Excuse this
Kara stood in the quaint powder room down the hall from the kitchen. Her mind wandered over the evening as she finished washing her hands with a godly smelling soap that felt refreshing. That’s when it hit her, that she’d had one of the nicests days of her entire life and Josh wasn’t there for it. It made her eyes water and soon they were pouring tears. She tried to pat them dry but it only made her look worse. Cool water didn’t help either and she was left hostage to the bathroom as she cried it out.
There was a soft knock at the door and she hesitated to open it.
“Alright, love?” Thankfully James, she cracked the door open to reveal her blotchy face.
“I got a bit upset… about Josh.”
He sighed with understanding. “Time to go maybe?”
She gave him a nod as he took her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. His lips met her cheek for a kiss.
“It will get easier.” His whisper came with comfort. When he pulled her closer, he dropped his mouth to her collarbone and kissed her there too. “I promise.” His words, his manners, the dominating presence he possessed was something in which she was starting to find constant ease in. Even worse, she felt herself becoming excited by it.
His hand came down her side, and he gripped her. “Let’s go home.”
“Okay.” She dropped her head against his chest, her body relaxing.
“I love you…” He nuzzled her. “The car will be a few more minutes.”
She wiped at her cheeks one last time with a nod and he kissed her temple as their bodies separated.
“James?”
He stepped away fully from her as his sister called him, turning towards her voice.
Sophie came down the hall and Kara made sure to scoot out of the washroom behind him. “Can I talk to you a moment?”
“What about?” he grumbled. “We’re getting ready to go.”
“Just about what happened before you left.”
His face hardened. “What about it?”
Kara couldn’t get past him to run away, so she sunk to the nearby wall, trying to busy herself and looking at her nails.
Sophie glanced at her. “Uh—”
James waited. “Seriously, I want to say goodbye to Nan, so say it.”
“We’re working on things.”
“Never would have guessed,” he snapped, “considering you brought him to bloody dinner tonight.”
“He said sorry, like a thousand times,” Sophie started.
“He’s a prat,” James concluded for her.
“You’re so righteous.”
“Sophie!” James moved close to her. “He is a fucking ass.”
“Maybe, James, you just don’t know the whole story? Did you think of that?”
“That is a complete excuse,” James shot, turning to Kara and grabbing her hand. “Let’s go.”
“You’re so frustrating.”
Robbie walked into the conversation. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” James pulled Kara forward but Robbie stepped in front of him.
Sophie came to Robbie’s side. “It’s fine. He’s just upset still.”
“It’s between your sister and I. Best to mind your own.”
James creased his brow. “That I would do, if you weren’t fucking my sister.”
“James!” Sophie said, glancing at Robbie in fear. “What the fuck?”
“What?” he shot. “Is that not accurate?”
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. “Can you just”
“We’re leaving. See you later.” James pushed past Robbie, taking Kara with him, his cell phone beeping in his pocket. “Car is here.”
“Is everything okay?” Kara tried to keep up with him.
“Nan, we have to leave.” James called her from the kitchen.
“Oh, yes, coming!”
Kara found her shoes as James put his coat on, grabbing hers and waiting for her to slip her arms into it. Rose appeared, hugging, kissing and bidding them off.
Outside, James grabbed the door for her and she got in quick, swallowing, still thinking about Sophie and the argument.
She pulled her coat over her arms, waiting as he got into the vehicle on the other side.
She fell quiet, looking down at his hand on the seat. “So, you don’t like Robbie?”
“No, I hate that bloody prick.”
She swallowed as his voice darkened. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.
He sighed. “He’s an elitist lawyer and I’m sure that’s the only reason Sophie is with him. He buys her the latest everything, best clothes, whatever she fucking wants but—” He winced, looking out the window. “It’s hard for me not to care.”
“Care?” Kara echoed.
“Yes, well, she’s my only sibling and I don’t get her head space lately.”
Kara was confused. “Why’s that?”
