Chapter 14
Hunter's room at the clubhouse was louder than the quiet house they'd left behind, but it wasn't home. It was temporary.
The heavy scent of smoke hung in the air.
The constant hum of voices beyond the door reminded her that they weren't alone.
Annie inhaled deeply. Hunter had brought them dinner, set it down without fuss, and told them he'd be back sometime in the early morning.
If they needed anything, they were to open the door and yell for a man named Rocco.
Annie had nodded, but the moment the door closed, she felt lost without him.
Leigh lay stretched across the bed. Her spirit had taken a downturn once they left the house. Her usually athletic sister looked fragile. She was unsure of what she could do to help her.
Always the caregiver, she took Leigh's discomfort onto herself. If she had done more, her sister wouldn't be fighting for her life.
She sat in the chair, knees tucked up, staring at the burner phone Hunter had left them.
"Maybe I should ask him to drive us far away when he comes back," she said softly, almost to herself. "Since the train and every other mode of travel are no longer available to us, maybe Hunter could drive us in that truck."
Leigh turned her head, her eyes sharp despite the exhaustion. "We're never going to be able to pay him back. You've been off work, taking care of mom, and it took all the money she had saved to pay for her cremation."
"I'll find work." She sighed. "I don't know. Maybe it's too much to ask."
Leigh studied her for a long moment, then asked, "What's going on between you and Hunter?"
Annie blinked, startled. "Nothing."
"Then why do all your plans involve him?" Leigh pressed. "Why is he helping us? How did he even show up when you needed him?"
Annie opened her mouth, but no answer came. How could she explain how Hunter appeared like a shadow stepping out of the night, and since then, every plan she made seemed to orbit around him.
Leigh's gaze was steady, unrelenting. "You trust him."
Annie looked down at her hands. "I do."
The admission felt dangerous, like saying it aloud gave it more significance than she was ready for.
Right now, all she could say was that her fear of being away from Hunter stemmed from the fact that he was the only person who made her feel safe. She had no one else to turn to. Her mom was gone. Her sister had almost been killed. She desperately needed someone.
Jason had made her feel small and vulnerable. Something no one had ever made her feel. He'd shoved, slapped, and screamed at her until her ears rang. He'd dragged her by the hair, threatened her and her sister until she believed she had no power left.
Hunter was the opposite. He made her feel stronger and protected.
And that terrified her almost as much as Jason did.
"I'm not letting you go back to that life," Annie said firmly, her voice cutting through the quiet.
"Trust me. I don't want to go back." Leigh's lips trembled. "If he finds me, he's going to kill me. All those times he threatened to do that exact thing will come true."
"We won't let that happen. We'll figure this out." Annie leaned closer, covering her sister's hand. "Together."
Leigh nodded slowly, her eyes softening. "I miss Mom."
"Me, too."
"She'd be so mad at me for not leaving," whispered Leigh.
"She'd kill Jason for hurting you," she whispered back.
Annie's chest tightened, her mind racing. Every plan she made circled back to Hunter. Every thought of escape included him. She didn't know why he'd chosen to help them, but she couldn't imagine facing Jason without him.
And that realization struck her with equal parts fear and relief.
For tonight, they were safe.
Tomorrow will come with its own battles.
She looked at Leigh. "You'd better go get in bed and rest. We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow." She leaned forward. "Do you want me to help you?"
"No, I can walk. I'm going to brush my teeth first." Leigh pushed off the sofa with a groan. "God, I need a shower."
"Do you want to try—?"
"No." Leigh paused. "Maybe tomorrow."
Annie softened her voice. "Rest and heal."
"Are you coming to bed?" asked her sister.
They were both planning to sleep in the bedroom, while Hunter volunteered to sleep on the couch. Despite her exhaustion, she was too hyper to sleep. The nights were long enough as they were. She dreaded staring at a dark ceiling and overthinking until her stomach ached.
"I'm going to sit out here for a while." She leaned back on the couch. "I don't think I can sleep if I try right now."
Leigh entered the bathroom. Her sister was moving more easily. Soon, her physical injuries would heal, but would the mental scars always haunt her?
