The Hunt - Monica James

by James, Monica

  Our bodies are slick, coated in perspiration as we lock eyes and get lost in one another. I don’t know what the future holds, but this right now is enough. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, a tear slipping down her cheek.

  Bending forward, I lick it away, the salty sadness a reminder of everything we’ve faced. “Sshh, don’t cry. It’s okay.”

  “I just wish things could be different.”

  I understand what she means, because when we’re coupled this way, everything falls into place around us. But sex isn’t the Band-Aid I thought it once was. Mary and I are dynamite in the bedroom, but the sex stuff…I get it now, it will eventually fade.

  The only thing that matters is growing old with someone who completes you, and until we uncover that…we will always have this— the memories. No one can take them away.

  “I wouldn’t give up one second spent with you, Mary Mitts. Once in a lifetime, you meet someone who changes everything…thank you for being that person.”

  More tears fall, but I don’t know whose they are. It doesn’t matter however, because I’ll never forget this feeling for as long as I live.

  We move in sync, our bodies entwined, our hearts beating as one. I know she’s close, so I reach down and circle over her swollen clit. She rockets off the sofa, her hips swaying into me, pleading I give her what she wants.

  I seal my lips over hers, fucking her mouth as I fuck her pussy. I’m imbedded so deep, I can feel the vibration pulsate along my cock. I suddenly pull all the way out, before slamming back into her. “Oh fuck! I can’t…I love…” she cries, before her body shudders and she comes with an earth-shattering scream. The sight of her thrashing underneath me, of what she almost said, has me pumping my hips, and I follow her lead seconds after, pulling out.

  I’ve never come this hard before, and I decide to finish this once and for all. “I love you!” I roar. It’s a jumble of words, but they’re said nonetheless. Do I regret them?

  When she sobs, kissing over my neck, my chin, my lips, I know the answer is hell to the fuck no. If this is what living is…then I think I just took my first breath.

  Game Over

  Many weeks have passed since I did something I thought I was not capable of doing—I sacrificed my happiness for the happiness of someone else. I suppose I now know that true love is indeed selfless, and you’d happily sacrifice your life for the person you love.

  Dixon and Finch would be damn proud.

  I’ve laid low, needing some downtime, because this concept of being a responsible adult is fucking exhausting. I’m seeing Dixon and Finch tonight because it’s Dixon’s bachelor party. As far as bachelor parties go, I’d have more fun knitting booties with Betty White, but he made me promise to keep it low key. He wanted to get back to our roots and just have a few drinks like the good ol’ days, gossiping like old hens.

  I wanted to do something spontaneous, but since Mary left, the only spontaneity in my life is to have gin instead of scotch.

  I’m doing okay. Yes, I miss Mary more than words could ever explain, but when Maddy called me and thanked me for whatever I did, I knew that the saying rings true: if you love something, set it free. I can only hope the counterpart is also true: if it comes back, then it was meant to be.

  I’ve been tempted to call her, break down her door and demand she give me a second chance, but I too have needed the time apart to figure out how I feel in all of this. Yes, we jumped into the deep end with both eyes closed, but now that she’s gone, nothing has been clearer. I want her back, and this time, no holding back. But I know it doesn’t work that way for everyone, especially women, who are a lot more in tune to their emotions than us guys.

  So, I guess, now I wait. It all seems like a cop out, but what other choice do I have?

  I’ve not spoken or seen Mary after the final time we made love, which might prove problematic, seeing as the wedding is a couple weeks away. But you can’t force nature, you especially can’t force a redheaded, demon woman. God, I miss her.

  With all this time on my hands, I’ve decided to focus my energies elsewhere, because idle hands and all that. Just because I’ve turned over a new leaf with Mary does not mean I’m in line for sainthood anytime soon.

  There are two sneaky little fuckers who are in my sights—they just don’t know it. But today is the day, because payback, as they say, is a bitch.

  I’m sitting in my newly furnished office, because after the shit that went down in here—literally, I needed to destroy anything that may have been contaminated with Gail’s splooge. I gag at the memory, but when there is a knock on my door, I put my game face on, because things are about to get serious.

