Chapter 15
Carrie
One day later. Astoria, OR.
I shut off the shower and leaned my forehead against the wall, closing my eyes.
The bounty hunter wasn’t back.
I’d been imagining it.
Last night, after confessing everything to Sarah, I thought I’d seen the bounty hunter leaning against Leo’s car.
Then I blinked, and he was gone.
Now, I was standing in my shower nearly twenty-four hours later, wishing it had been real.
“You’re crazy,” I whispered to myself before I lifted my head, yanking the towel from the hook on the wall and wrapping it around my body. A feeling of satisfaction washed over me as I looked down at the over-sized towel covering my curvy body completely. I’d just ordered them online last week, and I loved them.
And I was beginning to love my body—for the first time in my life.
Stepping out of the shower, I grabbed the cotton t-shirt I use for my hair and began gently drying my curls as I walked into my half dark bedroom. I never liked having the big light on at night. It made everything seem like a hospital, and I’d seen enough of those in my lifetime. My hands worked mindlessly over my curls as my feet padded across the wooden floors, carrying me to my dresser. As I passed the bed, I glanced to see if my photos I took today had finally been downloaded onto my laptop. I planned on editing them tonight, and then maybe I'd submit them to an online art show.
Margo said that my photos were “hauntingly beautiful”, and the world needed to see them. She found an online photography art show and sent me the information. Today was my day off, and I’d ventured outside of Astoria and took some photos. I drove up the coast and hit a few beaches, grateful for the overcast day. I’d gotten over three hundred photos and started uploading them the second I’d gotten home.
I stood in front of my dresser, getting the last bit of my hair with the cotton shirt before dropping it and the towel onto the floor. Goosebumps skated over my skin as I pulled on my panties and then my strawberry PJ set. I bent over, scooped up the towel and shirt, and turned to take them downstairs to the laundry room.
That plan went to shit the second I lifted my eyes and spotted a shadowed figure sitting on my window seat. A scream escaped me as I jumped back into the dresser, my hands going to my chest.
“You,” I breathed, chest heaving.
The bounty hunter said nothing.
I blinked once. Twice.
Yup, he was still there.
“W-what are you doing here?”
Again, he said nothing.
I was beginning to wonder if I was actually insane, but then I remembered that less than ten seconds ago, I was standing in this very spot…naked. My cheeks heated as wetness pooled at my core, my body clearly enjoying his presence— again .
“Bounty hunter?” I called again.
I wished he would tell me his name. I’d give anything to know his name.
He leaned forward, just like last time in my living room almost a month ago. And just like last time, I was taken aback by his dark beauty, from his dark eyes to his scar that disappeared into his beard. My eyes flicked back up to his eyes, instantly seeing a fire within them. Then I noticed the anger radiating from his body, and my stomach flipped.
“Please say something,” I begged. “You’re freaking me out.”
A low sound came from him as he continued to glare at me.
I took a step away from the dresser. “How long have you been in here?” I asked, trying a different approach.
He said nothing.
Sighing, I shook my head and threw my hands up. “Alright, Mr. Silent Bounty Hunter. Whatever,” I said, walking to the bathroom. “Don’t say shit to me. That’s fine, but I have to put product in my hair or I’ll look like a wild banshee in the morning. So make yourself at home or disappear. I don’t care.”
I did care.
I cared very much.
I wanted him to make himself at home .
Once in the bathroom, I pulled out my hair products and began working them into my curls. While I was in rehab, they didn’t give me much, clearly not giving a fuck about my hair health. My curls became dry, unhealthy, and brittle. Now, I was trying to stick to healthy curl routine, but that was proving to be difficult at the moment due to the man in my bedroom.
My hands trembled as I tried to control my breathing, staring into the mirror. I was flushed.
How pathetic was that?
I bit the inside of my cheek.
He saw me naked. Not just a little bit of me…all of me.
I looked down at myself, taking in the shorts and cute silk top. The PJs were cream with little strawberries dotted all over them, and when I purchased them, I certainly wasn’t thinking about what a man might think of them. Shaking it off, I looked back in the mirror, right into my blue eyes.
