Chapter 37
“What will happen to the Baby Doll Killer and the Shadow Siren?”
Bunny’s question startles me. Turning, I see her standing a few feet behind me, oversized sweats hanging from her frame as she pulls her massive mane of hair into a bun on top of her head.
“What do you mean, Little Rabbit? Good morning, by the way. How are you feeling?” I finish rinsing the mug in my hand before facing her.
Waking her earlier to feed Faline almost sent me into a tailspin when she broke down from sheer exhaustion.
I can’t even imagine how she’s feeling. It’s been a little over two hours since she fell back asleep.
I’ve checked on her periodically. Every time I open the door, I’m afraid I’ll find her gone again—something I know I’ll have to work through.
“Like I got hit by a Mack truck. Is there any more coffee?”
She takes a seat at the table as I get her some, preparing it how she likes—two sugars and a dollop of cream—and answer her earlier question.
“As far as the vigilantes go, I have no intention of doing anything about Dove. But stop sending in videos—command isn’t going to look the other way forever. ”
“I keep telling her that…” Bunny sips, eyes closing as she inhales the steam of roasted French-vanilla. “I think I’m going to retire—at least for now.”
“I can’t tell you what to do, Bunny. It’s just not about—”
“Just me anymore, I know.”
Reaching over, she lays her hand over mine. After everything, that simple touch still kicks my heart off-beat. I was so angry when she left, now I can’t imagine staying mad for more than a few minutes.
“I’m just not sure I can give it up for good.”
“I’m not asking you to. From now on, though, can it at least be a discussion?”
She smiles at my casual claim on our future. “I promise that when I’m ready to pick it back up, it’ll be a discussion.”
Silence settles between us, but those mossy eyes I’ve missed so much keep darting from me to her cup, like she wants to ask something and can’t find the way in. It makes her look small and fragile—even though she’s anything but—and it spikes the feral need in me to protect her from everything.
“Out with it, Little Rabbit.”
“Were you with anyone… you know, while I was gone?” She nibbles her lower lip, gaze dropping to the table.
“Of course I wasn’t.” I keep my tone soft as I reach for her. “Come here.”
There's no hesitation— she abandons her chair for my lap, wraps her arms around my neck, and sits sideways. It takes a few moments to adjust and find a comfortable spot, and I silently curse Neil for marring her skin with bruises that keep reminding me of last night.
If I hadn’t left, she wouldn’t have been attacked. I would’ve been here to protect her. To protect the dogs, though, they bounced back fine—Wrenley and Dove have them out for a walk with Fang, and Wrenley keeps sending photos of the three of them chasing squirrels in the park.
“I know I don’t have a right to ask, I just—”
“Hush.” Cupping her cheeks, I press a chaste kiss to her lips, savoring her familiar taste. “You have every right to ask—though it hurts that you feel you need to.”
Silver rims her lashes as she presses her forehead to mine. “I wouldn’t blame you if you did. I’ve been so terrible to you. You’ve been waiting for me for so long, and I’ve been utterly awful.”
“I waited because you’re worth waiting for, Bunny.
I had little to no experience dating or loving anyone when we met, but I knew what we had—what we have—is once in a lifetime.
It was instant for me, Little Rabbit. The second you climbed on that stage, you stole my heart, and you’ve had it ever since.
Every piece of me belongs to you. You know that. ”
“I do. I’m just… afraid.” Her small frame shakes as the tears multiply. “Afraid I’m too late. That I hurt you too much. How do we come back from everything I’ve done?”
“Twenty-four hours ago, I admit, I didn’t know how to get past the anger.
You’ve been the center of my world for a long time.
Now that world includes our beautiful little girl and, baby, I want better for her than this.
I don’t want her growing up watching her parents play will-they/won’t-they.
That means you have to let me love you. I want Faline to grow up believing in love—not think it only hurts.
One day I want her to lock eyes with a man…
or a woman… or whoever—and know instantly they’re her person.
I want her to know that kind of love exists and it’s worth fighting for.
Even when the other person hasn’t figured it out yet.
Even when they fight against it. You don’t give up when it’s hard.
You look your partner’s demons in the eye and say, ‘I dare you,’ because there’s no way in hell you’ll let anything hurt them. ”
“And what happens when your partner is the one who keeps hurting you? You’ve always given me so much, Hunter. So much. And I’ve given you nothing—”
“You’re wrong.” I cut her off. “You’ve given me more than you know, Little Rabbit. After all, I spent more time with you than you realize.”
Grinning, I capture her mouth. This time nothing is chaste about the kiss. She opens for me, tongue sliding to meet mine, hands in my hair. I’m halfway to trying to crawl down her throat when she yanks back, laughing at the pathetic whine that escapes me.
“You sound like a stalker. Don’t teach our daughter it’s okay to stalk people. She needs to know bugging people’s homes isn’t normal and that no means no.”
Nudging her nose with mine, I nip her bottom lip, careful with the tender skin. “You’ve never told me no, Bunny. Not once. If you ever uttered the word to me, I would’ve left you alone. You may be too damn stubborn for your own good, but you know what’s best for you, don’t you?”
She nods, then fuses our mouths again. I shift her, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her tongue conquers mine as she tries to take control.
“I love you, Hunter. I always have,” she murmurs against my lips.
