by Kayla Myles
Hunter may have hid behind his biting remarks, but behind his prickly exterior laid a heart made of pure gold. My heart beat rapidly against my ribs, threatening to burst forth as I thought about him. I couldn’t deny what was making my heart go off like that, not anymore when the signs were too obvious.
Logan leaned his head down and stared at me, his eyes serious yet his mouth tilted into a hopeful smile.
“You want to know another secret?” he asked, and I nodded, suddenly feeling winded. “I think you care about him just as much as he cares about you.”
My eyes widened.
Logan planted a kiss on my forehead, and squeezed my shoulders tightly.
“Take good care of him, okay?” he said before bowing his head at me and strolled away, leaving me to stare at his retreating back.
Hunter was right. Logan really was a brilliant guy.
I looked around the garden, trying to find Hunter, but no luck. Dropping my shoulders glumly, I ambled over to the buffet table, and grabbed a glass of orange juice, my throat suddenly parched.
I finished the drink in one gulp before grabbing another from the server, sipping it slowly this time as I peered up at the guests through the rim of the glass. Where the hell is he?
I put the empty glass down when a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and twisted me around, making me yelp in surprise.
“Hey what’s the big—,” my eyes widened in fear as I looked at the man in front of me, his face splitting into a sickening leer.
“I thought I recognized you,” he sneered, taking a step closer to me, his hands still wrapped around my wrist in a vise grip.
I remembered him as the sleazy-looking man in the auction, the one who could’ve won me had Hunter not placed his bid. I was scared of him back then, but the look on his face made him more frightening now.
“What’s a little hussy like you doing here?” he barked; spit flying out of his mouth as he yanked me down, closer to him. “Or are you here because of your mysterious master?”
My eyes widened further in fright, and his smile grew wider.
“Then that must mean he’s here, isn’t he? Who is it, girl?!” he demanded, squeezing my wrist even more. I whimpered in pain, tears starting to blur my eyes as I shook my head. “You’re getting on my nerves right now. SAY IT!”
I felt something whizz past my face, and the next thing I knew, the man was on the ground, cradling his nose while I felt something warm press against my back. I turned my head and my heart stopped as Hunter came into view, his face filled with murderous intent, his nostrils flaring and breathing rapidly as he stared down at my attacker.
“Get the fuck away from her, Westleton,” he snarled, moving me so I was standing behind him, his big body shielding me from the man. I felt Logan’s presence behind me, and he placed his hand on my shoulder in comfort.
Westleton’s bodyguards rushed toward us and Hunter’s body tensed up, prepared for a brawl.
“You imbeciles! Where the hell were you? Get him!” Westleton bellowed, his voice sounding muffled as the blood rushed out from his nose.
“I don’t think so, bud,” Logan said, raising his hand to signal towards the security. “No fighting at my party.”
“Then kick him out! He’s the one who punched me!” Westleton screamed, waving his hand toward Hunter indignantly. Hunter growled and took another step towards him, his fists clenched and ready to pummel the man.
I pulled away from Logan, and quickly wrapped my arms around Hunter’s midsection, burying my face against his back. Hunter stopped his advances and stiffened.
“Please,” I whispered, tears falling from my eyes, and soaking the back of his suit. “Please, don’t. Let’s go home, please,” I begged him.
I felt him soften up against me, and he pulled my arms away as he turned around. He tilted my chin up, and held my face in his hand, looking down at me in concern.
“Are you alright?” he asked urgently, his thumb wiping across my cheek. “Did he hurt you? If he hurt you, I’ll kill him.”
Yes. The word floated in my mind as I felt my wrist stinging excruciatingly at my side, but I shook my head in reply, telling Hunter I was just fine.
He wasn’t the least bit convinced. He opened his mouth to argue, but I shook my head and embraced him again, relishing in the feel of his warmth.
“Please, let’s just go home,” I murmured against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me tight, before pulling away and taking his suit jacket off and placing it around my shoulders.
“Alright. Let’s go home,” he said softly, tucking me under his arm. He nodded at Logan and his brother nodded back.
“I’ll take care of it. I’m sorry this happened, Brother,” Logan said morosely. “I’m sorry, Jamie,” he said, looking at me next. I shook my head and gave him a weak smile.
“It’s not your fault. I’m not sorry for punching a guy at your party,” Hunter said, not even sounding apologetic at all. Logan snickered and shook his head.
“Family is always an exception to the rule, don’t worry about it. I hope you get home safely.”
I waved at Logan in goodbye and then we left.
We didn’t say a word during the drive home, and Hunter gripped the steering wheel too tightly, enough that I could see the veins in his arms jutting under his skin. I pulled his jacket a little closer to me, hating how chilly it felt inside the car. I was chewing on my bottom lip as I wondered if Hunter was mad at me for what happened, and contemplated asking him about it, but I chose not to.
When he parked the car in front of the house, he quickly got out, and crossed over to the other side to open my door and help me out. He took my hand and led me wordlessly into the house and up to his room, closing the door softly behind us.
We stood facing each other at the side of the bed, our heads down and listening to each other’s breathing. I summoned what was left of my courage and looked up at him.
