Hunter's Mark

by Wendy Smith

  “Well, you dragged him out of his house. It’s been forever since he’s been to one of my parties. I have them most weekends.”

  Corey turns his head, pressing a kiss into my hair. “I’m probably less likely to make it to them now. I’ve got an even better reason to stay home.” He laughs.

  “If I was you, I’d stay home, too.” Rob grins. “Now, do you two want a drink? There’s plenty of beer, and some vodka pre-mixes if you want one, Constance.”

  I look at Corey. There was very little alcohol in the community. I had a taste of beer once, but wasn’t keen on it. Dad had laughed and said there would be more for him.

  Corey smiles. “That sounds great.”

  “Who’s driving?” Rob asks.

  “Me,” Corey says.

  “Then Constance can drink whatever she likes. Come this way.” He leads us to some big bins on the floor filled with ice and bottles. Corey leans over, grabbing two bottles and twisting the caps off.

  “Here you go, babe,” he says, handing me a clear drink with a silver label.

  “Thank you.”

  He leans in. “Just take it slow. Okay?”

  I nod.

  “I’m not a big drinker,” I say to Rob.

  “No worries. Neither is Amy.”

  “That’s Rob’s wife,” Corey says. “Where is she?”

  “Around here somewhere.” He twists his lips as if he’s not sure if he should say what he’s about to. “Did you see Tanya on the way in?”

  “No. Shit.” Corey’s grip on me tightens.

  Rob turns to me. “Tanya is Corey’s stalker.”

  “You have a stalker?”

  Corey laughs. “Had is probably a more appropriate word.”

  “She drove up the mountain while drunk and turned up on Corey’s doorstep.”

  I widen my eyes at Corey. “Really?”

  He nods. “Thankfully she didn’t have an accident, but I made the mistake of letting her sleep in the spare room.” Taking a sip of his beer, he chuckles. “I woke up at three in the morning with her wrapped around me. Fast asleep. Snoring.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Moved to the spare room.”

  I slap his arm. “Seriously?”

  “Wait until you hear what he did the next time.” Rob laughs.

  “I’ve got this two-person tent I take when I’m working. I made her stand on the front porch while I put it up, then threw a couple of pillows and a blanket in there and left her to it.”

  I slap my hand over my mouth, howling with laughter.

  “But it didn’t stop her. The next week she was there again. So, I called Graham Taylor and told him to come and pick her up for drink driving. He couldn’t prove it, but he still took her home and sorted out someone to pick up her car.” He chuckles. “She’s barely spoken to me since.”

  “That’ll be the woman who—” I start.

  “Corey.”

  I turn my head. The woman from the living room’s heading toward us. I don’t need to finish my sentence because it’s pretty obvious who she is.

  “What was that, babe?” Corey asks.

  “Nothing.” I give him a tight smile, and he winks at me.

  “Tanya.” He holds on to me, not giving her an inch.

  She pouts. “It’s been ages. Give me a hug.”

  “Nah, I’m alright. Constance, this is Tanya. Tanya, this is Constance. My girlfriend.”

  With zero shame, she gives him that sly look she did when we arrived. “Girlfriend? Another one?”

  “The one,” Corey says, and he says it without hesitation. My heart leaps as I exchange a loving smile with him. Her eyebrows shoot up.

  Corey leans his head on mine, and I wrap my arms around his waist. When I look up, he plants a kiss on my lips.

  “I just came to get a drink. Talk to you later, Corey.” With a look over her shoulder, she goes back to the living room.

  “You’re such a stirrer.” Rob chuckles.

  “Everything I said was true.” He gazes at me. “This one’s pretty special.”

  “Good for you. I’m sure it beats being alone up on that mountain.” He tilts his beer toward Corey. “At least she’s human.”

  I stare at him with wide eyes, but Corey just laughs. “Did you also notice Tanya didn’t take a drink with her?”

  Rob grins, winking at me.

  I think I’m going to enjoy myself here.

