The Hunt - Monica James

by James, Monica

  Gail’s cocky saunter has Keira smirking, using my favorite chair as a barrier as he hunts her like prey. “Did you find it?” Keira holds up the file proudly.

  Edging closer to the screen to see what she is in fact holding, I groan, scolding my stupidity. She’s sporting Mr. Yeong’s file, the file which has a two-page report detailing my progress on finding the fucking watch. I can regret my foolishness later because something nasty, and I don’t mean that in a good way, is about to take place.

  “Yes. So now that I have it, what are you going to give me in return?”

  “Don’t be a bad girl, Keira, otherwise, I’ll be forced to punish you.” Gail prowls closer and closer to her, and when he unfastens his tie and begins to unbutton his shirt, I actually throw up in my mouth.

  The moment he’s topless, I’ve seen more than enough, but Mary nudges me in the ribs, demanding I see this through.

  “I’ve been a very bad girl, Mr. Gail.” Keira twirls a lock of hair around her finger, while Gail snarls like a dog. I just can’t. It hurts my eyeballs.

  “You know what happens to bad girls, don’t you?” Move over, Ron Jeremy, we have a new hedgehog in town.

  It happens before I can turn away or render myself unconscious, but Gail pounces on Keira, kisses the living shit out of her, before bending her over my desk, where he fucks her like an epileptic slug. “Oh, god, no.” My face twists in sheer horror. “Sweet baby Jesus, why?” I’ll never look at my index roller the same way. No surprise that he’s a two-pump chump, but I’ve forever been scarred when he comes with a high-pitched squeal.

  This is the ultimate fuck you—literally.

  Mary mercifully turns off the video as I’m moments away from rocking in a corner. “Well…” She clears her throat. “I thought she was in this for herself, but apparently, I was wrong.”

  I have no idea what that means, because that video is a clear indication that they’ve been fucking for a while. I can only hope that was the first time they used my office as a bordello.

  As I’m contemplating calling a priest to exorcise my office, Mary exhales. This was an ordeal for the both of us, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she suggested counseling, but what she says next just proves that when it rains, it fucking pours down a shitstorm.

  “That must be hard to watch.”

  “You have no idea,” I confirm, shuddering. “It pains me to say, but I now have to burn down all your hard work because there is no fucking way I can go inside that office without a bubble suit and a gallon of bleach.”

  It was meant to be a joke…well, sort of, because I do plan on ripping up the office, floor to ceiling, but Mary doesn’t look amused. “That girl certainly gets around. It’s a wonder she can get any work done. Between fucking her boss and blowing you, she sure does have her hands full. Although, I can see why she favors your cock.”

  The brakes are slammed on and I jerk my head so quickly, I’m certain I’ve given myself whiplash. “What now? Who’s blowing me?”

  Mary narrows her eyes, ready to kill. “There’s no need to lie. The cat’s out of the bag.” She cringes. “I really wish I used another phrase.”

  I’m now the one who is far from amused. “You think Keira is blowing me?”

  “I know for a fact she’s doing a lot more than that,” she counters quickly.

  I’m so lost right now, I don’t think a GPS could even steer me in the right direction. Siri, help! “You’re mistaken. She was fucking me over, yes, but I never touched her.” When she rolls her eyes and pushes off the counter, I press, “It’s the god honest truth.”

  “Just stop. I heard the recording.”

  My brain short circuits, unable to take yet another surprise. “What recording?”

  “The tape where you say…” She holds up her finger, licking her lips. “She can fuck whomever she likes. We’re not exclusive. Just having fun.” Her low voice I’m guessing is supposed to mimic mine, but why is she reciting something that was said a lifetime ago?

  When I continue staring at her like she has two heads, she flies into a rage. “You can’t deny it, Hunter. I heard you. Keira played me the recording in the bathroom. She then detailed how you fucked her into a well-sated heap!”

  This explains her tears and the slap which rattled my teeth.