“Hunter, are you mad at me?” I asked tentatively, and his eyes widened in astonishment.
“What? No!” he said, like the very thought of hating me was ridiculous, and it sent shocks of electricity down my arms. “I just…,” he trailed off and swept his hands through his hair in frustration, and I gasped as I noticed the bit of blood coming out of his knuckles.
“Hunter, you’re bleeding!” I cried, taking his hand in both of my palms, rubbing at the splits on his knuckles carefully with my fingers. “Does it hurt?” I asked.
His breath hitched, and he shook his head.
“Where’s your first aid kit?” I asked, looking up at him.
“Bottom drawer,” he said, his jaw taut. I let him go and took out the little first aid kit from the drawer, then pulled him towards the bed so we could sit. I placed the kit in my lap, and dabbed a piece of cotton swab with disinfectant before applying it on the cuts on his knuckles. He flinched slightly with a wince, so I pulled his hand back towards me, shaking my head.
“You’re such a baby,” I said before blowing on the wound gently. I finished disinfecting the cut, and then placed a Band-Aid over it. After that, I raised his hand up to my lips, and kissed the spot over the Band-Aid, making him gasp in surprise.
“Get better,” I whispered.
“What the hell are you doing?” Hunter asked, his mouth agape. I shrugged before answering.
“It’s what my grandmother does whenever I had a boo-boo. She’d kiss it and whisper for it to get better quickly and poof! The pain’s all gone,” I said. I couldn’t read the look on his face as he stared at me, not uttering a word.
“Thank you,” he whispered, his eyes still locked with mine intensely. I smiled at him, and was about to put the first aid kit back, when he placed it on his lap and gently tugged my hands next.
“Your turn,” he murmured, turning my hand over where Westleton grabbed me. I grimaced at the red marks left by Westleton’s fingers around my wrist, some of them turning black and blue already. Hunter br
ushed his fingers over the bruises with a featherlike touch, yet his jaw was clenched and his shoulders were shaking with anger. “If I ever see that son of a bitch again…”
“Hunter, don’t worry about it. I’m okay now, really! You saved me,” I said softly. He shook his head, and put some dressing on my bruises before putting the kit away.
I smiled gratefully at him, and made a move to get up, but he pulled me back to the bed and wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me enough that I squeaked.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to stop him from hurting you,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. My heart melted, and I returned his embrace.
“You saved me,” I repeated, hugging him tighter. “That’s all that matters.”
“I promise you. I promise he’ll never be able to hurt you again,” he said passionately, and I felt his lips brush against my ear in a light kiss, making me gasp. “I will never let anybody hurt you. I always take care of what’s mine.”
He let go of me, and placed his hand on my face, caressing my cheek with his thumb.
“Jamie,” he said softly, and I wondered if he could hear how hard my heart was beating. “Please, stay with me. We don’t have to do anything. I just want to hold you.”
He looked into my eyes imploringly, and my knees weakened. I leaned against his touch, and sighed with happiness.
“Okay,” I whispered.
We took our shoes off before lying down on the bed. He put the covers over our bodies, before pulling me against his chest and wrapping his arms around my stomach, my back fitting snugly against his body, spooning me perfectly. He buried his nose against the nape of my neck, placing a kiss below my hairline, and then inhaling deeply.
“Good night, Jamie,” he whispered.
“Sweet dreams, Hunter,” I murmured, already slipping into unconsciousness, a smile on my face.
Chapter 17
Hunter
I felt the sun’s rays hit my face as I slowly woke up, feeling like I’d just had the best sleep in my whole life. I wanted to go back to snooze and cuddle with Jamie again, but when I turned over and reached for her, there was nothing but sheets. She was gone.
I shot up in bed like a lightning bolt, dread creeping into my system, as I wondered why the hell she wasn’t sleeping right next to me. Damn it, did I screw it up? Was I too forward last night? Did she want something to happen and I disappointed her?
I swung my feet down the bed, and ran out of my room and into Jamie’s, opening her door with a bang. Most of her things were still inside, but that didn’t mean she was still here. Frantic, I thundered down the stairs and almost crashed into Nana. I steadied her with both arms, and looked at her urgently.
“Nana, where is she? Have you seen her?” I asked her quickly.
“In the kitchen—,” she stammered.
I leaped over the rest of the steps, and ran toward the kitchen, skidding to a stop as soon as I saw her.
She spun around to look at me, one hand in the middle of her chest like she was trying to keep it from flying out of her ribcage.
“Hunter! What’s wrong with you?” she cried.
I didn’t bother answering her, and instead crossed the distance between us. I pulled her against me, and lowered my head to hers so I could finally do what I’ve been dreaming about ever since I met her.
I mashed our lips together, translating all my longing and fear that she had disappeared into one steaming kiss. She gasped, and I took advantage of the opening, spearing my tongue inside her sweet mouth and caressing hers. She tasted of cookie batter and chocolate, smelled like it too. She was intoxicating enough to make me groan.
She responded to my kiss timidly, before pushing me away, and lightly slapping my face with a slight scowl and a pinkish tint in her cheeks.
