The Hunted (13 page)

I
texted
my mom to let her know that I’m coming home for a while, gathered all my money, and a fresh set of clothes. “Walk Tall” by John Mellencamp flows out my front door. The song eases my nerves a bit, and I even realize I’ve been tapping the end of my sandal to the song. I’ve been on the front steps for almost thirty minutes waiting on Van.

He brought me back here, told me he had some business to finish up, and he’d be back for me. What a fucking nightmare. Actually the worst I ever had, but it wasn’t a dream at all. I lived the bitch with my eyes wide open.

A roaring engine comes near and when I look up I see a sexy black Dodge Challenger park. Van slinks his way out of it and even through this whole storm I don’t miss how fucking incredibly handsome he is. My heart skips a beat and my breath hitches with just the sight of him.

His faded blue jeans hang loose on his hips with his signature white Converse peeking out. No hoodie tonight, but a tight white t-shirt with a ballcap on backwards. His cigarette teeters from his closed lips. The bud of the cigarette lights up his face as dusk settles over the city.

Van’s stride oozes sex, power, and control. An ounce of guilt washes over me for escaping the city for a bit.

“Junior.” He stops in front of me and nods.

The deep rich tone of his voice causes me to lose it. Tears spill over my cheeks. Trembles overtake my body as the dam of emotions finally breaks within me. I’m a fucking mess.

He picks me up easily in his arms, cradling my head to his shoulder while picking up my bag with his free hand. “You’ll be okay, baby bird.”

“I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t.”

“And I don’t want any whores sitting on your lap, sucking your dick or anything like that.”

Van’s laugh vibrates in his chest, forcing a meager little smile between the tears streaming down my face.

“No whores, Junior.”

He sets me down in the car before he jogs back to my place and disappears. The smooth birch smelling aroma hits me. My palms splay across the black leather of the seat in the car. Holy shit this thing is a work of art. The aroma of leather mingled with cigarette and Van is the best scent ever to grace my nose.

I run my fingers across the dash of the car. It’s a shiny marbled black. The car screams Van with its rich and dark interior and not to mention how fucking sexy it is.

“Turned your radio off.” I look over to Van, who’s just opened the driver door. “That thing is a piece of shit. I may have kicked it.”

I giggle. “You have to twist and push the knob.”

“Well, my shoe did the trick.”

“This car,” I say in awe.

“You like her?”

“I think I’m crushing on it,” I admit before looking at him.

“She’s all I have that’s mine.”

“Where did you get it? I’ve never seen it.”

“Stew stored it for me while I was away.”

“You’re really close to him aren’t you?”

“Closer than my own dad.”

“Why don’t you drive this?”

“So many questions, Junior.” He places his hand on the top of my thigh and squeezes gently. “Because I don’t want anyone to hurt her.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Van Hollis protects what he loves.

“I see,” I whisper, putting all the unconventional pieces together.

“Where in the fuck are we going?” he snarls.

I punch the address into his cell phone and sit back with the force of his acceleration. Van spares no horsepower making his tires squeal. The engine puts off a soothing purr, relaxing me. I sink back into the seat and close my eyes.

“Nah, you can’t sleep.”

“Why?” I look over to him.

“Because I want to talk to you and you could have a concussion.”

I don’t know what comes over me when I blurt out, “Kiss me.”

Van reaches across, planting his lips on mine with his eyes still focused on the road. He accelerates as he bites down on my lower lip.

When he pulls away, all the loving emotions disappear from his face.

“What did that bastard do to you?”

“I’m sorry I blew up at you, but no more whores.” I place my hand on his thigh this time. “When I walked out into the alley, I thought it was you calling me back, but it was him.”

“And,” he grumbles.

“Told me I had to go down to the station to answer questions about one of the murders. I asked him if he meant now and then he tried to force me in the car.”

His fist flies into the dash, veins pop in his neck before he finally talks. “Don’t you ever go anywhere with that bastard.”

“Why would he try to take me with him? I have nothing to do with the murders.”

“Because he knows you’re important to me. He’s trying to get to you.”

“How would he know?”

“We’re identical twins. I guarantee he realized it the first time he came into the club.”

I skip telling him about the pictures and his brother’s knee in my crotch and ride the rest of the way in silence. The closer we get to my childhood home, the easier I feel. I need a break from all of it.

