34. Thirty-Four
THIRTY-FOUR
WRENLY
T he funny thing about morning sickness was it didn’t always come in the morning. No, sometimes it woke you up when everyone was asleep, forcing you to sprint to the bathroom, hoping you wouldn’t blow chunks before you reached the toilet.
At 2:37 a.m., my stomach lurched violently, jolting me out of a restful sleep. I threw off the covers and stumbled out of bed, thankful I made it to the bathroom just in time, collapsing in front of the porcelain bowl as the contents of the amazing dinner I’d had made a hasty exit. The tiles felt cool against my feverish skin as I rested my cheek on the seat, waiting for the next wave to hit.
This wasn’t how I’d imagined pregnancy would be. All those glowing women in the magazines cradling their baby bumps with serene smiles—they never showed this part. The part where you’re hugging the toilet in the middle of the night, praying for the sickness to end.
When the wave of nausea finally subsided, I slumped against the wall, exhausted and miserable. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, taking in my disheveled hair and the dark circles under my eyes. “You’re a real vision of motherhood, aren’t you?” I muttered to myself, letting out a humorless chuckle.
As I dragged myself back to bed, I sighed when I saw Theo’s side still empty. I’d been so close to telling him I was pregnant tonight, you know, in honor of the night’s baby theme, but at the last minute, I’d chickened out and word-vomited some bullshit about the Hunt to distract him from the fact that I was a coward. To be fair, I hadn’t been entirely untruthful about my concerns, but the Hunt was at the bottom of the pyramid of worries I had presently.
I decided to check for Theo downstairs before heading back to bed. Maybe he had fallen asleep with a bottle of whiskey in his hand and we could forget about this argument, fight, or whatever it was that had him absent from our bed. I pulled on an oversized T-shirt, satisfied that it fell mid-thigh.
The living room was dark except for the moonlight peeking through the curtains. I squinted, trying to make out Theo’s silhouette on the couch, but it was empty. I walked into the kitchen, hoping to find him there, but it was just as deserted. The only sign of life was the ticking of the clock on the wall, marking the passing seconds. I leaned against the counter, a sense of unease settling in my stomach. Or maybe it was just more nausea.
As I turned to head back upstairs, a floorboard creaked behind me. I spun around, only to find Theo standing in the doorway. His hair was tousled, and his eyes were fixed on me. I recognized that look. I had seen it before. Theo was gone, and in his place was the Devil.
His eyes glinted with a predatory hunger, a twisted smile on his lips. “Well, well, what do we have here?” he purred, his voice smooth as silk. “A little midnight snack, perhaps?”
I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the edge of the counter behind me. “This isn’t funny, Theo.”
He moved closer, his movements fluid and graceful, like a panther stalking its prey. “Oh, but it is, little bird. It’s hilarious, in fact.” His laughter echoed through the kitchen.
“Have you been drinking?”
His eyes narrowed, the smirk never leaving his face. “Drinking? No. I’m perfectly sober. Just enjoying the thrill of the hunt .”
“Come on, Theo. I’m too tired for this.” I edged along the counter, trying to put some distance between us.
I tried to sidestep him, but he was too quick. In a flash, he had me pinned against the counter, his body pressing against mine. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the scent of whiskey and something darker, more primal, filling my nostrils.
“Let me go. This isn’t you.”
He leaned in close, his lips brushing against my ear. “Oh, but it is me, little bird. The one you’ve been begging me to be.”
I could feel how hard he was as he pressed himself against me.
Sick fuck.
This turned him on.
But I’d be lying if I said my thighs weren’t slick with my arousal thinking about him fucking me in the kitchen like a wild animal.
“What do you want?” I asked.
His fingers danced along my jawline, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. “To hunt.”
My breath caught in my throat as his fingers tightened around my neck, not enough to hurt but enough to assert his dominance. I knew I should be afraid, that I should fight back, but I craved this—the thrill of being at his mercy.
“And what exactly are you hunting?” I questioned him.
“You, little bird,” he growled, his hand squeezing my neck with enough pressure to make my pulse race. “I’m hunting you.”
I inhaled sharply. “Wh-what do you mean, Theo?”
“I’ll give you a minute head start,” he answered curtly, stepping back to give me room.
“For what?”
“Time is ticking.” He tsked as he slid his bronze devil mask over his head.
My heart pounded as I stared at him, his face now obscured by the sinister mask. The cold metal glinted in the moonlight, casting an eerie glow in the dimly lit kitchen.
“Ticktock, little bird,” he taunted, his voice changed by the box inside the mask. “Better fly away before the devil catches you.”
With a surge of adrenaline, I bolted from the kitchen, my bare feet slapping against the hardwood floors. I heard Theo’s deep, menacing chuckle echo behind me as I raced through the house. The rational part of my brain screamed at me to get as far away from him and this twisted game as possible, but the part of me I liked better was thrilled by the prospect of being hunted by him.
