The Hunter Read online

  The day slipped away, and the next was even worse. I couldn’t understand why he’d left, where he was going, or what he was looking for. And what’s more, I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t told anyone, least of all me. The hunters had just gotten back, we had plenty of meat, Tillie’s fields were full of produce, and we’d even managed to find some sheep and pigs. I couldn’t understand any of it.

  Every minute felt like creeping molasses, an entire year in the span of an hour. I was paranoid and snappish. Even though I tried to focus on setting up the clinic and throwing myself into helping people, I was always on the verge of crying. What if something happened to him? There were so many dangerous people, and he was only one man. I knew he could handle himself, and he’d probably be disappointed that I didn’t believe in him. Feeling like crying made me mad. I prided myself on my strength and resilience, but now my world felt upside down.

  He hadn’t even taken other hunters with him, and they were just as confused as I was, although it seemed like they did their best to hide their worry when I was nearby. They acted with bravado on Oscar’s part for me, but it rang hollow without him to laugh it off and soak in the praise. The entire settlement was aching with worry, but I thought I might just die if he didn’t reappear after the two days were up. Our little community rallied behind me, and even in my worry, I was eternally thankful for them.

  I was helping Maria peel potatoes for dinner—at least that was a minor victory, getting her to sit her swollen ankles for a few minutes—and she was babbling away about her plans for the baby when Jamie, Tillie’s oldest daughter, came sprinting into the dining hall. Nine years old and with her mother’s cheerful face, she took in a lungful of air and pelted out at the top of her lungs, “OSCAR’S BACK!”

  “What?” Maria asked, but I was already up and dashing towards the entrance, Jamie whooping and cheering as she ran on my heels. As soon as I was outside, yes! Yes, I heard the familiar, soothing roar of his bike’s engine. We rounded the corner at a full sprint, and there he was, my Oscar, putting up the stop and unloading something from the back of his bike. My father was already there, and so were the hunters, and Henry Carter, the head of security. All of them were talking, all at once, but I cried out, “Oscar!”

  He only had eyes for me. Immediately, he turned at the sound of my voice and barely had time to hand the wrapped package to my father before I crashed into his embrace, laughing as tears of utter, absolute relief flooded down my cheeks. I grabbed his face and peppered his bushy face with kisses until I felt him smile and laugh. He was back, he was safe. I wrapped my arms around his neck, took a heaving breath, and cried out, “Where did you go? Why did you leave?”

  He pulled back with confusion drawn over his tired, happy face. “I told you. I left a note in the—” His eyebrows knitted together and, with a quiet, muttered curse, he patted the front pocket of his jacket. “Damnit. Damnit, Sara, I wrote you a note, but I guess I . . .” He withdrew a neatly folded slip of paper with my name on it. He handed it to me and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. “Guess I forgot to actually leave it for you.”

  “I think you’re in reeeeeeal trouble, Oscar!” Jamie exclaimed from below, spectating with wide eyes.

  I blinked up at him as I took the note. There were only a few sentences scrawled on it, and I read them over and over again:

  Going to find that thing you want. You deserve the best, and I’m going to find it.

  Love you, Sara.

  Oscar

  The growing crowd around us melted away into the background as I stared at the words until my eyes began to blur again with tears. Finally, clutching the note to my chest, I looked up at him and smiled, “You went to find an autoclave?”

  He nodded and gestured to the item my father had unwrapped.

  There it was, an autoclave, in perfect condition.

  I stared at it, and the rest of the settlement did, too, pressing in close to examine the gray box where it sat on a picnic table. The murmuring quiet was broken when Logan clapped Oscar on the back, and said, absolutely delighted, “Good show, man!” He laughed and began to examine it with relish. “This is exactly what we needed. Perfect, perfect! You’ve outdone yourself! Maria! Can we get a beer for Oscar? He’s more than earned it!”

