Page 28 of Stalker

“Hold on. You know me better than that. I never back down with anything. I did some digging and ended up surfing through social media. Now, it would seem the owners are very smart.”

“I heard they were brothers.”

“Yep. They are. Rarely photographed though.” He started flipping through his phone. “I was thinking about how they might attract possible candidates. They need to start somewhere. From what Braxton told me, the game hasn’t been on a regular basis. I took a chance and looked to see if they were disguising it under the Blackwell Group.”

“You know how to drag something out to gain attention.” I was now leaning over the table.

“My hunch paid off.” He handed me his phone. “It’s not a blatant admittance, but why bother issuing a series of questions like this?”

I stared at the screen and frowned. “It looks like a questionnaire a million companies use to get people excited. Maybe for their gamers. It does ask about what you like about Dark Nights the most.”

“Perhaps, but read a little closer. The questions are fairly interesting.”

Other than the usual ones like what did I consider my greatest accomplishment, there were few that stuck out. “What is your greatest fear? What masked creature creates nightmares? What is on your bucket list? How do you feel about darkness? They’re a little odd, but it would appear they’re trying to determine if you’re adventurous. The darkness could be because video games are usually dark. Right?”

“What about the masked creature bit?”

I bit my lower lip, trying to think of a decent answer. “Well, I guess if truthfully answered, whoever is reading and judging the answers will discover if the contestant has a naughty side.”

“A naughty side.” Cash laughed and pointed his finger at me. “You’re hiding some juicy bits about yourself from me.”

“Never! But think about it. I haven’t played Dark Nights, but from what little you’ve told me, people could have a psychotic break or a heart attack. They don’t want any legal issues.”

“May-be. Although not all reality games are based in darkness. Plus, I assure you they have a team of lawyers at their beck and phone call.” He laughed. “Why don’t you fill it out?”

“What? Me? Why would I do that?”

“Are you going to take the case? This could be the ‘in’ you’ll need. They are very private.”

I cocked my head, giving him a look before returning to scrolling the screen. Why was it the questions intrigued me? There was a little about the company, but not much, at least not nearly as much as you could typically find on the internet. “I think I might have to. Mr. Wells didn’t act as if I could say no.”

“What if you get an invitation to the contest because of your answers? Would you go?”

“And be hunted? I don’t know. That sounds insane.” Then why was my mouth watering from the thought?

“Haven’t you ever wanted to do something crazy?”

I thought about his question and all the books that I had stored on three bookshelves. “Like skydiving?” We both laughed and a series of prickly sensations tickled my spine.

“Like something more primal. A BDSM club, a fake kidnapping? Role playing? That kind of thing.”

“Please don’t tell me you’ve done all those things.” For a few incredible seconds, my mind drifted to the same fantasy I’d had for four months. The contiguous dreams all included the tall, dark, and handsome man who’d awakened something inside me that I’d yet to shut down. I’d hungered for another night with him.

Sighing, I realized that all I’d been doing was working. Years of working. The one night had been enough of a taste to remind me that there was more to living than coming into a nice office and locking away criminals. However, what Cash was describing was way out there.

Although not completely…

I’d read enough dark romances I knew all about very dark activities including consensual-non-consent sexual experiences. I’d even envisioned myself in the scenario in dreams. But always with one man. Jesus. Maybe Penny was right; it was time I ended the dry spell.

Cash snatched his phone from my hand, actively typing. “I’ve been known to do a few wild things in my youth.”

“I bet you have. I’m not certain I want to know.”

He grinned at my response.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m filling out the form for you. I don’t think you’ll do it yourself and why not?”

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