I was about to run up the stairs when another figure with a silver mask stepped in front of me. Which brother was this? Kai or Archer? Or one I hadn’t met? I couldn’t be sure, but I wasn’t sticking around to find out. So I made a decision to run out the front door—the final girls in horror movies would have been proud.
I flung open the front door and raced out into the cold night air, running around the side of the house toward the woods. I thought I could hear the heavy footsteps of my pursuers behind me, their deep laughter carried in the wind, and I swore I could see robed figures moving through the shadows, closing in on me from the side.
I ran until my lungs burned and my legs ached, darting between the shadowy trees that lined the property. The forest seemed to envelop me, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers ready to snatch me up. I heard the men’s heavy breathing and the snap of twigs under their boots as they chased me. My breaths came in short, sharp gasps. I had no idea where I was headed, only that I needed to keep going. The cold night air whipped through my hair, and the oversized T-shirt I wore billowed around my thighs, offering little protection against the chill.
Branches scratched at my face and arms as I pushed through the undergrowth. The ground was uneven beneath my feet, littered with roots and rocks that threatened to send me sprawling.
“Run, little bird, run!” Theo’s distorted voice called out from behind me, closer than I had anticipated. “The devil’s coming for you.”
How the fuck does he do this regularly . . . in the almost-pitch dark . . . with a mask on? I was maskless, and I couldn’t see shit. I didn’t know if I was making any progress, but I kept running, mostly because I wasn’t a quitter, but also because I wasn’t exactly sure what would happen if he did catch me.
The forest seemed endless, a labyrinth of shadows and twisted branches. I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were toying with me, letting me think I had a chance before they closed in for the kill.
A root snagged my foot, causing me to stumble and nearly hit the ground. I managed to steady myself by grabbing a tree trunk, feeling the rough bark scratch my hands. I paused, gasping for air and straining to hear any sign of them. The silence was eerie; all the forest creatures had gone quiet as if they sensed the danger and knew to remain silent when a predator was nearby. Then I heard it—twigs snapping and leaves crunching. They were far too near. I pushed away from the tree and resumed running, ignoring the fire in my lungs and the soreness in my legs. I crashed through a thicket of tangled branches, stumbling into a small clearing, where the moon hung above, casting a silvery light across the forest floor.
I spun around, my eyes darting frantically for any way to escape. But there were none. A dense wall of trees surrounded the clearing, and their branches intertwined like a cage.
I was trapped.
Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back against a solid chest. I let out a yelp of surprise, my hands scrabbling at the arm that held me tight.
“Gotcha,” Theo growled in my ear, the cold metal of his mask pressing against my cheek. “Looks like my little bird is out of places to fly,” he taunted, his distorted voice sending shivers down my spine.
“You’ve had your fun, Theo.”
He chuckled darkly. “Oh, I’m just getting started.”
Despite the fear coursing through my veins, I couldn’t deny the thrill that shot through me at his words. The devil in Theo awakened something dark and primal within me, a desire I couldn’t quite understand, and to be honest, I didn’t care.
His hand trailed down my side, his touch featherlight, until he reached the hem of my oversized T-shirt. With a swift tug, he ripped it open, exposing my bare skin to the cool night air. I gasped, my nipples hardening instantly.
“Look at you,” he murmured, his gaze raking over my body with a hunger that made me ache. “So responsive, so eager for my touch.”
He dipped his head, lifting his mask so his teeth could graze the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. I mewled, my hands clutching at him, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer.
He pulled his mask back down, and his hand slid between my thighs, his fingers brushing against my slick folds. “And so wet for me already,” he purred, his voice dripping with dark satisfaction. “You want this just as much as I do, don’t you, little bird?”
I couldn’t deny the truth. My body craved his touch and ached for the dark pleasure only he could provide.
“Yes,” I breathed. “I want this.”
A low, approving growl rumbled in his chest. “Good girl.” His fingers delved deeper, teasing my entrance before plunging inside. I cried out, my back arching as he stroked me with expert precision. “So tight. So perfect for me.”
He worked me mercilessly, his fingers pumping in and out, his thumb circling my sensitive nub. I was lost in a haze of pleasure as my body trembled with the exquisite sensations he gave me, my mind focused solely on the building pressure between my thighs.
Just as I teetered on the brink of release, he withdrew his hand, leaving me whimpering at the loss.
“Not yet, my little bird,” he chided. His voice was a sinful purr. “I’m not done with you.”
He spun me around to face him, his masked visage looming over me. The cold, bronze metal glinted in the moonlight, a stark contrast to the heat of his body pressing against mine. With a swift, forceful movement, he pushed me down to my knees on the forest floor.
“Show me how much you want it,” he commanded as his hand fisted in my hair.