  The crowd shuffled to follow Logan to the dining hall, clamoring with excitement. The two of us remained outside, staring at each other, holding each other. I took a shuddering breath, smiling again through my tears. “I was so worried, Oscar.”

  He was frowning, though I knew it was more at himself than anyone else. “I’m so sorry, Sara. I meant to leave you the note, but I was just . . . damn . . . and I thought I was on top of things for once.”

  I pulled him into a deep, grateful kiss. “I’m just glad you’re back safe. But please, don’t ever do that again!”

  He hooked his pinky finger around mine and rested our hands between our embrace. “I swear. Pinky promise. I swear I won’t ever again.” His expression turned shy. “Is it what you wanted, though? I can always go back and find another one if that’s not—”

  I shook my head. “No, it’s perfect, it’s absolutely perfect. You’re incredible, you know that?”

  He smiled bashfully. “Only because of you.”

  I kissed him again, soaking up the familiar, sweet taste of his lips against mine, and then I lightly smacked his chest, “Next time! Make sure you leave the note!”

  His laughter echoed around the settlement, and it was as if the entire place took a deep breath of air for the first time since he’d left. Everything was brighter, more colorful. Even the birds in the forest around us seemed to be more cheerful and eager to sing. I could hear the clamor of our friends, who were now family, inside the dining hall. I could hear Maria calling for order in her kitchen, I could hear Logan excitedly babbling away about the autoclave, and I could hear the children running around and yelling, amped up on the atmosphere’s excited energy.

  But I only had eyes and thoughts for him. I ran my hands down his back, feeling the muscles under the soft, pliable leather of his bike jacket. “You must be tired,” I whispered, unable to keep an adoring smile from my face.

  “I’m beat,” he answered honestly, eyes dark and intense as he stared down at me. “But you make me feel so . . .” His hands gripped around my back. He leaned in close to my ear, breathed me in and growled. “So alive.”

  His fingers slipped over the top of my pants and tugged in an invisible cue. “Your place or mine?”

  “Definitely mine.” I giggled. While the rest of the settlement celebrated Oscar’s find, I gladly took the man all to myself.

  Oscar had moved reluctantly from his beautiful log house that was about a ten-minute drive away when the riots started. His house had been too far away to be in the protected area of the community and being isolated was a recipe for disaster. So, for the time being, he shared a small apartment with another guy from his hunting team near the town center. He had enough room for a bed, and that was about it.

  We made a quick stop at his place and picked up a bundle of fresh clothes, and then we headed off to my place.

  I got lucky with my living arrangement. An elderly couple with a cute little house right at the edge of town decided to make the journey to their son’s place in another state. Dad and I happened to be next on the housing list. My dad took the in-law suite at the back of the house and told me to take the main house, on the condition that I think about giving him grandkids one day.

  Closing the door behind me, I helped him out of his jacket, peeled off his sweaty shirt, and admired the view. His sculpted chest muscles rippled, slightly tanned and sheen, pink nipples hardened. I roamed my hands over his powerful arms, tracing the muscular cords that were standing out. My knees grew weak. I realized that I was just standing there, staring at him. He laughed, cupped my jaw, and tugged at my lower lip with his thumb.

  “Hold on, Doc. This man needs a wash, but don’t worry. A cold shower isn’t going to cool
me off.” He smiled, deep brown eyes sparkling, then he turned and headed up the stairs.

  I put on some water to boil for coffee and then flopped on the couch, taking my hair out of the long braid and brushing it out. All of a sudden, I heard Oscar’s voice singing in the shower! I giggled as I listened to his bass voice filling the house. I used to sing in the shower too, when I was happy, and when the sounds of the water mostly drowned out my voice. But now, the trickle from the camping shower bag that we had rigged was pretty quiet, and the water was cold, but still, there he was singing. In my house.

  I wondered if I should ask him if he wanted any company in there, then I hesitated. Would it be too soon? It was a weird enough relationship already, and I had been treading carefully. Although our first time together a few days ago wasn’t exactly careful on my part. Thinking about our time by the little waterfall made me grow warm and blush. I certainly didn’t regret that!

