Shouldn't Have Dealt

by Mara Lynne

  As soon as Paul and the security guards are out of sight, Hunter continues to walk across the living room. As I am closing the main door, I notice tiny drops of scarlet liquid against the white marble floor—tiny drops that trail behind Hunter.

  It’s blood.

  Dread creeps from my toes up to my spine, and I quickly realize that my hunch about Hunter being unusual tonight is true. I look at him more closely. There’s nothing wrong with his gait, but his right arm appears heavier and is drooping down more than normal. His cufflink is also drenched with blood, flowing through the pale skin of his hand.

  Where does the blood come from?

  He halts just as he reaches the upper stair landing, and his hand moves to the upper part of his right arm.

  “Hunter…” I call, my voice shaking.

  This is exactly what I fear.

  This is exactly what I do not want to happen.

  “Angel… please…” The blood loss is weakening him, and it is slowing him down bit by bit.

  “I think you need a doctor,” I say. “You’re hurt, and I don’t think your wound is going to close by itself without medical attention.”

  Arrogant and all mighty Mr. Stone manages to smirk and laugh at his own expense.

  “What’s funny, Hunter?”

  He turns to face me and responds calmly, still bearing that overconfident smile of his. “It’s just a scratch, Angel.”

  “A scratch? You’re bleeding excessively!” I think it’s time to put some sense in his air-filled head.

  “Believe me, I can handle this,” he states.

  “Where are you going?”

  “In my room.”

  “Your stubbornness will kill you fast, Hunter Stone,” I warn him before he can reach for the doorknob of his room and slam the door open myself.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he questions as he drops his jaw watching me enter his bedroom.

  “I’m not going to leave you like this.”

  “Come on. I’m no baby.”

  He is silenced immediately after I gave him a look.

  “Do you have medical supplies here?” I ask.

  “It’s right there.” He points to a wooden cabinet with his hand. “What are you trying to do, Angel?”

  “Fix you up,” I answer as I walk over to the cabinet. It’s not difficult to find Hunter’s first-aid kit because it’s the first thing I saw when I open the drawer.

  “I can do that,” he says, hesitation written all over his face.

  “Take this off.” I tug at the extra coat he’s wearing to cover his injured arm.

  “I told you I can do this by myself.”

  I am not like Paul who is afraid of getting fired by Hunter. I don’t care if he shouts at me or drags me out of his room. I refuse to comply with his orders this time.

  A hole in his sleeve only means one thing—he was shot by a gun. He’s not only bloody but reeking with rainwater, soil, and rust.

  It’s not the time to chew him out, no matter how much I want to yell at him for causing this misfortune upon himself.

  I know I am to blame for this. It’s my fault he had to deal with Will. It’s my fault he had to go there and involve himself in such perilous missions. It’s my fault because I failed to stop him. It’s all because of me. I cannot imagine the pain he had to go through, but there is no clear indication of that on his face, only weakness and exhaustion.

  “Are you not afraid of blood?” His eyes seek for an answer.

  I shake my head.

  “What do you know about first aid?”

  “Nothing.”

  It seems that Hunter had successfully removed the bullet for see no opening on his skin.

  “Don’t worry. I already stitched myself up,” he tells me.

  I thought he was going to make fun of me for volunteering to help him when I know I lack basic first aid skills.

  “Will you mind if I take your shirt off? I need to see your wound.”

  To my surprise, he does not refuse and willingly moves closer to me.

  “I cannot move my arm. Can you please help me with the buttons?” he says.

  I feel my fingers fidgeting. It’s not because of his gunshot wound, but because he is too close for comfort. I start unbuttoning from the bottom, my sole attention focused on controlling the shaking of my fingers, so he does not notice. Hunter’s eyes are not leaving me, all the more adding to the tension I feel

  He bites his lips as the sleeve slides off his right arm and his shirt falls off the floor.

  “The bandage, Angel.” His voice snaps me from wandering at the sight of his body. His slabs of muscle protrude in so many ways. It’s a sight to behold to see what’s underneath the suit.

  “Why do you have so many scars?” I ask. I see so many of them.

  “I couldn’t get away with them.” He reaches for my hand and places it over an inch long scar on his chest. “It’s who I am, Angel—the real Hunter Stone.”

  Scars

  Danger

  It’s who he is.

  The stitched up wound he got on his upper right arm exemplifies the kind of life he used to have before—with Will, and probably Damien as well. With all the scars all over his body, I don’t think the kind of life he had in the past was easy.

  It’s fraught with danger, blood, pain, life, and death

  That’s why he did not complain of pain because he got used to it. For a very long time, it has been his companion.

  “Where did you get this?” My fingers touch the scar on his lower abdomen.

  “I was stabbed just before my eighteenth birthday.”

  My finger slides up to his right chest. “And this one?”

  “Gun shot. The bullet’s still inside. Only a few millimeters away from my heart.” He is dead serious.

  How can he live with a bullet inside him, let alone when it’s that close to his heart?

  I pull out a roll of fresh, clean bandage from the kit and start unrolling it.

  “What about the gunshot on your arm?”

  “Something unexpected happened.”

