Chapter 5
Tedious. That’s the only word that comes to mind as I endure my fake date. I refuse to call it real. It’s a mission, and I got what I wanted. I have suffered worse than listening to someone talk about themselves—especially when he thinks he knows every answer better than I do.
The hardest part is knowing that Hunter is flirting with another girl just a few feet away. Dressed in black to match his soul, he looks devastatingly handsome. I swear his wardrobe consists of nothing but black. Even his watches all have black leather bands with silver faces. I can’t fault him for it—I can relate to practicality. Fewer choices mean better time management. Black suits him, making his silver eyes more vibrant and complementing that mysterious aura perfectly. It’s so unfair that he looks the way he does—a waste of beauty on that surly guy.
It takes everything in me not to go over there, push that girl away, and shake some sense into Hunter. He would love to get that kind of reaction out of me. It’s getting harder to keep my annoyance at him at bay when he constantly provokes me.
Half an hour later, I offer Eric a practiced smile. “It was a lovely date, but I have to finish a project for tomorrow.”
“Always so studious. I could give you my notes.”
The audacity of this guy.
When he insists on paying, that’s where I draw the line. We split the bill because I’d rather eat dirt than have him pay for something of mine.
As I walk out, I’m ready to be done before my face freezes in this fake smile for good. I walk past Hunter, and it takes everything in me not to pick up his glass and pour it all over his conceited face.
Abi and Dane are on a bench, trying to be smooth as they kiss, but they glance at me, and I dip my head in a quick nod. The others can’t be far away. My friends have my back.
As we make our way back to my house, Eric launches into why he doesn’t like pets. “They’re messy and needy,” he drones on while I tune him out.
On principle, I think people who don’t like animals are freaking psychopaths.
I keep my smile while counting the minutes. Sadly, this won’t be the last time I have to tolerate him. Not only that, but I also have to keep Hunter in check. If he does something to Eric, we will lose the only chance we have of outsmarting Felix. Besides, Hunter is not the one suffering through this date.
When we’re in front of the house, Eric leans into me, but I whip my head to the side, and he kisses my cheek instead.
“As it was an incredible night, I was wondering—”
I cut him off because I want to be done with tonight already. “I’d love to go out with you another time.”
His eyes flicker with satisfaction, and I say an awkward bye. Once inside, I wipe my cheek with the back of my hand.
I head to my room and get to work on my laptop, ignoring the fact that Hunter hasn’t come home yet. Whatever. I don’t care. Stabbing my fingers into the keyboard, I gain access to Eric’s device. Bingo. He won’t even know I can see and hear everything. It’s done, and now I just have to wait.
By the time I change into leggings and a top and pull my hair into a bun, there’s a knock on my door.
“Come in.”
My friends burst through my door, shooting off rapid-fire questions. I soak in their care and say, “I’m fine, guys, but I need to get back to this.” I gesture to my laptop with my thumb, and they reluctantly oblige.
It doesn’t take long before Eric gets on the phone with someone.
“I will bring her to you, but she’s mine.”
I can hear Felix’s voice, and each word accelerates my pulse. “You’re in no position to negotiate,” he says.
“But I am. I’ll make her fall in love with me, and she’ll give you what you want.”
Oh, you stupid boy. I’d never be yours, and second, he’s using you. That’s what Felix does best. Right then, my door opens. I know it’s Hunter because he’s the only one who doesn’t knock.
“Down in the basement. Now.”
I roll my ergonomic chair toward him. “And if I don’t?”
“Don’t challenge me. Not right now, Bailey.” I love it when he says my name in that deep, low tone, like he’s on the edge. It would only be fair because he does the same to me. Nothing has helped—being friendly with him, ignoring him, reacting to his taunts, even provoking him back. We have nothing but these challenges, this maddening push and pull.
I stand up slowly. Tension stretches between us, thickening the air until it’s hard to breathe.
He’s dangerous, but nothing in me warns me away from him. No, I am the moth. He’s the flame. I am bound to burn because I am tempted to feel that appealing yet lethal heat.
Tonight made me realize something: my life has been anything but normal. I haven’t been kissed, haven’t even been touched. I am still a virgin. Even though there were some cute boys in high school, they never quite piqued my interest, and after seeing what Kaden and Abi went through during their initiations, I didn’t want to risk it. I must be repressed. Surely, my body wants to know how it would feel to have sex, but why does it have to be him? While my vibrator does a fantastic job at making me come, I am curious about human touch.
I could continue lying, or I could find a solution. Just once, I want something for myself—something real.
When I reach him, resolve sharpens his features. “I won’t go easy on you anymore.”
“Sure.”
Ever since he crashed into my life, he coaxed out a part of me I’d kept hidden. I am bolder, more fearless. Reckless. He’s made me reckless.
When the door to the gym closes behind me, he doesn’t give me time to prepare myself. He comes at me so fast that I land on my back with a thud.
“Up. Show me I didn’t waste my time with you completely.” He stands above me in a warrior stance, brows drawn together, lips flattened into a tight line.
That look alone pushes me to stand up. Arms raised, I shift from foot to foot when suddenly, he smashes his fist into my stomach, making me bend over. A whoosh of air escapes my mouth. He was actually going easy on me.
Once I straighten, conflict brews in those steely grays, but this is what we both need—me to get better at fighting, him to harden himself for what’s necessary. With that knowledge comes liberation.
“Is that all you’ve got?” I challenge, and he smiles appreciatively before he drills into me.
