by Pinki Parks
She was lying on his bare chest with her head over his heart and felt the soft rhythmic beats of the life-giving organ underneath. His callused hand was settled on the small of her back with his thumb making small circles on her skin.
Keisha had never felt so much at peace as she did then with the eyes closed and mentally counting his breaths while her hand was slowly sliding down his stomach.
“Baby,” a soft deep voice murmured in her ear, “If you keep doing that, we won’t get out of bed till nightfall.”
“So?” Keisha asked while nuzzling her head further into his chest, “I’m sure there’s nothing out there that’s more important.”
“Probably,” Hunter mused before nudging her head up to him.
Keisha was met with hooded gemstone eyes that seemed to house a marsh-fire behind it. Her breath caught for a moment before Hunter’s lips descended on hers. The kiss was nothing short of soul-stealing. Hunter seemed to devour her, using his tongue to discover every part of her mouth.
With his hand under the back of her head and bracing her, the tip of Hunter’s tongue ran over her soft palate which made shivers erupt all over her body.
Her hand gripped his hair as she pushed back, matching his intensity with her own. When she pulled back the smoldering fire in his eyes had tripled and he captured her bottom lip between his teeth to pull it towards him.
When he pulled away his lips went to her throat and latched on to her pulse point and sucked hard before his teeth sank into her skin like a ravenous vampire. Fiery lust exploded under her skin.
“Ah!” Keisha gasped shooting up in her bed, feeling her racing heartbeat that was nearly triple the normal rate.
With a trembling hand, she pressed her palm against her eyes and breathed deeply trying to control the riot that was in the middle of her gut.
When she finally achieved a semblance of control she laid back down and laughed quietly to herself. Hunter did want her to only burn, but right now she felt like there was a furnace under her skin.
“Point to you Hunter,” she murmured almost silently.
Chapter 6
Bundled up in an oversized sweatshirt and soft lounge pants, Keisha sat in a part of her leather sectional couch with a cup of hot chamomile tea to calm her nerves. The reason for the upset; Hunter was about to arrive.
As she sipped the aromatic brew she reflected on the last four days when it had all started.
After the outing with her girlfriends, Keisha had gone to church as it was not only a staple of her upbringing, it was where she found peace and comfort; and if there was one thing Keisha needed now, it was comfort.
She remembered sitting in the pew with her eyes closed when a beep from her cell phone alerted her and she checked it only to find another text from Danielle, with another one of her ridiculous suspicions about who ‘the Adonis’ was.
Almost every hour she had received a text from the woman whose theories got more outlandish than the one before it. Danielle kept postulating that the ‘Adonis’ she was keeping from them was either a rich mogul who wanted her or a lost icon from GQ or someone aiming to be the next president.
Keisha could only roll her eyes at each one. She had then left the church to run some errands. She needed to get her laundry from the dry-cleaners, pick up some more groceries and her dinner at a local restaurant.
Everything had gone well and she had just grabbed her dinner from the home-style Country Crock restaurant and was halfway home when she spotted the same tinted Jeep a little way behind her and tension filtered into her body.
Keeping a calm demeanor, she had taken a circuitous route and then, remembering Hunter’s advice turned on the police station street and slowed down to a crawl. The car behind her had honked, overtook her and sped off.
She had then made up her mind to watch for those cars, and she had- for four days.
Four days; four days of that tinted Jeep and the silver sedan following her in turns. Whoever it was, they hadn’t made a move but still, she had known it was time to call in reinforcements.
Placing the call to PD had put all her nerves on edge. Each ring, though short, felt like a sluggish decade in her mind until she was answered.
“Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD, how may I help you?” a thoroughly bored voice had answered.
She didn’t clearly remember how she got in contact with Hunter but she had. The officer had curtly said, “Blake here.”
“I need your help.” Keisha had said plainly, “For the past four days I spotted this jeep and this silver sedan trailing me.”
Hunter had gone silent for a long while, “…Four days and you just thought to call me now.”
She bristled a little, “It’s not like they tried anything, I’m safe and you know how I’m with a gun.”
A soft snort was heard before Hunter asked, “What do you want me to do?”
Keisha had sagged in her seat, “I don’t know, what would you recommend?”
Hunter hummed, “Well, I can’t post some officers at your gate or get a detail for you so…the only thing I can think of is for me to stay with you.”
The very suggestion made small ripples of apprehension go through her body. Could she handle that, Hunter in her intimate space for a prolonged amount of time?
“For how long?” she dared ask.
"A two or three day, max," Hunter replied shortly, "Just to get probable cause to get a detail for you."
Rolling her neck to relieve the tension there she had sighed, “I hope it doesn’t come to that. I hope I’m just being paranoid.”
Hunter had laughed; that signature quiet low laugh that never failed to send shivers down her spine, “I’d like to think that paranoia should be your best friend right now.”
“We’ll see,” Keisha sighed while massaging her eyes. “Thanks a lot, though.”
“No problem.”
