by Dee Ellis
Another thing I knew? I held the match to burn their world to the fucking ground.
18
I was Fay Wray. My King Kong had saved me. We got the facts about that story a little skewed, I knew that. Pretty sure King Kong kidnapped and maybe tried to eat Fay Wray. I was absolutely on board with Hunter Byrne kidnapping me, tying me up, and eating the shit out of me.
Before we could live out such an R-rated ending, I kind of needed to talk to the man. Which I had not done since he all but carried me out of The W, shoved me into an unfamiliar SUV, and sped through the streets of Westbrook. Hunter never let up on the gas, never looked back, never said a word.
Until we hit the sign that said ‘Westbrook City Limits’ on the old bridge leading out of town. Beneath us, water rushes in Kennebec River. It was noisy and smelled like fresh dirt and clear water. Hunter threw the car into park the moment the back tires hit the city limits. I was terrified.
Regret soured on my tongue as I waited for him to talk. Or to yell. To tell me how I had hurt him. Damaged us. Ruined this thing we had before we got to let it really breathe. Like I’d snuffed out a beautiful fire before it’s flames could lick the air.
“Get out.” I was not shocked by the gravel in his tone or the command. I obeyed.
I stepped behind the vehicle, my ridiculous heels snagging on the grated bridge edge beneath me. I kicked them off, breaking a heel in the process. Twisting, I began to walk back towards the other side of the bridge. Because, clearly, Hunter needed me to be away from him.
I took exactly one and a half steps. I counted. I was lifted from the gravel road and pinned back against the SUV. My head hit the sleek curve of the roof. I could feel the Ford logo digging into my back and wondered if it would leave a mark. Kind of hoped it would.
Because, I realized suddenly, I could feel the pain.
Since waking up in that hotel room, I had been numb. I felt nothing. Besides the dull, constant ache that was my reality. A reality that meant I’d lost Hunter. Until I saw my hero firefighter, donned in dusty cowboy boots and a sexy hat, waiting in that lobby, I’d felt nothing else.
“That bridge takes you back to your family. Him. That pretty little life. Grays and muted shit. Shadows. This side,” Hunter nodded his head towards the open road beyond, “Takes you with me. Through the colorful east, maybe through the bright, nosy south. Back to Chicago. No more shadows. No more muted shit. Those pretty purple eyes. Pink or green in your hair. Ink on your fingertips and that fucking band on your finger.” Hunter’s eyes dropped to my left hand.
Tears were in my eyes because, fuck, I wanted all the colors. All the noise. I didn’t need to drown out the quiet or blind the shadows. I needed it because it was a part of me. A part of us. His dirty mouth and that loud firehouse. That goddamn alarm when he had to go play hero. Gerdie. It was us.
Before I could tell him which direction I wanted to go, though, he had to know. We were as loud and bright as we could ever be. The final thing Seth had taken from me had also been taken from Hunter. Before he even knew it.
“Tell me now, Darlin’. We headed west or east, Lola?” Hunter pressed between my legs, his jeans rough against my thighs.
“Before we head either way…. I…I need to tell you…” Tears slid down my cheeks and I shuddered as his big thumbs swept them away.
Despite my betrayal, the fact that I looked nothing like Lola and everything like Violet, and despite my ugly cry, his mouth shut me up. Those soft, sweet, pillowy lips claimed mine as if I’d committed no betrayal. As if he could still see only Lola. And like he didn’t care about my snot nose or wet, ruddy cheeks.
Hunter kissed me like he was anchoring himself to me. Like he needed it, not me. As if I had saved him instead of the other way around. It was laced with anger. Bites that lasted too long, licks that were too rough. I didn’t care. I’d earned it. His head lifted, but just enough to let us breathe.
“I love you,” My words were stuttered and sounded raspy and hopeless, “So. Fucking. Much, Hunter Byrne. You saved me, without even knowing it. I don’t know if I ever knew what it felt like to feel safe, truly safe, until I looked at you. Then you looked at me and saw me. Saw Lola. No one else saw me, not really. Just you. Only ever you.”
“I see you, Darlin’. Even now. I see my Lola Bear in front of me. Not the woman you ran away from. Not the woman they wanted you to be. The one you were always supposed to be. My wife. My fucking life. I love you, Lola Byrne.” I traced those perfect words as he said them, my fingers shaking against his lips.