You got this.
He isn’t here to hurt you.
He’s just…here.
I put up the products, lifted my chin, and walked back into my bedroom.
He was still there, sitting on the window seat, leaning forward, his hands hanging between his knees. I stared at the white and red tattoos on his hands as I whispered, “Those are pretty.”
When I looked at his face, a muscle jumped in his cheek, and that’s when I noticed his short beard was longer than the last time I’d seen him. His eyes flashed again, his nostrils flaring, and I felt my knees go weak. Blinking, I cleared my throat and moved toward the bed.
“Come here.”
My head snapped up at the sound of his deep voice, my body halting two feet from my favorite place in the world. “What?” I rasped.
“You heard me,” he replied, holding my gaze.
Yeah, I was having a heart attack tonight.
When I didn’t move, he growled. “Carrie, come the fuck here.”
He said my name. My actual name.
My feet moved instantly. Within seconds, I was standing in front of him, praying to God that he would say my name again.
The bounty hunter leaned back, keeping his hands at his sides, balled tightly into fists.
My lips parted as I stared down at him, my cheeks heating even more as my nipples hardened, no doubt poking through my top. His eyes didn’t drop to my chest.
No, they stayed on my face.
Studying me.
Memorizing me.
“Say it again,” I murmured, my voice thick with desperation.
“No.”
“Please,” I rasped.
“You smell like fucking berries,” he clipped, his voice hard.
I—what? My brows came together. “What?”
“Makes me want to devour you,” he growled, baring his teeth.
Devour me. God, yes. Devour me.
I whimpered as my body began to tremble, my core thrumming with need, my skin begging to be touched. Whatever this was between us—this pull—it was overwhelming.
He watched me with a careful, eerie stillness. “Stop looking at me like that,” he warned.
My reply was soft. “Like what?”
Slowly, he leaned forward back into the light again. He tilted his head to the side as he looked at me, his face inches from my mid-section. “Like you want a man like me to devour you.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want a man like you.”
His gaze hardened.
“I just want you,” I breathed, my hands itching to touch him.
Suddenly, he stood, towering over me, saying nothing as he stepped to the side and started walking to my door.
What the hell?
“That’s it, then?” I called out to his back. “You show up, get a peepshow, play with my feelings, and leave?”
He halted, his body taking up the majority of the doorway.
“Don’t come back here again,” I ordered, swallowing the hurt and foolishness. “Just stay away from me!”
Suddenly, my back was against the wall, his hand fisting my wet hair as his other one went to my waist, his fingers digging into me. Our faces were inches apart, our eyes searching and pleading for some form of mercy. My hands went to his chest, feeling the warmth of him through his thermal as our chests heaved with heavy breaths.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” he growled.
“What?” I shot back. “Tell you to never come back here? This is my house—”
“I don’t give a single fucking shit,” he cut me off, his fingers tightening in my hair, forcing me to wince. “You don’t tell me to stay away. Do you hear me?”
I stared up at him, heart pounding.
When I didn’t say anything, his upper lip curled as he hissed, “Couldn’t stay away even if I fucking wanted to.”
“Wh—”
He slammed his mouth onto mine.
Oh, God.
My eyes closed as his lips worked against me, and when I moaned, his tongue dove into me, tasting me. My fingers curled against his chest, my knees going weak at his taste. He slanted his head, yanking mine by the hair so he could kiss me deeper. Our tongues clashed, our lips blending together as I whimpered into him. I rose up on my toes, snaking my arms around his neck, latching onto him as his arm banded around my waist, pressing me against him. My breasts were against him, the thin layer of my top almost non-existent. I needed to feel his skin against mine. I needed it more than the air I breathed.
Time passed. I didn’t know how long.
I couldn’t comprehend anything but him.
His lips, this kiss , was all I cared about.
The hand in my hair disappeared, and within the next second, it was wrapped around the front of my neck. He pushed me away, holding my head against the wall as we stared at each other.
