The Hunter's Prey Read Online Free Page A

to him at the bar and tried to talk to him. He looked me over and seemed to see all of me, right down to my brand of French underthings. I know he could tell that my dress hem didn’t quite reach the top of my stockings. (I’ve always enjoyed seeing a man’s response to my legs. They’re good, don’t you think?)  
    But he didn’t react like men always did to me. He told me that I wasn’t worth the effort. Can you imagine? No man had ever turned down an invitation from me. The North Pole was warmer than his eyes when he went back to his drink.  
    I was sure that I could change his mind if I just worked hard enough. I talked to him some more, sipping my champagne cocktail and leaning close. But he always kept a distance between us. I stroked his arm and felt the muscles under his sleeve. He moved his arm away and I could have cursed.
    One of the guys came out and asked the drifter upstairs to talk to Johnny. He stood up right away for that invitation. I followed along behind, watching that smooth walk. He strolled as confidently as a gunfighter moving down a cow town’s main street. He truly had the finest ass I have ever seen on a man.  
    He shook hands with Johnny in the office and they looked each other over. Something passed between them and Johnny told me to leave. I started to protest but Johnny insisted. I let him get away with it this time, because he didn’t seem quite himself. A little distracted maybe. I went back to the bar and tried to amuse myself by looking at all the men there. I couldn’t imagine any of them with a better weapon than that new fellow though.
    Finally, Johnny summoned all his men upstairs and I went too. Johnny was waiting in his office with the new guy over by the window. Johnny had a spot of blood on his collar. It seemed odd to me because he didn’t need to shave more than once a day.  
    He introduced the new fellow as Ethan and said he’d be joining the gang. Ethan was good with a gun and would be doing some special work. We all knew that meant that the undertaker would be doing cleanup after the special work.  
    Some of the fellows were pleased because they wouldn’t have to do the killing. But most of them were just plain frightened. I just became hotter for Ethan, even though I was a little scared.
    I talked to Johnny later that night about me and Ethan putting on a special performance for him. I waited for a good time to ask Johnny, with him content and sleepy after a really good fuck. I was curled up against him, the way he liked me. Boneless as I always was after Johnny’s brand of starting things off before finishing with a roar.
    Johnny said that Ethan would be the best judge of performing with me. But until Ethan asked me, I wasn’t supposed to bother him. That angered me but Johnny wouldn’t listen to any of my arguments. Finally, I had to drop the subject.
    Johnny’s refusal didn’t stop me from watching Ethan every chance I got. I knew every detail of him, from the way he walked to the way he smelled. He looked so good under the electric lights in the speakeasy. I dreamed about how he’d look in my bed, that blond hair lit by the early morning sun…  
    You’d stretch out fine in bed, wouldn’t you, sugar, for a beautiful woman? A woman hot and eager for you? A woman can just tell when a man knows how to pour himself into his lady like he pours a drink. I know you can do that, sugar; I’ve been sitting here watching you mix drinks…
    Thank you, sugar, for the fresh drink. Fine alcohol served by an expert makes it a real pleasure to sit here chatting. Just talking about what happened so long ago…
    Johnny started acting funny about money matters shortly after that. He’d never cared much about money before, always said that it was mostly for keeping score and spending on pretty ladies. Now he had all the books brought to his office and started reading them at all hours of the day and night. I’d catch him sometimes with the books laid out on the table