Page 52 of Hunter
I hear him come back in the room and listen to him place my laptop on a hard surface somewhere in the office. That’s fine, as long as it’s in here with me. I have so much more to do.
He hits the lights, and darkness covers the room. It’s quiet for a whole ten seconds, and I’m convinced that he left. The couch moves as he takes a seat close to me, and I feel the presence of his big-ass body.Nope, he’s still here.I don’t need to open my eyes or flip the lights to know he’s inches away.
“Come here, sleepy girl, lie on me.” His arm wraps around my shoulders, and he switches me from one side to leaning against him. Again, it’s like my body trusts him, and I feel myself following his lead. My head lands on his shoulder, and his arm stays tucked around mine. “There, that’s better.”
“I was comfortable like that,cabrón, stop moving me like a stuffed animal,” I tell him with a yawn in a weak-ass attempt to protest.
“You’ll be more comfortable with me,hermosa,” he says and pulls the brim of my beanie down over my eyes. “Now stop fighting me and rest. Stop fighting what feels right.”
“This feels right? Sleeping on a tiny-ass couch when you have a bed somewhere that’s waiting for you?”
“Your ass is on this couch, so that’s where I’m sleeping tonight. When you’re ready to sleep in my bed, we’ll sleep there. Wherever you are feels right to me.”¿Qué? ¿Este cabrón está hablando en serio? What? Is this man serious?
“I don’t understand all this shit you keep saying to me today.”
“Well, understand this, I like you and I’m not going anywhere. You like me, and you’re not leaving. So that means we see where this goes, and we go where it leads. Okay, Ed?” I nodinto his chest because this idiot is right.¡Maldita sea, diosas! Me gusta.I do like him.
“Glad that you agree. Now sleep. Because tomorrow you’re gonna need to be wide awake to tell me how you and Payton know each other and why she called you a different name.”
“You’re not gonna like me after that,” I grumble, and my heart makes herself known.
“Little demon, there isn’t a hell on earth that I wouldn’t walk through for you. Whatever happened in New York isn’t gonna change that.”
“You’ll see.” I feel myself falling, and I brace for impact, but I don’t hit the ground. Instead, his hands hold me to his chest, and I feel his heartbeat under his skin.
“No, Ed… you’ll be the one to see.”
VEINTIOCHO
My eyesopen under the rays of sunlight beaming in through the slots of the window blinds, and I instantly realize I’m looking at them horizontally, which is concerning since I was mostly vertical when I fell asleep.
My head’s on his lap and his hand is on my hip. I quickly push off his knee to get myself to a seated position. His hand slides up the side of my torso before he pulls me into him.
“You’re too far away. Come here, Ed.” I don’t like being touched by men. They take and take and take. But this feels different. His touch feels like he’s trying to give me something. Like he wants to show me something new.
I don’t think I’ve ever considered anyone to be cute until this very fucking second. He’s got this adorable sleepy look on his face, and I can see the dark brown flecks scattered throughout his eyes. They remind me of chocolate chip pancakes. I’d fucking kill for a short stack right now. Kings used to serve breakfast for lunch once a week, and I’d always get them.
“How’d you sleep?” His voice is rough, and he clears his throat. “You dream about me?”Pff, as if.
“Do nightmares count?” I’m lying. I didn’t have any dreams at all. I slept like a fucking rock and could’ve stayed like that for hours if the sun hadn’t woken me up. It’s probably because I was fucking exhausted. Nope, nothing to do with him. It’s definitely not because I was curled up on his lap like a cat. Or that I felt safe.Right?
“Do you see my phone? What time is it? I didn’t hear my alarm.” I look around the couch and don’t see it on the armrest where I left it before I fell asleep on him.
“You had that shit going off before my practice alarm rings. I shut it off so you could sleep. You were snoring, and I didn’t want you to be disturbed.” He looks proud of himself, like he did a good deed or something. But he didn’t. I have shit to do. I have to shower, go to class, tutor, and I have a fucking schedule to keep.
“¡Oye! ¡cabrón!That’s what alarms do!” I shout and jump off the couch. “They’re supposed to disturb you to make sure your ass gets up,” I yell while standing in front of him. Thismotherfucker just smiles before hooking his feet behind my calves and pulling me toward him.
“You’re too far away again. Come sit on my lap and yell at me, Ed.”
“I’m serious, Hunter, where the fuck is my phone? Give it to me!” I don’t have time for this. I’m fucking hungry and need to fucking eat.
“Come get it.” This motherfucker reaches forward and grabs me by the wrists, pulling me over his legs until my knees are on either side of his hips. My body doesn’t even try to fight it, and I slide into his lap, fitting into him like a puzzle piece.
“Gimme my phone, now!”Pinche, pendejo. I hold out my hand and scowl at his ass. I can’t believe him. I’m getting fucking pissed now. “Hunter, I swear to Hecate, I’m gonna beat your ass like a fucking piñata if you don’t give me my shit.”
“Who’s that?” His big-ass man hands curl around my hips and settle on my lower back. He starts massaging his fingers into me, and I do my fucking best not to like it so much.
“A goddess that will make your life a living hell.”