  “Did Will shoot you?”

  He shakes his head.

  “Then who did?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What exactly happened, Hunter?”

  He pauses as though he is hesitant about telling me.

  I continue with wrapping the bandage around his arm. Hunter’s got talent on stitching wounds, I see. It’s perfectly made up like he’s some expert surgeon. After all the years with danger and blood, he’s perfected the skill and art of stitching skin.

  “The cops appeared just after I handed over Frey his ticket to the West. There were gunshots all over the place. I was hit, but I was able to escape. Frey and Will safely ran off with money and some caskets of drugs. The rest are already in the hands of the FBI. I called Paul right away for help. The rest is history.”

  “Who do you think called the cops? Do you think it’s someone from Will’s team?”

  “Maybe. Or it could be Will himself,” Hunter says. “I know the man. He is capable of those tricks.”

  How I wish it was Will who was shot! Or better yet, caught by the cops.

  “There, it’s done,” I say. “Don’t exert too much pressure in this arm, okay?”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I could not be happier to see him safe, but my heart still aches for the pain he had to bear all his life. It feels so wonderful to know the real him, his real story, and I know as I spend more time with him, I will get to know more of his life.

  I see no danger when I am with him.

  Maybe danger is a thing of his past.

  “Good night, Hunter.”

  Before I could move away from him, Hunter is quick to grab me by the arm and pull me toward him.

  My breathing quickens as I find myself helpless in his arms.

  Oh, Angel, you are in big trouble—I hear my conscience say.

  Eve
rything happens so fast that I have no time to process his action. I just find myself afloat in the clouds when his lips crush to mine. He kisses me a bit harshly as I stay frozen. Hunter’s hand touches the side of my face, tilting it to the side to get the angle for a perfect kiss. His other hand rests on my waist, exerting the force he needs to keep me close to him.

  Everything in me feels warm, pulsating, and quick. My blood rushes through my veins as Hunter presses himself against me, and I literally feel the hardness of his trunk against mine, causing my skin to sting and my hairs all over me to rise.

  I wanted it to be real, but I know I have to settle for the reality rather than vex my head with assumptions.

  If kissing Hunter feels this amazing, I would have kissed him before he did. There were times before when I hated the touch of his lips to mine and the smell of his aftershave, but that’s because he kisses so well, so haunting and passionate, that I grew afraid I would look for it always.

  It’s not until I feel him harden that my throat let out a moan in response to the unfamiliar movement down below.

  I just know Hunter wants me more than ever… more than anything. He’s turned on, and I, too, is lost in this fantasy.

  Chapter 34: Should Have Not Dealt

  It’s all surreal.

  I wanted to cry because I know what I’m doing is not what I came for in his room. I just wanted to make sure he’s alright. But tonight, I ended up in his arms, scorching with fire inside me and trembling with pleasurable discomfort.

  It doesn’t take me too long to begin reciprocating the passion his mouth and tongue are doing. He holds me so close to his body as though he owns all of me. His fiery kisses are sending sparks all over my being, and all I could do is gasp in resignation and let Hunter take over me—his mouth, his touch, and his body.

  I am lost.

  There are so many things in my head, but they are all wiped out when Hunter’s rough kisses turn slow and gentle. He proves himself to be an expert teaser. His mouth is not far behind when it comes to coaxing and seduction.

  Slowly, his lips part from mine to travel down to my neck. Something crazy is going on in my stomach. I don’t know what it is, but it feels odd and unsettling, yet it’s not something I want to be stopped. I have felt this way before, except this time, I don’t feel as apprehensive as I was before.

  Do I want this?

  Do I want Hunter to take over me completely?

  Do I want him?

  I have my eyes closed as I let pleasure devour me. As free as a bird, I let myself be taken away by the heat and the ecstasy his touch and kiss brings to me as a soft moan escapes my throat.

  Yes, I want this.

  Yes, I want Hunter to take all of me.

  Yes, I want him.

  His hand that was on my hips finds its place at the hem of my robe, slinking through the small opening until I feel him untying it expertly with just one hand.

  The silky fabric fell off my body, revealing only my night dress. No matter how underdressed I am, coldness seems to be of no concern. Not even the post-storm winds could take away the sweltering heat surging within me. I feel extremely hot, my skin nips with electricity as it touches the hardness of his physique.

  Hunter’s gaze has purged the indifference away. It’s pure passion and desire now… fiery and poignant.

  I am careful not to touch his injured arm. Despite it cleaned and wrapped with new bandages, the wound is still new.

  “I love you so much I could hardly breathe,” he says, murmuring on top of my cheek.

  “What?” I pull back, my lips swollen.

  What did he just say?

  “What did you say?” I don’t know what I should feel about this. I feel like I am standing at the edge of the cliff with some invisible force trying to push me off it.

  “I said I love you,” he says in one breath.

  His words come flooding to my head as my set beliefs try to push them away.

  In an instance, I feel the warmth fan into flames. The tempest in my chest rebels against the walls as though it wants to break out. My face is about to explode.

  Hunter, with his pointer finger, brushes my jaw and fixes his eyes on me.