  “I’m not denying it,” I say, intruding on her need to kill. She steps forward, no doubt ready to slap me again, but I grab her wrist. “I did say that, but it was weeks ago. The night when you met Ming, Keira rounded me up and told me she’d heard you speaking to someone I now know was Maddy. She made it sound like you were ready to screw anything with a pulse. I didn’t know it was Maddy, so I assumed the worst. What you heard was me licking my wounds.”

  Her mouth parts and her need to kill lessens.

  “My huge ego had control of my mouth for a split second, but it appears that second was exactly what Keira needed as collateral. I didn’t even know she was recording our conversation, because no one except crazy people do that shit. I didn’t mean a word of it. I was just…hurt.” God, I sound like such a pussy.

  “B-but she said you had slept together.”

  “Well, she’s a fucking liar, but there’s no surprise there.” I loosen my hold, believing Mary will need time to process everything that’s just happened. I sure as shit do.

  I take a moment to digest everything without giving myself indigestion.

  So, it appears Keira is the root of all evil as she and Gail were in cahoots this entire time. I know without a doubt our first encounter was not accidental. She set a trap, and like a stupid rabbit, I got caught.

  Her job was to get close to me, as Gail hoped I’d fall for her sweet, virginal act, which I did. But what he never anticipated was me falling in love with the woman of my dreams, foiling their plans on overthrowing my empire.

  When her constant attempts to seduce me failed, they decided to up the ante and not only destroy my career, but my personal life as well. The funny thing is, they saw what I was too blind to see. They knew if they destroyed my relationship with Mary, nothing else would matter, because winning isn’t worth the effort if you don’t have anyone to share your triumphs with.

  Keira was never on my side. All the times I thought she was looking out for me, both she and Gail were actually setting this plan into motion because they planted a seed…and sat back and watched it grow. We played right into their hands, but the sad part is, they didn’t destroy us…we did.

  They were hoping their plan was foolproof, and for a second there, it was. How fucking stupid could I have been?

  It appears Mary has done some investigating of her own. “I knew Keira was evil, but this takes it to a whole different level. When I saw her crying in Gail’s office, I thought he was reprimanding her for spilling his coffee, or not booking his favorite restaurant, but I bet he was chastising her for not trying harder. You were supposed to be easy, but then…” She seals her lips shut, averting her eyes.

  I’m so tired of pretending, because this is the first time I’ve felt like I can breathe in days. Risking a finger, I slowly brush the back of my pointer down her cheek. The moment I make contact, her skin breaks out in a shiver. “But then you came along and changed my world forever,” I confess, unable to stop even if I wanted to.

  “This entire thing was about power, control, and greed,” I reveal. “With my past, Gail thought it was a done deal. He was certain I’d succumb to her advances, confessing my secrets mid-orgasm. But what he never realized was that Keira was the fluffer, but you…you were the real deal.”

  She lifts those eyes, the eyes which have me denouncing all I believe in and love because she is my goddess, my deity I bow to and worship. “I was?” she whispers, leaning into my touch.

  “Yes, Shortcake. You were.” I hate speaking in past tense, but we both have a lot of soul-searching to do.

  I have no idea where this leaves us, because until I speak to Keira and beat the truth from Gail, we’re given half the story, and to m
ove forward, I need all the pieces to see where we went wrong.

  “So you believe me?” she asks, her lower lip trembling, the sight breaking my heart all over again.

  “Yes, I believe you. I never should have doubted you in the first place.”

  Her shoulders sag and she looks ten pounds lighter. Now, it’s make or break. “Do you believe me?”

  She has every right not to. I’m far from an angel, and given my track record, she had every right to think I meant what I said on that recording. In the past I may have, but that was before I met and fell head over heels in love with her.

  I skim my fingertip over her trembling lips, unable to stop myself because I’ve craved her touch. Whatever her response, I will deal, just as long as she lets me touch her. She does, but there is something missing.

  She opens her mouth, but I know what she’s going to say even before she says it. “Yes, I do, but…” One simple word can hold the weight of the world, and now is no exception.

