Heart of the Hunter

by Chance Carter

  Get the fuck out of here, Hunter. Get the fuck out of here now.

  “Fuck it, Kelly. I’m gone. Next time a couple of punks try to feel you up, I won’t fucking be around. Don’t worry that pretty little head, sweetheart.”

  Why was I so fucking mad?

  I slammed the truck into drive and peeled off down the street.

  God damn it, Hunter. This is why you don’t fuck the good girl. No matter how fucking gorgeous she is. No matter how tight that pussy is. No matter how much you both want it.

  I looked in my rear-view mirror as I drove away from her, and saw her head sink between her hands and drop on the steering wheel. Her shoulders were shaking. She was crying.

  Yeah, that’s all you will ever get from me, darling. The fuck of your young life and tears. Might as well just accept it.

  I got to the end of the block and hit the brakes. I looked back in the mirror again and could see her still just sitting there, head against the wheel, car not moving.

  Who gives a fuck, Hunter? Keep going. You’re gone. You’re fucking gone. Hit the gas, asshole.

  I punched the gas pedal, but not before I had thrown the truck in reverse. The same feeling that had been eating me the night I left Boston had crept back in. It was the same feeling that made me shoot my co-worker in his smirking face before he wasted that family, and it was the same feeling that brought me back to the diner this morning.

  What the fuck is your problem, pal? Goddamn it. God fucking damn it.

  Was I losing my mind? Was this what they meant when they talked about guys losing their fucking nerve?

  I pulled back up beside her window and hit the brakes hard.

  “Kelly, fuck. Listen to me.”

  “Leave me alone. Please.” She was crying and shouting, not even lifting her head from the wheel.

  Just then Deacon slid his beast up next to my window and hit the horn.

  “Hey, dickhead. What the fuck are you doing?”

  I rolled down the driver’s side window and yelled down to him.

  “Deacon, listen, man. This chick. I know this chick. Her car is all busted and I’m going to give her a tow. Park that machine at my place, put back some of that bottle, and I’ll be there in fucking fifteen minutes.”

  “You know her, hey?” Deacon leaned forward in his seat so he could get a look at Kelly in the car.

  “Wow,” he said, and let out his signature whistle. “I tell you what, pal. Why don’t you tow her to the shop and then bring her out to the farm with us? The three of us could have a little party tonight, you know? I could go for a little bit of what she has going on.”

  My vision went red. Deacon and I had shared our women from time to time, but there was not a fucking chance I was going to let him get his goddamn hands on Kelly. She was different. She was way fucking different. I looked around the truck and grabbed an empty beer bottle, throwing it as hard as I fucking could at Deacon.

  “You watch your fucking mouth, you piece of shit. I will fucking end you. Right fucking here.”

  Deacon just laughed as the bottle shattered against the outside of his car.

  I was seething. I had wanted to beat the shit out of him before, but I wanted to fucking cut his head off right now.

  “Ha. Jesus, Hunter. My deepest apologies to you and your girlfriend.”

  “You fucking dickhead, get the fuck out of here. I told you I don’t need you around.”

  “Yeah. And I told you that you do. Listen, I don’t know who the fuck that is,” Deacon said, motioning to Kelly, “but clearly you’ve got some business other than checking out vacant properties tonight. Text me the fucking address, I’ll check it out, and you can tow her wherever and do whatever. Fucking white knight psychopath of Boston.”

  I just glared down at him. I was calming myself down, but my blood was still high.

  “Yeah, fuck, do whatever you fucking want, Deacon. Leave, stay, whatever. I don’t give a shit.”

  Deacon just chuckled as he started up his car again.

  “Text me the address, asshole. Say hey to the missus for me.”

  He sped off down the road and I thought about firing a shot through his rear windshield just to straighten him out.

  Fuck is wrong with you, Hunter? Not fucking like you to get mad at Deacon over a piece of ass.

