Revenge

by E. M. Denning

  I lay on my side. Hunter rolled over to spoon me. He rested his hand on my hip. He was propped on his elbow now. Kisses, soft and tender, landed on my neck, behind my ear. “I promise he won’t hurt you anymore.”

  I wasn’t afraid of Mitch hurting me. It was going to be awkward to see him again, but it wasn’t him I was afraid of. It was Hunter. He promised to protect me from Mitch, and I believed him, but who was going to protect me from Hunter? He was everywhere now. He was on my mind almost constantly. I couldn’t shake him. I didn’t want to be hurt again. I couldn’t take another heartbreak, but I was in too deep to pull back now.

  I shut my eyes and let myself enjoy the slow steady breathing from the man who held me. No, it wouldn’t be Mitch who hurt me. It’d be Hunter and this thing between us, whatever it was. I was already too attached.

  I wrapped myself in his arms. I didn’t care that I knew this could never end well. I held on. I’d work on letting go later.

  Chapter Ten

  Through some miracle, or Hunter’s excellent persuasion skills, the reunion wouldn’t happen until midway through the summer. He and I spent that month sneaking around. Sometimes we’d tell everyone we were going to separate locations, then meet up somewhere else. Other times we’d avoid each other all together. It was a game to us. Who would break first? We never made it a whole day without one of us sneaking into the other person’s room.

  The morning of the reunion I stepped out of the shower and was drying my hair when my mom knocked on my bathroom door.

  “Summer, honey, are you in there?”

  “Yeah.” I wrapped a towel around myself and then opened the door. “What is it?”

  “God, this is embarrassing.” She chewed her lower lip. “Do you have any tampons?”

  I reached into the cupboard under the sink, ripped the new box open and handed her a few. “No offense, Mom, but aren’t you a little old?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I should be, but Mother Nature sure has a funny sense of humor.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Thanks for rescuing me, honey.”

  “Anytime.”

  Mom left the bathroom, and I continued drying my hair. I spotted the box of tampons and tossed them into the cupboard. Then it hit me. I’d missed my period. I had it just before school let out. I’d been here for a month already. A whole month of uninterrupted sex with Hunter. I gripped the counter and sat on the lid of the toilet. We’d used protection a couple times, but not every time. I wasn’t on the pill. I stopped taking it when I caught Mitch cheating. Sex was the last thing on my mind. Until Hunter.

  I covered my face in my hands. What was I going to say? How could I tell him? I couldn’t do it today, his entire family was coming. I didn’t even know if I was pregnant for sure. I hurried into my room and pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a loose-fitting sweatshirt. It was stupid. If I was pregnant, there was no way in hell anyone could tell already, but it didn’t matter. The paranoia had already set in.

  I was halfway down the stairs when I ran into Hunter.

  “Hey, beautiful.” He tucked a strand of my damp hair behind my ear. He noticed the keys in my hand. “Where are you going? Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

  I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I couldn’t let him come with me.

  “I’m running to the pharmacy. I’ll be gone ten minutes.” I scanned the area for any onlookers and then kissed him.

  “Want me to come with you?”

  “No, that’s okay.” I started down the stairs, but Hunter followed me.

  “Are you okay, Summer?”

  “Yeah. I will be. I just have a bit of a sick stomach today.”

  “I told you I could un-invite Mitch.”

  I took Hunter’s hand. I could almost picture his hands wrapped around my big swollen belly. In my mind, he’d kiss my stomach and talk to the baby. He’d tell it all kinds of awful things you’re not supposed to tell babies, but it’d be sweet anyway, because it was him. My heart felt as if it were going to tear in half.

  I shook my head. “It’s fine. I’m just going to get some antacid and Tylenol.”

  I scurried away before he broke me. I could never keep anything from Hunter for long. I worried that if I stood there for one more minute, I’d fling myself into his arms and tell him everything.

