Chapter 7

Monday 4.41 am

Hunter

I’m frozen stiff and packing up when I hear a vehicle. I suck in a breath and kick dirt over the last of the fire. My breath is misting in the frigid air as I take the safety off and palm my gun. I creep closer, using the trees as cover as I slowly make my way to the clearing.

My nerves creep higher as I wait for male voices and the sound of clips being slid into guns. But I don’t hear anything apart from the engine switching off and a single door closing.

I follow the movement, catching snatches of a figure moving towards the cabin. I’m so close to the clearing I can hear the engine cooling on the grass.

I sneak a look through the trees and frown at the mud-splattered Pathfinder. All the air leaves my lungs as I hear the cabin door opening. I slump against the tree trunk. She came back. For whatever reason, she’s here. Which means I can’t be.

I close my eyes and shove the gun down the back of my jeans and pull my shirt over it. I run a hand over my face and peep through the trees checking for any indication she’s been followed.

I wait to the count of a hundred then go back and finish packing my things up. My fingers are so cold it takes me a couple of tries, but I shrug into my pack and prepare to slip around the side of the cabin ready to leave like I should have done yesterday morning.

I round the corner and freeze as I find her outside examining the woodpile I’ve been pilfering from for the last few months. I stay completely still. Unsure if she’s seen me as I hang back, breath locked in my chest.

A strangled sound escapes as she seems to notice me. She stares at me, mouth opening, eyes widening. Seconds tick by before she suddenly launches herself at me.

I stagger back, slamming into a tree trunk hard enough to make me grunt. Her breathing is getting faster as she pushes her tongue in my mouth, grabbing my hair and pressing into me.

My brain shuts off, and I automatically unclip my pack so I can shrug out of it. When it’s evident she has no intention of stopping at just a kiss, I pick her up, so her legs are around my waist and stagger to the front door with absolutely no intention of listening to Waters right now.

I kick the door shut and throw her on the mattress probably a little too rough, but she doesn’t seem bothered. She yanks her jacket and shirt off, leaving me to enjoy the view as she unzips her jeans, wriggles out of them and opens her mouth, almost like she’s begging for me to put my cock in it.

I don’t know why she’s here and right now when she’s lying on the mattress in her lacy underwear, red hair covering her shoulders, and she’s looking at me like I’m the answer to her problem, why is completely irrelevant.

I yank my shirt off, and she crawls to the end of the mattress, eyes wild as she unbuckles my belt.

I grab her hair as she tugs my jeans down and slides her mouth over my cock, licking the tip and running her fingers over my ball sack.

My cock is tingling all over, and I’m struggling to stay upright as she keeps sucking me deep. “Stop, shit, stop,” I gasp.

I don’t want to come yet, so I back away and kick my jeans off. She looks so incredibly sexy as she waits for me, her knees are open, lace between her legs the only thing stopping me from sliding inside her.

With a primal growl, I climb on top of her and kiss her roughly. Shivers run over my cock as she leans down to rub and massage me until I’m covered in jizz.

I don’t need to tell to quit; her hands shift so she can pull me down. Her breath is ragged and hot as she pants in my ear. “Fuck me, Hunter.”

I’m so hard, so fucking horny when she wriggles out of her panties and spreads her legs; my cock finds its own way inside her.

I keep my eyes on her face, loving how wet she is, how turned on she is, loving how her mouth is already opening, eyes jammed shut as she starts to tremble and gasp my name as I make her come.

I grab her hands and hold them over her head so our fingers are linked as I pump her as hard as I can. A surge of pleasure rushes to my cock as she begins to explode under me again. Unprecedented levels of bliss start to tear through my cock as I start to come with her. “Shit, shit. I’m coming,” I pant.

In response, she wraps her legs around me, making sexy noises as the last wave of orgasmic bliss leaves my body.

I stay inside her, cock still semi-hard as I try to calm my heart rate. My arms are weak, and she’s almost whimpering underneath me; cheeks flushed as I roll off her and take a shuddering breath.

