by Nicole Fox
He picked her up and set her on the kitchen counter. She squeezed her legs around his waist. He had on far too many clothes for her taste. She ripped off his shirt and yanked the zipper of his jeans open, then pushed down his pants. Hunter pulled her shirt off and unzipped her jeans. In one move, he lifted her and pulled down her pants. The jeans and panties hit the floor in a soft thump beside his.
He pulled her forward, her ass sliding on the counter in her sweat. He was deep inside her with one hard movement. Vanessa moaned loudly, but he wasn’t deep enough. She pulled him closer, digging her nails into his back, bending her legs to keep him in.
He slammed against her hard and from this angle, he was able to move faster than usual. It was more like a fast dance with him standing there, thrusting his hips forward. Every time he moved toward her, she moved toward him so they came together in a slap of damp skin and groaning.
Vanessa pulled herself up on him and tugged at his hair as she bit his neck. He took a fistful of her hair and bit her earlobe. She came hard and a second later, he came, too.
Hunter pounded in a few more times, then stopped. But when she met his eyes, he was still hungry with desire.
“Not enough,” he said.
He pulled out from her and picked her up. Her bare feet hit the floor and he spun her. Pushing her forward and down until her cheek rested against the warm spot on the counter where her ass had been moments before., Hunter smacked her ass and the vibration of it sent a shiver through her. She wanted him again as much as he wanted her.
He kissed along her sweaty back, blowing air across her skin to send more shivers through her. Her pussy tightened, already hot and still slick with their juices. Hunter rubbed against her, his dick growing harder every minute as he rubbed it between her ass cheeks. He smacked her ass again.
He bent over to kiss her and let his tongue run along her back. “I want every inch of you,” he said.
She moaned as he put his fingers on her clit and rubbed her. “Oh yes,” moaned Vanessa.
“Can we try something different?” he asked breathlessly. The raw hunger in his voice made her heart speed.
“I want you and I’m yours,” she breathed back. “Take me.”
He moaned in her ear and rubbed his now hard cock along her ass crack and down to her wetness, spreading it around. Then, he pressed gently against her ass and slipped inside.
She gasped in shock. She wasn’t expecting that sort of new thing. She almost made him stop. Jeremy had liked to do this from time to time, and he was always rough, and it was always painful and horrible. But she trusted Hunter, and he always made her feel good.
“Relax,” he whispered.
His hand returned to circling her clit and the sensation made her muscles let go of their tension. When she did, she found that the pleasure of him moving in and out of her ass slowly was so intense, she almost couldn’t take it.
He moved slow, in and out of her, but his hand moved fast. She felt herself contracting around his erection as he drew her closer to coming. She felt it coming and told him. He sped up slightly, but not enough to make it painful, just enough to make it even more intense.
When she came, her orgasm hit harder than any orgasm ever had. She put her hands flat on the counter, wishing she had something to grip, and screamed. It lasted a long time and when it ended, she couldn’t move.
He pulled back and out of her slowly, then leaned down over her. “You okay?”
“Uh huh,” she managed.
“Did it hurt?”
“No,” she said emphatically. “I had no idea it could feel so good.”
He let out a contented sigh. “I know.”
# # #
Hunter had been tired, but now that they lay in bed, wrapped up in each other, he didn’t think he’d sleep much at all tonight. His mind was spinning with the details of the next day. He kept thinking, what if something went wrong? And that was unlike him.
Usually, when he was planning a hit, it was methodical and strategic. He’d done it enough now that he knew how things went. But this time felt different in many ways. Besides the fact that the room would be bugged and people knew what was going on—that was bad enough, but this time he was turning the tables. He’d turned down jobs before, but he’d never turned one around like this and gone after the person who’d hired him instead of the intended mark. And there was also the small detail that technically, he wasn’t supposed to kill Jeremy at all, but just get him to confess. Of course, he always had a backup.
He didn’t think the confession would be difficult. Like he’d been telling Nicholas and Vanessa all along, as far as Jeremy knew, Hunter had far more to lose than he did. He would never suspect Hunter was recording him to use his confession against him to lock him away. They were on the same side, fighting for the same team. All these things were worrying him a little, but none of them were the main thing. The main thing was the nothing-to-lose part.
Until now, Hunter never had much to lose. Sure his freedom was important to him, and so was his life. There was always the chance he could be shot back or arrested and do time. He wouldn’t have gone into this business if he wasn’t somewhat accepting of the consequences. Or at least fully understanding of the reality that it could easily happen. It wasn’t prison or even death that had him tossing and turning. It was the one thing that would hurt to lose more than either of those. Vanessa.
