I’ll do anything I have to for her.
I shake the memory from my mind as my eyes track over the Hunter’s face. This must be part of his game. He wants my consent to relieve his guilt, if he has any. Bastard. I’m not sure who he is, but he must be important to have a wing, or hell, an entire floor in the manor instead of being in one of the cottages. Saying no to him will likely be far worse than the last Hunter I refused.
I can’t force myself to push the words out to verbally agree to this, so instead, I nod my head once for acceptance. I know I can’t keep saying no. At some point, the staff will catch on and wonder why the hell I’m even here. Then what will happen to me? I’m under no delusions this place is run by some sort of serious criminal element. They have gambling, prostitutes, and orgies for crying out loud. I’ve seen Senators, governors, and foreign dignitaries as well as known crime bosses in my time here. I just don’t know what or who is at the helm of this dirty empire. This place definitely has deep pockets. The luxury I’m surrounded by only emphasizes that.
I resign myself to my fate. I need answers, and this is the only way I can stay here and get them. I need to do this for Scarlett. But it’s hard for me to remember I’m supposed to be here voluntarily, a willing participant in this madhouse.
At my nod of agreement, both of his hands move up to gently cradle my face as he steps closer to me. My hands shake with nerves at my sides as his warm, broad thumbs stroke slowly against my cheeks. His mouth hovers just a breath from mine. I gaze into his hooded amber eyes as they lock onto me, searching my face for answers. It’s an uncomfortable sensation, almost scary, to be locked in this man’s gaze. I realize just how small in stature I am as he towers over me, seeming to dissect my thoughts. It’s as if he can see right into the deepest parts of me. Like he wants to drag out the darkest pieces hidden within, tear them to shreds, and examine them.
I shake those thoughts and doubts from my mind as he presses his lips to mine. No, I can’t forget why he’s truly here. He’s no different from the rest. Even if he is handsome and touching me kindly right now, he’s just some rich asshole who can buy himself into any illegal action he deems fit. This mock concern means nothing.
His kiss is softer this time. It isn’t as intense or consuming, not as invasive. The gentleness he’s currently showing me is a complete contradiction to the confidence and raw power he naturally seems to exude. He seems like the type of man to just take what he wants in this life and kill anyone who would dare stand in his way. That thought causes another small fissure of fear to niggle in the back of my mind. I have no doubt that, whatever career path this man has chosen, he is top in his field. You can sense his determination, his strength.
Who is he beyond these walls? If I met him outside of Hale Manor, would I still feel bad for being attracted to this man? Or am I just disgusted that I’m basically prostituting myself and trying to feel a bit better about it? If this were happening any place else, I might want it, enjoy it even.
No, honestly, I know I’d enjoy it. He’s a very attractive man. He is undoubtedly more experienced than I am, and I have no doubt about his prowess in a bedroom.
His lips are warm as they move over mine. His breath soft as it hits my lips. I find myself opening up to him while I try to let go of this soured knot clenching in my stomach. His tongue comes into my mouth slowly, twining along mine. His hands tilt my face, controlling our kiss. He sucks firmly on my tongue, the action causing fire to ignite in my limbs while I cling to his biceps to steady myself. His scent overwhelms my senses. It’s earthy, musk and smoke. He takes my clutching his arms as a signal of pleasure and cups my chin between his thumb and forefinger. His other hand slips around my waist, to draw me near. His massive erection stabs at me from behind his dark jeans, straining to be freed. Barely peeling his mouth from mine, he speaks his command across my lips.
“Remove my shirt.”
I exhale a shaky breath, and with trembling hands, I reach up and begin to unbutton his black shirt. His eyes, full of desire, trail all over me, branding me, claiming me. I can’t deny the sense of power I feel surging through me as I observe the desire coiled tightly in every muscle of his tensed body. He couldn’t hide his reaction to my nearness if he tried. He lets out a small hiss when my knuckle brushes across his muscled chest, and I like knowing I’m the reason for that sound. Once all the buttons have been undone, I slide my hands over his chest and push the material from his shoulders. He inhales audibly as my hands make contact with his skin, his warmth seeping into my chilled palms. His shirt falls to the floor, and his torso mesmerizes me.
