Bad News

by Lilly James

  I kind of want her to stop lecturing me now, but maybe she is only looking out for Hunter and acting in his best interests.

  “You don’t have to worry,” I bite the side of my lip, trying to hide the grin that appears on my face when I think of Hunter. “I already know that Hunter is the one for me.”

  Avery smiles, nodding in approval. “Well, I like you already. And if Hunter ever does you wrong, come and see me.”

  I laugh. “You’ll have to get past my friend Fallon first. But, honestly, thank you. I appreciate that you’re looking out for him. And me.”

  Avery glances down at all the accessories she has on her wrists. “I’ve known him for as long as I have been dating Jax. He’s like a brother to me. So is Ashby, even though he is a huge pain in my ass.”

  “You have a nice butt, by the way.” She does, I often find myself admiring girl’s asses. Something strange about me, I know.

  Avery leans to one side to jokingly check out her butt. “20 squats a night, that’s all it takes.”

  What? “Really?”

  “Really,” she laughs. “Have you seen my boyfriend’s body? There was no way I was dating him and not working out.” She looks dreamily. “We’re one of those annoying cute couples who work out together every morning.”

  I smile, knowing exactly what she means. “I couldn’t be like that. I hate working out.”

  She tilts her head a little. “Just as well. Hunter likes to work out alone.”

  I nod, remembering his sparring session at the boxing ring. “He fights?”

  Avery shakes her head. “No, he does it as a workout. The boxing gym is owned by his uncle. He pushes Hunter into fighting all the time, but Hunter actually goes down there to teach self-defense to the kids in that area.” I am aware that I am looking at her surprised, he didn’t tell me that. “Don’t worry,” she says. “He doesn’t tell many people that.”

  “Why?” I frown. “It’s something to be proud of.”

  “I know,” she sighs. “But he doesn’t want people to think he does it to make himself look good. He does it to get paid, but most of all, because he genuinely wants to help kids learn self-defence if they should ever need it.”

  I glance away from Avery, thinking about how amazing Hunter is and that was before I just found out that he does this. Now he is even more amazing.

  “Anyway,” she says, pulling me away from deep thought. “I have to get to work.”

  “On a Saturday?” I groan for her.

  “Yeah,” she moans. “Someone’s got to wait tables at The Bistro.” Her smile is weak, and I almost get the impression she’s embarrassed that she is a waitress.

  “It’s a job,” I tell her. “Don’t be ashamed of that.”

  She gets to her feet. “Yeah, try telling your boyfriend’s mother that.” I remain quiet, hoping she will elaborate. She leans in, talking quietly. “His mother is a stuck-up witch who thinks her son is far too good for me.”

  “Oh,” I sigh heavily. “One of those.”

  “One of those.” She sits back down. “Jaxon’s mother is from London, Notting Hill, actually.” She rolls her eyes like it’s a sentence she’s heard from his mother too often. “So is Dexter.”

  “Ah,” I nod my head getting it. “I wondered, after hearing his accent.”

  “Yeah,” she checks her watch. “Their parents split up, Jax and his dad came to live here, and his mother stayed in London with Dexter. It was only a year ago, that Dexter and his mom came to live here after she couldn’t bear to be away from Jax any longer.” She shakes her head disapproving. “I wish she stayed in London. So, does Jax.” She laughs, getting up again from her chair and checking her watch.

  “I really have to run,” she heads for the living room door. “It’s been so nice to hang out with you. I hope I see you around here often. I’m outnumbered right now.” She gives me a small wave before leaving.

  “Oh, thank you for the clothes by the way.”

  “No problem.” She smiles.

  I get up from the sofa and find Hunter. He in his bedroom, freshly showered. I can smell citrus fruit and cologne so enticing I discreetly inhale his scent. He is already wearing jeans, but he’s just pulling a blue T-shirt over his head, making the muscles in his stomach ripple. He smiles at me as he pulls it into place, then runs a quick hand through his hair.

  “How was your chat with Avery?” he’s walking towards me, and I don’t know if I should step back or wait till he finally reaches me. I wait–of course I do. As soon as his hands catch my hips, he yanks me into his body.