  “Come in,” I singsong, pretending to busy myself when Keira enters the room.

  She’s laid low, not knowing what’s going on, as I’m sure she and Gail believed I would be rocking in a corner somewhere, emotionally and financially ruined. But it’ll take a lot more than two amateurs to beat me.

  “Hi, Hunter,” she says, turning on the charm. But her sweet, innocent act won’t fly with me anymore.

  But I pretend to be the bumbling idiot she believes me to be. “Hey, sweetheart. How you been? Haven’t seen you in a while. I’ve missed you.”

  She closes the door behind her, obviously buying into my bullshit. “I’ve been really busy. Mr. Gail has been working me hard.” The bile rises as I try not to take her comment too literal.

  I clench my thighs under the desk, but rein it in because I can’t blow my cover. “Is that a new dress?”

  She runs a hand down the stripy dress, which hurts my eyes. “Yes, actually, it is.”

  Leaning back in my seat, I cross an ankle over my knee. I take my time in examining her from head to toe, because someone who’s a narcissistic bitch like she is, loves the attention. “You look fucking hot in it. I bet you look even better out of it.” Her chest begins to rise and fall. “Come here.”

  She saunters over, ensuring that everything important bounces and wiggles, but I’d rather watch a giraffe striptease than touch this woman ever again. “Come on, I won’t bite.” I pat my lap. “Unless you want me to, that is.” She takes the bait and smirks.

  When she’s a few feet away, I stop her, raising my pointer. “Actually, on second thought…strip.”

  “W-what?” she stutters, her surprise clear.

  “Strip,” I blankly reply. This is getting old fast and I’m running out of time.

  “Here?” she questions, looking around the room coyly. She had no issues bumping uglies on my desk, so I know this is once again all for show.

  I nod, my gaze never wavering from her. “Yes, here. How can I fuck you if you’re dressed? Do you want me to fuck you? Fuck that pussy? Motorboat those tits? Maybe fuck that tight little ass?” I go for the trifecta ’cause why the hell not?

  The aggression turns her on, because I can see her rubbing her thighs together. “Yes. I’ve wanted your cock from the first moment you ate me out.” I shiver at the memory.

  Without a second thought, she lowers the straps of her dress and shimmies out of it, drawing out the reveal, attempting to be sexual and seductive. It has the complete opposite effect however, because her slow pace grates on my nerves.

  “Those too.” I point to her lacy thong and bra. They soon pool by her feet as well.

  In nothing but her heels, my plan is finally set in motion. “Come here, sweetness.” The fact that she’s naked does absolutely zip for my sex-drive. She’s the antidote for raging erections.

  She ambles over, her small breasts perky and ready for the picking, but she is about five seconds from picking herself off the floor. “I think it’s only fair…” I say, leaning further back in my seat, enjoying what I’m about to do. “That seeing as you fucked me, it’s time I fucked you.”

  She pauses, almost tripping over her black heels, shattering her dream of walking her imaginary runway. “What do you mean?”

  “What I mean is…why did you do it?”

  “Do what?
” she asks, but the tremble to her lips reveals she knows exactly what I’m talking about.

  “My, my, watch your nose grow.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she says with bite, finally showing me her true colors.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Keira. I’m giving you an opportunity to explain yourself.” Her baby blues are widened, her red lips parted. She’s so sprung. When she attempts to pick up her underwear, I uncross my legs, lean forward, and steeple my fingers under my chin. “You have ten seconds to explain, otherwise I call HR and inform them that you’re not only naked in my office, but you’re also fucking your boss. They don’t take too lightly to office romances around here, especially when you’re fucking half the office.”

  She pauses from slipping one leg into her thong. It appears she’s sick of pretences too. “You wouldn’t dare.” I don’t bother answering, but instead pick up the phone.