  I drove to a pharmacy on the other side of town. It was near one of the hotels Hunter and I frequented. I grabbed two pregnancy tests and then marched them up to the counter. I didn’t bother to buy ten other things I didn’t need in hopes that the cashier wouldn’t notice the pregnancy tests. I was in college. I could do this one thing without help, without faltering. If I couldn’t, I was doomed.

  Back home, I crept in and ran to my room. I entered the adjoining en-suite, locked the door and pulled the boxes out of my purse. I read the directions five times. Not because I didn’t know how to use one. They were pretty straight forward. Remove cap, pee on stick. Wait. I was afraid. I was afraid of being pregnant and having to tell everyone that my stepbrother was the father. I was afraid Hunter wouldn’t want to help me raise the baby, that he’d hate me and think I’d tried to trap him. Most of all, I was afraid that I wasn’t pregnant. Once the possibility entered my mind, I knew I wanted it.

  I took the test. I waited the two minutes. A breath shuddered out of me as I prepared to turn around and look at the little stick on the counter.

  “Summer, are you in there?” It was Hunter this time. No doubt he was looking for a bit of fun before the festivities started.

  “Yeah. I’m almost done, though.”

  “I have something for you. Open the door.”

  I bit my lip. “Um. I’ll just be a second, okay?”

  I opened my purse and dropped the test inside, sight unseen. I couldn’t look at the results, then look Hunter in the eye and pretend everything was fine. I shoved the other unused test under the sink before I unlocked the door.

  Hunter walked in, crushed his lips against mine and smiled. “I got you something.”

  “What is it?”

  Hunter led me out to my room where a brand new party dress waited for me. It was a silver V-neck that looked as if it’d fall just above the knee. The spaghetti straps shimmered like diamonds. “Hunter, it’s gorgeous.”

  Hunter slid his hand up my back and growled into my ear. “Try it on.”

  I was about to when he bumped my purse and my mission came flooding back to me. “You’ll have to wait for the party, just like everyone else.”

  “No sneak preview?”

  I gripped the handle of my purse. “No. Now get out of here so I can change.” I shoved him toward the door. “You need to get dressed too.”

  “Yes, boss,” he teased.

  Finally, I was alone. I sat on the bed and tore my purse open.

  My life was about to become a million times more complicated.

  I was pregnant.

  Chapter Eleven

  I wished I’d bought some antacids while I was at the pharmacy. I didn’t need to take the second test. I slid my dress on, did my hair in a loose bun at the nape of my neck and went downstairs. Some of the guests had already arrived so I shook hands, smiled and made pleasant small talk.

  Hunter had a huge family, but in amongst the strangers there was a face I didn’t want to see. Mitch’s. He found me just as I found the refreshment table. I helped myself to a sparkling water and pretended I didn’t see him. I hoped that if I ignored him, he’d take the hint and leave me alone. Of course I could never be that lucky.

  I scanned the room, searching for Hunter as Mitch came up behind me. “Summer, you look wonderful.”

  “Thanks,” I clipped as I caught sight of Hunter across the room. Before I took a step, I found myself face-to-face with Mitch.

  “Summer, please.” He grabbed for my hand, but I pulled it away.

  “I don’t want to talk to you, Mitch. We’re done. It’s over.”

  He leaned in. His face was pinched in pain. “Summer, please. Can’t we j
ust talk somewhere? I’m sure we can work it out.”

  I’d had enough of his begging. “No, Mitch.”

  “Tell me why. Why can’t you talk to me?”

  “Because there’s nothing to say.”

  He reached for my hand again. This time he captured it in his. “Then just listen. That’s all you have to do.”

  “Don’t you understand the word no when you hear it?” I asked as I pulled my hand away.

  “Summer, I love you. I need you. We have to work it out.”

  These were all words I’d heard before. That was all they were. Words. They’d never be true. They’d never be real, but for some reason he thought he believed them. Maybe he did sometimes, but I didn’t. Not anymore. I spotted Hunter across the room and smiled.

  “Mitch, there’s nothing to talk about.”

  “Just five minutes, please.”

  The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Maybe I thought it would stop his relentless pursuit of me. Maybe I wanted to hurt him as he’d hurt me. Maybe I just wanted to tell someone and the first two reasons justified my actions.