  By the time I’ve finished my first drink, I’m warm and content. Corey’s not left my side, and his arms have been around me more often than not. I’m so happy.

  He does this for me.

  It’s not about the party, and socialising. It’s about being with the man I’m falling in love with, and knowing he feels the same way about me.

  Everyone is so nice. Tanya keeps her distance, but I catch her eye from time to time, and she’s not looking any happier.

  But it doesn’t matter.

  The second drink goes down as easily as the first one, and the buzz I’m on is incredible. Corey steers me into a corner, his arms around me, his hands resting on my arse. He’s showing the world that I’m his and he’s mine.

  “Having a good time?” he asks.

  I nod. “Your friends are so nice.”

  “You’re nice.” He brushes his lips against my neck, and I giggle. “I think you’re also a little drunk.”

  “I’ve only had two drinks.”

  “And sometimes that’s enough. Especially when you’re not used to it.” He raises one hand, palming my cheek. “God, you’re so beautiful. I’m the luckiest man alive.”

  My cheeks burn. “You know you don’t have to compliment me to get me into bed.”

  He chuckles. “You make me feel things I never knew I could. We should get out of here.”

  “What would we do at home?” I bite down on my bottom lip.

  “I’ll let you use your imagination.”

  “That might be dangerous.”

  Laughter rumbles in his chest. “I think we need to head home. But I’ve got to go to the bathroom first. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  He gives me a tender kiss before letting me go, and I watch him leave the living room, heading up the hall.

  It takes about thirty seconds for her to show up.

  “Constance, wasn’t it?” Tanya asks, and I suck in a breath.

  “That’s right.”

  “Corey seems really into you. Are you in town for long?”

  I can’t stop my eyebrows rising, although, I think that’s because my face is feeling fuzzy and I’ve lost control of it. “I live here.”

  “Oh. I thought you must have been a tourist. He’s hooked up with them before.” She smiles her slimy smile.

  “Nope. Born and bred in Copper Creek.”

  “Really?” She puts her finger to her chin. “I don’t recognise you at all.”

  “I guess we don’t hang out in the same places.”

  She nods. “Where do you live? I’m on Donovan’s Road.”

  “At Corey’s place. On McKenzie’s Mountain.”

  It’s her turn for her eyebrows to shoot up. “You’re living together? It’s that serious?”

  I nod. “I’m meeting the rest of his family next week. The ones I haven’t met yet.”

  Her eyes grow sad. “It must be so hard. I’d imagine it’s very isolating up there, and you must miss having company.”

  She’ll dig her way to China if she keeps this up. “No. We’re good.”

  She leans in closer. I think Tanya’s drunk a brewery’s worth of beer. She reeks of it. “I still can’t place you. Where do your parents live?”

  “On the mountain.”

  She narrows her gaze. “Corey’s the only one I know of who lives up there except for that bunch of weirdos …” Her eyes widen. “Oh my God. That’s where you’re from, isn’t it? That explains your weird name.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “There are so many stories about that place.”

 
I frown. “What are you talking about?”

  “Corey’s not gone and hooked up with some inbred, has he?”

  It’s instinct. I know she’s just doing her best to insult me, and I bite. But when I swing my hand, it never connects.

  “How about we get you a seat, Constance?” Rob guides me to the couch.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

  “Not your fault. I’ll get rid of her.” He gives me a warm smile. “Corey’s not far away.”

  I nod. “Thank you.”

  Tanya squawks as she’s marched out of the room by Rob. I let out a breath.

  “Constance, right?” A tall, dark-haired, bearded man sits beside me.

  I nod.

  “Corey’s girlfriend.”

  “That’s right.” I hold my breath. This had better not be a repeat of what just happened.

  “I’m Mark. Mark Malone. Corey and I go way back.” He offers me his hand to shake, and when I take it, he lingers before letting it go.

  “Where’d Corey go?” he asks.

  “Bathroom. He’ll be back in a minute.”

  “I think there’s a bit of a queue.”

  He leans back on the couch, and takes something out of his pocket. “Want some?”

