Shadow Of The Prey

CH9. Into The Hive.

The kiss rose bizarre—quite frankly, brand new—feelings in me. I couldn't even put a name to what I was feeling, but the presence of them was making it impossible to comprehendible my own thoughts.
The uncomfortable sensations I felt, made me too weak to even return to the lounge. I pressed the main lobby button before it reached the further basement levels.
With the press of the button the realization dawned on me—I was in fight or flight mode, and had chose to flee for the first time.

Calling for my ride and sending a message to Meredith, I left feeling emotions of defeat just as the first visit to the casino.

Peculiar thoughts rush through my mind as I lean my hip against my bedroom wall, sipping on a glass of whiskey with my eyes admiring the night scene.
The lights off throughout the house, the only light illuminating the apartment being the stars and lights from the bustling street.
My hair damp with a plush towel hung around my neck, the soft oversized button-up moves against my skin as I turn, my eyes focusing on the keycard upon my dresser. The events of tonight swim through my thoughts as I consider what giving me his keycard meant.

The target was always going to be a difficult beast to tame—I presumed he would be, from a mere glance at his files—and my suspicions were proved correct since the first time I sat down with him. Tonight, he only evinced the personality of a man who'll never be tamed.
Yet, it isn't a dead end.

The first plan was to have him notice me and flirt till he desired more time with me, prompting him to whisk me away from Meredith and her friends.
The plan changed when I realized that Miss. Barrington couldn't simply exist as a beautiful unknown guest. He wouldn't bother searching me through the crowd since I haven't marked my importance to him. He surely wouldn't dare to approach a lady first, if he had no need to affiliate with them.
The same is said for Miss. Barrington. She is not an entity that would bend at her knees, making a fool of herself by first approaching someone she wants.

The second plan was to win a high stake game of poker, cause an uproar of excitement to my winning streak and have him come. Once he approached I would ask him to play a game—thankfully his acquaintance initiated and I avoided the risk of making the first move—and throughout the game, entice him by teasing and flirting.
A man intrigued and drawn to a difficult 'prey' would take any chance he could get, to take my time and monopolizing it for himself.

It's clear money isn't a large factor to him.
The games him and his friends play are always a gamble of 'livestock'. They bet on each other, bet for another persons time, and this man would clearly bet to take my time. Especially if taking my time would allow him to further see if I'm a worthy opponent to play a game of chase with. He's a man who enjoys having a conversation with anyone he finds interesting, and if I caught his attention the first night, I know how to fan the flames of his intrigue to burn brighter.

He acted the way I had hoped, wonderfully eating out of the palm of my hand, however I never expected him to use his chance for tonight.

The only leverage I had to see him again was the wager, yet now I'm left to hope for the agency's plan to work. The keycard he gave is not an option. I'll become a woman unworthy to him, and lose the perplexing, intriguing charm of prey he views in me if I dared to make the first move.
I haven't had a chance to scope his house, any hidden cameras and security systems he could have, would notify him if I entered his house first.

Closing my eyes, I can't help but remember the sensation of shock rush through my body.
It was like a moment of time being frozen, my body languidly moving as it tried registering his silent actions, until being attacked by his voracious lips.

My finger brushes my lip from the wetness the whiskey left behind. Glancing at the mirror, I catch the sight of a small bruise on my collarbone.
The only times I met him, I left feeling a vulnerableness weighing over me.
He's someone worthy to receive all my focus and attention. This feeling of being exposed won't affect me again. He's a man who's shown his capability in forcing my guard to lower, but I must accept and be content with this feeling of loss. It's the only way I can keep a calm rational mind.