  “Mitch, I’m pregnant.”

  His eyes widened and his arms went limp at his sides. “Summer, are you sure?”

  “Yes.” I held up my hand as he took a step toward me. “It’s not yours, Mitch.”

  His face fell, and for a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. “I don’t believe you.”

  “It’s true.”

  Mitch took a step back. “Who’s the father then?”

  “That’s not your business. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like you to leave me alone.”

  Mitch nodded, then vanished into the crowd just as Hunter showed up at my side.

  “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, but I wasn’t sure. Hunter took me by the arm and guided me away. He pulled me into a study and shut the door.

  “What happened out there? You look rattled.” Hunter tensed. “If he said something to upset you, I’ll kill him.”

  I leaned against Hunter and breathed him in. I loved the musky scent of his cologne. “It’s fine.” I snaked my arms around his waist. “Mitch can’t hurt me anymore.” My gaze flicked up to his. “You’re the only one with that power.”

  Hunter tilted my head. “I won’t hurt you, Summer. I’ll never hurt you.”

  He kissed me slowly. He was soft and tender at first. He took his time and explored my lips with his before he teased his tongue into my mouth.

  I thought of the tiny life growing inside me and kissed him harder. I wanted to tell him, but not like this. I’d wait until after the party when we could be truly alone. Through sheer determination, I pulled away.

  “We should go back out there.” I didn’t move.

  Hunter slid his hand down my back and over my ass. I felt his long, thick erection through his pants. “I have a better idea.” He reached down and locked the door. “We hide out in here for a while.”

  “Won’t they miss us?”

  Hunter bent and kissed my neck, just below my ear, before he trailed kisses down to my shoulder. “My family is huge, and most are half drunk. No one will even notice we’re gone.” He sank his teeth into my flesh. I tilted my neck to give him better access to devour me.

  I needed him in the worst way. Finding out I was pregnant was a shock, and it would shock him too. Everything was about to change. Our whole worlds were about to be rocked. I wanted him one more time before I turned them on their ears.

  Hunter moved me step by step. He kissed me, grabbed me, touched me as he backed me against the door. He brushed his fingers against my nipples, and I bit off a moan. My hands trembled as I undid his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. He ran his tongue along my lower lip.

  “We shouldn’t do this here.” My protest fell on deaf ears as he sank to his knees.

  He slid his hands up my legs, under my dress. I placed mine on his shoulders for support as he slipped his fingers into the band of my panties and pulled them down. He looked up at me.

  “We should do this everywhere.” He slid his hand up my inner thigh. He brushed his fingers against my clit and smiled. “I need to taste you, Summer. I need to taste you, then I need to fuck you.”

  My head thumped against the door when Hunter leaned in and took my clit into his mouth. He sucked it, flicked it with his tongue, let it slide out of his mouth as slow as he could manage.

  “I need you too, Hunter.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I dug my nails into his flesh as he ran his tongue along my clit.

  “Open for me, Summer.”

  He spoke the words into my mound, and I widened my stance, opening myself for him. I moaned as he ran his tongue through my folds. He traced it along the edges of my pussy, teasing me. I wanted to climb the wall to get away from him and push his mouth closer at the same time.

  Hunter winced when I dug my nails in. “I don’t mind when you mark me, Summer, but if you draw blood, I’m going to make you pay.”

  My fingers left his shoulders and travelled up into his hair. The soft strands slid through my fingers as I urged him closer. “You talk too much, Hunter.”

  He pulled away and arched an eyebrow. “I talk too much?” he asked, his tone a mixture of confusion and amusement.

  I bit my lip and nodded as he pushed a finger into me.

  “You really think I talk too much?” He slowly pulled it out and then ran his palm over my dripping pussy. His skin grazed mine, but I felt his touch in every part of my body.

  “Shut up and fuck me, Hunter.” I hissed as he thrust two fingers in.

  “So bossy.” He licked my clit before he smiled when I twitched. “So demanding.”