My lips tingled as I tried to pull him back, but his hand on my throat tightened just a fraction. His eyes were dark— wild. His lips were swollen, no doubt just like mine.
“I need to leave,” he announced softly, his thumb stroking my waist as his rough voice sent shivers down my spine.
That was the last thing I wanted him to do, but I said nothing.
His hand at my back dropped lower, just above my ass before he yanked the lower half of my body against him. A sound left me when our hips met, his hard length pressed against my soft belly. More wetness came from me then, soaking the panties I’d just put on.
I’d never been more turned on in my life, never wanted something so badly in my life.
“Clearly, I don’t want to leave,” he murmured, his voice rough.
“Then don’t,” I whispered, pleading.
He ignored me. “Don’t you tell me to stay away again, you hear me?” he clipped, his dark eyes holding mine. Deep within his dark pools, I saw a flash of hurt.
I’d hurt him.
“But—”
“Do. You. Hear. Me?” Each word was a warning filled with dark promise as his fingers flexed against my throat.
I nodded.
“Words, Sunshine,” he ordered.
Sunshine.
“I hear you,” I breathed, regretting everything I’d said right before he kissed me. This man was a stranger to me, and I couldn’t stand the thought of hurting him ever again. My fingers curled at the base of his skull; his hair soft against my skin. “Tell me your name.”
It was a plea.
I needed to know, but deep down, I knew he wasn’t going to give it to me. I knew he was still fighting whatever this was between us.
I didn't want to fight it. I'd given into him, into this.
He shifted us then, guiding me back against the wall as he caged me in before he gripped my chin between his fingers. Our lips met again, softly this time. He didn’t kiss like Leo. He kissed and demanded, controlled me. His tongue guided my mouth open, and a low noise rumbled from his throat.
“Don’t go,” I rasped against him, breathless.
“Have to,” he grunted, kissing me harder.
Before I knew it, both of his hands were cupping my face, holding me in place as he drank from me. He kissed me with abandon, grunting into my mouth as he flexed his hips against me, his hard length torturing me. My hands were everywhere, sliding over his shoulders, down his chest, wrapping around and up again.
“Fucking hell,” he pushed out, pulling me from the wall.
Then, I was on his lap as he spread his knees wide, leaning back against the window. My core was pressed against him now, the sensation causing me to pull back, moaning as my hips moved on their own. His big, rough hands dropped to my hips, my thighs on either side of his lap, my knees digging into the cushions of the pillows on the window seat. I moved my hips again, rubbing against his hard length.
“Oh, God,” I rasped, my eyes closing as my nails dug into his shoulders.
“Jesus, Carrie,” he snarled, his fingers tightening on my hips, digging into the extra flesh there.
There was my name again.
It sounded like a song.
I brought my head back down, my eyes snapping open as I humped him. I was in a desperate frenzy, needing release, something I hadn’t had in…years. His hands shifted to my ass, moving me against him in a steady, hurried rhythm. “Can fucking feel you through my jeans,” he bit off.
“Yes,” I rasped, bringing my hands to his face, his scar rough beneath my fingers. His eyes flashed, but he didn’t jerk away from me. “I missed you,” I confessed on a gasp.
He shifted again, sitting up so we were chest to chest. His mouth was a centimeter from mine now, our breaths colliding as we worked my lower half against him. “Soaking me, baby,” he murmured.
I whimpered, my hands falling to his shoulders once more. I could feel it coming, and I knew it would be glorious—mind-blowing.
“You didn’t want me to stay away, did you?” he taunted, suddenly yanking my head to the side, causing me to cry out. “You missed your bounty hunter, didn’t you?” His other hand squeezed my ass, encouraging me to keep going as he pressed his lips against my neck.
My hands snapped up, my fingers weaving into his hair. “Yes,” I breathed.
“You gonna make a mess on me?” he continued, his voice vibrating against my sensitive skin.
“Yes,” I whimpered, moaning as he began to move me faster and faster, my hips keeping up with his pace.
“Yeah,” he praised, grunting. “Fuck yeah, that’s it, gorgeous. Work that cunt on me, make a fucking mess on me—all over me.”
