Finally, they meet! Lol. Hope you enjoy. More to come...
Hunter - Chapter Seven
Monica had woken moments earlier, alone. She sat, and with a sweeping gaze took in the unfamiliar surroundings. She squinted in an attempt to focus better. Apparently, she was in someone's bedroom. Warm air hit her exposed shoulders and chest. A quick check revealed that her clothes were gone. All she had on were her bra and panties. She was practically naked! With trembling hands she grabbed at the blanket that had slid down to her waist and pulled it to her chin. She blinked several times to clear her vision. It helped a fraction.
From what she could make out, the room was Spartan in appearance. No pictures or decorations of any kind adorned the walls. There wasn't even a TV. The windows had dark wooden blinds, but no curtains. The bed she was in was as plain as the room, except it was huge, at least king size. However, the coverings were sumptuous, soft and plush, and most definitely masculine in design. The top spread was a patchwork of exotic animal prints. Whoever the owner was, he liked comfort. Her only objection was that the mattress seemed a bit too firm for her liking. There was a single bedside table that held a reading lamp. Two books were neatly stacked on top. She read the titles before her vision blurred again; Bow-hunter: Stalking Large Game and Nerve and Spinal Cord Trauma: Prognosis and Recovery. It seemed like a strange combination of reading material, at least to her way of thinking.
She blinked and looked up in an effort to focus on something else. A large ceiling fan hung from the vaulted ceiling. It wasn't turned on, a fact she was grateful for. She wasn't exactly cold, but she hadn't been able to stop shaking. Harsh sounding voices filtered into the room. A dizzy feeling washed over her and she struggled to stay alert and listen. She couldn't make out what they were saying. A stinging pain coming from the back of her shoulder distracted her. Memories of what had happened came rushing back. Men had chased her. They'd shot her with a dart. She'd been drugged. One of them had caught her. The bastard slapped me. I almost drowned.
Did the assholes still have her? Was she a prisoner? She took deep breaths, trying to calm the panic that threatened to take hold. No! The bedroom door is open and I'm not tied up. She relaxed and slowly scanned the room once again. Another image formed in her mind, the one she'd vowed to never forget – her eye candy rescuer. Movement from the doorway caught her attention and she immediately recognized the man who stood there. It was him. She couldn't help but smile at the vision. He appeared larger, but no less attractive.
(pov change)
"Is it really you?"
Hunter cocked his head as he stared at her. He had to answer, but didn't quite know what to say. She looked so small and vulnerable in his bed. His protective instincts surged to the forefront, urging him to rush to her side and assure her that he'd never leave her alone again. On the other hand, common sense told him to be patient. He could frighten her if he acted too aggressive.
"Hunter? It's you, isn't it?"
He cleared his throat while he stood rooted in the doorway. "Yes. I heard you scream and rescued you from the human who tried to take you."
Her smile widened. "You're actually talking to me." With a weak sigh she closed her eyes and fell back on the bed. "I was beginning to think you hated me," she mumbled.
Hunter couldn't help it. He rushed to the bedside and bent over to check her. He touched her cheek. She felt warm, but her body trembled as if chilled.
"I could never hate you," he murmured before raising his voice. "Monica, stay awake." Her eyelids fluttered, and then opened. She gazed at him, but he could tell she was slipping back into a drugged sleep. "Try to speak," he urged. "Tell me what happened."
"They chased me," she mumbled. Suddenly, Monica roused, grabbed his hand and clung tight. "Please don't leave me," she begged, clearly upset. "Don't let them take me away..." Her eyes closed, but her grip remained firm.
He breathed in the scent of her fear and snarled. "You're safe. No one will harm you."
Hunter settled next to her on the bed and shifted enough to embrace her with his free arm while holding her hand. After a few moments, she relaxed her grip, released him and snuggled closer. It felt so right. He couldn't help but believe she was right where she belonged, by his side, in his home, in his bed, safe. If given a chance, he'd keep her there - forever. Mine.