“It’s a long story. If she wants to sit around with that abusive prat, it’s really not my issue I suppose.”
“He hits her!” Kara exclaimed.
James looked to her, his face calm. “Putting it bluntly,yes.”
“Does she deny it or something?”
“Hard to deny something I saw in front of me.”
She stared at him. “You’ve seen him do it?”
“He’s used to getting his way but yes, I watched him hit her, and then I went to knock him on his ass, but my uncle stepped in. Like usual.” He rolled his eyes. “But I will, one day, put my fist in his face.”
She watched him look away, frustrated with himself. “It wouldn’t be worth it,” she said.
“Perhaps not, but he deserves it.”
She looked down to her hands and they were silent until his phone went off and he pulled it out, looking over the display, and then putting it back in his coat pocket.
“Who is it?” she asked, unsure of whether she should ask.
“Andrew,” he answered. “I don’t feel like talking to him right now, he’ll just go on about football.”
“Do you like him?”
“Yes. Why?”
“It’s just hard to tell who you like sometimes.” She hoped the honesty would melt him a little and ease some of his temper away.
“I suppose,” he said. “But I like him fine, sort of like a brother, since I practically grew up with him.”
“Him and his parents?” she asked.
“After my parents died.” He nodded, losing his light voice again. His sister and her boyfriend had really killed his mood. Either that or she was questioning him too much.
She unclipped her seat belt and his eyes snapped to her as she slid into the middle seat and put her cheek to his shoulder.
His long exhale was enough for her to know she had relaxed him. She put her arms around his bicep as he reached across her lap, grabbing the middle seat belt.
“You need to wear this,” he breathed, clipping it in beside her hip.
She caught his hand as it crossed her lap and wrapped her fingers around his.
“I’m a Hunter and you think putting a seatbelt on me will save me.” It made her smile no matter how truthful or morbid it was.
“Superhuman strength won’t always let you down.”
Kara’s eyes went to the driver but he hadn’t caught James’ low voiced reply. “If that makes you sleep at night.”
His breath caressed her cheek. “You next to me makes me sleep at night. Let’s keep it that way because now that I know what it’s like, I’m not going to give you up ever.”
Leaning into her, she felt his mouth brush the top of her head with a kiss, and she tucked herself closer to him because of it, closing her eyes. She was sure then that no matter what trouble might be coming for her, it would never come from him.
He walked to the apartment, taking the mail from the door that had been slipped in the crevasse. He glanced at the envelopes as he unlocked the deadbolt, and let them inside. Kara followed him and as they walked down the hall, she heard a girl giggle followed by Carter’s laugh.
“Sounds like he was productive at practice,” James muttered, still looking over the mail and starting to rip one open with a credit card logo on it. “Carter?”
Kara looked around at the pristine clean kitchen, it was now night and day from that morning. The house cleaners had come when they’d been gone.
Carter scooted from the sitting room and into the kitchen with a wide smile. “Hello!” he greeted. “How was your evening?”
James didn’t look up from the bill in his hand. “Good. Yours?”
“Great.” He nodded as a girl stepped out from behind him—nowhere near the same girl as earlier that morning. “This is Kim,” he said.
James looked up to the sultry woman as she appeared and Kara watched as his eyes swept over her in the barely-there skirt. The part that messed with Kara most, was how James just never seemed bothered by it and this was twice in one day.
“Hi there.” She smiled and put her hand on Carter’s shoulder. “You weren’t kidding, he is your roommate.”
Kara stared at her, wondering what that meant.
“Congratulations on your contract, Mr. Dray.”
James dropped the bill in his hand to the counter. “Thank you.”
The woman stared at him like she was drinking him up and Kara couldn’t look away, no matter how badly she wanted to.
“Yep, so.” Carter clapped his hands. “We’ll move into the bedroom, if—yeah.” He passed by Kara with Kim in tow. “You want to join?” he asked, winking at her.
Kara went stiff. “What?”
“We’re good, Carter,” James snapped.
