Milenka

Chapter 6

"Horses sitting ready. Ready. Set. Go!"
Forrest ushered us into crowded stands. Hunter's hands were on my shoulders making sure not to lose me in sea of bustling bodies.
"I've bet on Manhunt! He's never lost a race!" Forrest shouted over the heads of the people.
"Really? I bet on Colly! She any good?!" Noel yelled back at him.
"I don't know! She's a new racer!"
My hands were gripping onto Hunter's pants until he took my hands away from the warm fabric. "Wanna get out of here?" He whispered, cupping a hand over my ear. I nodded up at him, and he took my hand dragging me back through the crowd to where to betting booths were held, then passed that down some stairs and out an 'exit' door to the parking lot.
"You ok? I saw you were getting antsy."
"Um... Yeah I feel better now." I felt my breathing had hitched, and my cheeks burned, I rubbed my face in my hands.
"You sure Kai?" The back of his hand touched my forehead, then cupped my face, he looked at me with worry all across his face.
"I'm fine please let go." Hunter snatched his hands away blushing, "I'm sorry i didn't mean t-"
"No no it's fine!" I said a little louder then I should have, "I'm sorry..."
"No don't be sorry! I'm sorry."
I whimpered a bit looking for words.
"....so cute." His green eyes twinkled down on me. More words seemed to stop at the tip of my tongue. "Shit! Never mind..." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. The silence was awkward and broken only by distant shouts of crowds. I rubbed where my wounds were nervously with my hands as I thought someone bumped into me.
"Maybe we should go back." He turned quickly on his heels reaching for the exit door we came through.
"No! No just stay please... I like it here." My voice shrank into my throat when he turned and stepped closer to me. Hunter looked behind him, taking my hand, and lowering us down to the concrete to sit side by side against the black wall. We were shoulder to shoulder looking off at the trees in the distance.
"Hey you haven't gone to the police station have you?
I shook my head no.
"Yea it's ok we can go later..."
"When?"
His eyes widened. "Um... Tonight..." His face pinked.
"Ok thanks." I nodded and smiled.
His eyes slid to my chest then back up. "Um... Did Jasper give you those..." Hunter cleared his throat and gestured to his neck. I pulled my knees to my chest and paused for a moment. "H-He did."
"D-Do you like Jasper?"
I paused, I barely knew Jasper. "No."
His eyes looked frustrated. "Then why'd you-" He stopped himself, when he saw me cringe. "Sorry... It's just... I don't know.... Never mind." He put his head in his hands. I went to rub his back but his head shot back up.
"You're leaving any how I'm sure..." He shrunk back down, then rose back up. "Unless! Wait... You're old enough to stay right? how old are you?"
"Um... 19...why?"
"Then you can stay! I mean it's your choice of course..." He was up on his feet now looking down on me. He saw how confused I was.
"I was talking with the sheriff and he said depending on your age if you'll be sent to CPS." He still had a slightly worried expression on his face.
"But why does it matter where I am, Hunter?" I didn't look at him when I spoke. His face dropped, with his body, as he moved towards me on his knees. "Cuz Kai..." His thumb moved to my chin gently pressing. "damn..."
Our eyes were locked together, the distant sound of screams slowly drowned out. He moved closer to my face inches away, I could smell citrus again, like the first day.
Hunter moved his thumb from my chin to my lips and it snaked across my cheek, then my jaw. He threaded his fingers into my hair and I tilted my head into his large palm. His other hand came up and trailed a line down the other side of My face and slid down my neck stopping at the hem of the turtleneck I wore. The hand at my neck took a clump of hair and Hunter brought it to his face and took a deep breath, shutting his eyes.
"Kai..." He whispered. My breathing hitched and my insides grew tight. I held my breath, I what did I eat earlier.... Do I stink? My hands grew hot and sweaty, and my breathing grew rapidly in anticipation. My face and ears burned to the point where I thought I would die. His eyes had been roaming my body, and I wanted to shrink into myself. His eyes met me again moving closer yet still inches away from brushing our noses together. He pushed a little closer and I responded boldly tangling my hand in his curly brown hair. His lips touched the corner of my mouth and trailed down to my neck I felt him stop and his face on the crook of my neck, not breathing. He pulled back breathing deeply. "I'm sorry. We should probably get going." He took my hand, kissed it and stood up. I wanted to scream no, and I was sure he saw it in my face.
"I'm sorry Kai, I just wouldn't be able to share you." His eyes were pleading.
"I get it." I lowered my gaze.
"No Kai don't look like that..."
I looked up trying to smile. "No it's fine I kinda deserve it."
The door swung open and hit my shoulder.