  “But what?” I gently ask, brushing my thumb over the apple of her cheek.

  “Keira and Gail…they played at both our insecurities, and it worked. It’s ridiculous to think I believed Keira, but that’s the problem…I believed her. What does that say for our future? If we don’t trust one another, then we don’t have anything. This entire situation could have been avoided if only we were honest.”

  Every part of me mourns because what she says is true. I don’t want it to be, but it is. It is ludicrous to think I ever believed Mary would do all that I thought she did, but the important thing is, that I did. I would rather believe a lie, than accept the truth because the truth of spending forever with one person is fucking daunting, and to a former manwhore, a self-confessed commitment-phobe, Mary is someone who scares the living shit out of me.

  “I should have been honest from the very beginning. I’m so sorry.”

  But she shakes her head, placing her palm over mine. “The same thing could be said about me. If I had just told you of my suspicions, we could have worked this out together. But that’s our problem.” Her lower lip trembles. “I think we’ve been single for so long, we don’t know how to co-exist without hurting each other. We’re still learning, and we’re bound to make mistakes along the way, but this is just…” She sniffs, her eyes peeled to her sneakers.

  Cradling both her cheeks, I coax her to look at me because I know what comes next. “Too much?” I offer, and after a moment, she nods. I tell myself to man up. The waterworks can start later.

  “I know most people would be able to get over this and move on, but I don’t think I can. You’ve got the power to ruin me, and I’m scared. Every time I’m with you, I can’t help but question…am I enough?”

  “You’re more than enough, Shortcake,” I affirm, leveling her with my sincerity.

  She smiles, but it’s so bittersweet. “Thank you, but I have to believe it. I just…I don’t think I’m ready.” Tears sting her eyes while I watch on, not believing that our future is ready to crash and burn. “I’m sorry for calling you a manwhore.”

  “It’s okay. It’s the truth.” I sigh, wishing I could erase all the women I’ve ever slept with, because none of them matter. My past has finally come back to bite me in the ass. I lower my hands, suddenly feeling unworthy of touching her.

  She surprises me when she interlaces our hands. It’s the simplest of gestures. “It may have been, but not anymore. I hope when looking back on what we had, you can say you learned as much from me as I have from you.”

  “So that’s it? We’re done?” I swallow past the lump in my throat. She sniffs, but eventually she nods. “…Fuck me.”

  This is so final, and although I hate it, it’s the only way for us to move on. We would be stupid to sweep this under the carpet and not learn from our mistakes. I suppose most people could move on together, but we’re not most people.

  I can say with confidence that Mary is the first person that broke my heart, because I’ve finally learned how to love. Love sets you free…and I have to do the same for Mary if she doesn’t want me. Fight for her! my inner caveman screams, but I no longer want to be someone’s stand-in.

  “I know it sounds petty, but I need to be in a relationship with myself before I can even contemplate being in one with somebody else. And you, Hunter”—she draws me toward her—“are something else. You take my breath away, and I’m afraid I’ll forget how to breathe on my own.”

  So, it appears we’re breaking up because this all-consuming love has the ability to overthrow us both, and we’re not ready for that type of commitment because what we have…it has the possibility to be epic—a true life fairy-tale. But if we can’t trust one another, if Mary can’t look at me the same way my parents, Dix, and Maddy look at one another, then I don’t want to settle.

  A small part of me feels like it’s dying, but knowing Mary will look back on what we have with nothing but fond memories makes me feel like the luckiest man alive. She gave me a chance and taught me self-sacrifice, because I would gladly lay down my happiness if it meant she lived her life with a confident smile.

  This has got to be the most anti-climactic breakup—ever. I was expecting tears, maybe even a broken leg, but it appears our story isn’t filled with angst or ugly tears. Don’t get me wrong, I’m hurting, and when she walks out that door, I don’t plan on leaving the apartment for a month.

  “So, what happens now?” she asks, working her luscious bottom lip.