“My life is bright and loud, and I like it that way. Because it’s us. But…I can’t expect you to stay anchored to me when I can’t give you more colors, more noise,” My legs closed at his waist, my arms circling his shoulders. I clung to him as I told my dark secret.
“That night, our wedding. I told you what he did. What they did. By then, Seth had begun…he hurt me sometimes. Never beat me. Just…sex was always rough, and then so was everything else. He would pull my hair to kiss me. Slap my face while he was fucking me. Pry my legs apart and leave bruises if I wasn’t in the mood,” Hunter went rigid against me, his muscles rippling as he pressed harder into me.
“After our wedding night, I was a mess. Bruised and bloody. Fuck, I never knew pain like that. Every single thing hurt. I couldn’t leave the house. I was withdrawn, depressed. Sick. I thought I was so sick. Every morning. All the time. We both knew. Knew what had happened.” Disgust roils through me as I think about that night.
The other four men in his stupid, shitty band had been like our family for those first years. I knew their girlfriends, when they kept them long enough. I’d liked them, for the worthless men they were. Then that night…it was like I was a stranger. They never even hesitated.
I can hear the slaps of skin, the moans, the laughter. Fucking laughter. Seth watched it all, his dick in his hand while he watched them use me. Over and over again. I can feel their weight. Above me. Beneath me. The searing pain, their beer stinking breath. As I cried, they told me how good it was. How I loved it. How I was their new fuck toy.
“I took seven tests. Seven. Every single day for a week. Hoped it would change. Seth came home with the band one night. Our one month anniversary. I knew what they planned to do. How they wanted to celebrate.” Hunter’s hands were working slowly at my neck, up into my scalp, and it seemed he was trying to soothe us both.
“Because of that night, there was no way to know who the father was.” Hunter whispered, and I nodded, looking away in shame.
“Seth always used a condom before then. Didn’t want a bastard child, he’d said. Even with me. He had allowed them not to that night. It was hotter to watch them come all over me. Getting pregnant was my mistake. Not theirs. Seth said it over and over,” I looked into the past, remembering the brutal ending to that night.
“You did this, you filthy whore. It’s your fault. You wanted this. Don’t even know who the bastard’s father is. Tell Daddy Lawton that. Better yet, why not let him watch his grandchild be conceived, huh?”
“Seth took me to the cabin again. Beat me for hours. All night. Told me it was my fault. All of it. What they had done to me. What he’d done to me. It was my fault. Because I was too bright and colorful. Seth was supposed to tame me, he said. That’s what Father wanted. What he was told to do,” Hunter waited as my words turned bitter, acidic in my mouth.
“The contacts, the hair, a lifetime of keeping me washed out. Blended into the background. All so Reginald Lawton might shine brighter. Seth did as he was told because my father, and his, funded his pathetic attempt at rebellion. The drugs, the partying, the rock star lifestyle. They paid for it, so long as he kept me in the shadows.”
“You’ve told me parts of you, Darlin’. The part I need, you need to tell me now. After everything, what did he do that was enough to send you running?” I gulped in the warm air, my chest pumping as I gave him the last part. The part no one else knew.
“Seth was afraid a pregnan
cy might end his bullshit rebellion stint. Although he is his father’s son, he couldn’t accept that. Seth thought he was special, dangerous, different. That lie ended the minute they suited him up in Armani to shake hands and kiss babies beside them. The idea of living the same life as his father enraged him,” I realized as I spoke that Hunters hands never stopped moving; he never moved away, never looked away from my face.
“I…I miscarried. Seth saw to it. Dumped me at a hospital where no one knew who I was. Because of the trauma—the beating, the miscarriage, the…the things they did to me, doctors said…ah…they said I can’t have children. I am damaged. Ruined.” At last, I lifted my gaze to his, seeing the stark sadness in his pretty green eyes.
Here it was. The moment Hunter realized I had no right anchoring him to me the way I had. Because I could never provide him children, a family. We’d never have moments like the ones he’d shared with his family. Moments I had no idea could exist before he’d told me the stories. We would never have our own stories.
