Why You Shouldn't Lend A Bad Boy Your Clothes

Chapter 25

I looked like autumn had suddenly broken out the next day. The afternoon with Hunter the day before had left a mark on me. Literally. And not only one, but at least six, from what I could see.

Right now I cursed myself for allowing Hunter to give me a hickey, even though I knew that if he'd ask me again right now, I'd let him.

All over my neck were dark bruises that I definitely did not want my parents to see, so I had decided to wear a loop scarf along with a matching beanie in an attempt to conceal them. While they hadn't even looked twice, Nate hadn't believed that I was only wearing this because I felt like it and had quickly lifted the secret of my hidden marks. My ears were still ringing from his excited shriek.

There was a small mirror in my locker, one that had been left there by whoever had owned it last year. It came in handy sometimes. After glancing around to make sure no one was near, I pulled the scarf down to expose my neck. With a grimace I lightly poked a particularly dark bruise, wincing at the pain.

When I suddenly heard footsteps approaching me, I immediately adjusted my scarf and spun around.

"Admiring yourself?" Hunter teased with a smirk as he stopped next to me and leaned against the lockers.

I rolled my eyes at him, but there was a smile tugging at my lips while I gave him a once over. "Good morning to you too."

"Can I see?" Hunter asked curiously and pointed at my neck.

I nodded, laughing. Hunter's face lit up as he stepped closer and lifted the scarf over my head. He whistled approvingly and gently trailed a cold finger over the marks, making me shiver embarrassingly obviously.

"Proud of yourself?" I sarcastically asked.

Hunter shrugged, still grinning. "A little. Should I try to spell something out next time? Something like If found, hand back to Hunter Adams."

I scowled at him and took the scarf out of his hand. Pulling it back over my head, I said: "And who says there'll be a next time?"

Hunter raised a brow at me and chuckled. "Well, yesterday it didn't seem like you didn't enjoy it..."

My cheeks immediately heated up at the memory, but I mustered enough confidence to say: "What I mean is: Next time it's your turn." I was obviously joking; Hunter had expressed his distaste for hickeys and the like before, so I had no hope at permission to do so any time soon.

That was why I was so surprised when he just shrugged and said: "Sure, feel free."

"Are... are you serious?"

"Yeah, I don't mind."

I frowned at him and shut the door of my locker. "Okay, but I do. I don't want to do something to you that you're not comfortable with."

"What do you mean?" he said, sounding confused.

"You told me you don't like hickeys," I clarified. "So I'm not going to give you one."

"You got that wrong: I don't like hickeys from unimportant hook-ups. I wouldn't mind one from you... or a dozen, if you want to get even," Hunter laughed, gesturing towards my neck.

It was absolutely ridiculous how happy just that one sentence made me and I did my best to restrain the broad grin that threatened to take over my face. "I'll come back to that offer next time we're alone," I promised and was stunned to see that Hunter's breath actually seemed to hitch.

Before I could comment on that, Alexis skipped towards us and slung an arm around Hunter's middle. "Hey! You two look happy... what's that about?" she said, smiling brightly. She had curled her hair today and was wearing an extremely oversized hoodie that reached down to her knees and high boots.