My fingers tightened in his hair. “I-I’m gonna come,” I stammered.
What came out his mouth next set my climax off, causing me to cry out as pleasure consumed me, my pussy soaking my clothes and his. “Please,” he whispered, his hands tightening on my hips. “Please come for me, Sunshine. Give me all of it. I fucking need it. ”
I clung to him, my arms wrapped around his shoulders as I cried out over and over, wishing it was his name. He growled into my skin, rubbing my pussy back and forth on his hard bulge.
“There it is. That’s what I fucking needed,” he grunted, hissing as my thighs shook around his.
“Oh, God!” I moaned; my eyes closed as I was swept up in pleasure.
“Need more,” he bit off.
I felt his hand come between us, shoving into my thin shorts and my panties. My back and neck arched as he spread me open, brushing a rough finger over my clit.
Another growl left him as my top was yanked up. My head snapped forward, our eyes meeting as he sunk his finger inside of me. His eyes dropped to my breasts, his finger still inside of me. “Perfect tits and a tight little cunt. Fucking hell, baby,” he murmured.
I moved my hips, my nails digging into his shoulders.
Those dark eyes met mine again, and he adjusted us so I was sitting on his hand. “Fuck it,” he ordered.
“W-what?” I breathed; eyes wide. He curled his finger, pressing against my walls.
His other hand gripped my hip, holding me in place as he leaned in close. “Fuck my hand, Carrie. Lift your hips,” he commanded.
I did what he asked, holding myself just above his lap and his hand.
He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. “Drop.”
I did and felt fuller than before. A groan left me as my eyelids fluttered.
“ Fuck. My. Fingers .” The words were filled with heated darkness, urging me to follow any order he gave me.
I lifted up and dropped back down, as he leaned back, his eyes dropping to our laps, his hand in my shorts. “Touch your nipples, Sunshine, before I take care of them myself.”
I wanted that. “Yes,” I rasped. “God, please, yes.”
In a flash, my nipple was in his mouth, his teeth closing around it, tugging. The pain shot through my body, straight down to my core, mixing with the pleasure his fingers were giving me. His hand dropped from my hair, cupping my other breast in a harsh, selfish grip. I watched as he sucked on my breast while I fucked his hand. I whimpered at the sight. Wetness gushed from me then as I weaved my hands into his hair, gripping it and tugging. He growled and moved to the other breast as he shifted his hand. Then, I felt his thumb against my clit, rubbing it in quick circles.
I stopped riding and started rocking on his fingers, my second orgasm building quickly. I hadn’t been touched like this—devoured like this—ever.
“You feel so good,” I whimpered, holding his face to my breast as my back arched.
He released my nipple, replacing his mouth with his fingers, pulling and twisting the sensitive bud. His eyes met mine, shining with a hunger I’d never seen before. “I feel good?” he clipped harshly. “Baby, I got three fucking fingers shoved up your wet pussy, and I feel like I’m in heaven.” He gripped my jaw. “I want that heaven all over me, Sunshine. Come on my damn hand.”
I nodded, nearly there.
My bounty hunter yanked me forward, his lips against my ear. “When I left you a month ago, I couldn’t get you— your fucking beauty —out of my head,” he grunted, moving his fingers in and out of me as I held myself in the air for him, my lower half trembling. “Went home, losing my shit over you, thinking about you. I couldn’t control myself.”
I moaned, pressing my bare breasts against him now.
I felt his tongue on the shell of my ear. “Had to fist my cock for you, Sunshine. Fucking came for you, groaned your fucking name,” he harshly whispered, wet sounds coming from my pussy as he finger-fucked me harder. “Felt so fucking good, baby. I have to do it every fucking night now. I have to think of this gorgeous body on my lap every damn night and come to the thought of you just to get some sleep.”
“Yes,” I cried, grinding down as I pictured him jacking off for me, his big cock in his hands, chanting my name.
“Gonna need you to come for me again. Give your bounty hunter what he needs like the good girl you are,” he said softly, his voice trembling now.
