Some paths are easier to follow in the dark
Adair
When I’m caught in an exposed, embarrassing position while out hiking, I run. I’m surprised when the burly, bearded park ranger who chases me wants to turn his pursuit into a menacing game. I’m shocked when I discover that being his prey ignites a fire inside of me, illuminating a side of myself I never saw before.
He’s a cold, sadistic bully. But I can’t deny the intense pull I feel towards him. And besides, if he really hates my guts like he keeps insisting he does, why does he still chase me?
Jack
I am not a nice guy. So when an obnoxious bookworm messes with my serenity, a dark, dirty game of hide-and-seek seems like the perfect way to teach him a lesson. The last thing this blue-eyed brat should want on his heels is a predator hell-bent on hurting and humiliating his prey.
I’m not expecting the raw, primal chemistry that explodes between us, but even as it builds in intensity each time our paths cross, I vow to keep him at a distance. I’ve learned the hard way that dragging the games played under the cover of night into the light of day can blow up in my face.