Sighing once more Keisha sagged and buried her head in her arm. “God, I’m going to need some strength.”
That was three hours ago and it was after seven in the night when a polite knock was on her door.
Carefully settling the cup of a coaster Keisha got and wrapped her arms around herself. It was more of a bracing move than a defensive one. She didn’t need to look through the peephole because there was just one person she had given permission to come up.
She opened the door to spot Hunter, clad in short sleeved oxford tee and blue jeans with a black duffel bag thrown over his shoulder. His hair was windblown and his eyes were covered with a pair of mirrored Ray-Bans. With his arm raised, she could spot the edges of a dark tattoo on his arm.
Standing there with his back to the dim hallway light, Hunter’s profile exuding a subtle and intoxicating power that made her mouth go dry. She stood there with her hand on the doorknob trying to put her thoughts in order.
It was a raised eyebrow over the shades that made Keisha snap out of her daze and she stepped back, “Come in.”
As he passed she forced herself to ignore the strain in the air and shut the door behind him.
Hunter stood in the middle of the living room with his shades up and his eye scanning the room.
Feeling curious Keisha stepped beside him, “What are you looking for?”
“Advantage points,” Hunter said succinctly twisting his head, “The best part where I can the one-up on an intruder.”
Keisha could only shake her head, “Always the soldier, huh? Doesn’t it get old sometime?”
"No, and isn’t that why I’m here?" Hunter replied while looking up to the ventilation slats.
Refraining from rolling her eyes, she gestured, “Come with me, I’ll show you your room.”
She heard a small strangled snort from beside her but when she turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow; Hunter was the picture of innocence.
This time she really did roll her eyes and took the short hallway to a second door and opened it. Inside was a furnished room with a double b
ed, night tables, and a dresser. A TV was in a cabinet across from the bed and a plush dark brown carpet was underfoot.
With her arms crossed across her chest, she gestured to a door at the end, "A bathroom in there, more like a big cupboard than a bathroom though, just a toilet, face basin, and a standing shower."
“Been through worse,” Hunter shrugged nonchalantly, while dropping the bag on the floor. “Getting clean water in the middle of monsoon season was more of a challenge than navigating a tiny shower.”
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Keisha nodded and was about to leave when Hunter hand was on her shoulder.
She couldn’t stem the light jump his touch evoked but managed to turn around with cool eyes. “Yes?”
Hunter’s eyes seemed to burn into her, “Where do you think you’re going? You need to tell me everything you remember about those cars. See if I can get an APB on them.”
Even knowing that it was best to talk with him, what she really wanted was to get away from his eyes. Every time she met his glittering orbs the sensation from the first day they met, how his eyes seemed to steal a part of her soul, was there. She wasn’t sure she could hold out with prolonged exposure to them.
Still, she nodded and gently removed his hand from her shoulder, “Sure, meet me in the kitchen in a few minutes…I’ll be there.”
Hunter's eyes narrowed for a moment before he nodded and stepped back. Glad for the freedom given to her, Keisha walked to her room at a measured pace. Closing the door behind her she braced her hands on her dresser and stared at herself in the mirror.
“Papa didn’t raise no cowards,” she said sternly to herself, “Get it together Keisha, so what if his eyes burn, you’re stronger than that.”
Shaking herself once more she left the room and went to the kitchen to find Hunter there, waiting for her. The man was sitting in one of her rarely used dining tables chairs with his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. He had ditched the shirt and was now in a dark blue tank.
Keisha easily met his eyes before going to the fridge, “Do you want anything to drink, water, juice…electrolyte punch maybe?”
“No,” Hunter replied sitting up and uncapping the pen that had been laid with military precision near a notepad. “Let’s get this over with so I can call in the APB.”
Taking her seat Keisha braced her forearms on the tablecloth and closed her eyes. Her mind was bringing up the memory and with a clear picture of both vehicles started to describe them.
Hunter had scribbled down everything about them and he had grinned when she handed over the license plates to him.
“They’re probably stolen or fake but still,” Hunter replied twiddling the pen, “Good observation.”
Nodding Keisha took a look at her phone and realized it was past nine but she still had one more question. “Why would two cars be following me though?”
"It could be two different people, one person trying to throw you off his tail thinking you wouldn't notice the change," Hunter replied simply.
Keisha blinked as she internalized that information then felt inordinately tired. First, someone was trying to set her up for money laundering and now she had a stalker, or two. “And the chances of this tail and the person whose framing me are the same are…”
“Really high,” Hunter replied in even factuality, “Perhaps they found out about that their scheme was uncovered and want to see if they could get rid of you which would remove every connection they have with you.”
And wasn't that just comforting?
"Keisha," Hunter said, "Tomorrow when you're about to leave call me. I'll follow you at a distance to see who is following you then. I'll be in an unmarked white Toyota Camry. If I do see a trail then I'll have a concrete case to get a protective order."
Keisha pressed a palm against her eyes and then rubbed them. It was just inconceivable that she was in such a mess. When she opened them the exhaustion that was there for a moment before was hidden behind strong barriers.
