Page 15 of Hunter's Trial

Everything had quieted. Just for a moment my head emptied out and there was nothing but him and where that he was touching me. Even covered in bruises like he was, it had been like he had been wholly and utterly unable to stop himself. I want somebody to want me so badly, to be so overwhelmed with desire that they lose themselves. Not because they want to control or possess me, but because they need me.

My hand dips between my bare thighs before I even fully realize that I’m doing it. My mind starts to replay earlier but this time, it doesn’t stop. This time I let him bend me over that table exactly the way that I had taunted him to. Taking his pleasure from my body at a merciless, monstrous pace. Bent over the table, on the table, up against the wall - in my mind’s eye we make use of every surface available in that room. I cum so hard I pass right out.

I don’t dream of anything at all.

CHAPTER NINE

KATE

Two Days Later

My first time in a courtroom had been exhilarating. Unlike the rest of my class, I didn’t have the same feelings of anxious nervousness when stepping onto the floor. I wasn’t easily intimidated by any of the judges and I didn’t have the same fear most of them felt during their first mock trials. I felt comfortable. At the time, it was just about the only place I felt wholly and utterly in control of an outcome or a situation. I just had to play my cards right and I would get what my clients needed.

It’s a skill that has since served me incredibly well.

That skill is why I feel so at ease strong-arming judges. I have no shame using the assets that I have to get what I want from them. I have to hope that it works when Nikolai steps in here. Sadly, he’s exactly the sort of man that most judges like to stereotype when they look at him. Tall, dark, handsome, with an overabundance of muscles and tattoos? It’s going to be my job to make sure they don’t punish him just for looking the part.

I wasn’t surprised that my request to move up the hearing was approved. But, I do wish that I had had a bit more time to properly prepare for what’s about to come. Even still, I make sure to dress in my very best outfit and leave my blonde hair in ringlets around my face and shoulders. I’m channeling my inner girl and I swear before the afternoon is over, I’m going to have each and every person in this courtroom eating out of my hand.

I do what I have to do.

I don’t even know what physical state Nikolai is going to be in when I face him. I asked to have some time to meet with him before going in front of the judge but it was denied. I’m sure that he will turn on his unique charm. I just want to make sure everything lines up. He’s as prepared as he’s ever going to be.

I think I might be nervous for the first time in my whole career. My palms feel sweaty. This isn’t something that’s ever happened to me. I’ve been way less prepared and had a less ironclad defense and yet…

There’s a lot riding on this.

My whole future is riding on this.

My daughter’s safety.

Nikolai’s future.

Wait. Nikolai’s future?

That shouldn’t be part of my equation. Not on a personal level. Yet, I can’t shake him. I can’t stop thinking about how things are going to go. I enter the holding room where Alek, Anya, and Henry are sitting. Henry is wearing a lovely suit that brings out his eyes. He’s fidgeting softly. It’s the first time that I’m meeting this young man in person. He stands to greet me the moment I close the door.

Behind him, Alek smirks proudly. I can see he’s about to ruffle the young man’s hair affectionately but stops himself so that Henry still looks composed when he goes into the room in a few minutes.

“Is everybody ready?” I smile brightly. I hope that my air of confidence fills them with ease before we go in here.

Specifically, I look at Anya. She’s the one who I would expect to be least comfortable confronting her husband. The divorce is just about finalized on paper but she hasn’t seen Nikolai since the incident with Henry.

Alek answers for all of them while squeezing Henry’s shoulder affectionately. “He’s ready. We all are. Though, I think that Henry’s going to put us all to shame. He was up before dawn practicing.”

I grin and address Henry directly. “Remember, you don’t have to make your testimony in front of everybody. You can go into the room with the judge and speak to him personally. But then they can’t go with you. Have you decided what you want to do?”

Henry nods. “I will do it like the people on TV.”

“You mean in front of everybody?”

“Mmhm - I mean, yes ma’am.” Henry corrects himself and I nod.

“I can tell you have been practicing,” I add with a smile.

“Yes ma’am!” Henry continues.

The hardest part about this whole thing was convincing a child why it would be acceptable for him to lie under this particular circumstance. Anya and Alek both told him that it was just going to be like acting and that it wasn’t truly a lie. Henry’s such a sweet kid that he didn’t want to lie about anything ever. He only needs to confirm that Nikolai is his biological father, and that the day in question, when the kidnapping took place, was actually their very first father-son outing and that this is all just a big misunderstanding.

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