  What he offers me looks like a fat cigarette. “What is it?”

  “Weed.” His eyes are glazed over, but his mouth moves quickly into a smile at my ignorance.

  “I don’t know if I should.”

  “It’ll relax you. Corey does it sometimes.”

  “Really?” I look at his hand.

  “Yeah. You seem to be having a good time. This’ll make it even better.”

  I bite down on my bottom lip. My head’s fuzzy with the alcohol, and although I know this is probably the wrong thing to do, it makes sense. Taking a deep breath, I reach for the drug.

  “No way. There’ll be none of that.” Corey swoops in, placing his hand between myself and Mark.

  “Dude. Your woman wants it.”

  “She’s had too much to drink. She doesn’t know what she wants.” He takes my hand, and pulls me to my feet. “We’re going home.”

  “You’re no fun,” Mark teases.

  “I don’t really care.” Corey’s tone is short, his words clipped. Tears well in my eyes at the sound.

  Corey removes his jacket, placing it over my shoulders. I look up and into his eyes, thinking I’ll see disappointment, but all I see is love.

  “Let’s go home.” He bends, claiming my mouth in this room full of his drunk friends. It warms my heart to know he doesn’t care if they see how he feels about me, and in that moment I don’t feel self-conscious at all. The only thing that matters is the man whose arms I’m in, the man I’m going home with.

  He leads me out of the house and toward the ute. After opening my door, he waits until I’m in my seat before rounding the car and getting in the driver’s side.

  “I’m sorry.” I meet his gaze.

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry about.”

  “When he said you do it sometimes …”

  Corey grips my chin, pulling my face closer to his. “If you ever smoke that stuff, we do it at home, just the two of us. There’s no way of telling how you’ll react to it. I haven’t smoked it in years.”

  “Really?”

  He nods, pecking me on the lips.

  “Mark’s known me a long time. Truth is with the work I do, I can’t afford to be stoned. There are guns in my house, and I had to go through all the police checks to get a license. I’m not about to screw that up.” My eyes widen. How many guns does he have? He smiles, caressing my cheek. “From the look in your eyes, I think you’re drunk, Ms Shaw.”

  I laugh. “Maybe. I feel warm.”

  “I’m going to get you home, get a big glass of water in you, and then you can sleep.”

  “I don’t want water. I want you in me.”

  Corey chuckles. “You are drunk. You don’t usually say things like that.”

  “Let’s go home, and you can show me how much you want me.”

  “Oh, I do. Make no mistake about that. But I’m not having sex with you while you’re drunk.”

  “Why not?”

  Corey’s gaze grows even more intense. “Because when we’re together, I want you to feel everything. And I want you with me, not so out of your head you don’t know where you are. Let’s go.”

  I rest my temple on the car window all the way back to his place. My eyes grow heavy as we approach, and I don’t even realise I’m falling asleep until we come to a halt.

  Corey opens my door, holding me up as he gently pulls me out of the car. I lean on him, and he helps me up the steps and in the front door.

  When we’re inside, he scoops me into his arms, and I sigh when he places me on the bed.

  “I want you,” I say.

  “You’re slurring your words, sweetness. You’d be asleep before I was inside you.”

  I laugh, and my eyes are so heavy.

  He has to hold me up to get me to take a sip of water. “That’s not enough. You need to drink the whole glass.”

  “You can’t make me.”

  He chuckles. “You’ll regret it in the morning if you don’t drink it.”

  I shake my head, flopping back on the pillow.

  I don’t know if he tries arguing anymore as I give in to sleep.

  My head hurts.

  I hold my hand over my eyes as I open them to shield them from the invasion of incoming light. Not that I really need to worry. Corey has this room so dark, very little light makes its way in.

  I reach for him. Right now, all I want is to snuggle into his chest, feel his arms around me, and go back to sleep.

  My hand hits the cold sheet.

  “Corey?” I force myself into a seated position and look around. The sheet’s crumpled. I can’t remember much about going to sleep last night, but I’m sure he was with me. Although, that could be my mind playing tricks.

