Page 58 of The Rise

“You, Hunter. Just you.”

Chapter 26

Lana

The trip to New York was amazing. I couldn’t thank Hunter enough for what he did for me. Seeing that little girl was almost too much for me to handle. It was nice to see her happy and listen to her talk. It made me rethink things in my life. Then when he gave the ring? I almost lost it. I’m not that girl. I’m the girl who needs to be strong and hold her head high, just like Hunter has taught me to be.

“On your knees,” Hunter demands. I shake my head. He steps closer to me, my breath catching in my throat. “Are you telling me no?”

“I’m not doing it, Hunter.” The sick smile that crosses his face causes my stomach to tumble inside me.

“You want to try again?” he asks, but I shake my head once more. Then he moves, lunging for me, wrapping his arms around me before I get the chance to run. I kick and scream, trying to get him to let me go, but he’s too strong. Before I know what’s happening, I’m shoved against the wall, my back bouncing off the wall when Hunter moves in.

He grabs my hands and tries to jerk them above my head, but I fight him. I pull away and almost fall, but I catch my balance before I take off running. Hunter laughs darkly before I hear his boots hitting the floor behind me. When I reach the door, I quickly type in the code before shoving it open. The cool air hits my naked flesh as I take off running through the trees. The twigs cut the bottom of my feet, but I don’t stop running.

“Oh, little rebel. You think you can hide from me?” he calls out. I try to slow my breathing so he won’t hear me as I tip-toe through the trees. I’m about to start running again when I hear the branches snap, and I know he’s close. I glance around, trying to see what I can before I turn and run. I don’t make it far. Hunter grabs me from behind, knocking me to the ground with an ‘oomph’, the air leaving my lungs.

“I didn’t do shit, Hunter!” I scream at the top of my lungs.

“Yeah, you keep saying that, but I say otherwise.” The growl that leaves his throat causes bumps to form on my flesh. He isn’t joking. He’s actually mad.

I try to pull myself out from under him, but he’s too strong.

“All you’re doing is cutting up your skin, Lana!”

“Then let me go,” I yell back at him. He chuckles darkly but doesn’t let me up.

“Maybe this is your punishment. Would you like that? To spend the fucking night out here?” I shake my head. There’s no way I’m spending the night out here.

“Hunter, I didn’t do anything,” I tell him once more. He isn’t hearing it. When Hunter’s mad, he’s pissed.

“If you were smart, you’d shut up, Lana.”

“What if I’m not smart?” I smart off to him. His breath dances over my flesh before I feel his lips on my skin. Then he sinks his teeth into my shoulder, and I scream for the whole world to hear.

“Try again, little rebel.” In seconds, Hunter climbs off me and rolls me over. The leaves and brush scratch my skin, causing me to wince.

“This hurts, Hunter.”

“That’s the point, Lana. What the fuck were you doing?”

“I wasn’t doing anything! I came out, and he was there. I didn’t do it on purpose, and besides, they’ve seen me naked before!”

“That’s when I wanted them to. I didn’t say you could walk around Chaos fucking naked!” One of his hands slides between us, cupping my pussy roughly in his hand. “Who’s pussy is this?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“Yours.”

“And who the fuck am I?”’

“Hunter! That hurts!”

“Who the fuck am I, Lana?”

“My God! You’re my God.”

“And who the fuck do you obey?” he yells at me.

“You!” His hand moves from my pussy to my throat, wrapping around tightly. I gasp for air, but it doesn’t help. He’s stealing it all, taking it away from me. I reach up and claw at his hands, but he moves, lifting me off the ground by my neck. When he finally eases his grip, I can breathe again. He walks me back through the trees and back inside the building.

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