He was wrecked. He’d gone and done the thing he swore to himself he’d never do. He’d fallen in love. How could he be so stupid to get himself into this mess? Now, here he was, all tangled up in his head over this woman and her daughter. Wondering what Opal was thinking and doing, if she was okay. Wondering if Vanessa would wait for him at all if he went away. Would she wait if it was only a year? What about five or ten? If it were more than a year or two, he’d insist that she move on. He’d be the one to end it. As much as that would kill him, he couldn’t watch her wasting her life, hoping he’d come home to her.
If he went away, it wouldn’t be for a year. Even some sort of conspiracy or intent to kill would give him a sentence of at least five to ten. Longer if there were multiple charges. And if he did manage to actually kill Jeremy? If they knew it was a hit, premeditated and everything? He’d be gone for life. Maybe parole someday. Maybe. But that would be something like 25-35 years from now. Vanessa’s whole life, Opal’s whole childhood and early adulthood. On the slight chance she’d try to wait for him, he wouldn’t let her. It was that simple.
But compared to sitting in a cell for thirty years, alone, knowing Vanessa was in the world, married and happy, death would be better. He could go out as a hero, her savior. He wouldn’t hear rumors of her moving on. He wouldn’t feel the ache of missing her all the time. He wouldn’t wish every day that she’d write or visit. He’d be gone, and he’d be out of his misery. And she could move on, not feeling guilty that she’d given up on him. She might pull something like that. If he killed Jeremy for her, she would feel obligated to stay with him, to bring him money in prison and send him things, to visit and accept calls and write. She would do it all, and then he would be the one feeling guilty. What a horrible outcome.
So, that was it. If he was going to go away, it was better that he be shot back and killed than to rot his life away behind bars. Only problem was, how did he make sure he’d be shot? No way to do it unless he pulled the trigger on himself. And as long as there was a chance he’d be a free man with Vanessa at this side, he wouldn’t be able to.
She was now the most important thing in his life, and Opal was a close second. He would do anything for them, and he was about to. But the fear ran through him like ice water. He didn’t want to lose her. He wanted to feel her warm body in his arms like he could right in this moment. He wanted her close forever. He wanted her and all of her for a long, long time. Hell, maybe they’d even get married.
That almost made him laugh. He’d never pictured himself as a husband. One of those whipped guys in a plaid shirt, shopping for
tampons for their wives or spending whole Saturdays mowing the lawn and doing yard work. It had always seemed awful. And some of it still did. But he didn’t think it’d be like that with Vanessa. She wouldn’t try to control him or take over his life. She just wanted him to be safe and happy. And that was what he wanted for her, too.
He pressed his nose against her temple and breathed in her scent. How could he ever let her go? It was a wonder she was here with him. He couldn’t blow this. He had to make sure he’d be able to get back to her after this. And that meant he might have to make an even bigger sacrifice than he’d imagined. He might have to hold back and not kill Jeremy if the chance arrived. Not sticking a bullet in that asshole now that he knew what he’d done to the love of his life would be much harder than shooting him. Killing him was almost easy since it was such a strong desire in him. Really not much of a sacrifice at all now that he thought about it. The biggest sacrifice he could make for her was letting that bastard live.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Hunter
When Hunter woke, a dread settled over him as the morning light hit the window, making the curtain seem to glow. He could lose everything today. Or, if luck was on his side, gain it.
He slid out of bed, trying not to disturb Vanessa. She rolled over and groaned when she found him gone.
“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice scratchy.
“I have to get going. We slept late. I need to be at my hotel before Jeremy gets there.”
She sat up and rubbed her hands over her face, then looked at the clock. “Oh. It is late.”
She jumped out of bed as he pulled on his pants.
“Can I make you something to eat?” she asked.
“I don’t really have time. I’m just going to take a quick shower.” He gave her a peck on the cheek before disappearing. It was a quick shower, though part of him said he better enjoy it, because it might be the last hot shower he got for a long time.
When he stepped out, he smelled coffee and eggs cooking. He shook his head. She really was something, wasn’t she? She was the type of woman who would take care of him every day. He wanted that so badly. And now was the time to go fight for it.
After he finished dressing, he went to the kitchen to find her. She stood at the counter in her cotton shorts and t-shirt, still rumpled from sleeping. He loved the way her blonde hair was still a little tangled from the night before, when he’d bent her over right there. His dick went hard and he wrapped his arms around her from behind, wishing he had time to bend her over again before he left.
“I made you something,” she said. She turned and presented him with a foil-wrapped sandwich. “You can take it with you and eat in the car.”
“Thank you.” He set the sandwich down and gave her a long kiss.
She followed him to the door and kissed him one last time.
“Oh, and this.” She handed him a cardboard cup with a plastic lid. “Good luck? I guess. I don’t know what else to say. Be safe. Be careful. I love you.”
“I love you.” With one more kiss, he closed the door behind him and walked to his car.