  I just hoped that whatever was blooming between Oscar and me was going to last despite us being from different worlds. My biggest fear of all was just like a raw nerve touched—that one day he would go out hunting and never come back. I had to learn to live with it, though, just like everybody else. I had to tap into the superwoman powers that had gotten me through all my schooling and keep being brave.

  I heard the water stop, and after a minute, his feet coming down the stairs.

  “You never told me you sang!” I exclaimed as he came into the living room.

  Sadly, Oscar was now dressed in his fresh clothes. He joined me on the couch and hauled me onto his lap, kissing my neck.

  “I’m a jack of all trades. But first things first.”

  “What is it?” I asked.

  His eyebrow arched while his eyes danced. “No more milking the cow before you buy it.”

  “Wh . . . what?” I laughed.

  “I’m no cow, you know. You can’t just keep on using me for free,” he teased, grabbing my ass and squeezing. “I want you, Sara. I want you to move in with me. I want you to be mine.”

  My heart soared. This was exactly what I wanted. “I—”

  He put a finger to my lips and continued.

  “You know I’m not loaded with degrees, but I can provide, and I’ve got my farm once things have settled down.”

  I kissed him fully on the mouth. “You’re exactly what I want. But I think you can move in with me. Otherwise, Juan’s going to get free shows.”

  He didn’t need any other encouragement. He picked me up, threw me over his powerful shoulder and carried me squealing up the stairs.

  He unceremoniously dropped me on the bed, and my body bounced up crazily. Quickly he pounced on top of me and ran his hands up my sides, growling softly deep in his chest. I had been fantasizing about him so much while he was gone, and now I was totally overcome. My crotch was on fire and soaking wet.

  There were so many naughty things I wanted to do, I felt like I didn’t know what to do first. I pushed Oscar over, pinning him down on his back, straddling his bulge. His big meaty hands grabbed my face and trailed back, entwining in my long hair. His hips ground slowly against mine, humping me slowly. I unbuttoned his shirt slowly, starting at his neck. I loved to look at him, his inked designs dancing across his beautiful ripped body and twining around his tree-trunk arms. I never before had imagined such a view—to have a tattooed hunter for my own.

  Oscar was watching me, his eyes aflame, his breaths coming more quickly. Spreading his shirt open, I kissed the muscles of his inked shoulder, before moving to his thick neck, then down to his broad chest. He groaned as I dismounted. I slid my hand down to his stiff cock, stroking it, feeling the bulge through the fabric of his jeans. My kisses trailed down in a long, wet line, down to the top of his pants.

  Grabbing my head between his hands and forcing my head up to his, he kissed me hard. His tongue was eager, insistent, twirling with mine.

  Oscar grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled up. My breasts bounced as my stretchy top popped off over my arms.

  He pursed his lips together and whistled low. “Fuck, Doc, look at those tits!”

  His big hand brushed off my black lace bra strap from my shoulder and pulled down the cup. Nosing my breast up from underneath, he licked it, from below the bottom crease, to my puckered nipple, where he pulled it into his mouth and noisily sucked, and made a sound a lot like purring. The feeling of his mouth and tongue on my nipple sent an electric jolt right to my clit. I helped him hastily take off the hooks at the back of my bra while his other hand grabbed my other breast, kneading it.

  “Sara,” he whispered hoarsely. “Give me your ass here. I’m going to peel you naked like a banana.” He reached back to grab my thigh and yanked me around so that my pussy was by his head. He made quick work of my leggings and underwear, hooking his fingers over the waist and whipping them down and then peeling them off. His cock straining against his pants was right in front of my face.

  “I want to taste you,” I muttered. I ripped open his jeans and manhandled his underwear down. His dick flew out, thick and veiny. I hadn't yet had the chance to take him in my mouth, to pleasure and tease. The sight made my mouth drool, and I wondered what he would taste like. I could feel the heat coming in waves off his groin.