I gazed up at him, my eyes wide and my heart racing with fear and desire. I reached up and undid the clasp of his belt. He watched me intently through his mask, and I relished his heavy and ragged breaths. I knew the effect I had on him and would take my time showing him exactly the kind of prey I was.
I slowly unzipped his pants, my fingers brushing the hard length straining the denim. A hiss escaped his lips at my teasing touch. I tugged his pants and boxers down just enough to free him. It sprang forth, thick and hard, the tip glistening with arousal. Leaning forward, my warm breath ghosted over his sensitive flesh. His hand tightened in my hair as I flicked my tongue, licking a slow stripe from base to tip. He groaned, the sound distorted by his mask. Emboldened, I wrapped my lips around him, taking him deep into the wet heat of my mouth.
“Fuck, just like that,” he growled as he thrust his hips forward.
I hollowed my cheeks, sucking him hard as I bobbed my head. My tongue swirled around his shaft, tracing the ridges and veins. He was hot and heavy against my tongue, his musky scent filling my nostrils. I reveled in the power I held over him in this moment, reducing him to grunts and gasps with my mouth alone.
His grip on my hair became painful as his pleasure mounted, and I knew he was close by the way his body tensed. He thrust his hips, forcing himself deeper into my throat. I relaxed my jaw, taking him as far as I could. I loved the way he filled my mouth completely.
“Enough,” he growled suddenly, pulling me off him. I gasped for air, my lips swollen and glistening with saliva. He hauled me to my feet and dragged me over to a large, flat rock at the edge of the clearing. As he stepped up behind me, I braced my hands on the rough surface. He pushed me forward until my chest was pressed against the cool stone and my breasts were flattened beneath me. He nudged against my entrance from behind, teasing me with the promise of what was to come.
“Beg for it,” he demanded, his distorted voice sending pleasurable shivers down my spine. “Beg me to fuck you.”
“Please, Theo,” I whimpered as my body ached with need. “I want you. I need you inside me.”
“Good girl,” he purred. With one hard thrust, he buried himself to the hilt. I cried out at the sudden intrusion. It was neither gentle nor kind. It was brutal and powerful—every dark and primal part of him slamming into me with deep, punishing strokes. He pounded into me with a ferocity that left me breathless.
His fingers dug into my hips hard enough to bruise as he took me with an animalistic hunger, and the coil of tension in my core wound tighter and tighter as he hit that sweet spot deep within me over and over.
“Touch yourself,” he demanded. “I want to feel you come undone around my cock.”
I obeyed, slipping a hand between my legs. I let out a sigh as my fingers found my swollen, aching clit. I rubbed it in tight, frantic circles, desperate for release. The dual sensations of his relentless fucking and my ministrations quickly pushed me to the brink.
“That’s it,” he encouraged, his voice rough with lust. “Shatter for me. Cry out my name to the heavens.”
I rubbed my clit harder, faster, my fingers slick with my arousal. His thrusts grew more erratic, his grip on my hips tightening to a bruising force. My climax crashed through me like a tidal wave, my inner walls clenching around him as I cried out his name.
With a guttural roar that echoed throughout the forest, he slammed into me one final time, spilling himself deep inside me. His hips jerked erratically as he emptied himself, his fingers digging into my flesh, and his body shuddered with the force of his release before he collapsed against my back, the cold metal of his mask pressing into my shoulder. My body hummed with the aftershocks of pleasure as a delicious soreness already settled into my muscles.
He slipped out of me with a soft groan, leaving me empty and aching. I turned to face him, my legs unsteady. He reached up and removed his mask, revealing the handsome face beneath. His dark eyes glinted with satisfaction and something softer and more tender. He brushed a lock of hair from my sweat-dampened forehead, his touch gentle.
“Now you know how it feels to be hunted. Do you see how in love with you I am? You are everything to me. And if hunting you through the forest in the middle of the night proves my devotion to you, then I’ll do it again. I would do anything you asked of me. You consume me, ‘body and soul.’”
He pulled me into his arms, cradling me against his chest as if I were the most precious thing in the world. I melted into his embrace, savoring the warmth and strength of his body. I breathed in his familiar scent mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest. A deep exhaustion consumed my soul. I knew I needed to talk to him and address the elephant in the room, or rather, the baby in the womb. But right now, I only wanted to bask in the glow of being hunted and claimed. I was afraid once I told him, everything would change between us .
“Take me home, my devil,” I whispered.
He brushed a tender kiss against my forehead. “As you wish, little bird.”
He carried me through the dark woods. I nestled my head in the crook of his neck, my eyelids growing heavy. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat and the gentle sway of his gait lulled me into a drowsy state.
Before I knew it, we were back in the house. He carried me up the stairs to our bedroom, gently laying me on the soft sheets. He then removed my ripped T-shirt, stripped off his clothes, and joined me. I curled into him, my back pressed to his chest, savoring the feel of his skin against mine. I listened to the soft rhythm of his breathing, letting myself drift to sleep, content and satisfied.