  “Good.” My voice is feeble, and I am embarrassed it was so quiet I question myself to whether the word came from my mouth at all. When I am around Hunter that confident speaker that has been built into me since a child turns herself into a mouse.

  Hunter nods, his lips still smiling. He inhales deeply through his nose when he tilts his head back a little so he can glance down my body. “Did she tell you that I am the best thing that has ever happened to you?”

  I laugh and go to push him away, but he holds onto me tighter. “She said I’m the best thing that has ever happened to you.”

  He’s smug, of course. “I bet she did.” He leans in and places a soft kiss to my lips. When he pulls away, I’m just slowly opening my eyes after relishing his kiss, and he tilts his head. “You like me kissing don’t you.” It’s not a question, but I catch the side of my lip between my teeth and nod. His eyes cut to my mouth.

  He leans in again. “Just here?” His lips brush over mine. “Or here?” He kisses my jaw. “And here?” his mouth gently kisses over my neck. The loose jumper I’m wearing falls off my shoulder and exposes the top of my bra. Hunter’s eyes immediately shoot to my bra, and his eyes flutter lazily.

  “What about here?” He moves his lips to my bare shoulder then glides them down to the swell of my breast. My breath catches when his tongue darts out to lick my skin, and I feel his smile against the trail of his tongue. I suddenly start breathing too heavily, thinking too much, panicking just slightly.

  What if at any moment he pulls down my bra? What if he sees how hard my nipples are, takes it into his mouth and sucks? God, I want him to, but I am too shy to admit that out loud. Too shy to thrust my boobs into his mouth and make it obvious. I bring my eyes up to meet his and fall in love again by the way he towers over me.

  “Yes. All those places.” I breathe. It’s not talking dirty, but I feel embarrassed the moment the words come out of my mouth. I tell myself it’s because I am not used to talking this way or being talked to this way. But, hell, when Hunter does it, I mentally beg for more. God, I am a virgin, and I enjoy dirty talk! Wash your mouth out, Louisa.

  Hunter’s hands are suddenly under my butt, and he is picking me up. My legs wrap around his waist, and he takes me to his bed. His mouth is over mine, and I invite his lips to take over, his tongue to play relentlessly with mine. His lips are full, soft and damn they are so, so skilled. He kisses me gently first then slides his tongue in. He nibbles my bottom lip, and I have the urge to do the same to him, but I am not quite up there in the confidence stand right now. What if he doesn’t like it? What he laughs if I do it?

  “Lou,” he quietly groans my name against my mouth, then sighs and rests his forehead against mine. “I can’t tell you how much I want to be between your legs right now.” His hands travel over my breasts then up to cup my face. “But I want to explore this sexiness first.”

  I think he means my whole body, and I freeze. Goddammit, why can’t I just relax when the word or thought of sex appears?

  Instead of replying, I gently push Hunter off me, and scoot to the end of his bed. “I forgot I have to be somewhere, Hunt.”

  I push my feet into a pair of Avery’s shoes, determined not to look at Hunter, but I can’t resist. I peek, and he’s sitting on the edge of his bed, arms crossed, a confused but not mad look on his face.

  “Oh, I get it,” a small smirk tugs at his lips. “You don’t think you
can handle this?” he cups his dick, and I swear I bend just slight because of the way my legs are about to give up supporting me. “You’re fragile, aren’t you baby.”

  I wish he knew how much his joking around was true. He’s right. I don’t think I could handle his penis that is undeniably going to be the size of a newborns arm. And yes, I am fragile in the way of still having my cave not conquered yet. Not that I have a cave, I mean I am not like a tunnel down there or anything.

  Casually, I wave a hand trying to brush off his joke. “It’s not that. I’m going to be late for…” I try to think, but it’s not quick enough, and nothing comes.

  Hunter quirks a brow. “Late for what?” he asks. I get the sense he’s suddenly wondering why I am being so flaky.

