole life all I’ve known is pain.”

“I fucked up in the past, and I know I’ll fuck up in the future. It’s not in my nature to be perfect, even if I try, but I can promise you that no one will hurt you ever again.”

“That’s a big promise.” The words shudder out of me.

“It’s more than a promise. It’s the truth.” The darkness in his voice makes me open my eyes, and I stare up at him. Tragically beautiful. My dark knight.

“I trust you. I just…you might have to be patient with me. This is all so new, and we have so many things to discuss. Who knows, maybe you’ll change your mind.” It’s more or less a joke, but Sebastian doesn’t see it that way.

His gentle touch becomes steel in a flash, and he grabs me by the hair. Tipping my head back at an uncomfortable angle, he forces me to look at him and only him.

“I know you’re afraid of what happens next, but you have no reason to be. I don’t regret what we did, and I don’t think you do either. Nothing we will discuss will change that you’re mine, completely, in every single way. Remember that whenever you have doubts. I’ve wanted you for so long, Ely. I’m done playing. I’m done pretending.”

I push up, needing his lips on mine.

He understands and leans forward, kissing me, and my entire world shifts. He devours me like he’s starving and possessed. His tongue probes my lips, and I open for him, letting him massage my own tongue, tasting me in long, hot strokes.

He’s breaking me free of my shell, helping me to see that I’m more than the old version of myself. I’m more than the maid, more than my father’s bargaining chip. I’m a woman who can be loved and cherished.

By the time we pull away from each other, my body is wrung tight, desire and need clinging to my bones.

“Beautiful, Ely. You’re so damn beautiful,” Sebastian murmurs as he strokes my cheek. “Are you ready to get out now?”

I nod, my body relaxed, my muscles liquid. How did we get here? I’m almost afraid that I’ll wake up at any second and realize this is a dream.

He helps me into a sitting position and then lifts me out of the water, placing me on my feet. It takes a moment for me to get my legs to work, and I catch myself against his chest.

“Sorry. I think I forgot how to use my legs.” I laugh.

He uses one hand to steady me and grabs a towel off the counter with the other. He wraps me up in the fluffy towel, securing me like a burrito, and then we’re moving.

“Hey, I can walk. I got my legs to work,” I announce.

All he does is grunt as he carries me into the bedroom and lays me out on the huge bed.

He disappears from view, and that’s when the thoughts pop into my head. The debt I owe him, Tanya, our future together. Is there even a future for us? He reappears holding two bottles of water, and I find I’m even more consumed by the thoughts.

“What about the debt? I don’t think I can work as a maid for you anymore.” I think a moment longer on it. “I could always get a job and pay you that way.”

“Stop, Elyse. You’re thinking too much into it. Fuck the debt. I don’t care about the money.”

Climbing up onto the bed, and he twists the cap off one of the bottles. Bringing it to my lips, he orders me with his eyes to drink.

“You act like I’m incapable of caring for myself.”

“No. I act like I let you care for yourself long enough. Now it’s my turn to care for you, so please let me and take a drink.”

I do as he says, keeping my eyes trained on his face. I believe him, believe his words, but there’s still that trickle of doubt. It all seems too good to be true, so all I can do is lie here, waiting, watching, and counting the seconds until he changes his mind and throws me out the door. After I’ve drunk enough water to satisfy Sebastian, I unwrap myself from the towel and use it to dry my long hair.

He settles against the pillows, and I follow suit, letting any awkwardness I might have fade. Resting my head against the pillow, I bury my nose into it, inhaling his scent.

Sea-salt and spice.

It calms me, and when I lift my head to resituate it I realize just how tired I am. My head feels like it weighs a hundred pounds.

Sebastian tugs me into his chest, and I snuggle against him, letting the warmth of his body encompass me in a cocoon. In his arms nothing can hurt me. Not my father. Yavon. Tanya. No one can touch me.

I’m overwhelmed with emotion, even as sleep lingers at the fringes of my mind.

“This feels like a dream…” I whisper.

His gentle laugh vibrates through me, “No, Little Prey. This is very much not a dream.”

“Hmmm, it might be.” I smile, while struggling to keep my eyes open.

“It’s not. It’s real. You’re real. What happened is real.”

“In that case…” I blink my eyes open, but they fall closed just as fast, the exhaustion finally overpowering me.

“What was that?” Sebastian hums, his fingers stroking my skin.

“I think…I…I love you.” I give up my fight to stay awake and let my eyes fall closed at the confession. There is no response, and fog fills the spaces in my mind, dragging me down into the dark depths of sleep.

Right before I succumb I swear I hear Sebastian whisper, “You’re more than I deserve, Elyse. I just hope when the truth is revealed you still feel that way.”