Chapter Fifteen

Hunter

Two nights after Thomas’s barbecue, I don’t walk into Skyn Ink via the front door. Instead, I try the rear door, which is fortunately unlocked. It feels a little weird just walking in like I own the place, but I’ve rarely let convention hold me back from going after what I want. Right now, I want to talk to Dani and for some reason, I feel like I need the upper hand. In some ways, I’ve felt that way from the moment we’ve met. She certainly threw me when she left the barbecue so abruptly. With any other woman, I’d let her keep her distance, yet I can’t seem to get enough of her.

There’s nobody in their work spaces, nobody piercing holes into flesh or drawing fantastical designs on skin. It’s quiet and eerie. Someone must be out front, I think to myself. The other option is that the shop is closed and somebody forgot to lock up.

I peel back the curtains that separate the work space from the lobby, and see Dani standing behind the counter with her head tilted down going over some kind of documents. I watch her intently, my eyes shifting from the curves of her hips to the punk-rock aesthetics of her pink highlights.

“You really shouldn’t sneak up on a woman,” she says suddenly. “How do you know we don’t keep a gun behind the counter?”

So much for having the upper hand. “Do you?”

She just turns and looks at me, crossing her arms over her chest. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take you on a date.”

For a moment, she looks startled. And pleased? But then she seems to gather her armor.

“Maybe I’m busy.”

“Are you?”

“Depends on what you have in mind.”

“I was thinking dinner and a movie.”

She bursts out laughing.

“What?”

“That just doesn’t seem very Hunter Kiss-ish.”

“That’s not what I’m trying to be.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Just, it’s obvious you have some preconceived notions about Hunter Kiss. Just like I have them about you. I’m wondering if we can start fresh. Get to know each other without assumptions getting in the way. Dinner and a movie sounds like a pretty safe way to start, don’t you think?”

She stares at me, movement behind her eyes, and I’d love to know what she’s thinking, but I already put myself out there and don’t want to push my luck.

“Fine,” she finally huffs. “But I’m not watching a chick flick.”

* * *

She almost looks uncomfortable, her eyes shifting, searching the fine establishment that is Burger Shack, a retro throwback to diners of the long-forgotten past.

“Do you want to go somewhere else?” I question, sensing that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. It seemed like the perfect date in my head, but maybe I’m wrong about her. Maybe she was expecting to be wined and dined.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I just… I’m a little surprised you’d come here.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not fancy. It’s—”

“Hey, I love luxury, but I also love a simple burger, thin cut fries, an occasional Rocky Road Milkshake, and the ambience of chill music.”

“You keep on surprising me, Mr. Kiss.” She picks up the tall menu and looks it over, all the while hiding her face behind the plastic brochure. In seconds, she places the menu flat against the table. “I’m definitely getting the Guacamole Burger.”

“Great choice.” I stack my menu on top of hers. “I think I’ll have the same.”

“You’re so original.”

“Hey, my date has good taste.” I suddenly stand and slide into the seat beside her.

“What are you doing?”

“We’re on a date, right? I like the idea of sitting next to my date rather than across from her.”

“Hmmm. You just don’t seem like the dating type to me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s not forget that the first time I met you, you had sent a young blonde woman into a fit of crying rage.”

“Ah-ha.” I nod. “I knew you’d throw that in my face again eventually.”

“It’s not throwing it in your face to point out that you have a history of being a dick.”

“Touché. You’re not like Amy, you know.”

“Oh, I know that. Believe me.” She slaps her hip, obviously referencing their width.

I frown. “Knock it off.”

Her eyes widen and she blushes. “Sorry. Habit.”

And I’m determined to break her of the habit.

“So why am I not like Amy?” she asks.

“Because this thing between us—whatever it is between us—is not casual. Not to me.”

Even I’m surprised by my words, but the amazing thing is, I don’t feel the need to take them back. Instead, I reach out and take her hand in mine. She cocks her head then smiles warmly, the kind of smile that launches my cock into a jean-clad erection.

I shift against the leather bench seating and try to adjust myself without making too much of a scene. I clear my throat as I offer her a simple smile right back, but my imagination betrays me. I imagine having my way with her right here in the middle of this busy diner, or perhaps somewhere a little more private, like a bathroom in the back.

I drop her hand and place my hand on her inner thigh. She moans softly as I inch toward her pussy, but then she lays her hand over mine.

Her hand is saying stop, but her eyes are screaming, fuck me.

From behind me, I hear the clattering of plates and out of the corner of my eye, I see our server carrying our food to our table.

“Food’s here.” I pull away from her and turn my attention to the middle-aged server with glasses and stringy black hair. “Thank you,” I say as she slides the two plated meals onto the table with guacamole dripping from the sides of the hamburger. “Now, Dani Cross, prepare for your life to change.”

* * *

The lights darken, bass thumps from the speakers adorning the walls on either side of us, and the crowd grows silent as the film begins. Some stupid horror film about a man killing kids in their dreams, sounds kind of familiar but there’s not exactly an original thought left in Hollywood these days.

Lightning flashes across the screen, illuminating the theater, illuminating Dani’s pale, beautiful face. There’s something so maddening about being in a theater with a sexy ass woman in the dark, surrounded by people. It’s the sense of voyeurism; you go to the theater to watch movies, but also to watch people.

It’s one of my favorite hobbies in my spare time.

Right now, all I can focus on is Dani and how badly I want her.

Fuck, I think to myself, my erection pulsing against my jeans. I’m not going to be able to wait until the end of the date, the end of the night. I need Dani, and I need her now.

I pull up the cup holder between Dani and myself. She eyes me curiously for a moment before turning her attention back to the screen. I throw one arm around her shoulder, which she doesn’t fight, and pull her closer to me.

We stay this way for the first third of the movie, but my cock won’t rest at ease. At one point, she accidentally nudges my erection with her elbow, pulls away from me, and shakes her head with a gentle smile. “Seriously?” She scolds me in a hushed whisper. “You are embarrassing.”

“Please,” I scoff lowly and lean into her to whisper in her ear. “Don’t pretend like you don’t get off on the thought of people watching.”

She rolls her eyes, but I know on some level that I’m right. As soon as her eyes are back on the screen, I drop my hand against her inner thigh and I caress a path up her thigh until I’m palming her pussy through her jeans with one hand.

She lets out a hot exhale, her chest heaving ever so slightly. In seconds, she places her hand on my cock. For the next few minutes, she continues to watch the movie, all the while slowly pumping my cock through my jeans. I continue to tease her with my hand, creeping slowly to the button of her jeans and popping it with ease.

She swallows a nervous breath, cranes her head slightly to the couple five seats down. They’re not paying attention, they’re too lost in what’s happening on the screen.

It’s a tight fit, but I push my hand into her jeans and underneath her panties. Her feet dig into the floor as I caress my palm against her pussy, hot and ready. I want to pull her onto my lap and fuck her right here.

“Fuck,” I groan in her ear. “We should have watched that chick flick. Nobody would be in there watching that shit.”

“Shut up,” she says in a low, breathless whisper, and tilts her head back gently against the back of the seat. I curl my middle finger and push into her opening.

She lets out a low, but embarrassing squeal.

She freezes in place.

I freeze in place.

She cocks her eyes to me, fire and hunger swirling in their dark depths. “We should go,” she whispers.