  Then I remembered. I remembered exactly what was fucking wrong with me. It was the girl sitting in the car next to mine.

  The girl who had turned my plans upside down.

  The girl I couldn’t resist.

  The girl I was about to let fuck up my entire life.

  Chapter 25

  Kelly

  I HAD MY HEAD PRESSED firmly against the steering wheel and my eyes were closed as tight as I could make them. I could feel tears streaming down my face and I didn’t want to look up. I didn’t want to see Hunter sitting there looking down at me. All I wanted in that moment was to open my eyes and wake up in my bed at home, to realize that this had all been a bad dream and that I was safe.

  I heard arguing, glass smashing and then a car tear off into the distance. I knew that I wasn’t dreaming. I could feel the cool night air on my skin and knew that his eyes were burning into me. I knew he was real and he was right beside me.

  “Kelly, god damn it, listen to me. Look at me,” I heard him shout.

  Don’t look up, Kelly. Don’t give in. Just let him go. He will. He will go away.

  I could hear the engine of the truck idling and then heard it slowly pulling down the street.

  I breathed out a deep sigh.

  Thank you. Thank you, Lord.

  But my relief was short lived. As I looked up, expecting to watch him drive away and out of my life, he pulled the truck in front of me and backed it in as close as it could go.

  The driver’s door opened and Hunter stepped out. His massive boot first, and then the rest of his overpowering frame.

  He took a drag of his cigarette and then threw it to the ground, stomping it out and staring at me as he blew out a straight, thin cloud of smoke. He brushed the hair out of his eyes and slowly walked toward my car. I started breathing heavily and I could feel myself getting wet. I couldn’t look at him without thinking about what he made me feel this afternoon, or the physical reaction I had each time my eyes took him in. I licked my lips and noticed my mouth had gone dry. He was anger and beauty and he was coming right at me. I tried the engine again, but it didn’t turn. I just sat there and waited for whatever he was going to do. I was completely powerless. Again.

  When he reached the bumper of my car, he moved between it and the back of the tow truck.

  “Your battery is dead, darling. You’re not going anywhere in that thing until I do something about it.”

  He grabbed the cable from the back of his truck and pulled it out, latching the hook to the front of my car.

  “What are you doing?” I demanded, trying my best to pretend I had any choice in the matter.

  He stopped as he walked back to the road and stared right at me, his blue eyes wide with rage and his huge hands clenched to fists.

  “I said, your fucking battery is dead, princess. This car isn’t going to start and you are not going anywhere in it unless I fix it. Now, I’m going to fucking tow this hunk of garbage to the shop or to your front fucking door. You can tell me which one or I can choose. I don’t give a fuck.”

  “I’m not asking for your help, Hunter. I never asked for any help from you.”

  He turned around and walked back toward my car, stopping right in front of my window. All I could think about was what was beneath his pants that were inches away from my face. I swear, I could see his thick cock growing before my eyes and quickly turned my head before he caught me staring.

  He bent down and looked in at me, gritting his teeth.

  “Okay, Kelly. You’re right. You never asked for my help, but guess what? You fucking got it. At the diner, in your kitchen, and right fucking now. Maybe I’m a fucking idiot, but I’m not leaving y
ou sitting here in the street in the middle of the fucking night.”

  He was leaning close to my face now and I could smell the whiskey off his breath. I wanted him to grab my head and push his lips into mine so I could taste it off his tongue. He was staring through me with his sharp blue eyes and I could see the muscles in his arm tightening and releasing as he gripped the door of my car. I could feel myself breathing harder and something boiled up inside me. It felt like hatred, but also a deep rooted desire that had been missing my whole life. I wanted him to rip the door off my car and pull me out onto the street, taking me in his arms so I could feel his body pressed up against mine.

  I wanted him to take me and I wanted it to be rough, powerful, forceful. I wanted to be dominated by him.

  I tried to fight it.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. I can smell the booze off your breath. Been drinking a little tonight, Hunter? Something on your mind?”