“Fine, keep her for yourself.” Carter laughed.
“More the merrier,” the girl added, smiling at James, “especially when you come with a huge recommendation.”
“Mm,” James let out, his face half a sneer. “Is that right?”
“It is.” The girl batted her slightly crazy eyes at him and then turned to Kara. “Bed him well.”
Kara stared at her as she walked into the bedroom and Carter followed.
“Ignore them.” Though James’ suggestion was fair, she couldn’t.
“How does he get all these girls?”
He shrugged. “University, pubs… I don’t keep tabs on it.”
Kara swallowed hard. “So, this is normal?”
“I apologize for my shit roommate.”
She couldn’t help her smile as he approached. “He’s interesting.”
He smiled back. “Yes, he’s something.”
“And the girls… they all look at you, James.”
He stopped in front of her and paused with his thoughts. “Do they?”
“That one basically jumped you. Was she talking about your…” Her eyes flashed to his pants and back up.
He watched her. “My what, love?”
Kara’s lips parted as she sucked in a sharp breath of air. “Nothing.”
He stepped up to her, placing his hand to the back of her head and coming even closer. His mouth dropped and he kissed her cheek with his whisper, “I’d like to take you to bed now.”
Kara warmed from the suggestion and slipped against him as her nod got the best of her.
He took her hand in a gentle hold and led her from the kitchen to the bedroom.
Kara tried to keep her breathing even as the door shut behind her and he came from behind, his arms wrapping her and his mouth biting into the crook of her neck.
“James…” She shut her eyes and tilted her head to the side as he continued to walk her forward.
He kept sucking and biting on her neck until her knees weakened and she lost her will to stand. He guided her onto the bed and she almost collapsed into it. As he came over her, he fixed her under him and undid her jeans, removing them with her underwear.
She blushed when his eyes stopped on her hips. “What?”
He traced the lines of her waist and pelvis. “I want to taste you…”
“Down there?” Kara sat up on an elbow not entirely sure what he meant.
“Yes.” He teased her with a touch that drove her crazy and she panted, falling back in the bed. Loving every second of it.
“Okay,” she moaned, shutting her eyes as he replaced his fingers with his tongue. “Oh!” She lifted her shoulders from the bed in surprise but his hands kept her from moving too far.
Their eyes met and she stared at him, opening her mouth but having nothing to say. He moved her in waves of hot and cold, bringing her to a moment of absolute entrapment where the only way out was the buckling of her nerves and convulsing of her muscles.
She let out the loudest moan of her life as sparks flew through her and held until she couldn’t see the ceiling. Her ragged breaths followed while she tried to come to terms with the experience.
James shifted from the ground, standing and wiping his hand over his mouth. His stare bore through her and her stomach knotted up while her enamoured body still wouldn’t let her speak.
His hands lifted and he started to undo his shirt, watching her. “You seemed to enjoy that, my love.”
She smiled and nodded to him.
“Mm. Good.” He walked around the bed, stripping his shirt.
She watched him from where she lay limp, basking in the way her body tingled. “Thank you…”
“Don’t thank me. I enjoyed that just as much as you.” He reached out and moved the made bedding back. “Come here.”
She moved slowly, crawling up the bed and pulling the quilts to her waist.
He leaned over her and helped take off her shirt and unclip her bra.
She took some unsteady breaths as he removed her clothing. His gentle regard tore through her and when he looked to her bare chest, she didn’t try to hide herself.
He took her chin and forced her eyes on his. “You’re beautiful. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered back.
He stood back up and undid his belt and pants, removing everything there after. She watched him that time and saw how ready he was for her. As soon as he was in bed, he pulled her in, kissing her with a new urgency as he pushed her against the pillows.
She moaned through the kiss, gripping his chest with her needy hands. He took one of her palms as she dug her nails into him and dropped it down to his abdomen until he helped her wrap his length. His girth alone gave her a stark reminder of what she was in for, never mind the rest.
