Watched

by Batto, Olivia

  There, in the middle of the parking lot, was a large yellow truck. As she watched, horrified, Mr. and Mrs. Louangrath climbed into the cab. A spear of cold shot down her spine as they drove away.

  “What happened, what’s wrong?” Kailea asked, her voice rising in pitch as she watched Alexandra. The girl strained to sit higher on her bed and look out the window.

  Alexandra plastered on a fake smile. “Nothing, I just realized something I had forgotten. They left. I’ll be back in for a visit soon.” She helped the girl relax, then retreated from the hospital room.

  Yellow truck. The one which had almost run her over outside the gym. The same truck she had squeezed past the night her car had been keyed. It belonged to Mrs. Louangrath, the woman who had just lunged at her and screamed her hatred.

  It was the same truck, she was certain.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Hunter

  Hunter sat next to Alexandra at the kitchen table while her phone sat in front of them. The speaker phone blared with the voice of Detective Caldwell. “I’m afraid Mr. Louangrath’s alibis are airtight. I checked three times. His wife doesn’t appear to have an alibi at all, but we still haven’t found her.” Static crackled over the line as Caldwell cleared his throat. “She might have gone into hiding, or left the state. If that’s the case, we’ll need to contact other agencies to find her, and it might take a little longer.”

  “Is there anything I can do, some way to protect myself?” Alexandra’s lips were thin, her face nearly colorless. Hunter gave her a squeeze, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

  Caldwell sighed. “Pepper spray, always be aware of your surroundings, the usual. Is there somewhere you can go, perhaps a place Mrs. Louangrath doesn’t know about? Sometimes removing yourself from the situation for a while can make harassment slow down or even stop.”

  Hunter and Alexandra exchanged a look, and he thought of John. The thought of her ex-husband in the same house as her for any extended period gave him the creeps, but if it would keep her safe, maybe it was worth it. He raised his eyebrows at Alexandra in silent question.

  Equal parts relief and frustration tunneled through his brain when she shook her head. “No,” she told the detective. “I’m an only child, and my parents have passed away. I don’t have any family I can contact.”

  “Understood.” The sound of shuffling papers came over the line, and the detective sounded resigned. “We’re doing everything in our power to find her. Please stay safe, and I’ll contact you the moment I find something.”

  When the line went silent, Hunter reached behind Alexandra and rubbed her neck. “You’re tense.”

  “Of course I’m tense,” she snapped, standing up and resting her hands on the back of the chair. “You would be to, if someone was threatening you.” Alexandra scrunched her eyes shut, then rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry. I’ve felt on edge for the last few days, but I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

  A shrug loosened his posture as she stood. He laid a hand on her back. “It happens.” She stepped into his embrace, and he wrapped his arms around her for only a moment before letting go. “You’ve been cooped up ever since you found out about the Louangraths and that truck,” he said. “Two days is too long for anyone to be in one place, maybe it’s time to get out for a while. Let’s take a walk, I know this great secluded place, you can shake some of this cabin fever.”

  Alexandra hesitated. “I don’t know. Do you think it’s safe?” She glanced up at him, and the faint hope in her smile mirrored his own.

  “As safe as it can be. Even the detective thinks she’s out of state.” He looked around at the beige walls, seeking inspiration. “Plus, even if she’s not, she knows where you live. You’re not much safer here than anywhere else.”

  “Oh, how comforting,” Alexandra said, the smirk on her lips growing. “Remind me not to ask you if I’m safe here ever again.”

  “Sorry.” He curled a strand of her hair around his finger, enjoying the first smile he’d seen from her in two days. “But does that mean you’ll come on a walk with me?”

  Alexandra’s smile turned into a grin. “Fine, it sounds like you could use the time out too.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Alexandra

  He took her on a long hiking trail, hidden down a small road. She basked in the beauty of it. Ferns and moss covered branches sway around them like scenes from a Jurassic forest. A stream flowed along beside them. The cheerful bubbling lifted her spirits.