  What was I doing? Why was I provoking him?

  Kelly, shut up, you stupid girl. Why, oh why, did you say that?

  Hunter just smiled and rubbed his leathery hand across the rough hair that covered his cheeks.

  “No, sweetheart. I haven’t been drinking a little. I’ve been fucking drinking a lot and what’s on my mind is keeping the whiskey flowing. So, if we could hurry this little situation up I would greatly fucking appreciate it.”

  “I’m not leaving with you.”

  I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. This is the most we had spoken since the diner. Maybe more. And here I was, disobeying him. I felt proud, terrified, and like I was lying, all at the same time.

  He stepped back, put his hands on his sides, and looked down.

  “Kelly.”

  He brought his head up just enough that his eyes were peering at me through some stray strands of hair that had fallen across his face. I could see his entire, beautiful body. His long legs, his chiseled abs, and hard chest, hidden just behind the same white tank top from earlier, and his strong jaw was covered in that same rough stubble I’d felt graze my cheeks, and my pussy, earlier. I slid my hand down my leg and put it between my thighs. I wanted him to put his lips and tongue on me so badly. I started to slowly rub myself as I looked at him and I was only half sure he couldn’t see.

  I’d never done anything so bold in my life.

  “Kelly, I’m not leaving you here. Now, I can either tow that piece of shit with you in it or you can come sit up front with me like a big girl. You going to be a big girl for me?”

  His words shot into me as if they were an extension of him. It was as if I could feel him moving inside me again.

  I brought my hand out from between my legs, opened the car door, and stepped out.

  Hunter stood there and looked me up and down. There was an invisible energy pulsing between us, pushing us apart, but just for now. When the time came, he would tear through it. I could see him making his hands into fists and then releasing them, and I had seen that look in his eyes before. It was the same look he had when he pushed me to the kitchen floor and drove himself inside me. He was about to take me again. I could feel it in my stomach. My knees began to tremble. I thought I was about to collapse in front of him.

  Do it. Goddamn you, please do it. I’m ready.

  He just stared back at me and relaxed his hands.

  “Good. Now get in the fucking truck.”

  Chapter 26

  Hunter

  I OPENED UP THE DRIVER’S door and climbed back into the truck.

  This is a bad fucking idea, pal. You just sent Deacon off to do your dirty work so you could keep playing grab-ass with this chick. Who the fuck are you? Trying to be this girl’s hero? I don’t fucking think so. You should pull this fucking truck out of here and leave her in your dust.

  I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Kelly standing there. She had her arms crossed and was looking down at the ground. She looked so fucking beautiful and I wasn’t about to leave her out there where any motherfucker could touch her. She was mine and I knew I wasn’t going anywhere without her.

  We were both fucked and I knew it. I just didn’t care anymore.

  I leaned on the horn to let her know it was time to get her ass moving and she jumped. I chuckled to myself as she glared at me and made her way around the passenger side of the truck.

  I loved the way she moved, the sway of her hips. I couldn’t see it, but I could picture the way her ass moved side to side with every step. I thought about sinking my teeth into it, about wrapping my hand in her hair and shoving her face into a pillow as I fucked her from behind.

  She reached for the door handle and went to swing it open, but it didn’t budge. She knocked on the window and threw her hands up.

  “Well, I’m here. Are you going to let me in or what?”

  She stood there with her chest heaving.

  Now or never, Hunter. You can drive away right fucking now and be done with this shit.

  Before I even had time to make a decision, my hand had unlocked the door and Kelly opened it.

  “Thank you,” she said sarcastically.

  Well. You’ve done it now, pal.

  Kelly pulled herself into the truck and her tight body bounced inside her clothes before settling back into its perfect shape when she landed on the passenger seat. She grabbed the seatbelt and buckled it tight across her body, resting the strap between her perky tits, pushing them out even more. I thought about reaching across and pinning her against the door. I thought about the window fogging up as she begged me to let her come.