Her heart beat faster. She pulled back an inch or so and his eyes opened to look into hers.
“Like this…” He guided her hand up and down, showing her how to push and pull.
She continued the motion herself and her eyes caught the shadowed form of his skin moving up and down over the tip of him.
He took her cheek to redirect her eyes up. “What do you think of me?”
Kara bit her bottom lip and swallowed.
“Well?
“I think you’re… big.”
His arm around her waist pulled her closer and his lips touched hers. “Did I hurt you before?”
She shook her head as he watched her intently. “No.”
“I tried to be careful.” He took her hand off him as he kissed her. “I’m going to be a little less careful this time, but you’ll like it.”
Her face reddened as he reached for the foil packet on the nightstand next to him. The task at hand made her look away and then he took her waist, flattening her to the bed under him.
She sucked in a breath between their kiss and he grabbed the inside of her thigh with one hand. Then lifted it around his waist, settling himself between her legs.
She bubbled with a bit of apprehension and stiffened as she felt him press against her.
“Look at me.”
Her eyes opened at his request.
“I love you.”
The entry came smooth and with an ease she hadn’t expected as she took him, making her tiny moans more vocal than she meant. “James…”
He buried his nose into her hair and nipped at her ear, rocking his hips and sending a hit inside her that made her all kinds of warm. “Tell me. Do you like that?”
“I…” Her cheeks got hot. “I like it.”
He trailed his mouth to her neck and kissed her.
Her hands found handfuls of his hair and she held him close, letting him rock into her at a pace that only increased.
“My love…” He moved above her and returned his mouth to hers. It all made her eyes tear up from the budding emotions. “You’re perfect.”
She felt every bit of how much he loved her and it didn’t make any sense to be loved that much by someone. She didn’t deserve it. The tears streamed her cheeks against her will power.
His mouth met hers for another kiss and another until he felt her tears and he stopped mid thrust inside of her. “Kara…”
More tears came.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head as he caught her cheeks between his hands and held her close.
“Do you want to stop?”
Her eyes opened through the tears. “No.”
He watched her for a moment. “What is it, love?”
“You just love me so much.”
He let out a breath that tickled her face. “I do.”
She looked up at him as he watched her in a way she’d never felt. He made her whole in a world she never thought she would. “I want more,” she breathed. “Give me more.”
His fingers tightened on her cheeks and he thrust into her, harder than he had ever before.
She shut her eyes to enjoy the warmth and the friction as it built in her core, overwhelmed her senses and brought her the orgasm she’d now begun to love. Something she’d never had before with anyone or even herself. Something only women had and he’d given it to her, several times now.
“God, Kara…” He pushed into her, collapsing his weight in a way she recognized. His forehead dropped on hers and he kissed her as his thrust ended deep inside her.
She smiled. “I’m not an expert but I feel that was good.”
“So good,” he mumbled to her, pulling back from the suction that had formed between them.
She shuddered from the way he slipped from her and watched him get off the bed.
“Come get ready for bed with me.” He pulled on a pair of sweatpants.
She got out from under the quilts, so naked but for the first time in her life feeling a lot less self-conscious about it. She still might have been skinny, bruised along her hips from the hell dimension and scratched up and down her back but it would all fade away because of him and where she now lived.
James took her waist once she got near, kissing her and not leaving much to the imagination.
She pulled back with a giggle. “What are you doing?”
“Mm.” His hands traced over her hips and his hand found her ass, he gripped her so hard she slipped against him without a choice. His rougher touch surprised her but she didn’t protest. “I’ve never loved anyone or anything as much as I love you.”
Kara took his cheeks to study him, wishing she understood how a man like him could love a girl like her. A Hunter.
Since spells didn’t exist anymore and magic had been cleaned away in the modern world, that left only one option. Maybe this was one of the things she wasn’t supposed to understand or make sense of. Just like she’d been born into a bloodline against her will, perhaps James’ love for her was no different, and that she could accept.