  I need to stop focusing on shit like this because if we’re going to move on, then first and foremost, we have to learn how to be friends. “We went from enemies to lovers. I think we missed a step,” I reveal, extending my hand and throwing my manhood to the wind.

  Mary peers down at it, her brow arched. “You want to be friends?”

  I nod. “Yes. I still want you in my life, because before things got complicated, you were my most favorite person to annoy.” She bursts out laughing, the sound music to my ears.

  “Maybe we could work from there and see what happens? Friends it is, then.” She slips her delicate hand in mine, shaking with vigor and a smile. Sadly, the moment we touch, my dick is far from impressed with this truce, highlighting that although my intentions are good, I still want her more than ever, and I doubt that’ll ever change.

  She reads my heightened response, and her reply is that her nipples blossom under the thin cotton of her white t-shirt. I fight with my depravity, trying to look anywhere but at her chest, but I just can’t help it. I’ve come to realize I’m an all right guy, but I never claimed to be a fucking saint.

  “You better go…” I manage to push out between clenched teeth.

  “Yes, I better go,” she confirms, but her hand is still locked in mine.

  “Shortcake…” I warn, wrestling with my morals, because we literally agreed to being friends thirty seconds ago, and all I want to do is kiss the living shit out of her.

  “Hunter, just stop talking.” She pounces on me, smashing her lips to mine and sucker punching me with her strawberry kisses. I don’t stand a chance, because this quite possibly may be the last time we lock this way, and if that is in fact true, then I’m going to enjoy every minute. Fuck the confusion and mixed signals, I can deal with that tomorrow.

  She laces her hands behind my nape, standing on tippy toes to gain full access to every part of me. Our tongues duel, battling to conquer the other, but when she rubs her knee against my hard on, it’s evident that we’re both winners.

  I want to be gentle, tell her that I love her, because I do, I fucking do, but she doesn’t want to hear it, and besides, words escape us both as we’re fueled by our untamed passion to consume one another whole. Reaching under her skirt, I tear off her underwear, palming her supple ass. She gasps into my mouth, but that soon turns to a moan when I slip my fingers into her ripe heat. Her pussy clenches at the intrusion, sucking me into the warm cavern. I never want to leave, but I don’t have a choice, because after tonight…who knows what the fuck
is going to happen.

  She only pries her lips off mine to tear the t-shirt from my body. When I’m topless, our lips re-collide, desperately clinging to the other as I lift her up and walk her toward the couch. We fall together, our kisses never ceasing as we desperately undress each other.

  The moment her magnificent tits are exposed, I pull away and work her pink nipple into my mouth. She launches off the sofa, only offering me more of her milky flesh. I can’t get enough of her, so with her right breast still in my mouth, I lower my hand and thrust two fingers into her. She cries as she spreads her legs wider.

  “Greedy girl,” I hum against her areola, flicking her fleshy nipple with my tongue.

  She madly unfastens the button on my jeans before yanking down the fly. Her hand shoots into my pants, desperately fisting my shaft as I suckle her breast. Her pussy is wet and ready, and I so want to bury my head between her legs and eat her out for a week, but we both need the most primitive connection known to mankind, because this is what links us as one…for the last time.

  Without further ado, I yank my jeans down and align our bodies, staring deeply into those mesmerizing eyes. I know I’m bareback, but the condoms are in my room, and if I don’t get lost in her body this second, I just may fucking die.

  She nods, giving me silent permission to bring this home.

  It’s all I need, and I sink into her, unable to mute my cries because she feels so… fucking… good. I still the moment I’m buried all the way to the hilt. My cock demands I move, but I need to absorb this memory, get lost in perfection, because I’m going to do something I’ve never done before.

  With the slowest of movements, I rock my hips, lower my lips, and then, we make love.

  I’ve fucked plenty, but making love, before now, I couldn’t even say the word without wanting to throw up, but as I savor every slow stroke and get lost in the sweet cadence of her lips, I’m a complete convert. Every emotion is heightened, and the feel of her small body writhing under mine is more than words can express.