His tail twitched. He'd trapped it beneath him and now the tip jerked spasmodically. Hunter shifted his hips to relieve the pressure. The slight movement freed his annoying appendage. He swished it back and forth to ensure adequate blood flow before resting it across his legs. The unruly tip tapped against the blanket that covered Monica. Hunter responded with a soft hiss. He wasn't sure if it was out of spite or jealousy.
Either way, he dreaded what might eventually happen. He couldn't ever hope to have a chance with her. She'd never stay with him or want him. He wasn't like the other New Species males who'd taken mates. He was too different, too dangerous. Once she saw him as he really was, she'd be disgusted and turn her back on him. She'd sell her property and leave. No matter how much he tried to convince himself that he'd be happy just to know she was safe and out of danger, her rejection would destroy him.
The distinctive sound of a helicopter distracted him. He listened as it landed near his home. He heard Tiger shouting orders. Heavy footsteps grew louder as they approached his front door and entered. A deep breath reassured him they were New Species, two felines and one canine. He managed to remain calm and in control of his instincts until all three males tried to rush through his bedroom door at once.
Hunter released Monica, and with a loud roar he leaped to his feet and took a protective stance at the foot of his bed. The two males flanking Tiger backed away, leaving their leader alone in the doorway. Hunter recognized Flame, a feline, but he didn't know the other one, a blond haired canine.
"Calm, Hunter." Tiger lifted his hands, keeping his palms exposed as he took a step back. "We're here to help. A human medic from the task force is here. Is it okay for him to come into your home and check the female?" Tiger's gaze drifted to the bedside, obviously searching for her. He inhaled. "I smell fear. Has something happened? Is she worse?"
Reluctantly, Hunter stepped aside and shook his head. "She woke and was afraid when she remembered what had happened."
Tiger gestured to someone behind him before he entered. Moments later, a human male who was dressed in a task force uniform eased into the bedroom. He carried a large black bag that Hunter assumed contained medical equipment.
"Hi, Hunter. I'm Scott. I work with the Task Force at Reservation." The male's voice broke ever so slightly, a sure sign he was nervous.
Hunter grunted in greeting. He didn't mean to act rude, but couldn't bring himself to speak without growling and he didn't want to frighten the human any more. His roar had already put everyone on edge. As the medic kneeled beside the bed to check Monica, Hunter moved to the other side to keep a close watch on him as he worked. Tiger followed.
"Was she afraid of you?" Tiger whispered the question
"No. She was afraid the human male would return and take her. She asked me to stay with her." He looked at Tiger. "I won't leave her," he declared.
Tiger's eyes widened before he nodded. The medic cut off any response he might have been about to make.
"She's out right now, but her vitals are okay. I think the shivering is just a side effect from the drug." Scott looked up at them. "I believe it'll wear off, but there could always be complications. I'd feel better if we got her to the chopper and back to medical as soon as possible. Maybe Dr. Harris can find out what they used on her."
Reminded of the drug, Hunter glanced at the floor near the bedside table. He saw the dart and picked it up. "This might help." He gave it to Tiger.
After taking a quick sniff Tiger snarled and turned toward the door. "Rager."
In response, the canine male stuck his head around the edge of the doorway. "Here."
Tiger tossed the dart to him. "Smell this. See if you recognize the drug."
The male took a deep whiff and wrinkled his nose. He frowned and then shook his head. "At least two different drugs. Not from Mercile. They must be human ones." He tossed it back and withdrew.
Tiger passed it to the medic. "Dr. Harris will need this. Are you ready to move her?"
Scott nodded. "Tell them to bring in the stretcher..."
"No!" Hunter didn't wait for a response from anyone. He bent and gently scooped Monica up into his arms. He made sure to keep the blanket securely wrapped around her in order to prevent the other males from seeing her in her undergarments. "I'll carry her."
"I'm not surprised," Tiger muttered as he led the way out of the room. "Rager, you stay here and patrol Hunter's area. If anyone comes near the female's cabin, call security. I'll send more males to help you and Thunder keep a constant watch."
On his way out the door Hunter paused and stared hard at the large canine male. "Make yourself comfortable in my home, but don't touch my weapons or my computers," he ordered with a growl.