  He planted his face against my pussy and grabbed my furry, fleshy mound lightly with his teeth and growled. Hot moist breath blew through my curly mat of hair and gave me tingles that rolled up my spine. How was it that I could want someone so much? I was starting to breathe hard. I felt uncontrolled, high on lust. Willing to do anything.

  “Lick me . . . fuck me with your tongue,” I managed, gasping.

  He lifted the knee of my top leg, getting better access. He started playing with the swollen folds of my delicate skin with his fingers, sliding his tongue up and down my wet slit. He groaned in pleasure tasting my wetness, my absolute readiness for him.

  I was up and close now like I had never been before and took his huge shaft in my hands. I marveled at his big dick in front of my face, his precum dripping off the tip. Slowly I took the head of his throbbing erection in my mouth, savoring his salty taste, exploring with my tongue as I moved down.

  His hand underneath my ass gripped harder. He moaned in delight when my mouth wrapped around his cock, his fingers digging into my buttcheeks. Now his tongue was right on my cunt, making firm sweeps down and circling around my clit, making my legs jump whenever he passed right on top of it, driving me crazy.

  I pressed my mouth down, as hard and tight as I could, making him gasp out loud. I felt his fingers enter me, firmly pressing into my cunt. The light inside my groin was about to burst, all my little muscles on the verge of spasming. I was desperate to have his dick inside me, jammed in as far as he could. I didn’t know how long I could last with his tongue driving me wild. His grunts were taking on a higher pitch as I pumped my head furiously up and down, his giant dick hitting the back of my throat.

  “Oh, fuck it!” he yelled.

  He grabbed my waist and hoisted me roughly up on my knees. “I’m fucking you right now!”

  I dropped to my elbows so that my tits grazed the mattress. Behind me, he held onto my hip with one hand and held onto his cock with the other. He explored with his tip until he found my slippery hole, packed with nerves waiting for him. He slammed into me with such force that it knocked the wind out of me. The feeling of his thick erection stretching me out, tight around him, was absolute bliss.

  Oscar held my hips with both hands, thrusting into me with a frenzied pace. The meaning of fucked their brains out was now something I understood on a whole new level.

  “You fucking animal!” I yelled.

  He growled in affirmation. Wet, hard fucking sounds filled the air as our flesh slapped together. His powerful thrusts steadied into a fast rhythm. I looked back at the giant man, mating, with a fierce look in his eyes.

  He pushed my shoulders down until my chest was against the bed, getting a better fucking angle with my ass up high in th
e air. His grunts turned to snarls as he got closer to the edge. His ramming got harder and more erratic. I heard his stifled bellows.

  With a final death grip, he held me. He yelled out in absolute bliss as his huge dick throbbed and pumped hot cum into my cunt. Releasing his breath, body shaking, he pushed in again and again, cum leaking out, his shaft softening a little. He grabbed me around my thighs and held on as he pulled me down sideways beside him, yet still inside.

  He leaned over my head and breathed into my ear, grabbing my breast and kissing my neck as his cock slowly slipped out. “Fucking amazing.”

  “You really are an animal.” I laughed softly.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He grabbed me again and rolled me on top of him, holding me in his arms.

  I nuzzled my face against his chest, allowing my breathing to slow, and by the time I looked over at the window, I noticed that the sun had begun to set. I had no idea how long we’d been away from the rest of the settlement, and I didn’t mind, even if it meant we’d be late for Maria’s tasty cooking.

  I glanced over at Oscar and then kissed his cheek. The quiet of the early evening filled our room, and I closed my eyes, grinning like it was the happiest day of my life.

  “What’re you smiling about?” he asked, his voice hoarse and broken still.

  “About you. About the fact that you braved Chicago, even with all the fighting, to find me an autoclave.”

  His face separated by mere inches from mine, he simply said, “I’d do anything for you. Anything.”

  Oscar closed the distance, and our lips met with a slow, sweet, gentle kiss.