  She reads my seriousness and quickly kicks away her underwear. “See, that wasn’t so hard. Now, I’ll make you a deal. You tell me everything, and I’ll let you leave, unscathed. I’ll forget the fact that you’re a backstabbing, lying she-devil, and you get to leave, scot free.”

  She ponders over my offer, no doubt counting how many steps there are to the door, but in the end, she surrenders. “Okay, fine. Can I at least get dressed?” I laugh in response.

  When she trembles, I feel a smidge sorry for her, but then I remember she tried to ruin my life. “Aaron told me to seduce you to find out all I could about Mr. Yeong. It was supposed to be easy. With your reputation, this should have been done weeks ago, but what Aaron didn’t take into consideration was that redheaded bitch. She’s your Achilles’ heel.”

  I look up at the ceiling, counting to three before I lose my temper. “You speak about her like that again…and our deal is off. Understand?”

  She seals her lips, as she knows my threats are not empty. “Aaron told me to keep trying and I did, but I never meant to fall for you, Hunter.”

  And the Oscar goes to… “Oh, please, do you take me for a fool?”

  “It’s true!” she cries, advancing forward. Looks like Dixon was right after all—I have my own Juliet Harte in training.

  I thrust out my palm. “That’s close enough. Stick to the basics. What was in it for you?”

  She sniffs, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “He said he would split half with me, and you know how much he’s worth. I don’t come from money like you. I’ve had to work hard to get where I am.”

  It all came down to money. She had no qualms ruining my life so she could afford the latest threads. I’m beyond disgusted. If she was that desperate for cash, I would have hired her and paid her double.

  I can’t help but laugh at her little sob story. “Oh yes, I can see how hard you’ve had to work. Fucking your way up the corporate ladder must require some skill. You sure as shit fooled me.”

  “Aaron hates you, and I can see why,” she sneers, her innocent, doe eye act gone. “He figured why not destroy everything you love, because not once did you show him the respect he deserved.” If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this heartless witch had feelings for the asshole.

  “Fuck me,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief. “Gail is angry ’cause I didn’t invite him out to lunch? Tell him to grow some balls and stop being a whiny little bitch. I worked my way to the top fair and square, and the only way Gail could beat me was by cheating. Too bad I’ve always been two steps ahead.”

  Keira cocks her head to the side. “What does that mean?”

  We’re now in the final innings. “What it means is, call your boss.”

  “What?” she gasps, shaking her head violently. “You said you’d let me go. If I told you, you’d let me leave.”

  “Well, you’re shit out of luck,” I reply, holding out the receiver.

  “You lied.” Tears fall down her cheeks,

  “Boo hoo, cry me a river. So did you.” I wave the phone because this isn’t over, not even by half.

  In times of crisis, it’s all about self-preservation, and Keira displays just how highly she thinks of herself and the need to survive when she lunges over the table, her lips like tentacles as they attempt to latch onto my face.

  I spring up, almost falling onto my ass. I knew this would happen, which is why, you always must have a Plan B—fucking amateurs.

  Looking at my watch, the internal countdown commences.

  Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

  Right on time, the door bursts open and in rages Gail. “You fucking rat…” But his words perish in a flat death when he sees Keira naked in my office.

  In his hand, he holds the envelope I asked Frankie the intern to deliver right on 11:53 a.m. It’s now 11:59 a.m. My talent is clearly wasted here, because move over Rick Grimes, there’s a new sheriff in town.

  “What the fuck is going on here?” Wow, I can’t believe she’s fucking this dickhole voluntarily.

  “Close the door,” I coolly command, while Keira dives for her clothes.

  “He knows everything!” she cries, getting dressed.

  “Yes, that’s true. Might I add, it didn’t take much to get her to talk.”

  Gail looks on the verge of stabbing me with my shiny new letter opener, while I grin, pointing to the two chairs in front of me. “So, this can go one of two ways. You can either do what I say, or…” I tap my finger, pretending to think over option two. There is no other option however. “Or, you can do what I say. Sit.”

  “We don’t have to listen to him, Aaron! He’s got nothing. I’ll say he sexually assaulted me if he does!” I yawn, so not amused by her theatrics.