I exploded, and before I knew what I was doing, I bit down on his shoulder to stifle my screams as my body bucked and wetness coated his hand, flooding my panties. He praised me through it, his hand on my hip, holding me against him. “There she is,” he murmured. “There’s my good girl.”
As I came down, I laid my head on his shoulder, my legs shaking as warmth spread throughout my body, and I felt his ragged breath beside my face. He gently pulled his hand from me and guided me back to sit down on his lap again. We sat there for a few moments, the silence warm and comfortable.
“What have you done to me?” The question came out as a whisper, sending reality crashing back down on us both.
I froze. Gently, I pulled away from him, and when his eyes met mine, I knew he was just as confused as I was. There was a pull between us, one so strong, it defied all logic.
My chest heaved against his as we stared at each other, our hands frozen in place. “You kissed me,” I whispered.
He tilted his head to the side, his eyes dropping to my lips. “You kissed me back,” he returned roughly.
“What is this?” I asked, trying to understand something I couldn’t.
He cupped my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. “Fuck if I know.”
I opened my mouth, but he cut me off.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I blinked. “What?”
“For scaring you earlier,” he clarified.
A wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a soft breath.
“Though, I’m not sorry about kissing you,” he added, his thumb dropping to my bottom lip. “Or making you scream for me.”
I’m not either.
My next words were dangerous—foolish—but I didn’t care. “Do it again.”
His stony face changed then, giving me something I’d never thought I’d see—a small smirk. “If I even kiss you again, I won’t leave.” He pulled down my shirt, and his eyes dropped from my face, scanning my body as his hand slid over my hips up to my waist, squeezing. “So fucking soft.”
My cheeks heated as my heart stopped beating.
You can’t look like that, Carrie. We have an image to protect. Stop being so selfish.
My father’s words echoed in my mind, threatening to take me somewhere I didn’t want to be.
“I have to go, Sunshine.”
Blinking, I looked back up to find him studying me, his jaw set, eyes soft. I nodded. I started to move but yelped when he stood, holding me in the air. Instinctively, my thighs tightened around him, my arms locking around his neck.
“You done in the bathroom?” he asked.
“W-what?” I breathed, still stunned he was holding me up.
He jerked his chin towards my bathroom. “You done with all your girly shit for the night?”
“Yes, I—” I jerked my head back. “What’s wrong with girly shit?”
He said nothing and moved, carrying me to the bed before reaching down to yank the covers back. When he was done with that, he looked at me. “Gonna move your stuff off the bed after I put you in it.”
“But I have—”
“You need to rest. You were up late last night,” he cut me off.
“That was you,” I breathed.
“You and Humbly are getting close,” he noted.
I nodded. “She’s a friend.”
He held my eyes for moment longer before replying, “Good. You need good people in your life.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “You dug into them too, didn’t you?”
“Part of the job.”
“Is that what I am?” I asked, softly, my eyes going to his scar. “A job?”
“I don’t know what you are, Sunshine, but you stopped being a job the second I walked out your door.”
“Sunshine?” I questioned, wondering where he came up with that nickname for me.
He exhaled softly through his nose, shaking his head, muttering, “She’s got no idea.”
“No idea about what?” I pressed.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he lowered me to the bed, swooping my legs onto the mattress before pulling the covers over me. I watched, heart pounding, as he rounded the bed, grabbing my camera and laptop before turning and putting them on top of the dresser.
“You do realize I’m a grown woman, right?” I asked his back.
When he turned back around to face me, my stomach flipped at the sight of his hungry gaze. “Oh, I’m well aware,” he said darkly.
I rubbed my thighs together, wanting more than what he’d already given me. “Why won’t you tell me your name?”
He moved once more, heading straight for me and leaning down, his hand planted beside my pillow, studying me. Then, without a word, he touched his lips to mine and then he was gone, heading for the door.
I sat up, panic taking over. “Are you coming back?” I asked, my voice shaking.
He looked over his shoulder. “Yeah, Sunshine. I’ll always come back to you.”
Then, he was gone.