Page 62 of Taking the Heat

‘Okay, girls, three of you have to wear GoPros today,’ said a manager, brandishing clunky helmets in our directions. The mounted cameras set on the top of the plastic headgear made the wearer look as though they had grown an alien out of their skull but the idea of my every move being tracked seemed like fun, so I stepped up and claimed one.

An assistant wrapped a belt around my waist, with the white tag attached to the back with Velcro. The soft material flapped against my butt cheeks, a powerful reminder of my nudity.

I was one of the five girls heading out into the jungle, searching for the guys’ base. Naked, horny and raring to go, I was amped. The starting gun sounded in the air, and the five of us slipped into the jungle like silent assassins.Don’t fuck with the ladies …

With my tiger warpaint I felt invisible, invincible. I could hear the men whooping and hollering to my right, the idiots totally giving away their location. Smirking, I changed my course, drifting through the trees like a deadly cat.

Loris and Beau crashed towards me, loud and ignorant of my presence. In chocolates and emeralds, their defined forms looked like walking sculptures. I crouched behind a tree as they passed, waiting until the last second, then swooped from my hiding place and snatching their tags in one swipe. Rolling under a bush, I was gone before they even clocked who I was or where I’d gone.

‘Ah, shit, man!’ Beau drawled. ‘We have to head back. Come on.’

They turned, and I followed, stealthy and silent.

The boys reached their clearing, attaching new tags and heading out again. There was only one person left at the base: Chris.

He prowled around the platform, alert. I knew I didn’t have a chance of outrunning him. I’d have to be patient and wait for a distraction. In the meantime, it didn’t hurt to perve.

Chris was decorated in black and grey, the pattern reminiscent of a rain-streaked ghost gum. His taut behind shone in the dappled sunshine breaking through the tree cover, and his strong arms flexed beneath the paint. I sighed raggedly, unsure of how I could run from the one person I wanted to catch me.

Giggling and crunching emanated from the far side of the clearing. I distinctly heard Babette say, ‘Merde!Look at thatcul!’

Chris charged towards the voices and I took my chance. I lit out running for the bag, breasts bouncing. As I reached the platform, my hand closed over the soft pouch as Chris yelled, ‘Oi! Drop it, woman!’

‘Never!’ I called back, then ran as though a sex-crazed Gary Busey was chasing me. Plunging into the trees, I opted for stealth over speed, melding into the jungle, skilfully avoiding Chris as he crashed along behind me.

The distance between Chris and me grew greater and I began to dash faster through the leaf litter, confident I was alone. Not even Greg was around to capture my naked form speeding along, half a million dollars jingling in my hand.

My satisfaction at my complete solitude was short-lived as I crashed into Dante. His black eyes burned at me as he ripped the tag from my backside.

‘Ciao, porca.’ Brutally, he picked me up and flung me over his shoulder. ‘I believe we have unfinished business.’

Chapter 21

It happened so suddenly, it took me a minute to process. I’d felt so strong when I was running, but now with my head dangling over Dante’s shoulder, stars clouded my vision and I was weak as a kitten. The GoPro helmet slipped from my skull, thudding to the leaf litter as Dante carried me deeper into the jungle.

He’d been painted in shades of red and orange, looking like the demon from hell he actually was. Horror swelled inside me, along with the determination to fight him to my last breath.

Drawing as much air as possible, I screamed. ‘Help! Anyone—help me! Please!Chris!’ The only answer was Dante’s snigger.

‘Sorry, my littleBella, it’s just you and Dante. And you are now a prisoner.’

Kick him in the balls!I drew my foot back as far as I could, but Dante’s arm wrapped over both my legs, holding them to his chest. I tried bucking backwards, heaving my torso, trying to get away. He was stronger, slamming a brutal hand to my back. With my arms locked under me, I was trapped.

Where’s a cameraman when I actually need one?I kept on screaming, my voice dulled by the massive trees around us.

‘Nobody says no to Dante,’ said the vile man holding me hostage. ‘You will learn how to be a good littlebagascia.We will learn together, no?’

‘No!’ I shrieked at him. ‘Help!Chris!’

He pushed through a large bush, into a secluded clearing. Throwing me to the dirt, he fell forward towards me. I rolled quickly and sprinted, but he caught my arm and threw me hard against a tree, holding me there with his body weight. I whimpered, turning my face away but unable to stop my naked stomach and breasts from touching his skin, revulsion rising. ‘Chris isn’t here,donnaccia.’

‘But we are!’

Clara, Meghan and Jen burst into the clearing, their faces aflame with fury and disgust.

‘Get the fuck off her, you dickless pervert.’ Clara was magnificent in her green war paint, fists clenched and chest heaving.

‘Ladies, ladies, there’s more than enough Dante to go around.’ He turned slightly towards them, still keeping me flush against the tree.

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