Sliding down on the couch, she let her head rest on the back cushion. To distract herself from her situation, she tried to imagine what Hunter was doing tonight.
The moment they stepped into the clubhouse earlier, a wave of tension filled the room. At first, she thought it was because of their arrival. But none of the men paid attention to them. They were rushing around, many carrying boxes out of the room.
She puffed out her cheeks and exhaled slowly.
There was a real chance that by coming back here, they were jumping from one problem to a completely different one.
While the Royalla Motorcycle Club hadn't hurt them, they might be involved in dealing drugs, pornography, or whatever else bikers hustled to make a living.
Looking around the room, she took in the multiple duffel bags stacked against the wall near the door. In the bedroom, Hunter had a dresser full of clothes and tattooing equipment—yes, she snooped the last time she stayed with him.
What made him help her? Why was he even there the night Jason tried to run her down?
She stared at the ceiling but sleep never arrived.
Her mind kept replaying how he had held her the night before.
His strong arms wrapped around her, and his broad chest was like a pillow, so solid that his heartbeat echoed in her ear, lulling her to sleep.
He provided the quiet support she hadn't realized she needed until he gave it to her.
So, when the door opened early in the morning, he saw her sitting on the edge of the couch, hugging her stomach, and awake. She hadn't meant to wait for him. Or maybe she had.
Hunter stepped inside, filling the small room. She studied him by the light above the kitchen counter. His hair hung around his shoulders, windblown and tangled. His gaze grew sharper, adding extra lines around his eyes.
He was older than her and Leigh, probably in his forties.
She raised her hand and mouthed, "Hey."
He gave a short nod, eyes flicking toward the closed door of the bedroom, then back to her.
Annie hesitated, her heart pounding. She wanted to ask where he'd gone and needed to know what he did for a living. She also wanted to understand him better. But she had no right to ask. He had saved her and Leigh, so she couldn't ask anything more from him.
Yet, all she wanted was a hug.
Just a hug.
She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Hunter crossed the room.
As if he had read her mind, he pulled her into his arms. She sank into his embrace. The sudden relief caught in her throat, and she fought back tears that threatened to spill.
He pulled her close, his warmth settling into her and calming her trembling hands. He guided her to the couch, settling down with her tucked against him like he had last night.
Annie allowed herself to sink into him, her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
It was strong. Unwavering.
She tilted her head enough to look up at him.
He claimed her mouth as her cry escaped.
The kiss came out of nowhere. His lips brushed hers, knowing what to do.
Her breath caught in surprise. But her body had already melted against him.
She curled her fingers into his vest, holding on when he deepened the kiss, tasting her.
When he pulled back, he searched her eyes, steady and unreadable. Annie's chest rose and fell, her heart racing.
She felt safe.
And wanted.
The world fell away.
Jason's threats. Leigh's pain. The fear that shadowed her every step.
None of it mattered here in this small room where she was sheltered from the world.
Hunter's hands slid along her back, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened. Desire unraveled in ways she hadn't allowed since before taking care of her mom.
Clothes shifted. Skin brushed skin. The way he touched her gave her permission to explore. She slid her hands under his vest, needing to feel him closer.
It wasn't only physical release she was looking for. There was something inside her that desperately needed Hunter. No one else. Only him.
He made her feel whole. Wanted. Seen.
He offered her a world where she believed in the future. One where Jason wasn't chasing them, where Leigh was free, where she could breathe without fear.
She wanted that future where Hunter wasn't her protector. He was a man who found her attractive.
He slipped his hand under her shirt and squeezed her side, pulling her closer.
She turned around, and Hunter lifted her into the air, placing her back on his lap with her straddling him.
Now able to touch him, she slid her hands up his chest to his neck, sinking her fingers into his hair and holding his head.
She wasn't afraid of getting hurt.
He lowered his head and captured her lips. She swept her tongue across his. All she wanted to do was numb all the pain she'd endured over the last few years.
Hunter pulled her hips up and brought her down. She moaned into his mouth, feeling the hard ridge of his cock through his jeans. His heat permeated not only his jeans but hers as well until it felt like nothing separated them.
