Page 81 of The Huntress and Her Hound

And Jude takes it, unwavering as he sweeps me up in his arms and carries me to the couch. He cradles me as I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face in the scent and feel of him. Jude breathes deep and even, and I can’t decide if he’s indifferent to me or if he’s just good at holding it together. However, as I tip my head back I see something I’ve never seen in a man’s eyes:

Genuine tears.

Chapter 29

The Hound

I’ve never hurt so fucking bad in my life. Every tragedy I’ve ever endured is meaningless as I hold Cher while she shatters in my arms. She didn’t have to explain. She didn’t have to ask me to be here for her. I’m heartbroken, and I’m fucking pissed.

And if being here for her wasn’t so important, I’d be out on the street screaming for the motherfucker to come out and face me.

But there will be a time for that. For now, I have to be here.

I stroke her hair and count to ten over and over, reminding myself that I have to be strong for her. I don’t know how much time passes before her sobs quiet, and she’s left with pained, ragged breaths.

If Henry only fucking knew. He’d come unraveled, and at that moment, I realize that’s exactly why she probably didn’t tell him. Has she held this in for years?

“I’m sorry,” she squeaks into the silence, sucking in a haphazard breath.

I don’t know what to tell her without telling her that I know what happened—that I’ve seen glimpses of her at her weakest, most fragile moments. So, I kiss the top of her head instead.

She sniffles and then wipes her eyes, smearing mascara across her cheek. “Can we talk?” In the moment, Cher appears so small, her voice sounding like one of a child, running scared from another bad dream.

I brush her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, we can talk.”

Cher inhales, her breath choppy. “Can I shower first?”

“Sure,” I say, and then release her, dropping my arms. “I’ll make you something to eat.”

She shakes her head, her hands latching onto my forearm. “Come with me.” The request is surprising, and even more confusing as cryptic words spill from her lips. “You keep them away.”

I hesitate, not wanting to press her too hard but also too confused to let it go. “What do I keep away?”

She eyes me, her expression riddled with pain as a sharp sigh slips from her lips. “The voices.”

Breathing in deep, I let that register, and then decide we can unpack it later. “Come on. Let’s go.” I shift her body to the side of me and stand to my feet. She never lets go, clinging to me like I’m a lifeline.

“It started my junior year,” she says in a timid voice. “I wasn’t doing well in English. Well, he said I wasn’t.”

My jaw tenses as the story begins, and I lead her to the bathroom. I lean over the small pool-sized jacuzzi tub and start the water. “Bath okay?”

She nods, and then continues. “He told me he’d tutor me. I’d asked him for a recommendation letter. I’d always been a good student. All A’s.”

I turn to her, gently reaching for the hem of her T-shirt. “I’m not surprised you were a good student.” I lift it over her head, and she doesn’t fight me on it. I know it’s not the time to check her out, but she’s still the most beautiful fucking woman I’ve ever seen.

“Hindsight, I think he was just giving me bad grades so he could lure me to his house,” Cher says, meeting my gaze. “I was just too stupid to realize it.”

“You weren’t stupid,” I whisper, unbuttoning her shorts. “You were just a kid.”

“I was old enough to know.”

I want to argue, but I just shake my head. “So he started tutoring you?”

“Yeah, and the other girls in my class were so jealous.” Her voice shakes. “They all thought he was so hot, and at first, I let it make me feel good. He graduated from Harvard.”

“Mm,” I mutter, forcing myself to hear every single fucking word as I drop her shorts to the floor.

“But then he started giving me drinks during our sessions.” She slides her underwear down as I unhook her bra. “I thought it was the alcohol, and I was getting drunk. However, after the third or fourth time, I found...blood. I was mortified, but I wasn’t sure. It took months of being sore before he finally quit drugging me enough for me to pass out.”

---