“You surprised me,” she mumbled, pushing me away to get busy with the bowl and spatula. “You’re not going to get so lucky next time,” I smirked at her.
I could never pass on a chance to tease her. “You scared me. When I woke up without you in bed, I thought you had left me.”
“Oh, I couldn’t sleep, so I woke up early and decided to bake some cookies for breakfast,” she said, smiling brightly. “I was going to wake you up once I was all done, though. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said, wrapping my arms around her belly with a sigh, happily content to just hold her like this.
She, however, had other plans.
“What are you doing?” she asked, and I frowned at her.
“Holding you. What does it look like?” I asked back, and she scoffed at me, pushing my hands away.
“Well, excuse me, sir, but I don’t think I’ve given you permission to do that yet,” she said defiantly. I stared at her like she’d grown a second head. Was she insane?
“What?” he asked dumbly. She turned back around to face me fully, putting her hands on her hips with a huff.
“You can’t just go around kissing me without even asking me out!” she cried, and I stared at her.
“Huh?”
“I don’t know what you think of me, but I am not an easy girl. I’m the type you have to court or woo for a while before I agree to have a relationship with you. Do you understand?” she asked. My eyebrows skyrocketed.
“I have to woo for a while?” I repeated.
“Yes. It’s a requirement,” she stated, matter-of-fact.
Oh, this woman…I couldn’t keep myself from snickering at her antics, and she just pouted at me.
“It’s not funny,” she whined and I shook my head.
“No, no. You are absolutely right. You deserve to be courted,” I said, surprising myself that I really do agree with her. “So, how long do I have to prove myself before you agree to being mine?”
“Well, I think the shortest time would be six months—,”
“Six months?!” I yelled, shaking my head. “Oh, no. That won’t do at all, Miss Elric. Two months is too damn long.”
She crossed her arms and lifted her chin up defiantly.
“Well, tough,” she said simply.
I caged her in with my arms, bracing myself on the counter while I leaned in until my lips were a hairsbreadth away from her. She shivered under me, and I couldn’t help but smirk at the goosebumps forming in her skin.
“I don’t think I can last that long, baby,” I whispered, planting soft kisses against her skin. “So, I’m just going to have to work very hard to change your mind.”
“Y-you…,” her breath hitched as I licked her neck up to the soft cartilage of her ear, and then nipped it with my teeth. Her hands were crushing the front of my shirt now, but she was conflicted whether to pull me closer or push me away.
“I what?” I said, loving the way I’m affecting her so badly.
‘You…you can’t do that,” she gasped.
I blew into her ear, and she quivered violently.
“Oh, I think I can.” I snagged a quick kiss from her lips before shuffling away, leaving her in shock. I was so going to enjoy wooing her.
Chapter 18
Hunter
“Oh my God, these cookies are amazing!” I moaned, savoring another bite. Jamie giggled and added some more cookies onto my plate before cutting into a loaf of zucchini bread. Damn it, this woman could bake.
She’s a fucking Blessing.
“I swear, Jamie, you could make a killing selling these things! They are just that good,” I told her, taking another bite of that delicious M&M-filled cookie.
The smile on her face faltered and she sat down, fiddling with her fingers nervously.
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about too, Hunter,” she said, and I straightened up to listen. “You see, the reason I’d been working multiple jobs was because I was saving up to lease this shop by the corner of the street near my house. I’m planning on opening up a bakery there.”
My eyes widened and I smiled at her.
“
That’s really good, Jamie! I’m sure you would do very well. Would you like me to help you?” I asked, eager to help her accomplish her dream. She giggled and raised her hands to rein me in.
“Hold your horses, hero,” she said, and my heart jolted from hearing her call me ‘hero’. “I only need a little bit left to get the shop, and a bit more to buy whatever I need to get it running, so don’t worry too much about me.”
I was startled out of my thoughts when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out and cursed as I read the message. I felt Jamie staring at me in concern.
“What’s the matter?” she asked me.
I sighed heavily. I’m really not in the mood for this right now. Why did he have to summon me today?
“Hunter?” she called again.
“I need to go back to the Drake Mansion today,” I said, not looking at her.
“Drake Mansion? Oh. You mean the place you and your brothers lived in back when you were young?” she asked, and I nodded, pleased she remembered.
“Yeah. My Grandfather issued a summons for me. It’s part of my agreement with him,” I explained.
“You don’t seem too excited about that,” she noticed, and I smiled wryly.
“No, I’m not,” I told her. “I’ve never liked that place ever since—,” I sighed again and shook my head, not ready to get into this right now.
“Well, will you be coming home for dinner tonight?” she asked, her eyes looking a little forlorn. I smiled and kissed her cheek, making her blush prettily.
“Just let them try to keep me away,” I answered, wiping the gloomy look on her face and replacing it with a smile.
***
It has been a long time since I stepped foot in this place, but it looked exactly as I remembered it: cold and unfeeling.
The Drake Family Mansion was huge, but the décor was too impersonal, so dreary that I’m amazed my three brothers were able to last living here while still maintaining a familial bond. Then again, Sean, the third in line, was almost always travelling around the world escaping my grandfather’s clutches, while River, the youngest, only stayed during summer breaks from boarding school.