  I spot Hunter’s black jacket that is neatly placed over his desk chair and whip it off. I pull my arms through the sleeves before I turn back to him. “Can I borrow this?” he nods, but he’s still waiting for me to explain. “Lunch with my dad. I always have lunch with my him on a Saturday. It’s the only day we get to really catch up.” That’s not a lie, I would never lie, it’s just normally we go in the evening, not lunch time.

  His eyes narrow, but he’s still slightly smirking. He’s trying to figure out why I am trying to get out of his room, and amused by it at the same time. Oh, but how I wish I could stay here and let him take me, on his bed, against the wall, over his desk.

  I close my eyes, half scolding myself for this dirty mind that has suddenly invaded its way into my brain. “You’re thinking too much again.” Hunter scolds me. I open my eyes and embarrassment floods my cheeks. “And you’re blushing again.” He notes.

  “I know you’re shy Blondie, but there is never a reason why you ever need to feel embarrassed in front of me.” I bow down my head and let my messy hair fall into a shield around my face. I feel him coming towards me, and he tips up my chin with his knuckle. “Ever. Got it?”

  I relax and feel my shoulders sag from the relief of his words. “Got it.”

  “Come on,” he pulls on his shoes and takes my hand. “Let me walk you to your dorm before you bruise a man’s ego even more.”

  I push him away from me playfully. “I think your ego is way too big to be bruised.”

  He laughs. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  Hunter takes my hand and walks me through my hallway. There are a group of girls gathered outside each other’s dorms, casually chatting, and when I see them I try to pull my hand out of Hunter’s hold–the only reason being is I don’t want to be the girl on everyone’s lips.

  Hunter pulls on my hand, coming to a stop. “Uh, are you ashamed to be seen with me? Like, wow.” He raises his voice to make sure the girls are watching us. It seems he wants everyone to know we are dating.

  “Stop,” I tell him seriously, but that only makes it worse because Hunter’s fuel is being told NOT to do something.

  “Hell no,” he laughs. Before I can object, he takes me by the hips and throws me over his shoulder.

  Oh, God. Oh, no! Oh, shit!

  I… am… dying.

  “Hunter,” I slap his back, wriggling with all my might to make him place me back on my feet. We pass the girls, and I can’t even look. “Just a small domestic.” He tells them. “Nothing to stare at girls.”

  I could kill him. I want to kill him. I will kill him.

  He pulls my dorm room key out of my back pocket, opens the door, steps inside and shouts. “Now let’s make up baby,” before kicking the door closed with his foot. He places me down on my feet and takes a step away from me, pursing his lips to reign in a grin.

  I stare at him. My heart is pounding. My hand comes to my mouth, and that’s how I stand. Shocked into silence. I hate attention on me. ‘Low Key and Drama Free’ is my motto. But now all the girls outside will be talking about this… for days!

  “Hunter, please,” I close my eyes and take a breath. “Please tell me that just didn’t happen.”

  Hunter’s laugh spills out of his mouth. “Your face, Blondie.”

  “I am beyond embarrassed Hunter. Seriously,” I place my hand on my stomach and sit down on the end of my bed. “I feel sick.”

  Hunter sits down next to me and nudges my shoulder with his. “I wish I could say I was sorry, but I’m not. I quite liked your ass in my face.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Come on,” he says, holding his hands up. “Someone had to break the ice.”

  I stare at him. “There was no ice to break. All we had to do was walk down the hall, and come in here without a fuss.”

  He stands from the bed and walks towards my photo frame on my bedside table. “I gave those girls something worth staring at. Big deal.” He points to the little girl with her mom. “Is this you?”

  “No,” I snatch the frame from him, my mood still a little sour. “It’s Nelson Mandela.”

  Hunter’s lips twist. “Was it a photo from his younger years?”

  “Stop.” I laugh, falling onto my bed. Hunter falls with me. I kick off my shoes, lie with my back is to his front, and he spoons me. We’re both fully clothed, and we’re spooning. Why can’t we be fully naked and spooning?

  “You’re disruptive and crazy,” I say, smiling into my pillow, already forgetting that my ears are burning and those girls outside are calling me names that I don’t deserve.

  Hunter nuzzles into the back of my head. “Do you like disruptive and crazy?”