  “Shut up, Keira, and just sit down.” Gail eyeballs the living hell out of me. I wish I could take a picture to remember this moment forever. He slumps into the seat; visually commanding Keira to do the same. I actually feel sorry for her because this is what happens when you have daddy issues.

  Once they’re both seated, I reach for my glass of scotch and savor the burn. “I see you received my present.”

  “Present?” Gail shouts, holding up the envelope. “This is blackmail, you son of a whore!”

  I tsk him. “Now, let’s not resort to name-calling. All I require is for you to leave this office for good. I don’t want you anywhere here. Actually, make that Manhattan and all of the surrounding boroughs. This is my kingdom, and if I so much as hear you sniffing around me or my clients, I will expose you for the extortionist that you are.”

  “What is he talking about?” Keira asks, turning to look at Gail, who pales.

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “On the contrary, I would dare. I double dare.” Keira looks lost in translation, which gives me another idea. Plan C—Jesus, this shouldn’t be so easy. “I spy with my little eye someone’s boyfriend, who is blackmailing half of his clients. Not to mention, dabbling in a little money laundering on the side. Sorry, Keira, but you’re dating a fraud.”

  “You put a fucking camera in my office!” Gail bellows, throwing the envelope at my head. Too bad his aim is as shit as his luck. “That’s got to be some invasion of my privacy.” Gail clearly doesn’t appreciate the tape I sent him where he was the star actor.

  “Please,” I scoff coolly. “Don’t flatter yourself. Everyone has one. There are creeps out there. This is solid evidence in a court of law.” I repeat Mary’s words with a smile.

  This genius plan is in part, thanks to her. It only seemed fitting I bring down these two cheats with her idea. I needed solid evidence that Gail was dirty, but what I never expected to find was what exactly went on behind closed doors.

  I have hours of footage of Gail blackmailing his clients, extorting them out of hundreds and thousands of dollars through threats. Instead of working for his clients, he was working against them, scavenging for any small shred of damning evidence he could hold above their heads. His portfolio is a sham.

  They only stayed with him because they were afraid he’d reveal thei
r secrets, some of which no multi-billionaire would want the media to know. This is bad, bad press for us if it ever got out. The board would not appreciate one of their senior brokers being involved in a scandal such as this. So, what this means is…Gail is so screwed.

  “Is it true?” Keira asks, dreams of living life on the Riviera dwindling to none.

  “Yes, it’s true. If you don’t believe me, I’m sure your boss can show you the evidence. There’s hours of footage on there, so you might want to get comfy.” I wave the envelope in case she missed the memo. “Otherwise, I can email you the link,” I reply for him. “The money laundering”—I whistle—“hikes up into the millions. Maybe if you weren’t so greedy, you’d have gotten away with the perfect crime. But you had to fuck me over, didn’t you?”

  “Excuse me?” Keira snarls, ready to pluck out Gail’s eyeballs. DING! DING! DING! We have a winner. “You said there was no money. That you were waiting on Mr. Yeong.”

  “He has money. A lot of it. None of which was earned honestly,” I add as a sidenote.

  I knew this would be her Achilles’ heel. The moment she mentioned money, it really was like stealing a dollar bill from this pathetic baby. Gail’s silence cements his guilt. God, I really shouldn’t be enjoying this so much, but the karma train is coming. Choo fucking choo.

  “You son of a bitch!” Whack! I felt that smack from over here. “You said you’d take care of me!”

  It appears all Keira is, is a status climber. She would clearly latch onto whatever man she could if she thought he would set her up financially. She uses her looks to get what she wants, standing on whomever for self-gain. There is no love, no loyalty. Just greed and lies.

  I have no doubt if I showed interest and showered her with gold, she’d be calling me daddy.

  Keira stands, crossing her arms over her chest, and glaring something wicked. “Fuck you both! I’m out of here.”

  “Keira, baby, wait, I can explain!” Baby? Gail stands, attempting to chase her out the door. Seriously, my devious mind needs its own zip code.