CHAPTER 36
Grim Reaper & His Angel
Gabriela
Midterm season came to an end. Things slowed down slightly before they inevitably picked back up since there were six weeks remaining in the semester.
The Panthers were entering the semi-finals, so Hunter had a lot on his plate, and I wished I could do something more to alleviate his stress besides making him daily fresh meals and giving him massages when he got home.
Hunter wasn’t needy by any means—except for my affection—and he never once complained about all he had to do.
Even when he was tired, he continuously made time for Luna and me, his two girls.
Like tonight for Halloween.
Cade and Josh were hosting a party at the Remington manor with their trusted close friends and teammates, and I’d been looking forward to it all week long.
I somehow convinced Hunter to go dressed up as a grim reaper.
His attire was all noir, save for his signature silver watch and thin chain, and his hair was half down and half up in a low bun.
Moreover, he even let me paint a black-and-white skull on his face.
He looked hot—scary hot—and I couldn’t wait for him to devour me.
As soon as we arrived at the party, Hunter’s friends dragged him across the room for drinks and I beelined it to Anna, Layla, Ella, Darla, Dacia, and Hera.
The entire place was atmospherically dark, save for the strobe lights flashing on the makeshift dance floor.
Thankfully, we weren’t packed like a can of sardines tonight and there was enough space to move around without getting hit by a flailing limb or inhaling a gross combination of BO and alcohol.
Ella and Layla outdid themselves with the décor.
A mélange of spooky-themed garlands and spider webs hung from the ceiling, jack-o-lantern pumpkins dotted every available surface, black roses sat in large vases, and a photobooth was set up in the corner of the room that the future sisters-in-law were hogging as they took an innumerable number of shots before the camera.
The rest of us girls were gushing over each other’s outfits.
Every year, Anna, Layla and I wore matching costumes.
Last year we did the Totally Spies! and this year we dressed as angels, donning the bustiers Anna sewed for us.
Layla was in all white, with a long maxi skirt and kitten heels.
Anna was in all pink, with a short skirt and thigh-high boots.
And I was in all black, with a micro-miniskirt and stilettos featuring gold snakes that wrapped all the way up to my ankles.
We wore wings that matched our respective colours and dare I say, along with Ella, Darla, Dacia, and Hera, we were the best dressed in the vicinity.
In the midst of all our chatter, laughter, and dancing, my eyes wrested over to Hunter.
In my biased opinion, he was the handsomest grim reaper to exist.
I was doing my best to keep my clingy behaviour at bay. Yet all I wanted was to go over there and have my wicked way with him.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought he looked exceptional. Many stares veered in his direction and strayed longer than needed. Men and women alike. I guessed it couldn’t be helped. Still, it made me want to bare my teeth at the onlookers.
One was brave enough to have the audacity to approach him. I recognized her from school. She was in my finance classes.
Tina.
Fucking Tina.
She was a nice girl, but now that she’d encroached on my Hunter?
I saw red.
Was I having indigestion or was my chest actually tight from jealousy?
The emotion was so foreign to me until Hunter came along. Now I felt it whenever he gave his attention to others. I wanted his eyes on me and only me. It was a maddening thought, but I didn’t know how to stop my possessiveness.
“Um, Gabby, are you okay?” Anna asked when I stopped dancing, frozen like a statue.
I forced my gaze away from Tina and towards my best friend. The rictus tilt of my mouth and the lunatic glint in my expression had her wincing.
“I’m peachy,” I replied, eye twitching.
Tina put her hand on Hunter’s forearm. I wanted to shout at her, ‘Go away. He’s mine!’ But that wasn’t very cultured, right?
Layla eased away from the other dancing girls and stepped closer to me and Anna. “What’s going on?”
I downed my remaining drink in a single gulp. “Does anyone know any quick, effective methods to kill and not get caught?”
I didn’t have my gun on me. Maybe I could borrow one from Josh and Cade’s stash? A single shot between the brows should do the trick. Oh, or poison! That would probably get the job done more discreetly.
My best friends shared a concerned look.
Layla cleared her throat. “Is everything okay at home?”
Anna followed my line of sight and caught on. “Gabby,” she chided. “You’re not murdering Tina for touching Hunter.”
“I didn’t say I was!”
“You’re thinking it.” Anna sighed. “It’s written all over your face.”
