Page 61 of Haunting the Hunter

His eyes drop to my lips, and my heart kicks up again.

“Come on, pretty girl,” he whispers. “Show me what you can do.”

I try to move, but the vines keep me in place. I feel them gently squeezing my thighs and arms as they wrap around my neck—just tight enough to feel it. I can’t think. Between his hands slowly wrapping around my ribs, pulling me toward his body, and the vines holding me in place, I’m overstimulated in the best way. Getting lost in the sensations all at once.

I open my mouth in an attempt to speak. “I—I can’t—” I say, breathless.

He bites at my collarbone, his sharp teeth piercing my skin. My head tilts back as I bite my lip, enjoying the pain. I feel the warm blood drip down my chest as the heat of him disappears. I look up. He is staring at me, his eyes hungry.

“You can.”

He turns, walking over to the bucket of gardening tools next to the spigot with the garden hose.

“You just need… incentive.”

He turns on the spigot and walks over with a glint in his eyes, dragging the hose behind him.

My eyes follow him as he gets on his knees. He looks up at me before he reaches under my skirt with both hands. My body jerks at the sudden contact and I feel him tear into my panties. The vines begin tightening and coiling around me further, as my feet lift off the ground, my weight supported.

I look down at him, waiting for him to say something—when he turns the hose on. Setting it to high pressure before immediately aiming right on my clit. The freezing cold water hits my body like itburns. I cry out. The pressure feels so good. My arms and legs attempt to thrash, but I’m unable to move.

“Fuck! Alabaster. Please!”

He stops the hose.

“Pleasewhat? You have a mouth. Use it. Unless you get out, I’m going to use every tool at my disposal until your body can’t handle it. Maybe I’ll get the hand rake next.”

He looks at me and smiles.

“You want it to stop, make it stop.”

He turns it back on, the pressure already drawing an orgasm from me.

The vines continue to tighten around me and I feel a prickle of heat under my skin. The same heat I felt when I knew he was near. He is warming me.

My orgasm comes fast and hard. My moans come in reckless and loud as my breathing falters. He stops the hose and stands, keeping it in hand. I lose feeling in my toes.

As I come down from the high, my body relaxes. I want down now. The vines begin to release. Uncoiling quickly. My weight dropping. He catches me with ease.

He says nothing as he carries me inside into the downstairs bathroom. Sets me down on my feet as he turns the water on, checking the temperature and adding a scoop of my bath salts before coming back over to me. Gestures for me to put my arms up. I comply, my body tired and bruised. He pulls my clothes off slowly, keeping his gaze on my face the whole time.

He lifts me and guides me into the tub, the warm water easing the ache. I relax into it.

“I thought you said you were going to keep me there,” I say in a hoarse voice.

“I was. You wanted out, so you got out,” he says, toying with the surface of the water with his finger.

“That’s it? I just have towantit? That’s too easy,” I say, adjusting myself and sitting up.

“It takes focus, instinct, and intention. Without that, your magic is reckless. Dangerous.” He stands. “I’ll meet you in your room. I want to get back to that book you’ve been reading.” He starts to dissipate.

“Don’t fuck with my yellow tabs!” I call after him, loud enough to make my point.

I shake my head, smiling. Sinking back into the tub. I lay there for a moment, thinking. Though his methods are kind of fucked-up, he’s right. It always boils down to me letting go—and trusting my intuition.

Makes me wonder what I’m actually capable of.

I finish the bath and wrap myself in a towel. Looking at myself in the mirror, I can’t help but wonder if I would have come this far without Alabaster’s help.