"No problem," Rager replied with a slight grin. "They'll be right where you left them, collecting dust."
(scene break)
Monica remained unconscious for the helicopter ride to Reservation's headquarters. Although it worried him that she hadn't woke, Hunter was thankful just to be with her. The medic had repeatedly assured them that her condition was stable.
Once at medical, Dr. Harris, the son of the elder Dr. Harris, had at first insisted that Hunter should remain in the waiting area while he and a nurse examined Monica. A savage roar accompanied by ten exposed claws quickly changed the young doctor's mind. For once in his life, Hunter had been glad he was different. He hadn't cared that his tail had struck and toppled a med-cart.
There was only one person who could send him away, and that was Monica. He sat in a chair near enough to her bedside to hold her free hand. The other had an IV inserted. It was needed just in case she had an unexpected reaction. They'd moved her to a private room and the nurse came in every half hour to draw a small amount of blood. Dr. Harris assured him that the drugs were leaving her system.
"The last report came back almost clear," he reported as he strolled into the room. "I suspect she'll come around soon. Besides some pain from a few bruises, I expect she'll have a whopper of a headache, but that should be all."
"Did you discover what drugs they used?"
The doctor frowned. "It was a cocktail, what humans call 'date rape' drugs." At Hunter's growl, he rushed to explain. "In her case, it was a mixture of two injectable forms, a fast acting paralytic combined with a sedative. Apparently, the people who wanted to capture her knew what they were doing. They didn't shoot her with an overdose. She'll be fine." The doctor turned to leave, but stopped. He did a slow about-face and looked at Hunter. He appeared reluctant to speak what was on his mind.
"Is there something else?" Hunter prodded.
"It's probably best for her if she doesn't get... uh, upset or frightened by anything when she wakes up. Do you two know each other very well?"
It didn't take a mental giant to guess what the human male was actually asking. Hunter refrained from growling his displeasure. "We've met." Okay, it was a brief meeting, but she knew his name. "She woke and seemed happy to see me." He wasn't lying. Monica wasn't afraid of him. He knew it, felt it deep inside. She wouldn't open her eyes, take one look at him and freak out. "My appearance doesn't frighten her," he added. Of course she hadn't seen his tail or his claws yet.
"I'm sorry, Hunter. I have to ask difficult questions sometimes in order to provide the best care. She's my patient."
"She's my... responsibility." My female. Mine. He'd come so close to saying the words, but had choked them back. "I'll never endanger her."
His answer seemed to satisfy the doctor. Hunter heaved a relieved sigh as soon as the man left the room. However, a small amount of self-doubt creeped in to put a dent in his confidence. He didn't know what he'd do if Monica woke up, took a good look at him and then screamed in terror.
(scene break)
A splitting headache greeted her as soon as her eyes opened. Thankfully, the lighting wasn't too bright. Monica carefully turned her aching head to one side. A bedrail along with an IV setup came into focus. Beyond those were a few cabinets and an open doorway that looked as if it led to a small bathroom. I'm in a hospital? It made sense. She felt the tell-tale sting of the IV needle on the back of her left hand. God, how she hated those things.
She slowly turned her head to the other side and couldn't subdue a small moan. No hangover had ever felt so bad. A bout of dizziness came over her and she closed her eyes in hopes of easing the feeling. She tried to lift her right hand. It wouldn't move. Something warm and tight held it. Despite the pain, she forced herself to look for the reason. A long haired giant of a man sat beside the bed and it was his hand that held hers. There was something very familiar about him. A memory lightbulb flashed on in her mind. Hunter! He hadn't disappeared as she'd feared. He'd stayed with her... wherever that was.
"Where am I?" Her dry throat made her voice crack.
"You're safe in the medical unit at Reservation. No one will harm you here."
His voice sounded deep and rumbly, almost as if he tried to keep from growling. She squeezed his hand and focused on his face. A wild mane of long brown hair with golden highlights framed his attractive features. As far as she was concerned, handsome was an understatement when it came to Hunter. He didn't have the prominent jawline or cheekbones of the New Species that she'd seen in pictures or on the news reports. Instead, he appeared completely human, except for a slight broadening at the bridge of his nose. It was barely noticeable. His lips looked soft and full although he had them tightly pressed together as he stared back at her. The only thing she could see that screamed not completely human was his almond shaped cat-like eyes. They were a bit larger than a human's and were framed by long black lashes. The irises were brilliant blue with small specks of green that seemed to sparkle.