Layla chuckled but tried to mask the sound with a cough. “Listen, Tina probably has no idea that you guys are dating. And for what it’s worth, it seems like Hunter is breaking the news to her right now.”
I snapped my attention back in their direction.
Sure enough, Hunter said something to Tina and she hedged him an apologetic expression. Before replying and inclining her head towards me.
Whatever it was, it caused Hunter to laugh my favourite laugh.
Tina finally backed away and blended into the crowd.
“I’ll be right back,” I mumbled to Anna and Layla, already crossing the distance towards Hunter.
He met me halfway, a knowing smirk on his lips. “Hey.”
I placed my hands on my hips and schooled my features into my best scowl. “Don’t ‘Hey’ me after I caught you red-handed!”
Hunter raised his red Solo cup for a swig. “Caught me doing what?”
“Laughing with Tina!” I growled. “Why don’t you go back to her? You know, since she’s sooo funny.”
His broad shoulders shook with laughter. “Are you actually jealous?”
“No,” I said defensively, though we knew I was a territorial little bitch. I crossed my arms over my chest. “But I thought I was the only girl you laughed with?”
Hunter kept chuckling at my sullen tone. He hooked an arm around my neck and drew me into his body. “Get over here.”
I pounded feeble fists against his muscular chest, mock-glaring at him. “I don’t want your pity hugs.”
“What about my kisses?” He planted one on my forehead, my nose, and my cheeks. “You want those?”
Did I ever. I was so weak when it came to Hunter. “Why’d you let Tina touch you?”
It was irrational since she touched him and not the other way around. I just had this inherent need to rib Hunter. The mischievous way he grinned told me he saw right through me.
“Sorry, baby,” he apologized like a good sport.
“I told her I wasn’t interested—that I have a girlfriend.
She was embarrassed and said she realized exactly who it was, since you were glaring daggers at her.
That’s what made me laugh.” His mouth travelled to my ear, murmuring, “You have nothing to worry about. The only woman I want touching me is you.”
The green-eyed monster inside of me quieted down. “Kissing you, too?”
“Mhm.” He nodded. “I’m yours and you’re mine. Remember?”
“How silly of me to forget.” I grabbed his face and pecked his mouth. “We should probably ditch the party and go home. Wash your arm of all the Tina germs.”
“Is that the only reason why you want to go home?” he purred, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
No, it wasn’t. I wanted to fuck him tonight.
“Well, we could make a stop at a tattoo parlour. Get that ink we talked about.” I still wanted a snake down my spine to match the snakes on his arm and thigh.
“I’m thinking we get you something that says ‘Gabriela’s Pretty Boy’—you know, to make it clear that you belong to me. ”
He arched his brow. “And where shall I get this tattoo?”
I batted my lashes coquettishly. “On your dick?”
Another laugh burst out of him. “That might be quite painful, but I’d do it for you, Gabby.”
Of course he would. He’d do anything for me.
“I’m kidding—I mean, about the location,” I swiftly amended. “Anywhere you want will do.”
“Cool. Now enough talk about tattoos.” He walked us backwards, his hands on my hips. “I want to dance with my girl.”
Hunter
There was a sense of déjà vu as I led Gabriela to the middle of the dance floor, an ocean of gyrating bodies surrounding us, reminding me of the first time we did this. Except now we weren’t putting on a show.
This was for us alone.
I spun her around and pulled her back to my front. She gasped under her breath and it quickly morphed into one of the giggles I loved so much. That sound evoked the feeling of home inside of my chest. My arms came around her waist, my hand still holding my drink, and I swayed us to the beat.
Once upon a time, my introverted self would have never willingly inserted myself onto a dance floor, much less partied.
But that was then and this was now. Gabriela didn’t outright say it, but the beam on her scarlet lips echoed how proud she was of me.
At moments like these, I too was proud of my growth and the work I put in.
Gabriela once told me we were all works in progress, and every day was one step closer to your masterpiece.
I’d come a long way. I liked this version of myself and I wouldn’t have been able to find it without her.
So much in my life had changed since Gabriela walked into it.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“What are you drinking tonight?” She leaned her head against my shoulder, moving her hips sensually to the rhythm.
“Just a soda. Since I’m driving and you don’t kiss boys who drink beer.”
Her smile was laced with nostalgia. “Good call.”
I tightened my arms around her. Our bodies were glued together, yet I wished I could somehow get closer to her. Sink deep into her skin. Anchor myself into her soul. Reside in her heart and never leave that space vacant.