Chapter 7

SYLVIA

I fell onto Hunter’s bed, pressing my face into his pillow. His scent was everywhere. It both calmed me and made me feel restless at the same time. What was wrong with me?  I suppose this is what the mate bond feels like. This is what he meant when he said I would feel it too, the need. The need to be with him. To feel his arms around me.

But I don’t know if I could handle being intimate. I know he wants to more than anything and it scares me. It scares me to the point of terror. I pressed the pillow to my face and screamed into it. Frustrating, so damn frustrating.

Jumping up from the bed I decided to take a bath, anything to clear my mind. Plus, I needed to get out of this bloody dress. I wanted to rip it off me, get rid of anything that reminded me of Drake. I went to the bathroom and again I felt lost in the luxury of it all. This tub could easily take two people. A floor length mirror spanned one wall of the room. The girl staring back at me looked wild and flushed. I hardly recognized myself.

I let the red silk dress fall from my shoulders. It pooled at my feet and I kicked it away in disgust.  Letting the water run I turned around to face myself in the mirror. For the first time I could see myself fully. I had scars on my stomach from when Drake sliced me with his claws when he tortured me.

There were bite marks on my inner thighs. I still had bruises on my ribs and under my breasts. He threw me against a wall and forced himself on me. I shivered. No, I don’t want to think about that.

I turned around, looking over my shoulder at my back. The scars there were the worst. They zigzagged all over my back. Some of them were made by the whip. He always dipped his whips in wolfsbane. Others were made by his claws ripping into my flesh.

I turned the taps off. What would Hunter think if he saw me, if he fully saw what Drake had done to me? Would he be disgusted? Feel sorry for me? I feel so ugly. I once was beautiful. My skin was perfect, milky and without any blemish. Now I am just a broken doll. How could he love me when I can’t even love myself?

There was a knock at the bathroom door and Hunter came in. I yelped and grabbed a bath towel, wrapping it around me tightly.

“Gods, you can’t just come in here!” I screeched. Quickly I sprinted across the room to get away from him. I backed myself into a corner next to the toilet.

Hunter cleared his throat, he sounded hoarse. “Sorry, Sylvia. I just wanted… I needed…”

He moved towards me slowly. Oh, dear Goddess, he was just in his boxers. I could see every inch of him. So perfect, like a sculpture. The ridges of his abdominals – I wondered what it would feel like if I ran my fingers over them? Heat pooled between my legs. I’ve never felt like this before.

Hunter stood right in front of me. I clutched the towel until my fingers hurt. His amber eyes locked with mine. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. My heart rate sped up and I started to pant. He reached for my hand, not breaking eye contact. I felt like I was under a spell. When our hands made contact the sparks flew through me, reaching my core.

“I can smell your arousal, Sylvia. You feel it too, don’t you? The pull.” He touched my face, cupping my cheek.

I did feel it. The need to be with him. To surrender to him. It frightened me, this passion that I felt.

“Can I see you? I won’t do anything you don’t want. I just need to be with you. I need to see you.” he asked, almost whispering. I couldn’t take my eyes of his mouth. Those lips I wanted to taste them.

“Yes.” I breathed.

He gently removed my fingers from the towel and it dropped to the tiled floor. I closed my eyes. I heard his rasping breath as he took me in. Please, please don’t be disgusted, I prayed.

“Open your eyes, Angel.” He took me by the hand, leading me to the tub. “Don’t hide from me, my love. Let me bath you.” He helped me into the tub and he kneeled next to it.

“Hunter…”

“Shh. You have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to fear. I love you. Let me show you.” He smiled at me, his eyes shining with emotion.

Taking a sponge and lilac scented soap he began washing my arms one by one. Then my back. I stiffened.

“Sweetheart, don’t do that. Close your eyes. Relax.” He moved the sponge in slow circles over my back, moving my hair over my shoulder so that I was completely exposed to him. He touched every scar lightly. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Angel. In fact, you should be proud of them.”

What? I snapped my head up to look at him. Proud? Was he insane?

“Yes, proud. Because they are battle scars, my love. A battle that you survived.” He moved to my front.

I held my breath when he moved over my breasts. My nipples hardened at the slight touch. He smiled slightly at my reaction. He knew it was driving me crazy.

“Lie back.” It was more a request but my body obeyed instantly.

He washed over my stomach, saying nothing about the cuts on my abdomen and the bruises on my ribs. But I watched him and his mouth set in a grim line, a frown between his brows.

“Hunter?” I wanted to ask him if he felt repulsed by it, but he put his finger on my lips.

“Tonight, we will not speak of this. I want to worship you, care for you, like a lover should.” He went lower.

My breath came in shallow pants. This was all too much. I needed him. But he took his time. He washed my legs, my feet. Then he moved to my face, gently. I closed my eyes. I offered up my lips to him, wanting. I could feel his breath on my face, our noses touching.

“May I kiss you?” he whispered. “Open your eyes, please.”

I nodded.

“I need your words, Angel.”

“Yes, please.” I smiled at him. His mouth descended on mine. He placed a tender kiss on my lips and pulled away leaving me wanting and aching for more. I whimpered.

He raised his brow at me. “You want more, Angel?” his voice teased.

I felt myself blushing. Never knew I could be so needy. “Yes, Hunter.”

Hunter bent over me, his blonde locks tickling my face. He kissed me again, but this time I locked my arms around his neck and pulled.

“Whoa!” he landed on top of me in the tub, water splashing over the rim.

I laughed; his face was priceless. He struggled to get up, spluttering.

“Oh, you got me good, Angel.” At least he wasn’t angry. He held his arms out to me. “Now about that kiss…”

I smashed into him, our lips locked together, hungry for each other. I granted his tongue access. He tasted delicious, minty and spicy. I couldn’t get enough. I was drowning in him. And still I wanted, I needed more.

“Hunter, I want you.” I breathed in his ear. His hands were on my butt cheeks, caressing me, fondling them.

“Are you sure, Sylvia?” he asked, “We can still wait.”

I nibbled his lower lip and he groaned. Moving down his chin, I licked my way down his throat and up again to claim his mouth.

“You’re playing with fire, my love.” He moaned into my mouth.

“Maybe I want to be burned, consumed by you, Hunter.”

I gasped when he lifted us both up out of the tub with one bound of his muscled legs. He carried me to the bedroom where we fell onto the bed, all wet and slick.