“I do have one more question for you, Van Hollis.”

He only glances over to me, and I take it as the green light to ask.

“Where do you go at night, Van?”

“You just won’t give up on that, will you?”

“No, I won’t.”

“You know you can be irritating as hell at times.”

“You’re a dick.”

“But you’re so cute when you’re pissed.” He laughs heartily at my pissed off state. “I’ll take you when you come back.”

He cuts his sentence short, wanting to say more. So much is left in the air between us. I don’t know if I’m going back.

“Home sweet home,” I chime when he pulls up to Mother’s house. I rarely had new friends come over as a child but when I did, I was always on pins and needles worried about what we would walk into. None of that worry strikes me with Van. There’s such ease between us even when our lives are turned upside down.

He snags my bag from the back as I walk around his car still admiring its sleek sexiness. Van raises the bag up to me, but I snag his free hand instead, dragging him up the stone path leading to the front door. The door lies slightly opened so I just walk right in.

“Mom,” I holler.

“Basil, in the backyard, baby girl.”

The sound of her voice makes my knees go weak. I need her more than ever right now. I try to read Van’s expression as he takes in the inside of my mom’s house.

Side by side, we step out into my mom’s own personal haven. There’s a group of women sitting in a circle shirtless holding hands and lightly singing.

“Basil.” My mother jumps up shirtless and excuses herself from the group. “I’ll be right back.”

“Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I say while covering Van’s eyes. I feel his cheeks go upwards as his smile presses into my hand.

I toss her a shirt with my free hand and wait until she has it pulled over her head before I let my hand drop down to my side. Before I can give proper introductions, my mother is all over me. Her fingers graze the bump on my forehead.

“This looks terrible. Basil, you really should go to the hospital.”

I’m stunned by her suggestions. She’s radically against hospitals, doctors, and medicine that kills you.

“What?”

“Basil, I’m serious. You had to have been hit hard to get this big of a knot.”

“Mom, I’m fine. I just need some time to heal and think.”

“I’m not happy at all.” She glances up to Van, sending him a dangerous glare.

“Mom.” I clutch her forearm. “This is Van Hollis, my neighbor.”

“The boy you’ve told me about?” she inquires.

“Oh, dear God, Mother, don’t even start.”

“So he is the one who kissed you.”

“For fucksake,” I puff out.

She laughs and then runs into the house.

“Want to go in or stay out here for the titty show?”

And yes Van’s staring at the group of women and they’re staring right back. I swear not one ounce of my life can be normal or even freaking close to it. I tuck my arm in his and pull him back inside. My mom is scurrying about, fixing up some concoction to put on my head. Basil, peppermint, and cloves fill the air.

“May I ask what’s going on out there?” Van points with his thumb to the backyard. It’s the first time I’ve heard the man use any form of manners.

“It’s our monthly Mother Nature time. We drink tea and will our vibes to the universe. It’s a type of meditation.”

“Yeah, tea and titties with a side of pot,” I mutter under my breath.

Van swats my ass and then settles me down on his lap. It’s ironic he picks my favorite couch in the house to snuggle up on.

“I like your mom,” he whispers into my ear.

“Because you saw her tits.”

“No.” He taps my nose. “I can tell she loves you.”

“Oh, that she does.”

With absolutely zero personal space awareness, my mom plops right down between us tending to my head. The rub she made is cool as she applies it.

“Does that hurt, Basil?”

I shake my head no, closing my eyes . I know she’ll rub down the palms of my hands and bottoms of my feet next with a different oil that smells sweet and musky at the same time. Her touch and the aroma relax me. I melt back into Van. He presses his lips onto my temple, brushing them back and forth.

“I ordered you kids pizza. I need to run out and finish the ceremony.” Before she steps back outside, she turns to us. “Van, don’t you dare run off before I get back.”

“I’m sad now.” I turn in his arms to face him.

“Why, Junior?”

“I’m going to miss you.”

His fingers lazily run around the goose egg on my forehead. “You need time away.”

“Stay with me.”

“I can’t. Stew is relying on me and I have fights.”

“Fights?” I crook my head.

A devilish sly grin spreads across his face.

“You fight at night.”

He slowly nods his head. “Among other things.”

“That’s why you always have scratches and cuts.” It all makes sense. “Are the other things illegal?”