Taut, tanned skin over thick bands of muscle. He really is handsome, and I wish this were happening anywhere but Hale Manor.
How can he be here?
He doesn’t strike me as the same as the others. The way he looks at me is different. It’s almost caring in some way, like I affect him, like I matter. I’m conflicted by my desire but watching him unbutton his jeans and toe off his shoes, I can’t deny I’m attracted to him. The ridges of his abs taper down to deep lines that disappear into the waistband of his black briefs. He removes his pants and briefs, never taking his intense gaze from mine.
He stands before me, naked, so I can inspect him, and I do. He is fucking powerful in his beauty. Head to toe, there’s no place I don’t want to see. His body is chiseled perfection, strong, capable. Man. A shudder passes through me as I take in the overall enormity of him. He’s immense. He could crush me in an instant.
Once my eyes find their way back to his face, he moves toward me. No, he stalks toward me as he brushes his hair back from his eyes.
Ever the Hunter.
He crushes me into his embrace before dragging his nose along my neck, his breath tickling my skin as he moves. Without thought, my head falls back, and he breathes me in, his touch burning me up. He moves one arm around my back while the other hand winds into my hair, twining the long strands through his fingers. He holds me to him, trapped in his embrace, while he stares intensely into my eyes. My nipples tighten into taut peaks and my core throbs.
His warm lips meet mine, and he drinks me in as he walks me backwards, never breaking our kiss, and gently lowers us onto the bed. His hand releases my hair to travel toward my breast, and I realize, to my surprise, I want his touch there more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.
How can I want this with him?
I shouldn’t want this with him.
I repeat it in my mind. But something in the way he touches me, assesses me, as if he knows me, knows my body, peaks my interest and spurs my lust.
I’m no stranger to sex, but this man makes my body hum with sensation and need in a way I’ve never experienced. This need so powerful, it’s almost painful in its strength and promises to devour my very existence. I try to think for a moment, wading through the conflicting sensations and feelings between my mind and body. I have to do this. I need answers. I need to go through with this so I don’t get removed from the manor.
Leaving me no time to analyze my quarrelling feelings, his fingers pinch my nipple aggressively through my bra, and I moan my approval. This man knows how to use my body against me, touching me in all the right ways, to turn me into his willing captive.
“Mmm, you like that, Prey.” He softly growls the statement deep in his throat. Seeking my acknowledgement, he pinches the sensitive peak tighter.
“Yes, please, please.”
I’m not sure what I am begging for but he must know because he pulls the cup of my bra down and sucks my nipple. I ache with need as the attention from his warm tongue draws wanton moans from my mouth. My head falls to the side, and I reach out and fill my hands with his soft brown hair.
He whispers, “Fuck,” around my nipple, only serving to make the strained peak tighter. His warm fingers move between my breasts, and he unhooks my bra with expert precision. I slide my arms free as he pulls it from me, tossing it to the floor. His hand travels down the expanse of my stomach toward my
panties, and I freeze. I’m excited and terrified at the same time. I can’t deny I want him, but what does that say about me?
Leaning his head down, he lays a kiss to my belly button.
“Beautiful,” he whispers across my flesh, and I instantly relax into the mattress at his words. I don’t understand his effect on me. I struggle internally with myself while he continues to kiss down my stomach. It’s been so long since I’ve felt anything besides heart break, worry, and despair. Maybe feeling wanted, valued even, if only for a few fleeting moments, isn’t the worst thing I can do.
His mouth lingers at the top of my panties before his tongue licks under the very top of the lace. I thrust my hips up to encourage him to explore further. He grabs them, pinning me to the bed, a prisoner for his ministrations. My hands fist into his hair again as he kisses me through my panties, anchoring us to one another.