"Oh shit sorry Kai! Why were you sitting there?" Forrest was on the other side of the door, walking through with the rest of his brothers. "And why'd y'all leave?"
"Kai didn't like the crowds."
"Oh I see always looking out for little Kai." Forrest smiled down at me holding out his hand. When I hesitated, Hunter bent down taking my arm pulling me up. Forrest gave me a look visibly hurt for not taking his hand. "Um... Well then ok... Let's go." Hunter started walking forward, into the parking lot.
"I left my bike at the diner so I'll meet you guys at the house." Jasper waved us off and began jogging ahead of us.
I saw Forrest shoving his phone into his pocket.
"And I have a ride, so I'll see you tomorrow maybe." He winked at me and walked back into the arena.
"I still need a ride by the way." Noel had his hands in his back pockets swaying forward.
"Yea no problem, I still like you Noel." Hunter nodded at his brother. Noel's eyes moved to me and back up over my head at Hunter. "Are y'all like a thing or...?"
"No." Hunter glared at him when he spoke.
"You guys are still gonna give a brother a chance?" Noel laughed jokingly.
"I'm not giving you anything."
"Damn... What. A. Shame. Anyway! Kai if he breaks up with ya call on me and I will happily be a rebound guy."
"God you're stupid." Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Who could be better?" Noel winked at me.
"You're a creep!" Hunter pulled me to the other side of him, using his body to block me from Noel's comments. Noel burst into laughter, and Hunter glared at him further. Hunter pulled the car keys out of his pocket stopping in front of a black pickup truck. He jammed the key in unlocking the door. Hunter turned back around herding me into the truck. He walked around and hopped into the car, he buckled his seatbelt, pulling from the parking space.
"So how did Colly do?"
"Who?" Noel leaned his head forward from the backseat.
"The horse! Colly!" Hunter hit his hand on the steering wheel.
"Oh... She lost, Manhunt won again."
"Hmm" Hunter nodded, eyes on the road.
There was a lull in conversation until Noel spoke.
"So which brother is a better kisser?"
"Noel shut up." Hunter lowered his voice.
"I don't know." I spoke quietly.
Noel hollered. "Really?! I'd think that'd be ole Forrest! Then again Jasper likes to hold back, I'm sure he's got secrets even I his loyal womb-mate don't know ."
I looked over at Hunter, his face was bright red and he gripped the wheel tightly with both hands. The ride stayed silent apart from Noel's brief comments on the scenery which was apparently extremely boring to him. We were back at the house sooner than I thought, I could tell all the lights had been shut off.
"Yay! Home!" Noel sprinted out of the car and into the house. I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door but Hunter's hand stopped me. I looked at him.
"Kai... You wanna... I don't know... You want me to stay with you? Only because of my brothers and I mean if you aren't feeling safe, I mean-" His hand shook when it brushed passed my hair.
"Y-yea ok" I nodded.
He leaned forward and I was almost sure he'd place a kiss on my face but he pulled away. We exited the car, walked into the house and no one seemed to be down stairs.
"Let's go to your room, mine doesn't have a lock." Hunter took my hand, leading me up the stairs.
"Really?" I questioned
"Yeah not since 8th grade." He put his hand on the doorknob. "Don't ask."
We walked into my room, and he immediately flopped onto the bed and I lowered myself beside him careful not to touch him directly.
"Finally..." He breathed rolling his body close enough to my own that my body could easily mold with his. I moved my lips to say something, but Hunter's calm and even breathing stopped me, and for a few moments I listened to his heart beat. I looked at a clock on the wall that read 3:15pm but I disregarded the time and allowed myself fall asleep on Hunter's chest.
~~~~~~~~
I opened my eyes and I was still snuggled against Hunter, except now we were under the covers and he was snoring. Violently. I lifted my body, looking up at the clock, it read 1:30 am.
I shook Hunter. "Hey Hunter wake up!"
He didn't budge. I was looking down on his face, wondering if it would be creepy or sweet to kiss him awake. I decided to brush his lips with my index finger, his eyebrow twitched a bit and I pulled back. I pressed my finger onto lips again, I felt him moan a bit and slide his hand up my thigh, and sliding further up and stopping at my ass. I couldn't smell Hunter's citrus anymore. Now I smelt cigarettes, and smoke surrounded a room that seemed to shrink around me, the bed had moistened as if I was laying in a muddy pool. The body underneath of me didn't feel like Hunter, it was bigger and hairier and smelled like sweat. His face was blurred from my vision but the yellow teeth were prominent.
"Hey babe." His voice was rugged and thick in my ears. I shook my head trying to shake away the vision. He started speaking but each syllable he spoke, ripped into my skull with a searing pain. His body rolled over onto mine, and I blacked out.