  “No,” I half lie. Half because I don’t normally like those two things, and a half because I like Hunter’s disruptive and crazy attitude. He’s like a breath of fresh air. Different, special, and he makes me laugh until my stomach hurts.

  “No?” he pretends to be shocked, making me turn around to face him. “Then I am going to be double disruptive and crazy.”

  I roll my eyes and nuzzle into his chest, relaxing and feeling an overwhelming sense of comfort. My eyes are closing; I don’t know why I feel so tired, but being wrapped up in his arms is so warm, and the beat of his heart in my ear is so tranquil, that I feel too content to move.

  “I think I’m falling to sleep.” I yawn.

  “Then fall to sleep, Blondie. I’ll be here when you wake up.” He wraps his arms around me tighter, and I’m drifting.

  Chapter 18

  Hunter

  She’s beautiful, abso-fucking-lutely beautiful. I watch her sleep, and gently move her blonde hair from her face so I can see fully. Louisa is timid, too timid to flirt, too shy to admit she wants me in the way I see her looking at me. She’s innocent, petite, and so genuinely kind I don’t think I have ever met anyone like her. I don’t want to corrupt her; I don’t want to disrupt her, but I can’t promise myself that. All I know is that I would never treat her the way I have treated girls in the past. Never gawp at her and refer to her as a piece of ass, a fuck, a pussy I want to wet my dick in. She is the girl I have been waiting to stumble across since the moment my mom gave birth to me. Okay, maybe not that young, but close enough.

  The only woman I have ever treated like a princess was my mother, and now I want to treat this girl like the fucking next air to the throne. I close my eyes, settling next to her, and I’m falling…

  Bang, bang, bang, bang.

  A noise that makes my head ache wakes me up with a jolt. “The fuck?” I yell, sit up and notice Fallon standing on her bed, banging a spoon against a frying pan. I feel Louisa sit up next to me, but I am evil. Evil I tell you.

  “Unless you plan on making me an omelet with that pan, you better get the fuck outta here, Fallon. What shit you trying to pull?”

  “You,” she points at me with her spoon. “Seem to be in my best friends’ bed, hugging and shit. You have made her late for her dinner with her father. I know this is not Louisa’s usual behavior, so you’re the bad influence. Get out.” She points to the door with the spoon.

  “What!” Louisa fly’s out of bed and takes her alarm clock into her hands. “An hour late!” she shrieks. “Crap.”

  I watch her scramb
le to get her shoes on, and she’s running her fingers through her hair at the same time. I climb from the bed and stretch out my arms. Checking my watch, I catch the time. It’s 6pm. Louisa says she’s an hour late, but earlier she told me she was meeting her dad for lunch. I don’t want to ask her about it right now, though, I can see she’s stressing.

  I glance over to Fallon, and she’s staring at me with those hard, black eyes of hers. Then I remembered last night, and what she did to Louisa.

  “Great friend you were last night, huh?”

  “It was an accident, asshole.” She jumps down from her bed and points the spoon at me. “At least you found your perfect chance to take Louisa home and take her virginity like it was some sort of fucking prize, asshole.”

  She’s grating on my goddamn nerves. “Call me an asshole one more time– wait, what did you just say?” I look over my shoulder and Louisa is standing still, her backpack held in mid-air. Her eyes close, and I hear Fallon whisper ‘shit’ from behind me.

  “I really have to go.” Louisa’s cheeks are burning with embarrassment. She throws her backpack over her shoulder and scarpers for the door.

  I turn my head slowly are glare at Fallon. “You’re the only asshole right now.”

  “I thought you knew,” she tries to dig her way out of the shit pit she’s dug for herself. “I thought–”

  “You thought wrong,” I say, before running towards the door. “Louisa!” I call her before I even see her because right now I hate that she was embarrassed by her fucking asshole of a best friend. I knew she was shy, but a virgin? Fuck, why does this news make me so happy? I see her jumping into the elevator, but by the time I get there the doors close. I make for the stairs, jumping three at a time and make it to the bottom just before the elevator doors open. Louisa sees me standing there, waiting for her.

  “Hunter, I really have to go.” She pushes past me, but I take her wrist and pull her back.