  She stripped off her cardigan and wrapped it around her waist. The warm sunlight felt good on her shoulders. She was glad it was such an easy trail, because she had chosen a long skirt for the day. It swished around her legs as she kept pace with him. “This is such a beautiful trail.” She said as they crossed a brook. “I’m surprised there’s no one here.”

  Hunter shrugged, wrapping his arm loosely around her shoulders. “It’s never crowded, but in the winter sometimes there’s a hiker or two. My secret getaway.” He reached into the pack on his back, pulling out a bottle of water and offering some to her. “It’s really nice here in the spring. That’s when all the flowers come out.”

  “We should take Simon here sometime. He’d love it.”

  “Have you two spoken lately?”

  “No,” she admitted. “I know I should tell him about us, and about what’s going on, but how does one even start that kind of topic? ‘Hi honey, how was your day? Well, I’m sleeping with our landlord, and someone has a vendetta against me. Did your painting do well at the competition?’ That’ll go well.”

  Her line of thought was interrupted when Hunter lightly brushed his knuckles across the base of her neck. Little jolts of electricity flashed to life under his touch, making her skin tingle in anticipation. She looked up to find amusement dancing in his eyes.

  “Maybe you could start with breaking the news about us, then move on to the scary parts.”

  She licked her lips, distracted by the hand stroking slowly up and down her neck. How did he turn her on just by a casual touch? Her nipples drew into taut buds, aching for his attention. She turned away to hide the flush on her cheeks.

  “I’m worried about Simon. I don’t want to upset him. He’s only fifteen, he might not understand.” She broke off as his deep chuckle vibrated through her. The richness of it sent a rush of awareness up her spine. Her pulse sped up even as she raised an eyebrow at him. “What’s so funny?”

  “There's something you need to know about Simon.” He told her, rubbing his hand up and down her upper arm as they followed the path to a hollow behind a small waterfall. The misty cavern air smelled of stone and moss. Goosebumps rose on her arms. “He's already talked to me about you.”

  She looked up at him and stopped, crossing her arms over her chest. “What do you mean?”

  He laid a kiss on the top of her head. “Simon thought I should move faster, tell you sooner. How did he put it? Oh yes. ‘I'll never forgive you if you let her get away.’ The boy has been winking at me for months like a crazed wing man, I'm surprised you didn't notice.”

  She stared at him in surprise. Her son had talked to Hunter about this? Slow realization dawned; it had been Simon who encouraged her to start having dinner with Hunter. “How long have you two been planning this?”

  He lifted his hands, palms forward. “He first spoke to me about two months before he left, but we haven’t been planning anything. He swore me to secrecy at first, but I thought under the circumstances you should know.”

  “Little sneak.” The casual affection in his touch had her nerves singing, and she pulled his hands back down to rest around her waist. “What about your family, is there anyone you’ll tell soon?”

  Hunter laughed, pulling her against his hard chest. Her body relaxed against his automatically, and she ran her fingers over his chest.

  “Well, my sister and mother will meet you at Art’s party.”

  Alexandra smacked a hand to her forehead. “I completely forgot about the p
arty! It’s on Thursday, isn’t it? Three days from now.” When he nodded, she let her hand slide down to cover her face. “I’m meeting your sister and mother in three days. Just great. I’m excited to meet them,” she amended hastily with an apologetic flinch. “It’s just nerves, it’ll pass.”

  He caressed her hair, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. “I’m sure they’ll fall in love with you, just like I have.”

  Alexandra twitched as his words sent a jolt of fire through her. “In love,” she repeated, searching his face. The waterfall roared in her ears as she rested on his chest.

  Hunter folded his arms around her. “In love. With you.” He raised one eyebrow. “Is that allowed?”

  “It’s just a lot to process.” Alexandra leaned her forehead against him, her hands running over his stomach and hips. He loved her. She wanted to say it back, but something about the words frazzled her nerves. It felt too fast, like they were on a rocket headed for a fateful explosion.

