SOL
I can’t believethe old codger was right. There really is a storm rolling in. Granted, it’s not looking set to bethatbad, but I can understand why Pete would close the restaurant tonight – if only for the safety of his staff getting home later. I can admire him for the way he treats his staff well.
Begrudgingly, I guess.
I never wanted to be a surf instructor, working for the family empire. But then again, I never really wanted to be a university lecturer either. Our parents are hard asses – or at least, they were back then. Follow in the family’s footsteps or become a lawyer, doctor, or teacher was their demand. The twins don’t realise how lucky they have it; our parents have definitely relaxed the rules and lowered their expectations a lot compared to how they raised me. I guess a large age gap between siblings will do that.
If given a chance, I would have been a chef. Maybe I would have ended up back here anyway, working at The Beachside Grill. But at least I would have been doing something that I loved.
As the sky turns a macabre shade of grey and the wind picks up to gusting, I’m full of restless energy. Thinking about what ifs tends to do that to me, but so do storms. I find them invigorating.
Tonight, I want to go hunting.
I’m not talking about hunting foxes or rabbits, as they love to do around here, but rather a different kind of prey. The human, female kind. I want to hunt for someone to share this storm with. Someone who shares my excitement for the wildness of nature, who will let their hair fly free in the wind, and who won’t mind getting wet and dirty.
Not for connection. Not for bonding.
This is why I stick to betas – no heat, no aftermath, no mistakes that follow you home.
And I know just the woman.
Pulling my phone from my jeans pocket, I open theBeta Baitapp and navigate to my messages. My brothers – well, mostly Kai – are arseholes who would love nothing more than to hack my phone and uncover my secrets. Which is why I never save contacts and always delete my message threads. Instead, I type inBetaBeachBabe23from memory and begin my message.
TidalDominance: Do you like storms, little prey? I’m done waiting. It’s time. Come to Silver Sands at nine and be prepared to run for your life. I’ll be the stalker in black. Avoid me if you can. I can’t wait to devour you.
It takes a few minutes for the reply to come through, and when it does, my heart pounds hard in my chest.
BetaBeachBabe23: You’re on. Looking forward to it.
I grin, feeling the familiar thrill of anticipation that always comes before a hunt. I quickly type out a response, my fingers dancing over the screen.
TidalDominance: Good. You won’t regret it.
I hit send and pocket my phone, taking a deep breath of the salty air. The storm is getting closer now, the wind howling and the waves crashing against the shore. I can’t wait to be out there in the thick of it, pursuing my prey.
I have a few hours to kill before it’s time, so I decide to take a walk along the beach.
The sand is cool and damp beneath my feet, and the wind whips around my body, rippling my t-shirt. I love the feeling of the storm, the raw power and energy that it brings. It’s revitalising, like being alive in a way that nothing else can compare to.
As I walk, I scan the beach for my prey. She’s not here yet, but I know she’ll come. She’s always up for a challenge, always ready to push herself to the limit. We may not have met in person yet, but we’ve been talking for a few weeks now. It’s time. We’re ready. I know that tonight, with the storm raging around us, we’ll both be pushed to our limits.
The wind picks up, and I can feel the first drops of rain beginning to fall. It’s not heavy yet, but I know it will be soon. Iturn my face up to the sky, letting the rain wash over me. It’s cold and stings my skin, but I revel in the feeling of being alive.
As the minutes tick by, I pace back and forth, my eyes scanning the beach for any sign of movement. It’s nearly nine o’clock now, and I’m starting to get impatient. Where is she?
Just as I’m about to give up and head home, I see a figure emerging from the darkness. My prey. Instinctively, I know it’s her. She’s small and lithe, with long hair whipping around her face in the wind despite the dark hood she has pulled up. That hair, so long and wild and free, will be fucking perfect for wrapping around my fist.
I can’t see her face, but something about the way she moves sets my blood on fire. I can see the determination in her stance from even this distance. She’s the perfect catch.
As she gets closer, I observe the way her body moves with the wind, the way she holds herself with confidence and strength. She’s a challenge, but that only makes her more enticing to me.
She stops walking and a moment later my phone beeps. A grin stretches across my face before I’ve even read her message.
BetaBeachBabe23: I’m here.
TidalDominance: Are you ready?
BetaBeachBabe23: More than ready. I’ve been waiting for this.