“Damaged? A little bit. Imperfect? Abso-fuckin-lutely. Ruined? No fucking way, Darlin’. I’d kill them a thousand times if I thought it might fix what they did to you. What they did not do is ruin you, baby. You are bright and vivid. Mouthy as fuck and sexy as shit. I’m as anchored to you as you are to me, Lola. Kids, no kids—doesn’t change what you did for me,” Hunter hooked his fingers around my jaw and forced me to look into his eyes.
“You brought me back to life. I fucked my way through dozens of warm bodies and still felt cold. First time I saw these pretty purple eyes looking at me, I was on fire. I thought Holly broke me—which remind me to tell you I saw her, I’ll explain—but you broke me. Broke me wide fucking open and then put me back together. I married you because I wanted to protect you, keep you, love you. I didn’t know I wanted all of that then, but I did. I do. I always will.” I felt his fingers walking up my thigh before I realized he was walking backwards.
“You told me once that you wanted four kids. That you wished you’d had more than just your sister growing up. I can’t give you one, Hunter. Don’t let me be selfish with you. Because I fucking will. I will keep you, and fuck the consequences, King Kong.” I smiled sadly because I knew I would; I’d barely been breathing the time we’d been apart. I couldn’t imagine a lifetime without him. I’d not survive it.
“Mmm, I’m selfish with you, so why the hell not? Besides, we have to consider our options. Adoption. Surrogates. My impressive dick game. One of the above can change everything, wife. Spread your legs.” Hunter had opened the rear hatch of the SUV, setting me inside.
Heat burned through me as I heard the heat in his voice. The heat that meant this demand of his was ending one way. With me on my back and an orgasm sweeping over me. I obeyed, like I always did.
“Fuck, I missed your face, baby. Even if it’s not exactly yours. Contacts?” Hunter traced his fingertips around my brows, and I nodded.
“Yeah. Since I was about five, they made me wear them. Dyed my hair blonde since I was nine.” Hunter growled a string of curses and stepped back.
We were still on the bridge leading out of Westbrook. Pulled to the side, the army green SUV almost blended into the thick brush. I had my legs bent, spread open so he could see me bare to him. He’d torn my panties off back at the hotel.
“Take them out. I want to see Lola. Not Violet.” I flinched a little, sitting forward to do as he’d asked.
“I’m sorry. How did you find out about…that?” I quickly pinched the contacts out, tossing them into the thick brush.
As I watched, Hunter went through about six emotions, at least. Rage, relief, hurt, confusion, lust, and back to anger again. I had wanted to tell him about Violet Lawton—who I’d been before him—so many times. By the time we’d rushed to get married, I figured it was too late. Also, I was a big fucking chicken. Also that.
“Diggs. Been pulling all the favors I had to find you, Darlin’. Promised I would always protect you. Never let them hurt you. I maybe failed at the latter, but I promise, I’m going to spend my life keeping those promises.” The raspy drawl of his voice washed over me like warm honey, and I shuddered. Then, my pussy did too.
“Saw that, Darlin’,” Hunter smirked, stepping back another foot, “I said spread your legs. Let me see what’s mine, baby.” My legs fell open, and we both groaned a little, my dress bunching at my thighs.
“Someone could come.” The weak ass argument only made him smirk evilly.
“Oh, baby. Someone will come. Very soon, I promise. Fuck, I love that pretty pussy, baby. Always so wet for me. Take that fucking dress off. I hate it. You are fucking beautiful no matter what you have on, or off, but that’s not my lady.” Crossing my arms over my front, I caught the hem in my fingertips and tore the dress away from my body.
Bruises from the fight with Seth and Poppy still yellowed my skin in places. My lip had mostly healed. Hunter lowered to a crouch, setting him eye level with my center. His big hands brushed gently over the bruises on my stomach and shoulders. Those bright green eyes, flaring with heat moments before, went watery, and my heart cracked a little.
“I am fine. You should see the other guy.” I tried to smile, but it felt wonky.
“I did, baby. That mother fucker is lucky he’s breathing right now.” Hunter rose again, shoving into the space and ghosting his lips over every single mark made by them.