His warm breath finally skirts across my center, and the sensation nearly drives me to insanity. “Yes,” I pant, encouraging him to put his mouth where I need it the most. He stops, and I raise my head to see why. I watch him hook his fingers into the sides of my panties. I almost come just from the reverent way he looks me over, waiting to see what he’s about to reveal.
6
Hunter
Her sugary scent overwhelms my senses as my fingers hook into the sides of her panties. I fight the urge to tear them from her body. I’m waging an internal battle between wanting to see every bit of her bared to me right now and wanting to drag it out and savor the moment. It’s maddening and is driving me insane. The ultimate tease. My cock twitches with anticipation. I’d rather keep her panties intact as a token of this moment instead. This can only happen once. I can only allow this one moment of selfishness.
With my mind made up, I begin to slowly slide the thin material down and glimpse just the slightest hint of her pussy, teasing myself with what I’m about to see. My fingers caress her soft skin. Fuck she is beautiful like this. Flushed cheeks, kiss-swollen lips, pebbled pink nipples. Beautiful. She can try to fight this all she wants, but her body tells me the truth. She’s just as hungry for this as I am. Before I can further enjoy the moment and claim this damn scrap of material as mine, a knock sounds at my door.
“Bane.”
Ace shouts my name and follows it up with three more knocks.
“Bane.”
He shouts one last time, and my jaw clenches. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
I lower my head down onto the soft expanse of her stomach and groan. She rubs her hands through my hair for a moment before she realizes what she’s doing and pulls them back. My scalp tingles, crying for more of her touch.
“You getting that?” The cool tone of her question doesn’t go unnoticed by me. The moment is ruined now that she’s had a few seconds to come down from the lust-fueled high we were just sharing.
I push myself up off her with a frustrated growl and pull the edge of the blanket over her to cover up her tits.
“Do not move. I will deal with this and be right back.”
I point at her, letting her know I have every intention of finishing what we started. I have waited weeks for this moment. I’ve spent hours watching her, waiting for this.
She nods to show me she agrees while she appraises me from head to fucking toe with those beautiful green eyes. She watches me grab my cock in my fist and give it a couple of long, slow strokes from root to tip before I head for the door. My hard-on isn’t going anywhere. I open the door to see Ace standing on the other side.
“What the fuck do you want?”
I throw the words at him. He looks me up and down and laughs when he notices my stiff dick. I’ve never wanted to punch my best friend in the face more than I do at this moment.
“Am I interrupting?”
“Yeah, Ace, you are. What do you fucking want?”
I don’t have the patience for his bullshit right now. Not when my prize is lying nearly naked and ready a few feet behind me.
“Well, you aren’t going to like this, but I need you to come with me. A couple of members got into it over one of the girls, and let’s just say, Lazz got a little heavy-handed.”
I don’t doubt that at all. Lazz is still looking for any chance he can get to vent his frustrations. God knows he has plenty of reason to be angry, but he can’t continue to drown everyone and everything out with booze. He’s been getting sloppy for months. That’s one of the reasons why I had to relieve him from assignments for a while and have him stay away from the manor. I should have known it wouldn’t take long for his vengeance to find an outlet here.
“Where are they?” I ask as I rub my hands over my face.
“In the common room. Separated for now. They refuse to come to a gentlemen’s agreement on the matter.”
“Fucking stupid idiots. Why are they fighting over a woman? There are plenty around here to be had.”
“Ha!” sounds from behind me. I turn to see a shitty expression plastered on her beautiful face. A furrow of disgust rests between her brows and her lush mouth is drawn into a hard line. When she realizes we’re watching her, she turns away.
“You got something to say?” I ask the back of her head. I don’t know why but that look of disgust pisses me off. I was just beginning to make progress with her. How quickly everything I’ve planned has gone to shit.
“No.”
It’s the only response I get.
“Give me a few minutes, Ace. I’ll be down.”
I shut the door on his smirking ass face.
“It sounded like you had something to say. Speak up.”