Every inch of my body screams abuse, but I don’t tell him to stop even though I’m wobbly on my feet. It’s like he’s made of titanium, not flesh. His endurance is astounding—or maybe I’m just not a challenge—because every time I manage to get up, I’m flat on my back again within seconds.
He never loses his patience with me. While brutal, he always tells me how to do better, to find an opening and attack him. He’s a great teacher, but it’s not my fault I can barely focus when he looks like that.
I hit his face by some miracle, taking us both by surprise. My first instinct is to cup his cheeks. He stiffens for a second, and then he chuckles. “Kitten, you landed a punch. I’ll survive it.”
My chest soaks up those deep, hoarse sounds. For a moment, we’re suspended above the ground. What a surreal experience.
But then his jaw sets in a hard line, intent on stomping out whatever develops between us. “Again.”
I tip my chin in a stiff nod. I don’t know why it bothers me. Hunter and I don’t have sweet moments. That must have been an exception. I have never been anything other than a responsibility. And he wants me to be able not only to defend myself but to fight back.
“Fists up.” “Come at me.” “Again.” “We’re not done, Bailey.”
He issues orders like it’s the easiest thing in the world for me to follow, even when my muscles scream from exhaustion.
Sweat gathers on my forehead, and I try to wipe it with the back of my hand. He kicks me behind my knees, and I lose my footing, falling flat on my face. I close my eyes. Maybe he’ll let me be.
While I channel an ostrich sticking its head in the sand, his shadow casts over me. He rolls me over, and I peel one eye open. He towers over me like a ripped, gorgeous god who hasn’t even broken a sweat. That’s so unfair. I am pretty sure I resemble a tomato. Heat burns me up from within. I am seconds away from imploding.
It was that determined look and imposing posture when he crashed into my room earlier that revealed our fighting lessons would change, but this is something else.
He stretches out his hand for me to take.
“Are we done?” I ask hopefully.
He shakes his head, and I slap his palm away. A low laugh escapes him, and I roll my eyes at him. Asshole. I am sooo glad my misery entertains him.
The moment I am on my feet, my knees shake, threatening to give out on me. Swaying, I try to attack him, but in a swift move, he has me back on the mat, pinning me there. My heart ping-pongs from my throat to my chest. Another kind of heat travels up and down my body as his silver eyes bore into me. Lashes of tension crackle between us, making us aware of our position. On instinct, my thighs clench. My pulse picks up, an erratic rhythm thundering in my ears. And when I inhale his masculine scent, it drugs my senses. It’s too much, yet not enough, and this cacophony of sensations tears at my sanity.
He keeps watching me with that intense look, eyes sweeping from one side of my face to the other, from my chin to my forehead. I feel so exposed, yet having all his attention is so potent—I’d be his willing captive.
“You’re weak,” he snaps, springing away from me as if I were a can of deadly viruses while I stand there, eyes closed.
This is all he sees. This is all I am for him.
“You’re very generous with your disapproval of me.”
“I wish you’d also put that bite into our fighting lessons.”
One day, I’m going to take his ass down. That’s my motivation, which is stupid, considering he’s teaching me.
After how hard he went on me, I try to stand up, but my limbs tremble, so I decide to lie still until it gets better.
My mind goes to a place it has no business going. Why the sudden change? Could it be because of Eric? No, that would be stupid, and he knows it’s fake. Maybe Hunter is tired of going easy on me. If I’d known, I would have appreciated those gentle moments more.
He’s still here, glaring at me, likely thinking I am wasting his time, as per usual.
“Stand up,” he commands.
I try again. I really do, but my body trembles so badly, I can’t help myself. A tear falls down my cheek. My chest fills with vulnerability. Of course, I have to fall apart in front of him.
He sighs, and it’s that sound that reverberates through me, making me so damn emotional. I’ll never be good enough, worthy enough. I wish the ground would split and swallow me whole.
“Come on, tell me how weak I am. And how you’re wasting your time. Again.”
Our eyes clash, his grays devouring me.
I brace myself for his usual nasty reply. It’s one of his favorite games, rattling me; he gets his kicks by shaking my composure.
He crouches in front of me and tenderly dabs at the corner of my eye with his thumb. “You surprised me tonight. I went harder on you than on anyone else.”
My mouth opens with a surprised gasp.
Without another word, he places his arms under my knees and back and scoops me up. His chest, while all hard, is the perfect cocoon.
“I can walk on my own.”
“Sure. Anything else, kitten?”
I used to hate that pet name, but I got used to it like I got used to him. They snuck up on me like a master thief.
“How many times a week?”
“Six.”
“Kill me, please,” I groan.
He gives me an intent look. “Not on my watch.”
What is he made of? Even while carrying me, his breathing doesn’t change, and there’s no trace of strain on his face.
“You can’t be human.”
He smiles down at me. “No, what am I then?”
“A cyborg.” I rest my cheek on his chest. It beats a steady rhythm, and I hear the low rumble of his chuckle. That can’t be it. “No. An angry god.”
“You’re making me your god, Bailey?” he asks with a note of something darker that awakens a throb between my legs.
He arches a brow, not breaking eye contact. I won’t either. I got enough of a beating for one night.
Hunter opens my door, carrying me inside. I need a shower, but I don’t think I can do it. He places me down so gently as if I’d break any moment.
He’s the biggest conundrum, the one system I could never hack. I can’t stop trying though, and that’s the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done.