My fingers dropped between us, wrapping around his belt as I began to shake. My thighs quivered, my fingers trembled, my entire body flushing. I needed to feel his weight on me, smell his skin, touch the ridges of his muscles with their dark tattoos.
The sound of his zipper was loud, but was almost drowned out by my heavy breathing. Hunter tangled his fingers in my hair, tilting my head back. I expected him to kiss me; my mouth tingled waiting for it, but he didn’t. He just watched my face as I shoved at his jeans, reaching inside his boxers.
“I love you, baby. Fuck, I love you. I expected a romantic reunion, truly I did. Right now, I need to be inside my lady, baby. Come here.” Hunter’s hands dropped to tug at my thighs, yanking me to the edge cargo area.
The carpet of the space might leave burns on my ass, but I didn’t care. I fumbled with his heavy cock, moaning as I felt it grow harder in my little hands. I swiped my thumb over the pierced tip, my core going ooey gooey when he moaned. Precum dripped from the tip and I swiped again, bringing it to my lips.
“Fuck. Hold on to me, Darlin’.” Angling my hips, I leaned back as my hands flew up to lace at his bald head.
We never looked away, barely moved from each other’s space as he rocked his hips once. I didn’t care if someone did come. Well, I certainly wanted us to come, of course. But I needed him too. Needed to feel tied to him in the way him being inside me made me feel.
My knees lifted at his hips, and he started thrusting. Hard and fast, growling curses at me as his hand wrapped around my throat. It pressed hard at my larynx, but I was never scared with him. In fact, the rougher, dirtier, harder he became, the safer I felt.
“Oh, baby,” Tears slid down my temples as I pressed closer, hanging off his big body, “I missed you. I love you so much. I’m so fucking sorry. I was so stupid.” Hunter nodded once, but drove into me again and again, softness in his eyes.
“I love you. I’m sorry too, baby. I should have been there.” Hunter’s arm hooked around my waist as he grunted, pumping harder and faster.
He said this softly, but the moment was anything but. The pace of his thrusts picked up and sent the SUV bouncing. Our bodies met again and again with such a force it became painful. Hunter was angry fucking me. Punishing me. Maybe both of us. For the time apart. For the secrets. The truth.
Those intense green eyes were mossy and never looked away as he took me back. Fucked me raw and hard, grunting and telling me he loved me even if the tone of it all said otherwise. The thick arm he had wound about my waist lifted me on his length again and again. Sweat dotted his brow, slid down his temples.
I leaned forward, one arm braced at his shoulders. The other propped up behind me. I pressed my forehead to his and told him I loved him. I was sorry. No more lies. No more shadows or secrets. Licked the seam of his mouth. A drop of sweat by his jaw. Bit at his neck, his shoulders.
Hunter dipped us back into the enclosure of the cargo space again, slowing his pace. Dragging his cock in and out in a slow, torturous move. The hand wrapped around my throat moved. Slid to lift a breast in his hand. The other. Pinched my nipples, rolled them, smoothed his thumb over them.
“Need you to come for me, baby. Need to feel you come on my cock again. Show me you’re still mine.” Now his fingers spread my folds open, the tips rubbing furiously at my clit as he pumped slow, hard, deep into me.
Sometimes, I needed to hear him ask for it. Give approval, maybe. We played that game sometimes. Hunter edged me pretty much constantly, so sometimes I couldn’t until he told me to. But this time, the words were enough. I’d kicked back the sizzling orgasm tearing through me because I wanted to give him what he needed now.
“Hunter! Oh…god! I’m coming.” I bellowed, my head hitting the plush seats behind me.
“That’s it, Darlin’. Let me feel it. Fuck, that’s it, baby. Mine. Do you good not to forget that again, Darlin’.” Hunter growled.
Colors. I saw colors bursting in the blue sky overhead as he pumped into me still. His fingers rubbing fast, hard circles at my clit. My thighs kicked up, jerking around his hips, the pleasure too intense. Until he slid his hands up my body, both hands wrapping around my throat.
I thought I was wrung out. I went absolutely molten as I watched my husband fuck the anger out of us both on the side of the road that promised me freedom. He anchored himself between my thighs, the grasp on my throat offering leverage that sent the ‘x’ of his piercing right to that spot that promised me a different orgasm.