Page 93 of The Hunted
She shook out her hands, doing a few stretches she picked up from the internet that benefited people who typed all day. She grabbed her tea and headed back to her table. She wasn’t in a rush to sit down. She heard the front door open and glanced up. Her heart raced when she saw Santino’s partner walk in. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she looked past his shoulder, expecting Santino to be there.
She was going to ignore the bone-crushing disappointment she felt when she noticed Santino wasn’t with him.
Whatever was brewing between them had her diving in with open arms. She had no care in the world if there was a safety net to catch her. She still couldn’t figure out what it was about him that stripped her of every protective wall she created for herself.
He seemed to enjoy unraveling her—marveling at every inch of exposure he found on her.
And she reveled in it.
She was sleeping better—no nightmares in sight—and there was no desire to escape. She was trying to be cautious because this was the same pattern with Mari. She let the woman unravel her and love parts of her, thinking she’d be the one to handle the darker things that lingered on Silva’s skin. The parts that made her wonder if she’d ever be clean—be normal.
But once she exposed herself, Mari hadn’t looked at her the same. She hadn’t touched her the same and hadn’t loved her in the way she had before. Mari was half out of the relationship. Silva had been hurt, feeling like she left herself open to be discarded. It was why she’d been cautious in every other relationship since then, until now.
Santino seemed to delight in everything that made Silva her. He was eager to play out fantasies, to fill her needs like they had been his own. The piece of paper he made her write down her fantasies on was burning a hole in the pockets on her leggings.
She slipped her hand into the pocket, feeling her pulse jump when her fingers connected.
I want you to chase me.
I want you to catch me and make me yours.
I want you to keep going, even if I tell you to stop.
Safe words are red for a hard stop and yellow to slow down. Green for all in and keep going.
There had been a freedom in writing those words. It had shifted some of the guilt she felt around her desires and the things that she liked. It was hard to reconcile what happened to her with what she enjoyed. But there was power in owning her sexuality. There was freedom in consent. It might have mimicked things she’d never be okay with outside of the setting she planned to set up with Santino, but she held the power here. She was in control.
And I would never not be in control again.
“Silva?” she recoiled at the sound of her name. She’d been so lost in her own mind she’d forgotten Santino’s partner had walked into the café. In her daydreaming, her gaze must have lingered a little too long on him because they were now eye to eye. The only space separating them was the table she had all her stuff on and that didn’t seem like enough distance between them.
She wasn’t too fond of Santino’s partner. The guy gave her anick.She didn’t want to give him her back or be alone with him ever.
“It’s Silva, right?” He repeated her name in the way that made her skin crawl. His eyes swept over her like he was trying to see through her leggings and hoodie. A hoodie that belonged to Santino. She stole it the last time they were together.
She nodded, figuring if she didn’t have to speak she could keep her thoughts to herself.
Be nice. This is Santino’s partner.
She silently repeated the mantra. She really hoped her face was neutral. Sometimes her inside thoughts were written all over her face if she wasn’t careful.
“Didn’t expect to see you here. Alone.” He smirked and there was thatickfeeling. Why did he say alone like that? It gave off creepy villain vibes.
Her stomach dropped as he stared at her. She felt twitchy, and her need to leave had her snapping her laptop shut. She needed to gather her things, but she didn’t rush. She didn’t want to seem anxious or fearful.
“As opposed to not being alone?” Her hands shook as she started stacking her things so they were easier to pack away. It felt like she’d drank too much caffeine in one sitting. Her heart was racing, and she was having trouble getting air into her lungs.
Just breathe.
She felt silly having this reaction. It was the same reaction she had when that stranger sat down next to her in the park.
But Santino told her to trust her instincts. He told her it wasn’t silly to feel the way she felt. It would keep her from getting hurt. How many women had written her for advice on something when they wished they had listened to their instincts to begin with?
Women had a natural ability to pick up danger, and right now she was feeling like it would be better to get out of here. She wasn’t going to question it. She started stuffing her things in her bag faster.
“Just figured Santino would be on you like glue, especially with everything going on.” He gripped the chair on the opposite side of the table. She was grateful he made the choice to keep himself on that side instead of coming to stand in front of her. He was still blocking her way out, but at least he wasn’t in her space. It gave her time to calm down somewhat.
“It’s odd, isn’t it?” he continued, leaning forward. “We’ve been partners forever, it feels like, and I’ve never seen him so….” His gaze swept over her again. She had an insane urge to step back or swing. She ignored it and continued to put her things away.