  Fuck me.

  She looked over and caught my eyes moving over her body.

  “What? You think I’m going to get in this truck with you while you’re stinking of booze and not put my seatbelt on? Just don’t kill yourself before we get to the shop.”

  She was getting a little more chirpy. Normally, I wouldn’t let anyone talk to me the way she did. I just wouldn’t allow it. But with her, it was different, I liked it. It was making my cock rise and I wanted to put it in her smart, wet mouth.

  “Well, since you’re being safe,” I reached beside me and lifted the bottle of Jack to my lips, letting it pour down my throat.

  “Are you kidding me?” Kelly scoffed.

  “What? You want some? I thought you weren’t much of a drinker.”

  She rolled her eyes, and then settled back into her seat and looked out the window, doing her best impression of a girl that didn’t want to wrap her lips around my cock.

  Sure thing, darling. Keep telling yourself whatever you want.

  I reached into my pocket and pulled out the cheap burner cell I had picked up at a gas station somewhere on the road from Boston. I punched in Deacon’s number and texted him the address of the farm.

  There you go, Deacon. Clean that bitch out for me. Just don’t drain all the liquor before I get there.

  I turned the engine and the truck fired up.

  “Who are you texting?” Kelly asked. “I didn’t really take you for the type with friends.”

  I put my phone back in my pocket and lit a cigarette.

  “I’m not.”

  She just kept staring at me like she was actually waiting for an answer.

  “My business is my fucking business,” I said without looking at her. “And why exactly do you care? You fucking jealous, Kelly?”

  She scoffed and shook her head.

  “At least you’re calling me by my name now. No more sweetheart or darling. I guess that’s a step in the right direction.”

  You’re getting a little bold there, baby. Be careful, running that sweet mouth of yours.

  I took a long drag of the cigarette and filled the cab with smoke.

  “And what direction would that be, sweetheart?”

  I put my arm on the back of her seat so she could feel it sitting behind her and stared at her.

  She smiled and cocked her head, looking at me with those big beautiful eyes.

  “You tell me, darlin
g,” she said, straight as an arrow.

  I pulled my arm away and flicked my cigarette butt out the window.

  I would if I could, Kelly.

  I had no fucking idea where we were going. This was the same girl as earlier, but there was something different about her. Same girl, with the same fucking body to kill for, but she had an edge to her now. Maybe I knocked a screw loose when I almost put her head through the wall this afternoon. I had no idea what it was, but I fucking loved it and I was having a hard time not filling her with my cock right there.

  I ripped on the wheel and squealed the tires, making a quick turn and peeling off toward the auto shop. We could start there.

  Chapter 27

  Kelly

  I COULDN’T BELIEVE I HAD gotten in the truck with him. I could smell the whiskey seeping out of his skin. I hated when men drank too much. Not to mention the fact that I’d spent the better part of the day trying to get him out of my head.

  What are you doing, Kelly?

  I had no idea. There was no way that this night ended in any way that was good for me. I knew it, but I just didn’t care.

  What was this feeling?

  Today made absolutely no sense to me, yet it was as if it had happened exactly as it was meant to. All the uncertainty and danger that Hunter brought into my life somehow managed to make my future more clear, like not knowing what lay ahead was okay as long as he was showing me the way. I didn’t know anything outside of the present moment, and the feeling I had of being held there by the gravity of the beast in that truck with me. My initial reaction was to worry, to be terrified of him and where he was taking me, but the reality was that I didn’t feel that way. I knew I should, but I didn’t. I felt good sitting next to him. I felt safe, even though I knew I wasn’t. As I stole glances at him from the passenger seat, I could see him slide in and out of darkness each time we passed a streetlight. I would see his broad shoulders extending out of his shirt. The way he rubbed the hair on his strong jaw as he stared straight ahead, not caring what could come at him at any moment. This was his world and I was by his side.