  His strong hands rubbed her back soothingly. “Don’t feel pressured. I just wanted you to know how I feel. If you don’t feel the same way, or if you’re not ready, I can wait. It doesn’t upset me.” He pressed her against the cavern wall, and she shivered at the contrast between the cold stone and the heat of his body. A grin curved his lips as he nipped at her collarbone. “You want to know what does upset me?”

  “What?” Her pulse fluttered as he ran his hands under her tank top and up her back. A rush of moisture dampened her panties. She sighed, pressing her hips against his. The solid heat of his erection through his jeans thrilled her.

  “This bra. It’s in the way.” He unsnapped her strapless bra under her tank top and pulled it away in a quick movement, and she gasped.

  “Dammit Hunter, give me back my bra!” She reached up to snatch it from him, but he only lifted it higher above his head with a playful grin.

  Her breasts rubbed against his chest, the friction making them feel swollen and heavy. A guilty thrill ran through her as he stuffed the bra into his bag. The idea of being braless in public felt oddly decadent and exciting, even as her hands moved to cover herself.

  He grinned and pulled her hands aside, sucking gently on the sensitive skin just under her wrist and using the other hand to caress her beaded nipple through the thin fabric. The feel of his hot lips and the gentle pressure of his fingers drew a moan from her chest.

  “It’s been far too long since I’ve had my hands on you.” He said, sweeping his hand under her tank top. “That upsets me. You should be touched all the time.” Hunter wiggled his eyebrows, then brushed his fingers across her aching nipple, and pinched lightly before palming her breast.

  Alexandra arched toward him, stretching her skin taut against his touch. “Couldn’t you have told me before we left the apartment?” She smiled at him to defuse her halfhearted protest. Pleasure and need vibrated through her.

  He lifted one of her legs, hiking up her skirt and pushing his knee forward to keep her thighs open. “No one’s here, baby. Spread those legs for me, I’ll make sure no one sees.” She trembled at the raw sensuality in his voice, lifting her chin as he nibbled at the base of her neck.

  His thumb stroked her nipple in a mesmerizing rhythm while his other hand glided up her skirt. He pulled her panties aside, his fingers stroking her sensitive folds before reaching up to stroke her clit.

  His strong fingers began to stroke at a steady pace as he switched his attention to her other nipple. She gasped, saying his name as the sensation spiraled through her.

  “I love the way you say my name, sweetheart. It drives me wild. I want to hear you yell it when you come.” He took her mouth in a long kiss, releasing her when she was breathless and pressed a light kiss at her temple.

  She touched his cheek, looking into his darkened blue eyes. “Should we really do this?” The idea of him touching her so intimately in a public place seemed exotic and exciting, the twinge of fear arousing her more. “I’ve never done something like this, you know - out in the open like this.”

  He caught her index finger in his mouth, sucking it gently and rasping his tongue over the pad before releasing with a wicked, sexy smile. “Scared? Do you want me to stop?”

  She shook her head. “No, don’t stop.”

  He slid a finger inside her, the hot invasion making her knees buckle. He caught her around the waist, lifting her and supporting her weight easily. Stroking her clit steadily, he began slowly pumping his finger into her, nipping at her breast through the thin fabric of her tank top.

  A sound between a whimper and a moan escaped from Alexandra’s parted lips. His dual attention was sending tingling shock waves through her body. She couldn’t stop herself from clamping on him, and he seemed to know just how to touch her to keep her wanting more.

  Her nipples ached for his attention, and each nip seemed to bring him closer to her sensitized tips without actually giving her relief. She pulled impatiently at the neckline of her tank top, freeing her breast to give him access. He growled in approval, licking her long and slow and scraping his teeth over the tight bud of her nipple.

  He slid a second finger into her, his strokes coming harder and faster. Alexandra threw her head back, crying out as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He chuckled, then took her nipple in his mouth, suckling.