But that didn’t stop the fatigue from sounding in her voice.
“I’ll do that. I’m going to bed,” Keisha mumbled wearily while standing up, “Thanks for coming and helping me out, I really appreciate it.”
The look Hunter gave her was a mix of soft sympathy and strong admiration. “You’re welcome… try and get some rest.”
“Thanks… and be free to use whatever you want, okay, good night.”
With another nod, Keisha left the room feeling the protective gaze from Hunter on her back. When she did slip off to sleep it was with the soft security of having him with her that stayed the foreboding sensations.
*****
It was with a clearer mind and stronger determination that Keisha woke up the next morning. Staring up at the ceiling above she, in the dim hours of six a.m., had made up her mind that she was going to beat this.
Solid in her determination she wandered into the kitchen to see Hunter already up and perched on a barstool sipping a cup of coffee. She paused and delicately sniffed the air, it smelled like eggs and hash browns and with a side of French toast.
"You cooked?" She asked with full incredulity trying to assimilate this new side to him.
The question was moot as the covered dish on the table instantly proved it for her. She lifted the cover off and saw the whole spread and then glanced around the room. Not a dirty pot, pan or utensil, broken egg shells or bread crusts were in sight.
“Well,” Hunter replied moving off with a sly grin, “You did say to help myself.”
“But,” Keisha almost stuttered while still trying to shake the shock off, “I wasn’t expecting all this.”
“You could say thank you,” Hunter snorted while rising out the cup, “I have an early day at the office, and please, help yourself.”
With still shocked eyes Keisha watched him leave the room and then turned back to the delectable mean in front of her. A small smile started to cross her face as she took up a fork, well; he had said to help herself.
*****
It was a little obvious to anyone who knew Hunter that he was in an amiable mood. The issue with Keisha was crawling at a snail’s pace, which was good for them and the prosecution who had little or nothing to work with.
The tech guys were still trying to break into the desktop because the owner had put in place an elaborate and intricate security program which put the PC in a deadlock if the program wasn’t deactivated.
Aside from that the other job that he had given Jackson to do, which was to dig into Keisha’s past, to find anyone who had any motive to frame her; past employers, boyfriends even to her professors.
Hunter wasn’t taking any chances; he knew full well that the one thing they overlooked was the one thing that might screw them over.
While the tech boys were trawling through their task, Hunter was running the plate through the hoping for a hit.
Leaning back in his chair and twiddling a pen as the numbers flashed over his screen without any match.
The chief’s door creaked open and the seasoned captain called, “Hunter, a moment please.”
Green eyes closed in a flash of exasperation before Hunter stood up and crossed the floor.
The chief’s ice blue eyes met his, “I’m going to make this brief. Do you have any updates on the Habar case? Even though we have jurisdiction now, don’t be too comfortable. The FBI will take over if we can’t solve it and fast.”
“The tech boys are still trying to break through the hard drive that proves that this Ares Inc is just a front for some scheme here. I believe that as soon as we crack that drive we’ll find out who is behind this.”
Chief Reid looked at him with a searching look for a moment before he nodded then remarked, “Had a good night last night Blake? You look… immeasurably relaxed.”
Hunter paused for a moment, “Yes, I did.
Keaton Reid turned away to his desk, “Just keep me updated.”
�
�Will do,” Hunter added and walked out.
*****
It was with trepidation the Keisha left her building and got into her car. Ten minutes ago, she had called Hunter to tell him of her imminent departure and Hunter had told her to come to the local Walgreens, that he’d be there waiting.
She had done so and spotting the white Toyota Camry in the parking lot a surge of safety had settled in her stomach.
A quick trip inside to purchase some face cream, chocolate and a bottle of painkillers she left and didn’t make any noticeable acknowledgment of Hunter’s car.
The evening was calm and balmy with a hint of rain in the air. She had pulled out and drove home with a constant eye on the rear-view mirror. The cars behind her were an old Nissan two seater and a flashy convertible, and behind them was Hunter.
Keisha had taken a side road off the main to allow them to pass and then drove around for another half hour. When it came close to forty-five minutes she sighed and gave up and drove home.
Parked, she slammed her wrist on the steering wheel. The one time they set a trap for the trailer they hadn’t taken the bait.
Sighing, she left the vehicle and went into the building only to dump the small bag on the dining table and went to change her clothes and wait for Hunter to show up.
She was lounging in a corner of her couch bundled up in a loose white camisole and matching shorts and watching TV when Hunter knocked on the door. With a sigh, she got up and opened it for him.
“Don’t say it,” she said tersely, “I know, we struck out.”
“Maybe,” Hunter replied while shrugging his jacket off, “It might take some more time. Some stalkers do leave off for a while. We’ll get him, one way or another.”
“I’ve been here for over an hour,” Keisha said, “What did you do then.”
“I drove around looking for anyone who might just pop out of the woodwork,” Hunter replied. “Some stalkers are sneaky like that.”
