Hunter - Book 2 of the Hunted Series

Chapter 23 - Getting settled again

I woke up with Nick's legs and arms wrapped around me, one of his muscled legs between mine instead of the pillow, my stomach resting on the pillow instead, like he'd changed my position while I was sleep. He was sleeping, breathing slowly, the dark lashes against his cheeks, the scars on his face only adding to how handsome he was. I noticed in his curls the first trace of grey there, a single hair that had escaped his notice and rested against his forehead. It made me smile, shifting my head closer, forehead against his.

He breathed in, long and deep, but didn't wake, like some part of him was checking. Checking me, that I was there, that I hadn't moved away. Some part of him always alert, never resting, and I had to admit I had something similar. I always seemed to wake up if he left the room or moved out of the bed.

A soft knock came at the door and Antonio came in, eyes seeing us like that, and I patted the bed quietly, letting him know he was welcome. Nick was dressed. I was in Pjs.

"He's still scared about the b – i – r – t- h, is he?" He said, resting down beside Nick, hand going out to stroke his son's hair. "Elena said something."

I nodded.

"I can spell, you know." Nick muttered, voice foggy with sleep, as he opened one eye. "How she's going to get two babies out of that thing, I don't know. Shouldn't you be too?"

"Not as much as you." Antonio answered, prodding him a little, before his eyes came up to me. He seemed almost regretful to spoil the moment and sat there a while, taking in the sight of his son like this, the stomach between us like it was being protected, not trying to hide the pride in his face as he looked down at it. "I think she'll manage."

"What's wrong?" Nick twisted up, looking at him, waiting.

"There were three mutts in town. Two fled when we saw them, one of them being the one you know, but the third was exhausted and Reece got him easily. He wants you to come downstairs and see if you know him. Or just come down and prove to Reece that you're back."

I nodded, sliding up slowly, stretching. I wanted to see Reece anyway, missing him, the silly Aussie who I'd easily gotten close to. Nick pulled at me, grumbling, before sliding up.

"I'll be down in a few minutes."

Antonio nodded, standing, before heading out the door and shutting it behind him.

Nick helped me re-dress, distracting me with kisses that were much less gentle or innocent, making the minutes tick by a bit more than I'd planned. He didn't push me, didn't rush, but he didn't hide his feelings on that level either. By the time I was dressed I was flustered and had to push him away to cool down a bit. It gave him a chance to dress too.

Reece was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, Nick jumping past him as he waited, arms open. Again I was hugged, again I didn't care, relief flooding over me again as another familiar smell washed over me.

"You're getting bigger." He stated, stepping back, looking me up and down. Maybe another time I might have hit him for that but why bother? It was the truth. "Do you want to take a look?"

I nodded. He moved ahead of me and we went outside.

For a moment I got distracted by how the yard looked. Green grass, all lush and all over the place, flowers, green bushes, insects flying about, birds busy everywhere, Nick was right. It was spring. No trace of winter was left, except for a slight coldness in the sun, but even that was changing. I hurried after Reece, Nick not far behind me, as we made our way to the shed.

The second he'd opened the door, I felt fear and rage flood over me, memories of pain, of those arms holding me down from one side while he smirked at me. That same smirk came back at my face, his bloody face staring at me square on, that same look he'd had when I'd been raped beside him. I was just a piece of meat to him.