“Some.” He grabs my hand, placing it over his hardened dick. I groan automatically. “Can we fuck? I need you, Bay.”

I nod to him. “But the pizza guy?”

“He’ll figure something out.” Van stands, holding me tight to his chest. My legs wrap around his middle, anchoring to him. “Where’s your room?”

“Down the hall, second door on the left.” I sink my teeth into the sensitive skin on the side of his neck and suck with the clear intentions of leaving my mark behind.

“Feisty.”

“I’m marking my man.”

Van lays me back gently on my bed. Love and concern covering his face chips away at my soul. My Big Bad Wolf has become my Prince Charming. His darkness–my light. His pain–my happiness. I crave all of him. He’s the end of my story.

My shorts are tugged down gently. His knuckles sinfully sting my skin as he works them down the length of my legs. He repeats the same motion with my panties. I expect him to settle between my legs and fuck me, but he doesn’t. His dark hair dips between my legs. Van uses his fingers to circle my sensitive bud then he flicks it with his tongue. I’ll never get used to this overwhelming sensation. It’s a delicious thrill throttling all of me. He works faster, adding more fingers and goes deeper with his tongue.

“Van,” I scream, clutching to both sides of his head.

He smiles against my center as I let go all over his face.

“That will never get old, Van.”

He snakes up my body, exploring with his lips while licking the whole way. “I should’ve told you something, Junior.”

Panic strikes.

“I’ve always used a condom until you.”

“That’s it?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He shrugs.

“Fuck, I thought you were going to leave me.”

“You should know by now that I don’t lie. You are so fucking mine,” he commands as he enters me.

The familiar pain hits me with his first couple thrusts.

“I’m going to try something. Tell me if it hurts.”

He gently rolls me in one slow motion until I’m perched on top of him. His fingers bite into my hips keeping me raised just above him.

“I want to watch you work me over. If it hurts too bad, tell me.”

The palms of my hands plant firmly on his chest as I adjust myself on top of him. He keeps his hands secured to my hips, guiding me slowly.

“This,” I whisper.

“What, baby?”

“This is so much more.”

The friction and angle of it all send me quickly into a cloud of ecstasy, and I linger there, riding out each wave of pleasure. My body goes limp, but Van keeps me held up and begins pounding into me. His grunts turn me on.

“Let go inside of me.”

“Huh?” He doesn’t slow his hips when he answers me.

“I’m on the pill. Let go, Van.”

His teeth sink into his bottom lip and I know he’s close. He grows larger inside me and then lets out one more grunt before I feel him spill over inside me.

“Anyone home?”

We both hear someone yell.

“The pizza,” I whisper.

“Coming,” Van hollers. He sets me off to the side, pecking my forehead before hopping into his jeans and zipping them up. He leaves me bare, and I feel every inch of naked without him with me. I sneak under the blankets and wait for my own personal pizza deliveryman to return.

And oh boy does the sexiest man carrying two boxes of pizza enter my room. His hair is ruffled from our sexy time. His pants still hung low, and that devilish grin steals my heart all over again.

“Mine,” I say.

T
he ‘burb air
has been soothing on my soul. I’m going on two weeks of being home. Van lent me a phone that only has his number on it and told me to call when I’m ready to come back to the city. Every night when I doze off I remember pizza in my bed with him. He texts me every morning and I know it’s when he’s coming home from his nights out. I can imagine him in his hoodie with a cigarette hanging from his lips.

“I think it’s time.”

I look up to my mom who’s perched at her breakfast bar sipping on her green smoothie of blended organic spinach and collards. After a few weeks of soul searching everything is in a different light for me. I’ve never thought of my mother to be beautiful, but in her element right now she’s radiating.

“Love you, Mom.” I wrap her up in a hug and try to avoid gagging from the aroma wafting off her smoothie.

“I love you too, but it’s time for you to go back and chase your dreams.”

“I know, Mom.” I kiss her temple and grab my hot cup of coffee and settle in at the computer.

I’ve avoided this and it’s been a struggle every single day, but now it’s time to see what’s happened while I’ve been gone. Sleeping has been a real struggle. I keep seeing her body cut wide open. Blood pooling around her delicate and lifeless face. Her clothes shredded.