I’ve always known it, but hearing her finally say the words after so long makes me pause to take it in. Her hair’s mussed from the fallen bun, eyes puffy from crying, lips swollen from my attention. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
And she loves me.
She loves me.
Hunter Jr. decides to announce himself, poking Bunny’s butt to say hello. She hisses softly, arching her back, then drops her forehead to my shoulder.
“You know we can’t have sex yet, right?” she groans.
“We may not be able to have sex, Little Rabbit, but I can sure as fuck make you come. Besides, you’re due three months’ worth of punishments.” I lift her chin, thumb stroking her lower lip. “I’ve been dreaming about punishing this mouth since you left.”
Color blooms over her cheeks and nose, highlighting her freckles, creating one of my favorite sights. A devilish smirk curves her lips as she unwinds from my lap and sinks to her knees.
“Normally it’s the guy who has to grovel in the books, but I think it’s high time I did some groveling of my own.” Reaching for my zipper, she keeps her gaze locked with mine as she undoes my pants and pulls my cock out.
“You never have to get on your knees for me, Little Rabbit. I’m not the kind of man who expects favors while you’re out of commission.”
But fuck if the silken wetness of her tongue isn’t in-fucking-credible as she licks up my shaft, swirling around my head, sucking the tip into her mouth like a popsicle.
“Hunter, you’ve proven yourself for years. It’s my turn to prove myself to you.”
I’m about to tell her she has nothing to prove when she takes me so deep I almost blow.
“Oh, fuck, baby, I missed that mouth.”
She hums appreciatively as she licks and sucks, bobbing slow, never breaking eye contact.
Flexing her throat around me, she grabs my hands and pulls them to her head as the sound of her choking on me fills the kitchen.
Sloppy wet kisses, my rough breathing, helpless moans—it’s a carnal symphony that grows louder with every glide, as she works me into delirium.
“Bunny, I’m not going to last.”
She hums again. Three months without her touch, without her mouth, and I’m about to nut faster than the first time I opened a Playboy.
“Baby, I’m going to come.” I slide my fingers from her hair, stroke her cheeks, and lift her until only my tip rests on her tongue. My cock twitches, releasing months of pent-up frustration.
She opens wide and lets me watch as I coat her tongue in thick bursts.
“Fuck, you are so fucking beauti—”
Suddenly, the door opens. Dogs yip. Dove and Wrenley yap. We both startle.
I grab for my pants at the same time Bunny lunges to stand—her mouth clamping down just as I move and drive myself forward again.
We freeze.
A high-pitched scream knifes the air, aaaand I’m pretty sure it’s mine.
Holy fucking shit… the pain. It hurts. This is definitely how I die: death by my little rabbit chomping my dick off.
“Oh my god.” Bunny releases me and falls back on her butt, eyes wide with horror.
“What was that god-awful sound?” Dove’s saccharine lilt floats into the kitchen.
Covering my bits so the tiny blonde doesn’t see more than she should, I slide off the chair and curl into the fetal position while Bunny scrambles to the freezer for ice.
“She bit me!”
“I guess the Bunny really does like her carrots!” Wrenley’s boisterous laughter fills the living room.
Slowly, I swivel my head and glare, repositioning the ice pack in my lap. “Fuck. You.”
“At least it’s still in one piece, buddy. Imagine if you’d lost any. Can’t afford to get much smaller. Bunny would need a toy.” He slaps his thighs like he’s headlining a comedy tour.
“Oh, fuck off. You know that isn’t true. I’m bigger than you are.” Though I have no insecurities about my size, heat still hits my cheeks as my gaze flicks to Bunny.
She’s glaring at Wrenley, and if that doesn’t comfort me, the fact that her breath smells like my cum does.
Wrenley stops laughing. “Hey, that’s just rude.”
“I happen to think Wrenley is perfectly sized,” Dove chimes in.
“Can we stop talking about this!” Bunny screeches. She snuggles into my side, trying to be comforting while being careful not to disturb Faline sleeping in her arms.
Babies are kind of boring at this age. Not gonna lie.
“I’m so sorry,” she apologizes for the millionth time.
“You’re fine, Little Rabbit. It’s just a little bruised, that’s all.” Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I kiss her temple.
“Hopefully you’re not too injured to help haul that piece of shit out of the basement.” Wrenley tucks Dove close, mirroring us. He looks away when Faline fusses and Bunny pulls her top down to feed her, though Dove watches with open fascination.
Wrenley’s eyes flick back, then away quickly when a growl rumbles in my throat. “Breastfeeding is natural, Wrenley. It’s not an invitation to stare—especially not in her own home.”
“Honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I didn’t even think to grab the cover. I’m sorry, Dove,” Bunny groans. “They’re kind of just… out all the time now.”
“It’s fine,” Dove says, gaze glued to Bunny’s chest. “You’re hot, and your boobs are massive right now.
Poor Wrenley can’t help himself around her, Hunter.
Neither can I, for that matter. Consider his sneak peek payback for that kiss you planted on me.
” She finally drags her eyes away and pats his thigh.
“As for the body, I can help you, Songbird.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. We already took care of it,” Bunny tells them. “Also, thanks for the compliment. I think.”
They trade a skeptical look. “What do you mean? What did you do with the body?” Wrenley asks.
A laugh rumbles in my chest, joining Bunny’s sultry chuckles. My little rabbit and I share our own knowing look before answering them in unison. “Pressure cookers.”