Page 101 of In The Dark
His hair is messy. There’s a drop of blood on his neck, right below his ear, and he’s looking down at me, a dozen questions on the tip of his tongue.
“Good morning.” I yawn and stretch my arms, glancing out the window. “What time is it?”
“Seven.”
“Thank god I’m off from school today. If not, I would’ve been late.”
“I would’ve woken you up. How did you sleep?” he asks, his fingers working out a knot in my hair. “Any nightmares?”
“No. I felt safe with you next to me.”
“I’m glad.” Hunter gives me a lazy grin. “Skyler will be here soon. What are we thinking for breakfast? Pancakes or waffles?”
“Pancakes, obviously.” I pause, a wave of emotion hitting me as I think about where I was twelve hours ago. How different the outcome could’ve been if Hunter hadn’t been at the right place at the right time. “Can we talk about what happened?”
“What do you want to talk about?” He sits up and the sheets pool around his waist. “If you think you owe me details about last night, you don’t, Max. The last thing I want to do is make you relive all of that, and I?—”
“I know I don’t, and the last thing I want to do is remember…” I shudder, doing my best to wipe the thought of Connor’s hands on me from my memory. “I want to talk about you. About us.”
“Is this about the tracking device I put on your car?”
“No.” My lips twitch. “Not yet. We’re going to argue about that in a minute.”
“I’m looking forward to it, angel.”
“You… you killed someone for me,” I whisper, and Hunter nods.
“And I’d do it again.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Nothing worth repeating.” Hunter hesitates. “He told me his dad abused him, and that’s why he acted violently against women. It made me wonder if that’s how my brain is supposed to be programmed too. If because my father was a piece of fucking trash, I’m destined to do the same. Am I going to wake up one day and have the urge to hit someone?”
“No.No, Hunter. You two are nothing alike.” I crawl into his lap, relieved when his arms fold around me. “When I came to yesterday and saw Connor, I felt… It was paralyzing fear, Hunter. I believed I was going to die. I believed he was going to hurt me. The moment I saw you… I’ve never experienced joyful relief like that. The weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders, and you were my savior. Never, not for one second, have I ever felt like you would harm me. Your soul is sogood, and that’s why I like you so much.”
“I’d hurt myself before I ever hurt you.” He rests his chin on my shoulder and touches my cheek. “But I need you to do me a favor, Max.”
“What is it?”
“If you see me exhibiting any signs that scare you, I need you to tell me. Okay? I don’t want to turn out like that. Not with anyone, but especially not with you. I know a lot of what we’re feeling for each other is physical attraction, but I’m almost done with Fright Nights. When I have hours every night to sit around and have long dinner conversations with a glass of wine, I want to learn everything about you. I want to know your favorite color and your biggest dreams. You don’t need me as your savior, Max, but I want to be by your side, holding your hand, for as long as you’ll let me.”
His words hold weight, and after what I went through, their magnitude is not lost on me.
This is a man I want to keep around. Someone who will be there to help, but will also let me try to handle things on my own. Our lives and personalities are different. Down the road, I know we’re going to argue about something stupid, but thatexcitesme. I’m giddy thinking about what I could get him for Christmas. Having him around to celebrate my birthday in May and learning when his is.
I never knew what my dream partner looked like, but with Hunter in front of me, I know it’s him, and my heart could burst with excitement about what’s to come. I throw my arms around his neck, hugging him tight. I kiss him, and he kisses me back, but it’s not the sensual kind I’m used to with him. It’s a promise. Tender. A glimpse into what our lives could look like down the road, and it’s everything I want it to be and more.
I don’t care if it’s too fast or if I don’t know enough about him yet.
People always saywhen you know, you know, and with him, I’m certain.
“Yes,” I whisper against his mouth. “That’s what I want too.”
The doorbell rings, and my phone buzzes. Hunter runs his hand up my spine, squeezing my shoulder. “Skyler is here,” he says. “You two take the living room, and I’ll get breakfast going.”
“Okay.” I kiss him one more time because I can, laughing when his fingers press into my ribs. “What did you do with Connor?”
“Nothing yet. That’s this afternoon’s project. I’m going to be scrubbing the floor for fucking hours, but it’s worth it.” Hunter helps me climb off of him and grabs a sweatshirt to pull on. “It’s not your problem to worry about, and I’ll let you know when I’m finished.”