My nervous filled fingertips begin typing and pulling up information. There’s been more bodies found, but they’re different. Hidden and rotten flesh decaying. All women have been violated and slit wide open. I have to take a break from the awful words scrolling across the screen along with some of the blurred out victims.

I sit out in the sun letting all the information sink in and realize none of it adds up. Not one single thing. Several reports also indicate the crimes aren’t connected, but the most disturbing fact is they are becoming closer and closer to my place.

The bracelet.

I rush back into the house, diving at the computer scrolling through pages and pages of victims, looking for her. I never find her or the victim who was located in the alleyway behind my apartment. But Argo had the pictures of the victim on his front seat.

Exhausted and frustrated I power down the computer and head to my paint room. The bright sunlight streaming in through the windows warms me up instantly. Color lays everywhere from an old canvas to the murals I’ve painted on the walls. I breathe in happiness.

Rushing back into my room, I find my favorite painting tank top. Its original color is white, and even though it’s been worn and washed time after time it has so many different paint splatters covering it. It’s a piece of art itself. I slip it on and remain in my favorite boy short underwear. I shoot a quick text to Van before I head back in.

Settling on my stool my favorite Avicii song begins to play. I don’t think of a subject matter as I marry favorite colors together in different swirls and designs. I add different mediums to the canvas and apply even more colors and depths of texture. Hours fly by as do my favorite songs entertaining me. My heart sings along and my fingers dance.

“Bay.” A deep voice startles me, but then his scent hits me.

I fly into Van’s arms, paintbrush and all. His hands grab my ass hoisting me up.

“Love the outfit.”

“I just texted you. I didn’t expect you today.”

“Junior, you texted me five hours ago.”

“Oh.” I kiss his nose, then his lips. “God, I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Junior, more than I’d like to admit.”

It’s as romantic as he gets and I wait for the next words from him and would bet a hundred bucks they are “Let’s fuck.”

“What are you painting, Junior?”

“A picture.”

“For your daddy?” He quirks an eyebrow at me.

Laughter attacks me, and it’s a sound I haven’t heard in a really long time from me. I grip the sides of his face, rubbing my nose back and forth on his.

“I love you, Van.”

I thought the time I would actually tell him that I’d be scared and afraid of rejection, but I’m not at all. I only shine in him.

“Say it again.” He squeezes his eyes shut.

“I love you, Van Hollis. I love your foul mouth, protective nature, and scars. I love you, my Big Bad Wolf.”

He keeps his eyes sealed shut. “I’m scared, Bay.”

“Why, baby?” I rub gentle circles on his jawline.

“Because you are the first person ever to tell me that and…” He pauses, and I give him the time he needs. His bright blue eyes finally make contact with mine. “And I love you.”

An old Elvis song begins playing in the background and I know Van hears it too. I can’t help but chuckle at the song. “Love Me Tender”.

“Just love me, Van.”

The paintbrush drops to the floor as he sets me on a counter in the paint room. Cold liquid oozes underneath me, and I know it’s paint. The hem of his shirt invites me to tug it over his head. I dip my finger in some of the paint and begin to paint the outline of each of his scars. He’s mine. All mine.

“I can’t do this. I can’t go slow and make love right now. I need to claim you now.”

My underwear is torn from my body and tossed across the room. Everything happens so fast. The sound of his zipper being pulled down is a blur as he drags me from the counter and in one swift motion enters me.

I scream and pull on his hair. My back shoved up against the wall, Van makes good on his promise because he’s rough and fast pounding into me. I buck my hips back into him finding that magical friction needed. When he bites down on his lower lip, he sets me off.

More screams escape as I tumble head first into the most delicious orgasm of my life. He expands in me, moans, and then fills me with his hot liquid. He grunts and thrusts longer than usual, releasing everything into me.

“Fuck. I’ve jerked off every day since you’ve been gone, and it hasn’t been nearly enough.”

“Good.” I giggle into the sweaty crook of his neck.

“You’re never leaving me again.”

I nod, agreeing. “I know I belong with you now, Van. We can make our own life together.”

“You are mine.”

Those three words he speaks to me are more powerful than I love you. When they roll off his tongue, he turns me into a sexy goddess.

“I want to paint your dick.”

His chest rumbles against mine. Van’s laughter feels amazing. “Are you ready to go home, Junior.”

I nod against his neck but refuse to leave this position.