  She rocketed over the edge, screaming his name as she came. He nuzzled her neck, holding her and stroking slowly in time with her orgasm as she clenched on his fingers. She clutched him helplessly, her knees shaking as he slowly let her stand again.

  He kept his arm around her protectively, righting her clothing and brushing loose strands of hair back from her face. As she brushed against him, the hardness of his bulging erection ignited a blush under her skin.

  “What about you?” The thought of him filling her sent a quiver of anticipation down her spine.

  Hunter pulled her into an embrace, stroking her back soothingly. “There’s plenty of time for that later.” He told her, his voice rumbling through her. “Right now I should get some food into you, keep your strength up. Then we can finish our hike and head home.”

  Alexandra realized suddenly she was starving. She nodded, taking a step on legs still weak from his ministrations. He wrapped his arm around her waist to support her, and she clung gratefully as he led her to a grassy spot on the other side of the waterfall.

  He settled her on his lap. “I have to warn you, when we get to your place I plan to make love to you until you give me those sexy scratches down my back again.” He grinned at her, then handed her a sandwich from his bag. “Sandwich?”

  She dipped her head as he took a bite of his own sandwich. “I’ve been meaning to say sorry about those scratches.”

  Hunter snorted. “Don’t apologize. It’s hot. I love the way you react to me.”

  Alexandra bit into her sandwich, relaxing against him as he rested his free hand on her hip. She wasn’t sure what to say in response, but he didn’t seem to need one.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Hunter

  They kept the conversation light as they completed their hike and turned back toward the apartment complex. Hunter didn’t mind. She seemed to need the distraction.

  “I’ve taken your advice,” he announced into a lull in the conversation.

  “What advice?” She twined her fingers through his as they climbed the stairs toward their apartments.

  “You said I should try investing in a few different apartment complexes. Didn’t want me to put all my eggs in one basket.”

  “Ah!” Alexandra smiled. “Are you going to buy another one?”

  “Yes. I found out I can afford another one with the equity I have in this building.” He stroked the length of her index finger with his thumb as they walked down the hallway. “So what do you say baby, want to come over to my place and look at real estate?”

  A giggle burst from Alexandria. “That had better not be a euphemism.”

  Page after page of listings scrolled by,
and Hunter rubbed his temples. “No more,” he announced. “I need a break.”

  Alexandra jotted one last note on the scratchpad she had stolen from the bedside table, then placed it back where she’d found it. “We’ve narrowed the list from forty-eight to sixteen, I think we can claim some progress.”

  Hunter snapped the laptop closed, then lifted her onto the bed with him. “I don’t know if I could have done it without you. I would have thought that one with a tax lien was a steal if you hadn’t caught it.”

  “Mmmmmmm, I like it when you talk dirty,” she teased as she cuddled against him.

  “Well, if it’s dirty you want,” he began, then was interrupted when her mouth connected with his.

  A jolt of excitement went through him as she opened her mouth eagerly and leaned into his kiss. The gentle, almost shy flicks of her tongue over his heated his blood with the desperate need for her. This time Alexandra seemed more intense, more passionate than before, as if she had decided to let him have a little more. He resisted the sudden urge to press deeper and ravage her mouth. He wanted this time to be special.

  He glided his hands up the soft skin of her back, then cupped her breasts. Their gentle weight filled his palms perfectly. Her nipples tightened even more as he teased them with light pinches. Her moan filled his mouth.

  “I believe you mentioned something earlier about things in the way,” Alexandra said. Her hands went to the waistband of his jeans and played there nervously. Alexandra hesitated for half a breath before she unbuttoned his pants and stripped them down his hips.

  His erection sprang free, a single bead of moisture glistening on its tip. He smiled, watching her closely as she broke the kiss to slip out of her clothing. Her lacy panties soon joined her skirt and tank top in a small heap by the bed. After he pulled his shirt off she wrapped her fingers around him, tugging him gently toward the bed with a shy, playful smile on her face.