Page 16 of Hunted and Kept
“Which way did it run?”
“West. Well, northwest. It’s almost like he knows he’s on private land.”
“Honestly, I’m just glad you’re okay.”
She hesitates and there’s a break as though we both want to say more but neither of us knows how to say it.
“Anyway… how’s your family? Were they mad at you?”
“Yeah. My father is pissed. Not looking to great either, so I’m going to have to make it up to him somehow. I should probably go track this bear tonight. You’re sure you saw him go northwest?”
“Definitely.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Since an hour ago? Hudson, I’m fine. Go. Do what you need to do. I just… I wanted to tell you about the bear.” Her tone is soft and lingering, tinged with the flavor of something more she doesn’t say.
“Okay, well, I’ll check on you later.”
“No need. I’m good. Just, ya know, do your thing.” The line disconnects and my heart sinks heavily into my stomach like I’m missing a part of myself I desperately need back.
“You’re going after the bear?” Atlas interrupts my misery. “You’re going to get yourself killed chasing after him on private land. You know how these people are.”
I swallow hard as my father coughs from behind the bedroom door. “I want to go after the bear, I really do, but she said her ex was lingering around and I can’t let him get near her.”
Atlas shakes his head. “Dad is going to lose it come morning, but you do you, man. I’ll tell the guys where the bear is, and we’ll try to get permission to go onto the lots in that area.”
I stare toward him with knitted eyebrows for a long while contemplating what going after Ruby means. Turns out,it doesn’t matter. All I know is, I need her and this time, I’m hunting for keeps.
Chapter Nine
Ruby
The internet says that my hormones should’ve leveled off and that I shouldn’t be desperate to be touched, yet here I am, clit throbbing, thighs aching, dripping wet, with thoughts of Hudson spinning in my head.
Someone once told me that your body will tell you what it wants. That your mind can be confused, but your body doesn’t have that luxury. Your body speaks where your mind can’t. I never put too much thought into that statement until now.
I hover over Hudson’s number writing out a text.
Me: I miss you. I don’t know why. I shouldn’t, but I do.
My heart pounds as I erase the letters one by one. We aren’t meant to be together, and that’s okay. We had what we had. It was momentary, it was useful, and now we’re both moving on…like we should. In reality, we’re saving ourselves months of turmoil and heartbreak down the road.
A flash of light scans across the forest floor, reflecting off the wall, and my stomach tightens.
Dave.That piece of shit! I should’ve known he wouldn’t be scared off by a grizzly bear. No, that man thinks he’s above everything and everyone. Of course, he’s still out in the forest lurking around like some asshole.
I contemplate firing off another shot, but the baby is sleeping, and unless this man is at my door, I’m not waking himup. For the most part he goes down pretty well but given that today was his first full day on Earth, there’s still some learning happening.
The light flashes again, this time closer.
I stand from the bed and go to the edge of the window, looking out into the darkness. Unfortunately, my night vision hasn’t come in yet so I’m really limited on what I can see. Though, through squinted eyes, I notice the shine of a truck parked behind the tree line near the river. A truck that isn’t Dave’s.
It’s Hudson’s!
My heart squeezes and warmth ripples through me.Is he out here watching me again? Is he protecting me even though he shouldn’t be?
I flick on the light and move toward the window, waving toward him like a lunatic as a rush of cold air pebbles my nipples. Who entices a stalker toward them?