Page 28 of Hurting Hunter
In that kiss, Ethan was carried away to a state where anything seemed possible, and where the realities of their worlds were distant memories. He felt invincible, connected not just to Hunter but to a serene, vivid world where every detail was magnified, and every emotion intensified. This was an affirmation of their bond, powerful and transformative, anchoring Ethan to the moment and to the man in his arms. With a groan, he pressed his pelvis forward, his cock meeting an equally significant bulge in Hunter's pants.
Fuck me!
But he wouldn't fuck.
No time to indulge, dick.
The kiss left Ethan with a rush of euphoria, his stomach fluttering with nervous excitement and a profound connection. As he pulled away, his pulse raced, not just from the kiss but also from the realization of how deeply entwined his life had become with Hunter's.
When they broke apart, they were both panting and clinging to each other like drowning men on a raft in a storm.
As Ethan headed to his car, his mind was awash with emotions. He started the car on autopilot, his ability to think drowned out by his internal turmoil. As he waited at a roundabout, his heart still hammered against his ribs. He passed a slow-moving truck, his impatience mirroring his urgency to be with Hunter again.
Driving the short distance, Ethan's mind was in a whirl of daydreams and distractions, his thoughts drifting back to Hunter. The world seemed brighter, more poignant with Hunter in his life. Despite the looming challenges of their investigation, Ethan had never been more hopeful.
Turning on his signal, Ethan's movements were automatic as his thoughts drifted back to Hunter. He braked sharply for a dawdling driver, the abrupt stop echoing the sudden jolts of realization about his emotional state. An ambulance rushed past, its sirens contrasting with the peace Hunter brought him.
Each mile closer to the precinct brought longing and clarity. Ethan acknowledged to himself, amidst the flow of traffic and the pull of his duties, that he was irrevocably in love with Hunter 'Crosscut' Maddox. The sense of being whole with Hunter, the security he felt in his presence—all these feelings swelled within him.
Chapter 19
By the time he arrived at the precinct, Ethan was resolute. The connection with Hunter was foundational to who he was becoming. Despite the external pressures of their investigation, Ethan knew that any path he chose would inevitably lead him back to Hunter. The realization grounded him and gave him the strength to face whatever lay ahead.
As he entered the bustling police station, he scanned the familiar chaos of uniforms and ringing phones for Dani. Spotting her near the coffee machine, animatedly speaking with another officer, Ethan navigated through the clusters of desks and hurried conversations. Dani caught his eye, her expression shifting to one of professional readiness as she excused herself and joined him.
Ethan steered Dani outside the precinct to discuss their findings away from prying ears. The morning sun glared, but small trees and large buildings provided long shadows on 5th Avenue. "We've made some headway," Ethan began, his voice low. "We discovered one of Hunter’s brothers, Rex, is feeding the ring information. Hunter's tracking Rex's phone. If he makes any wrong moves, makes contact, we'll know." Ethan glanced around to ensure they weren't followed.
Creating distance between themselves and the precinct, Ethan and Dani walked briskly toward the small, secluded park at Seneca Street. The green space didn’t lighten the grim nature of their discussion.
Dani chuckled. "Hunter really is handy to have around, isn't he?" As she spoke, Dani rummaged through her oversized purse, pulling out a crumpled stack of papers. Suddenly, she stumbled over a protruding tree root. Ethan reacted swiftly, his arm shooting out to steady her by the upper arm. "Gotcha," he said with a quick smile, helping her regain her balance.
“Pff.” Dani let out a whoosh of air. “Thanks.”
Ethan inclined his head. His gut churned, and not just from the stumble. It was everything—the betrayal within his department, the dangers Hunter faced from his own supposed brothers. “Everywhere I turn, someone's backstabbing someone.”
"Hmm, maybe. But hey, Hunter is worth his weight in gold, and we’re not chopped liver either, are we?" Dani tried to lighten the mood, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Having someone who can manipulate tech like that is invaluable. And with our combined skills, we can take on the bastards."
Ethan scoffed, a hollow laugh escaping him as he helped Dani sort her papers under a tree. "Yeah."
Dani handed him an email printout. "Speaking of backstabbers, look at this," she said, pointing to a highlighted section. "The captain was corresponding directly with Walter Wilson, someone we've tied to the trafficking ring. And this…" She flipped to another page. "Is an internal email directing a lieutenant to mislead the mayor and pin some fabricated allegations on the ECOs."
Ethan scanned the documents, his jaw clenching in mounting frustration. "So, the Captain keeps the mayor in the dark while stirring the pot against the ECOs. He's up to his ears in this mess."
“At least the mayor isn’t dirty,” Dani commented.
“True.”
They resumed walking, the crunch of gravel underfoot mirroring Ethan’s growing impatience. "We can't take this to the mayor yet—not without more concrete proof. But we need to act quickly. This goes deeper than we thought, and it's not just about corruption. Those poor women and children."
“Yeah, I can’t imagine what they are enduring.” Dani’s expression was grim, making her appear older, as she shoved the papers back into her purse. "Let’s keep digging. There has to be a break somewhere we can use to expose all of this."
“All right. Back to the station?”
Dani nodded.
As they approached the precinct again, neither felt closer to a solution. Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the weight of their burden. "We're walking a tightrope here. One wrong step and we could blow everything."
Dani gazed sideways, and Ethan held out his arm. Just in case.