  “Did you hear me, Angel?”

  I don’t know.

  I don’t know if I heard him right.

  He shouldn’t see me like this.

  He should not.

  “No,” I answer. “I don’t think I heard you quite well.”

  The side of his mouth curves into a shy smile.

  “I just said I love you, Angel Mohr.”

  “But that’s not possible.” I hear myself saying. It is like a bucket of ice cold water pouring on me, making all my nerves freeze up.

  “What’s not possible?”

  “That thing you said.”

  You, me, and love.

  “Then what do you call this?” He tilts my chin up so he can see through me, my eyes, my expressions, the thoughts in my head, and the things that are stopping me from believing him.

  “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.”

  This isn’t supposed to happen. Hunter might be wrong. He should not feel anything toward me. Me developing feelings for him is acceptable because I am good at killing them all when needed. I can suppress them even though I know it will take me forever to get rid of them… even though it will hurt me like how I was broken hearted with Damien. I am sure that I can take control of things, but Hunter? I don’t know what he can do. I don’t know what he will do just to get his point across, just to make me believe him. I don’t know how Hunter Stone loves, and that’s what I am worried about.

  “Hunter, I am nobody. You pay me… th-the contract…”

  “Are you doubting my capacity to invalidate a settled agreement? Have you forgotten that it was me who designed it? I can easily nullify everything that is in there.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “All of that is already useless, Angel,” he replies softly, “because I don’t think I could continue treating you as my employee.”

  “You were quite an employer, though,” I retort with a smile.

  He looks down at me, and his shy and uncertain smile blooms into a full one.

  Just when did he start feeling this way? Because I, for one, am not sure when I started having feelings for him. Did it start when he brought me to his place that night when I was having fun with my co-workers in Beetz? Was it when he took my family and me into his home? Or was it when I knew it’s me who’s put him in danger?

  “I fell into my own trap,” he whispers as he closes in on me once more and kisses me deeply. “I am ashamed of myself for underestimating you, Angel,” he says, breaking free for a quick gulp of air. His hands caress my hair at the back of my head. “I thought it was going to be easy for me, but I was wrong. I think you have your own ways of beguiling a man… as heartless as me.”

  “I did nothing.” My arms encircle his neck.

  “Exactly. That’s why you got me,” he answers, gasping.

  The surrounding air only grows thick and hot.

  “Angel… you don’t know how dirty my mind is right now.”

  I know what it is. His kisses say so. His grasp and the tension between us speak about it like birds singing directly to my ears.

  I feel his hand moving freely around my body. From my shoulder blades, they slide down to my arms and my waist until the strap of my nightdress fell off my shoulders and my breasts lay bare for his eyes to see.

  “Hunter…” My body begins to convulse the moment his uncovered chest comes in contact with my already tender breasts. His mouth travels from my neck down to my shoulders until it reaches the valley between my breasts. He kisses me there gently although there is a small trace of roughness, eagerness, and hunger in there. I am his prey tonight, ready to be taken in by the famished predator.

  I honestly do not know what to do. I just let my womanly instinct guide my responses to his carnal cravings because surprisingly, they
don’t feel unpleasant or horrible. It’s like a boat ride on a beautiful summer day.

  “Would it be okay if…” His gaze goes straight to mine. Surely, he knows I am a virgin. I could feel in the way he carefully touches me. His actions are carefully gauged not to violate me, and that I appreciate as a woman.

  Would I give myself to him? Would I surrender my body to Hunter?

  “But you got a horrible cut in your arm. I don’t think it’s safe…”

  He cuts me right away with a long, deep kiss.

  Holding the back of my head, Hunter crashes his lips into mine passionately, crammed with the desire he has been keeping for I don’t know how long. His ravenous and mind-blowing kisses wipe away the memories of his grim and angry eyes, his brash and cold attitude, and his arrogance and selfishness in my head.

  His mouth is doing a great job convincing me.

  I do not want to hold back anymore. I will be a great liar if I refuse his invitation because I know I want him to be mine just like how he wants me to be his. It’s in my body and soul, every fiber of my being, every ounce of who I am. Just the sight and touch of him turns me on. I slide my tongue into his mouth to find his. Even I cannot believe how brazen I have become tonight. But I know why; it’s because I am more than ready to take risks, to try one more time, to be called someone’s love again, to be his, to be Hunter’s woman.

  When I gasp for air, our mouths momentarily part, and he lifts me off the ground until I find my legs wrapped around his hips. Securing my heels into his lower back, I draw back my mouth into his for another deep kiss. He carries me to his bed, and I know there’s no backing out when I feel the softness of his bed against my back.

  I lean forward and kiss him back once more, savoring the taste of his lips. I feel the sides of the bed where he places his arms for support dip as he moves closer to me. The length of his body, his stiffened member, and his tensed muscles causes great stirring inside me. Everything in me is clamoring for Hunter, and I know it won’t dissipate until he does something about them. His breathing becomes heavier every time I put my mouth on his and slide my tongue through it.

  I want this so much that I have to shake away my meekness. The shy and chaste Angel is gone for the night, and Hunter obviously enjoys the drastic and sudden change in me.