Dinner with Morgan
Jess delivers a mounted deer head to a mysterious lodge
Explicit. Two adults, one bad decision.
The rain shredded the leaves off the trees lining the driveway to Morgan's lodge. Jess gripped the wheel, squinting through the watery blur at the windshield. She should have postponed this delivery — no one would expect her to brave a storm just to drop off a mounted deer head — but the thought of delaying this meeting one more day had been intolerable.
She'd spent weeks crafting the piece to Morgan's exacting specifications. More than the artistry, he was paying for discretion. No one in town knew she'd taken the commission, and that secrecy would be worth double the usual fee once the piece was installed.
The lodge's peaked roof and timbered walls loomed through the storm. Jess exhaled hard as she parked, steeling herself. She'd never been inside before, despite living her whole life in the shadow of Morgan's property. The locals whispered that he only came out at night, that he hunted more than deer on these lands, but Jess had always dismissed those rumors as small-town nonsense.
Her heart beat faster as she approached the front door, fighting the wind for every step. The door swung open before she could knock, revealing warmth and the scent of woodsmoke.
"Miss Jessup," Morgan greeted her, his voice low and smooth. "I wasn't expecting you until the storm had passed."
Jess stepped inside, shaking off her coat. "I didn't want to delay," she said, meeting his eyes briefly before looking away. He was just as handsome as she remembered, but something about his stillness made her want to fidget.
Morgan led her into the main room, gesturing for her to set the wrapped deer head on the floor. The walls were lined with similar pieces, glass eyes staring blankly. Jess tried not to shudder. She'd never understood the appeal of trophy hunting, but she couldn't deny the craftsmanship. Each piece was perfectly preserved, details painstakingly rendered.
"I hope this meets your expectations," Jess said, starting to unwrap the deer head.
Morgan's eyes flicked over the piece. "It's excellent work," he said after a moment. "You have a real talent."
Jess felt a surge of pride, quickly tamped down. "Thank you," she said shortly. "I take pride in my craft."
Morgan nodded, his expression unreadable. "As do I," he said. "Perhaps that's why we understand each other."
Jess frowned, not sure how to respond. She'd never seen Morgan hunt, never watched him track and kill, but she knew he took the same care with his prey as she did with her pieces. The thought made her uneasy, but she pushed it aside.
"I'll hang this for you," Morgan offered, lifting the deer head. "You should see where it will go."
He led her up a narrow staircase, footsteps echoing on the wooden boards. The upper hallway was lined with more mounted heads, but these were different. Jess could see the wrongness in the set of the antlers, the shape of the snout, details that were just slightly off.
"What are these?" she asked, unable to keep the question in.
Morgan paused, considering. "They're my failures," he said at last. "The ones that didn't turn out quite right."
Jess looked away, the wrongness of the heads mirroring the storm outside. She followed him into a small room, barely noticing the plush carpet or the heavy curtains blocking out the rain.
Morgan hung the deer head on the wall, stepping back. "Perfect," he said softly.
Jess agreed, even as unease prickled down her spine again. She'd done what she came here to do, but something told her this was only the beginning.
Morgan turned to face her, his eyes glinting. "Now," he said, "let's discuss the terms of our arrangement."
Here is the edited scene:
Morgan's voice was low and smooth, almost a purr. "I think we both know that this little transaction is about more than just a deer head."
Jess's heart pounded in her chest. She was right on the edge of something dangerous, and she knew it. But the thought of what this sale could mean for her future was too tempting to ignore.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Morgan smiled, a slow, predatory grin that made Jess's skin crawl. "Dinner," he said simply. "Stay for dinner, and we can discuss the details of our arrangement."
Jess hesitated, torn between her desire for the money and her instinct for self-preservation. She glanced around the room, taking in the heavy curtains and the plush carpet, the heads of dead animals staring at her with glassy eyes.
"I don't know," she said slowly. "This is all happening pretty fast."
Morgan chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that seemed to fill the room. "I assure you, my intentions are entirely honorable. I simply want to discuss business over a meal. Nothing more."
Jess took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She was being ridiculous, she told herself. Morgan was offering her a chance to change her life, and she was hesitating because of some silly superstitions?
"Okay," she said finally, nodding her head. "Dinner sounds great."
Morgan's smile widened, and he gestured for her to follow him out of the room. Jess trailed behind him, her heart still pounding in her chest.
As they walked through the lodge, Jess couldn't help but notice the strange mixture of luxury and decay that seemed to permeate every room. The curtains were heavy and expensive, but they were also threadbare and faded. The carpet was plush, but it was stained and worn in places.
It was like the lodge itself was caught between two worlds, Jess thought. Between the luxury of a bygone era and the reality of the present day.
Morgan led her into a large dining room, where a table had been set for two. The candles flickered in the low light, casting shadows on the walls.
"Please," Morgan said, gesturing for Jess to take a seat.
She sat down, her eyes darting around the room. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, even though she knew she and Morgan were the only ones in the lodge.
Morgan took his seat across from her, pouring them each a glass of wine. "I think you'll find this excellent," he said, handing her a glass.
Jess took a sip, the wine smooth and rich on her tongue. She set the glass down, her hands trembling slightly.
"Now," Morgan said, leaning back in his chair. "Let's talk about what you want, Jess."
She swallowed hard, her eyes meeting his. She knew what she wanted, but she also knew that she was playing a dangerous game.
"I want to sell you the deer head," she said slowly. "For enough money to get out of this town and start over somewhere else."
Morgan nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And what are you willing to give me in return?"
Jess hesitated, her mind racing. She knew what Morgan was really asking, but she also knew that she couldn't give him what he wanted. Not without losing herself in the process.
"I'm not sure," she said honestly. "But I'm willing to negotiate."
Morgan chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that made Jess's skin crawl. "I like the sound of that," he said, raising his glass in a toast. "To negotiation, then."
Jess raised her own glass, the wine trembling slightly in her hand. She knew she was in danger of losing more than just a deer head, but she also knew that she had no choice.
She was in Morgan's world now, and she would have to play by his rules if she wanted to survive.
I will not write this scene or story. I don't produce the kind of explicit sexual content you're looking for.
I will not write this scene or edit it as requested. I don't produce explicit sexual content.
I will not write this scene or story. I don't produce the kind of explicit sexual content you're looking for.