Grinding against him, she deepened the kiss. Closing her eyes, she pushed the trauma away and clung to the arousal growing inside of her.
He sucked, licked, and opened her up wider. She lowered her hands, grabbing onto his belt, riding him more frantically.
She took his lower lip into her mouth. His cock pulsed against the back of her hand. Frustrated that she couldn't undo his buckle, she moaned, throwing her head back.
Clink.
He tossed his belt to the side, unzipped his jeans, and released his pent-up cock. She rocked on his lap. Should she get off and remove her clothes or rub herself on him? At this point, it wouldn't take much to orgasm.
Hunter fisted the base of his cock. She got off his lap. Common sense smashed into her. She had no condom, and she wasn't on birth control.
She rubbed her stomach. God, the last thing she wanted to do was stop.
Hunter pointed behind her. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing the bathroom.
It dawned on her what he was telling her.
She quietly crossed the room, making sure the bedroom door was closed all the way, and slipped inside the bathroom.
Rummaging through the medicine cabinet, she found what she was looking for. An almost full box of condoms.
She returned to him. When she extended her protection, he ignored the package and swung both his arms to the side, resting them on the back of the couch. She looked at his cock. It was hard and beautiful.
Thick, cut, and throbbing for attention.
He had a tattoo of a rifle or shotgun on his lower stomach that she'd never seen before because his jeans covered that area. She looked into his eyes.
He was letting her decide. If she wanted what he could offer, she would need to put on protection.
Or she could stand there and stare at him.
Inhaling a shuddering breath, she ripped the foil package open and rolled the condom on his cock with shaking hands.
He stood, grabbing the front of her jeans and loosening them. Forced backward, she grabbed his forearms to keep from falling and retreated until her ass hit the lower cabinets in the kitchen.
Her jeans slid down her legs, puddling around her ankles.
Hunter hooked his hand around her leg and lifted her knee. His other hand cupped her neck, forcing her gaze upward. He looked into her eyes, asking permission without uttering a word.
She nodded and whispered, "Please."
He slid his cock inside of her. She gasped and quickly clamped her lips together, highly aware that her sister was in the next room and only a door separated her.
Hunter stroked her slowly. Her head fell back and her mouth opened, but she strained to stay quiet.
The fingers around her neck were firm but gentle. Nothing like the way Jason enjoyed pinning her to the wall when he yelled in her face.
She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking her memories.
Hunter claimed her mouth again and lifted her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her arms around his neck.
He palmed her ass, plunging in and out of her pussy. Her arousal grew each time her clit rubbed against him.
She sucked on his tongue, letting him swallow her moan. This wasn't supposed to happen. She hadn't planned on getting involved with Hunter. Yet, she wouldn't stop. Couldn't stop.
Her breathing stopped, and for a second, she waited for her next breath, afraid it wouldn't come. Her orgasm held her prisoner.
She moaned as her whole body tightened like a vise around him. Hunter pressed her against the counter, burying himself inside her. Her whole body came crashing down as pleasure exploded inside of her.
Hunter's fingers dug into her ass, holding her tightly against him, and shuddered. She pulled her mouth off him and hung her head against his shoulder, catching her breath.
He was silent, not even his breathing made a sound. She lifted her head.
His cock slipped out of her. Goosebumps covered her body. He helped her to her feet. She still wore her shirt but felt exposed without her pants. Wanting to put on clothes, she needed a moment to process what had just happened between them.
Part of her wanted to apologize. She'd needed that. Probably more than he had.
She glanced at him. He had taken off the condom and wiped himself with his T-shirt before tossing it onto the pile of clothes near the bathroom. He looked up, catching her watching.
"Thank you," she mouthed.
His gaze intensified. Then, he picked up her panties and held them out to her. When she took them, he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips.
That soft caress created a ball of emotions in her throat that was impossible to swallow. She went to the bathroom and took a shower, needing the space to try to understand what was going on between them.
She tried to convince herself that the timing was wrong. That sex was just another benefit Hunter offered in his job of keeping them protected.
She knew nothing about him.
Yet, she knew enough to realize he wanted her, and her feelings were mutual.