  I shiver. Even on warm days, the mornings are cold here. Picking up a blanket and wrapping it around me, I make my way out into the living room.

  There’s no sign of him.

  He’s not in the kitchen or the spare room. I still don’t like going outside on the off-chance Ash or one of his underlings might see me, but my heart sinks when I can’t find Corey.

  He was annoyed last night. I drank too much, and I nearly smoked drugs. He must think I’m some kind of child.

  Planting myself in a chair, I pull my legs up underneath me and lean on the arm. He says he loves waking up with me, so I must have done something bad for him to leave before I woke. What on earth did I do last night?

  I can’t fight the tiredness anymore, and I close my eyes, feeling myself drifting off again.

  The crunch of gravel outside brings me to my feet. I never checked if Corey’s ute was there or not, but I can’t assume it’s him. Please let it be Corey.

  My reaction time is slowed by this groggy feeling, and I hold my breath as the door opens.

  Corey beams. “Hey, sweetness. How are you feeling?”

  My breathing accelerates as I hold back the tears that threaten to leak from my tired eyes.

  “Con?”

  “Where were you?”

  His brows knit as he frowns, and he steps toward me, holding up a plastic bag. “I thought I’d make you breakfast, but we were missing a few things. I’ll get some toast and juice to help settle your stomach. I bet that’s feeling a bit rough. And I got some ibuprofen. If I’m not mistaken, that’s a killer headache you’re sporting.”

  I let out a loud breath in relief, but I can’t stop the hot tears that fall down my cheeks.

  He drops the bag on a nearby chair. “What’s wrong?”

  “I thought … well, I didn’t know what to think. You weren’t happy with me last night, and I made a mess of things, and—”

  “Who said I wasn’t happy?” He places a hand either side of my face, wiping the tears with his thumbs.

&nbs
p; “I must have embarrassed you.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  I drop my gaze. “Everything’s so new to me. I drank too much, and I would have taken drugs if you hadn’t stopped me.”

  He sighs. “Con, you made mistakes. Everyone does that. I didn’t think about the fact that you hadn’t drunk alcohol, or that someone would have drugs there. But I never would have let anything bad happen to you, and you can chalk this one up to experience.”

  I look back at him. “I nearly punched Tanya.”

  Chuckling, he plants a kiss on my nose. “If you did, she would have deserved it. I’ve had texts all morning checking on you to make sure you’re okay.”

  “You have?”

  “We’re a close-knit bunch. Even if we’re not all spending time together, everyone cares about one another.”

  “I feel awkward.”

  “I’m sure you do, but I’ll be right here, taking care of my girl.”

  His girl.

  He gives me a tender kiss, and I smile. “Now, let me get this bread in the toaster and pour some juice, and you can take some painkillers and go back to bed.”

  He turns, grabbing the bag and heading toward the kitchen.

  “Corey?”

  At the door, he stops, looking back at me. “Yes, babe?”

  “Thank you for taking care of me. For everything.”

  A wide smile spreads across his face. “It’s what I’m here for. Sit down, and I’ll be back in a minute.”

  I can’t help but give a little contented sigh as he disappears. Staying was the best decision I’ve ever made. I feel like I’ve wasted so much time stuck behind those walls when what I needed was right here.

  Lying on the couch, I pull the blanket down from the back. My head thumps. “I am never drinking again.”

  “That’s what everyone says.” Corey chuckles as he places a glass of juice on the coffee table, and takes one of my hands in his. In it, he places two white tablets. “And maybe you won’t, but it might be that you just need to find your limit.”

  He reaches down and strokes my hair. “I’ll bring you out some toast with marmite on it in a minute, and then you can get some more sleep.”

  I nod, pushing myself up to pick up the glass of juice. “Thanks.”

  “I’ll always take care of you, Constance. If anything, I failed you last night by not paying attention to how even a small amount of alcohol was affecting you. I won’t do that again.”