He peeled back the foil and took a bite of his sandwich. Hot egg and cheese melted over his tongue. How could anyone mistreat this woman like Jeremy had? What a monster he must be inside to do the things he’d done.
The sandwich and coffee were gone by the time he reached his hotel room. Inside, he tucked his guns away. One in his ankle holster, one at the small of his back. Nicholas already had set up a hidden camera and microphone to capture the meeting. And that meant that he either had to make it look like self-defense or there’d be footage of him murdering Jeremy.
He stood in the middle of the room, facing the door. All he had to do now was wait. Jeremy was usually punctual, and he still had a good twenty minutes before their meeting time.
His mind wandered back to every moment with Vanessa. Their first meeting, their first kiss, their first time sleeping together. His heart ached for her and Opal. He needed them to be safe and come out of this alive and well. Then he thought of the conversation he’d had with Vanessa not long ago. Maybe there was one more thing he could do.
He dropped down to his knees and folding his hands. He hadn’t prayed since he was a little boy and it felt strange to be in this position. He didn’t know if anyone was listening or not, but he spoke out quietly into the room, aware of the recording that would capture even this.
“God, if you’re there, I know I haven’t been good, but this isn’t about me. Keep Vanessa and Opal safe today. Help me do whatever I need to do to make things better for them. Even if it means going away and not being with them, I’ll do what I have to do.” He stood up, then dropped back down to his knees. “Amen.” He stood again and paced a few steps.
In that moment, it felt like all the years of abuse he’d suffered were somehow worth it. As horrible as it had been, what his parents did to him, even how his high school girlfriend lied and tricked him into killing her dad. If none of that had happened, he wouldn’t be in the position to meet Vanessa. He laughed to himself. What in the world would they tell people about their early dating life and how they met? Well, I was hired to kill her, but she was just too gorgeous and amazing, so I turned around and killed her ex instead. No one would ever know their real story, aside from those who already did.
Knowing that he now had the love of a good woman and the heart of a child gave him the strength he needed to do this. To sacrifice himself for their sake. He felt, for the first time in his life, that he had purpose and direction. He had a reason to exist, a reason to wake up and keep going every day. He had to make their lives safe and happy. No matter what his life looked like to make it happen. And that alone filled his chest with warmth. It gave him the reassurance that everything would be okay somehow, because she loved him. She’d saved him from a life of loneliness and without love, and now it was his turn to save her.
# # #
Vanessa paced in front of the door. She had to stay here with Nicholas. Hunter had to be alone to do this. She knew that. Jeremy wouldn’t think he was still on his side otherwise. But she didn’t like not knowing. When would Jeremy get there? What would happen? Would everyone survive? The questions plagued her. Her stomach turned and she looked over at Nicholas.
He sat with his hands between his knees, tapping them together in a rhythm as he also shook his leg. He might even be more nervous than she was. Though why, she wasn’t too sure. It wasn’t his child who was in danger. It wasn’t the love of his life about to walk into a situation that could end his life or land him in jail. What did Nicholas have to be nervous about? His job? Or did he know something she didn’t know?
Someone knocked on the door, and Vanessa jumped. She almost screamed, but caught herself at the last moment. She looked over at Nicholas who was staring back at her with wide eyes, face paler than it had been.
“Who’s that?” he whispered.
“I have no idea,” she hissed back.
“Pizza Warehouse!” came a voice from the other side of the door.
Her and Nicholas exchanged looks again.
“I didn’t order pizza,” she whispered.
“Me either.”
“No one ordered pizza,” she said loudly.
This could easily be a trick, and she wasn’t about to open the door to find out.
“What?” the pizza guy said.
She walked closer, but stood to the side of the door. “I’m sorry. No one ordered a pizza. There’s some mistake.”
“Are you kidding me?”
She wondered how old this guy was. He sounded like he couldn’t be past his teens. “Sorry.”
She listened as he grumbled to himself and finally walked away. She ran over to the window and carefully peeked out. After a minute, she saw a guy with a pizza get back into his car, talking on the phone as he did. There was no other suspicious looking vehicle parked down there.
“What do you think that means?” she asked Nicholas.
>
“I don’t know, and I’m afraid to find out.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hunter
The knock came. Three fast raps. Hunter took one final breath. This was it.
He opened the door and made a show of looking around Jeremy and the parking lot before letting him inside.
“Were you followed?” he asked.
Jeremy glared back. “Are you kidding me? I’m the one who has people followed, not who gets followed.”
“Right, and were you followed? Did you have your people follow you here?” Idiot. What did he think he was asking, if the cops had followed him?
“My people are everywhere.”
Sure they were. Asshole. He could barely stand to be feet from him and not punch him in the face. Every time he talked, Hunter pictured his hands tight around his throat.