Natalie turns on her side and wriggles closer so she’s pressed up against me. She kisses me softly and runs her fingernails through my chin stubble. “That was…incredible but not what I was going to start with when I saw you.”

She chews her lip as I run my hand over the curve of her hip. “What were you going to start with?”

Her breath releases in a rush. “Um. I don’t remember. I’m really tired.”

To prove her point, she stifles a yawn. I chuckle and pull her closer so I can kiss her again. “Why did you come back?”

She reaches up and runs her fingers through my hair. “I came to you because you can’t come to me.”

Her eyes flick to the tattoo on my chest, and I flinch. “Shit. You know?”

She runs her tongue over her bottom lip and looks at me through her lashes. “I know this is more than crazy, but I, ah, I, think I could, do this.”

I frown at her and run a hand through her messy hair. “Do this?”

A grumble escapes from her throat. “I’m not making any sense. I’m so tired. I just wanted to, oh damn it.”

I raise an eyebrow as she frowns at me. “You’re the only good thing in my life. Dad is sick, no one else gives a shit about me, and you’re so hot, so, so hot and such an incredible lover.”

Her eyes start to fill. “I don’t want this to end.”

I don’t know what to say, so I cup her chin, forcing her to look at me. “An incredible lover, huh? How incredible?”

Her eyes narrow as she sniffs. “The best I’ve ever had.”

Heat washes through me. It’s hard not to feel crazy satisfied that I still know what I’m doing despite being sorely out of practice.

I kiss her, teasing her with my tongue until she’s moaning in my mouth. “Stay here with me. Don’t go.”

Her words spear into my chest. As nice as this all is. As great as she is, I’m just delaying the inevitable.

“I was supposed to leave first light. Waters, my handler, saw us together. It’s not as simple as me staying here.”

She sniffs and moves closer until our foreheads are pressed together. “I guess I won’t be bringing you into the city to meet my father then.”

I choke on a laugh. She’s talking about her Dad? “He’s okay?”

She wrinkles her nose and traces her finger over my dragon tattoo until she’s rubbing my nipple. “He’s recovering. I wish you could meet him. I think he’d like you.”

I cover my surprise at how much I like hearing her say that by frowning. “Did he like Jed?”

Her lips press together as her hand drops. “He thought he was too interested in his career. Guess he was right.”

I run my finger over the lace covering her nipple. “Dipshit’s loss is my gain.”

Her fingers creep towards my cock, she starts stroking me and leans in to kiss me. “Hunter, why don’t we start the fire? I can take today off work.”

If her hand wasn’t doing the job to convince me to stay, her tongue caressing mine is. I roll her over so I’m lying on top of her and looking in her blue eyes.

I don’t answer. I just kiss her again and try to forget for just a few more hours how utterly selfish I’m being.

***

Natalie

Monday 7.26am

Hunter has the fire going again when I wake from a blissful nap. I stretch out my back and hug Hunter's shirt to me as I draw my knees up to my chest.

His back is to me; he’s wearing his jeans, loading the fire and looking even sexier than I thought possible.

He catches me looking, and a sly smile spreads over his face. “I better go get my pack.”

His gaze shifts to the end of the bed, he swoops down, and I nearly have a heart attack as he stands up with a gun in his hand.

Hunter’s eyebrow raises. “You know how to use this?”

I nod too quickly. “Jed taught me.”

He spins it around and holds out the butt to me. “Anyone comes through the door but me, shoot to kill.”

Cold starts to run through my body as the penny finally drops. I stare at the gun in my hand as he tugs on his shirt and sits so he can pull his boots on.

I throw myself out of bed, place the gun on the table, and start to tug my own jeans on. “What if we camped further up?”

The idea suddenly sounds far more enticing than wondering if anyone is lurking outside, waiting to pounce.

I was so exhausted and happy he was still here; I didn’t even stop to consider how unnerving it would be to stay here, completely blind to anyone approaching.

I’m so fixated on my idea of hiking up the trail further maybe finding a hut, that I don’t notice he’s crossed the room and is standing in front of me. “Natalie.”