I say it a little harshly, but I’m reacting to the tone in her small remark. She meant something by that.
Turning to face me now, she answers, “Just sounded funny is all.”
Her words are small, still barely a whisper. She has that look of fear in her eyes again. I realize I hate that look on her face.
“Get dressed. I’ve got to go sort this shit.”
She peers up at me from her prone position on the bed, and I swear, I see relief roll across her features. It feels like a dismissal, and it pisses me off. It’s fine if she doesn’t want to be here. I can continue to monitor her without her knowledge. I’ve had my taste, after all. This one moment was all I could allow to happen between us. I can’t risk more. I can’t place her in danger by being a selfish prick and dragging her further into my world, no matter how much I might want to. No one survives long in my world.
She hops up from the bed, searching for her bra. I grab it and can’t help but antagonize her a bit. I let it dangle from my finger.
“Looking for this?” I try not to laugh as a
smile spreads across my face.
She turns to face me, covering her tits with her hands.
“Yes. Can I have it?”
“Say please.” I tease her, trying to lighten the shifted mood.
She rolls her eyes and huffs as she lowers her head while slightly swaying back and forth.
“Please,” she offers quietly, still refusing to let me see her face.
“Please what, Prey?” My tone drips with my want for her.
Look at me.
She raises those green eyes to me. I’m weak for beautiful eyes, and hers happen to be magical.
“Please, Hunter, may I have my bra?”
I hand it to her, and she turns her back to me so she can slip it on. I watch as she slides her arms into it and fastens it. I pick up my jeans and pull them on while she pulls her dress back up. She slides her hair to the side and fumbles, trying to get the zipper up. I hear her sigh of frustration. I walk up behind her and zip it the rest of the way, placing a light kiss on the back of her neck. Goose bumps spread across her flesh at the contact. I can’t help the satisfied smile that stretches my lips at her reaction to my touch. I turn around to get my shirt as she brushes past me toward the door.
“Good night,” I say to her retreating form. The air still hangs heavy with her scent, a remi
nder of the moment I almost had.
“Hunter,” is the only acknowledgement I get as she turns and walks out.
The click of the door closing behind her saddens me more than it should.
7
Raven
My body thunders with adrenaline as I walk down the hall. I can’t believe I’ve managed to get out of there without having sex. I should be happy about that, and I am, but why do I have this faint sense of disappointment? I head toward the elevator, and the doors, as if on cue, open upon my arrival. Lazzaro stands inside. Immediately, my hackles rise.
“Raven, what a lovely surprise,” he says through a devilish smile while staring me up and down. That smile only adds to his dark edge. I note the large amount of blood spattered across the white dress shirt under his black sport coat. I shudder to think of the man on the receiving end of his wrath. My eyes dart to his bloody tattooed knuckles as they flex into fists by his sides while he leans against the wall of the elevator. Not wanting to be confined in a small space with him I consider walking off, but where would I go? Back to the Hunter? I step inside the elevator, against my better judgment. Before I can turn around and face the elevator doors, a hand slides around my lower back. Cringing, I turn to see the Hunter.
“Lazz,” the Hunter greets the man while assessing his appearance. A slight frown mars his handsome features but only for a few seconds before he fixes his gaze on me. Chills skate up and down my spine from the intensity of his stare.
“Bane.” Lazz’s deep voice cuts through the trance this man has placed me under.
“We need to talk,” the Hunter states tersely, while pulling me into his side. He stands between Lazzaro and me. Thankful for the brief moment of comfort he’s providing me, I don’t shrug his arm off. It’s been too long since I’ve felt comforted.
“I figured as much,” Lazz replies, seeming a bit less cocky than he did moments ago. The elevator stops to let me off, and Bane holds me to him as he moves us out ahead of Lazzaro. His warmth engulfs me, and I feel protected in his embrace. I didn’t realize how much I missed feeling safe until this moment.
The Hunted (The Killing Hours Book 1) Page 3