  He thrust a third finger in, and I pulled his head closer, thrust his mouth against my pussy. He sucked on my clit, flicked it with his tongue, caressed it with his lips as I fucked his hand.

  I clutched his shoulders as he pulled his fingers out and grabbed me by the back of the thighs. He pulled me closer and thrust his face deeper. He moved his tongue faster. I bit my lip harder and choked off a groan. Ecstasy blurred the edges of my world until there was only him and the door that held me up. He took me to the edge, but kept me there, never allowing me to go over completely. I writhed when he pulled his mouth away and stood. The sudden absence of his touch was agony.

  He pulled my hair free from its bun and ran his fingers through it, making it fall over my shoulders. “You’re so beautiful.”

  He clutched a handful as he thrust his tongue into my mouth. He tasted tangy. I tasted tangy. His erection pressed into me. I pulled away and clawed the button of his pants.

  He groaned into my mouth as I slid my hand into his pants and worked his cock free. I watched his face as I ran my fingers down it and took it in my hand. He shut his eyes and bit back a groan. He used the wall to steady himself as I dropped to my knees.

  I looked up at him and waited for him to make eye contact before I ran my tongue around the head of his cock. I opened my mouth and slid his head in, only for a moment. I swirled my tongue around it and then down the length of his shaft until he glistened.

  His face twisted in pleasure as I opened my mouth and let his cock slide in again. I closed my lips around his thick shaft and drew him in inch by inch. With his free hand, Hunter grabbed a handful of hair. His grip was solid and it pulled a bit, but I responded by taking him even deeper. He held me tight, but didn’t push me. I wanted him to push me.

  I stayed still, looked up at him and didn’t move until he pressed his hand against the back of my head and forced me forward. My eyes fell closed. I wrapped my fingers around his cock again as he increased his speed.

  Hunter tightened his grip in my hair. “Look at me, Summer. Let me see those blue eyes sparkle.”

  He growled when I opened my eyes, then thrust harder, faster, deeper. It was all I could do not to choke on him, but we’d fallen into a rhythm. He knew how much to give and take. He knew when to back off and when to turn up the heat.


  Hunter groaned, stiffened, then took his hand out of my hair. “Fuck, Summer. I can’t do this.” He slid his cock out of my mouth, grabbed me by the arms and yanked me to my feet. “I can’t wait anymore.” He lifted me, pinned me against the door and guided his cock inside me. I gripped his shoulders and wrapped my legs around his waist. He pulled me down onto him as he slammed into me.

  This was what love was. Trusting him not to drop me. Trusting him to give me what I needed while fulfilling his own needs. His mouth invaded mine and he stole my breath. The room spun. No, I spun. Hunter plucked me off the door and carried me to a couch on the other side of the room. He laid me on it, never leaving me. I toyed with the erratic curls that he could never make behave with my fingers. They were like him—wild, free, untamed.

  “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” he asked as he leaned in and dragged his lips along my jawline.

  “Nothing.”

  “Liar.” He bit my ear, causing me to squirm. “I can see it in your eyes. Your brain is working a million miles an hour.”

  “I’m just thinking of you. Of us. This thing we have, it’s pretty great.”

  He captured my face with his hand and slid his thumb over my cheek. “Summer.”

  My breath caught at the way he’d said my name. His eyebrows pinched together as if he were in pain, but it sounded like a prayer.

  I dug my fingers into his arms and lifted my head to brush my lips against his. “We should get back out there.”

  Hunter growled and plunged himself deeper. I tightened my grip on his arms and choked back a moan.

  “You’re not going anywhere.” Hunter captured my lips with his, plunged his tongue into my mouth and kissed me hard. I arched my hips, encouraging him to fuck me, but he smiled as I groaned in frustration. “I’m going to fuck you slow, Summer.”

  He pulled out so slowly I thought I was going to die before he could slide back in. His entire body was rock solid as he held himself back. Our gazes never left each other. That felt more intimate, as if he were staring into my soul. He shuddered when I ran my hands up his arms and slipped my fingers into his hair.