"You're Hunter, right?" She choked out the question, but had to make sure.
"Yes. I rescued you. Do you remember?"
She nodded. The details of everything that had happened were a bit jumbled, but she definitely remembered him
"Water?" She managed to croak out the word since her throat was too parched to attempt a long winded conversation.
Hunter released her hand and grabbed a paper cup off a nearby table. She lifted her head enough for him to put the straw to her lips.
"It's ice water," he told her.
The first cold sips were pure heaven and after several huge draws she was able to clear her throat enough to talk.
"Thank you. That's better, but my head is pounding," she admitted and sank back on the pillow.
"The doctor said you might have a bad headache for a while, but you are okay. The drugs the humans used have worn off. Besides the pain in your head, do you hurt anywhere else?"
She shifted on the bed and groaned. "I think I hurt every place where I hit the rocks, and my jaw is sore."
"There is a bruise where the male hit you." He definitely growled as he spoke. "I will kill anyone who ever tries to strike you again!"
A loud growl accompanied the threat. It didn't strike her as frightening. Instead, she thought it sounded sexy as hell, especially since he acted in such a protective way toward her. Was it possible he might feel something more? She wouldn't mind at all if he wanted to... Monica forced her mind to focus on what was important at that moment. She blurted out the first thing that came to her.
"They wanted to force me to sell my property to them. I'm afraid of what they might've done to me after that."
"They wouldn't have let you live if you'd signed the papers."
His blunt statement stunned her. He certainly didn't pull any punches. Monica studied him for a moment and decided his expression was just too hard to read. If she had to guess, he seemed furious about something.
"Thank you for saving me." She didn't know what else to say to lighten the mood. After all, she was safe, even if she was a little 'banged up' and woozy. "This isn't how I would've planned it, but I'm glad we finally met."
He took her hand in his and gave a light squeeze. "How did you know my name?"
"My father, uh, mentioned you."
Hunter's expression shifted from anger to what she thought was a look of concern. His lips curved down into a faint frown. "Did he tell you everything about me?"
"Well, he didn't actually talk to me. You see, I discovered a small diary he started the day he met you, and I read it." She cringed the second he released her hand and sat back in his chair.
There was no mistaking his expression after her innocent confession. He looked away and growled as he shook his head. He was definitely pissed about something.
"I liked your father. I thought of him as a friend, someone who cared about my kind," Hunter grumbled, but it seemed as if he was talking to himself.
"He did care, and he liked you. I'm sorry for upsetting you," she said in a rush to apologize as she struggled to sit. Thankfully, the pain in her head wasn't as bad as before. "He didn't write anything bad. He said you were a good man and he wanted us to meet one day."
Hunter shot her an intense look. "I'm not a man!"
She thought better about disagreeing. From her point of view, he was most definitely a man, and the most attractive one she'd ever seen, even if he was angry. To her surprise, she missed the warm touch of his hand on hers and she desperately wanted to make things right between them. If nothing else, she was determined to convince him she and her father would never do anything to harm the New Species. Any other desires would have to wait.
"I'll get his diary for you as soon as I go back to the cabin and you can read it for yourself."
"You will never go to the cabin again," he said with a snarl. "It's too dangerous for you there. You'll stay with me, where you're safe."
"What?" Monica couldn't begin to process what he'd said.
Instead of answering, Hunter stood and moved so fast she never had a chance to realize his intention, much less offer any complaint. In seconds, he'd reached over the bedrail and had gathered her up into his arms. His head lowered and their mouths crashed together in a hot, needy kiss that gave her the shivers all over once again. She welcomed them and his lips until the pain struck. Hunter's kiss had turned brutal as he'd crushed her closer to him.
I've written a few pages for Chapter Eight and hope to finish it soon. (fingers crossed)