I blow out a breath, anxiety rippling through my body. “There’s a tramping hut that doesn’t get used—"

He grabs my arms. “Just stop.”

He releases me, his fists bunching at his sides. “Waters was right. I’m placing you in danger by staying here with you. Eddie Falcone doesn’t mess around.”

Eddie Falcone. The Mob Boss. The Mob. He worked for THE MOB.

What am I doing? Am I so in lust with Hunter, so desperately in need of a man that I’d risk my life just for amazing sex?

My hands start to shake. “Just let me—”

He kisses me so tenderly I know he’s really going this time.

Hunter swings the pack over his shoulder and sends me a loaded smile. I close my eyes, unable to watch him walk away from me.

As he closes the door behind him, tears sting at my eyes, my throat constricts, but I refuse to accept this is the end.

***

Seven days later.

Monday 8.37am

Hunter

Sweat is pouring off me as I swing the axe into the log, sending it flying. With every swing, with every strike, I’m picturing Eddie Falcone’s ugly face, the bank teller who was shot, the mistakes I’ve made, all the shit I did, the regrets I have.

For two years I’ve lived with the decision I made that day. Two long years of drifting around the mountains, using all my survival skills to do just that. Survive and stay alive until the feds had enough to put him away. But I’m sick of surviving.

One weekend with Natalie in her cozy cabin, and I want more than what I’ve got right now.

I smash the timber in two and grab another piece. I swipe the sweat out of my eyes and keep taking all my frustration out on the wood pile.

Until a week ago, I never figured I was missing out on much. I hate the city with a passion. Hate crowds. Hate the smog. Hate the noise and pollution.

Up here, I can live off the land; I can hunt, I can keep my sister safe, and avoid the conflict and drama that entanglements with women always bring.

But this woman. This crazy redhead is doing my head in. She’s worked her way inside. She’s dominating my thoughts, making me half crazy.

I snort a laugh, breath misting in the air as I smash the axe into the wood. I hate Eddie Falcone. I hate his son Bobby. I hate myself. I hate that I want Natalie more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

I smash the wood into pieces, swinging the axe like a maniac. I was fine up here, moving from place to place until Natalie turned up and ripped my heart wide open.

I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. I’ve screwed plenty of women, left them satisfied, always wanting more but I’ve always been able to walk away.

Not this time. Not this woman. I want her and not just for a few weeks of more great sex.

I want to put a ring on her finger and rub her ex’s nose in it.

I want to be able to tell my sister I finally met a woman I want to commit to.

I want to meet her father and ask for his blessing.

What the fuck is happening to me?

I scowl at the wood and keep smashing and splitting, not taking a break until my blisters are raw and bleeding.

I thought I was okay with being a ghost. I thought I’d accepted that putting Grace through the funeral was worth it to keep her safe.

I throw the axe to one side and take a seat on the ground. I have to pull it together. Natalie is as out of reach as contacting my sister is.

Eddie Falcone’s fingers stretch into too many places. His reach and influence extend over the entire country.

I thought faking my death would give me a chance to live. But this was always supposed to be temporary. I was supposed to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But instead of hope, all I can see is an unending exile with no company except for the wacko residents who give me food in return for odd jobs.

Aside from Jack, and a couple of the old-timers who live up here like hermits and a few random encounters with hikers and hunters, I’ve lived up here almost devoid of any contact with people.

I bite back a sigh as Jack comes ambling towards me. His gummy smile as he gestures to a pile of rabbits on the table letting me know he’s got more work grunt work for me to do.

When the feds approached me and offered me a choice, testify, or jail for the robbery, I seriously thought I was escaping by coming back up here.

But as I pull out my pocketknife and start to rip the fur off the rabbit, blood staining my hands, I know that nothing has really changed.

I’ve been kidding myself to think this is better than my old life. It’s almost the same as being a criminal in the city. I’m still nothing more than muscle for hire.

All I’ve done is replace the environment and my employers.