Chapter 30: Lottie

The morning starts with a large hand cupping my breast and a thick shaft nestled against my ass crack. There have been other mornings that I woke up after spending the night with a man or boyfriend, but none felt like this. None made my insides warm and gooey. They usually started with me calling Luna to escort my "guest" out the back door to avoid the paparazzi or me hurriedly scurrying out of bed and running out the door because I was late to something or another my mother deemed important.

Waking up happy and content without a scheduled event to run off to, being able to ignore the clock and stay right where I am, is something I've never had. Feeling sore and worn out in the best way, engulfed by a man I trust and only want more of, I've decided is the best way to start your day. Even better than a cup of Tobias's magical coffee.

I try not to move so as not to wake Hunter. I can tell he's still asleep by the slow, measured breaths tickling the hairs on my neck. His body is loose and comfortable behind me, even with his hand firmly in place around my right breast. We're both still naked from our escapades last night.

Just as I'm trying to figure out how I can get my hand around Hunter's cock without him waking up, my bladder takes the opportunity to demand I relieve it.

Peeling Hunter's slack fingers from my boob, I almost free myself when his big arm tightens and his hand repositions, not letting me escape.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hunter rasps in a deep voice made gravely from sleep.

I try to pry his hand away again, but this time, it doesn't free as easily as it did before now that he's awake and somewhat aware.

"I have to pee if you must know."

Hunter grunts but eventually releases me so I can scurry to the bathroom to relieve my full bladder. I snag my robe from the bathroom before returning to the bedroom, where Hunter hasn't moved an inch. It's cold in the cabin and I turn up the central heat on the control panel in the hall.

Crawling back into bed, I find Hunter is no longer even partially asleep because he instantly wraps both arms around my waist and pulls me under him.

His lips find mine, and I don't protest; he is an excellent kisser.

"Well, good morning to you, too," I giggle out between kisses to my lips, face, and neck.

"Yes, it is. Why are you wearing clothing? I distinctly remember you being naked when you got out of bed."

He tries to tug at the ties of my bathrobe, and I am unsuccessful in stopping him from opening it. As soon as my chest is exposed, his tongue flicks out to tease my nipple, hardening the peak.

I groan at the sensation that shoots straight to my core. How he manages to turn me on so quickly, and after thoroughly fucking me last night, I have no idea.

"What would you like to do today, Nightingale?" he asks between torturous licks of my nipple and feather-light kisses.

"Mmm, maybe start with coffee at the Ugly Mug. Then a late breakfast at Morning Star Café, after that . . ." my words trail off as his mouth trails south. "Stop trying to distract me."

"But it's so enjoyable."

"So is coffee and a hot shower."

Hunter perks up and grins at me. "I like showers. We get naked in a shower."

He moves so fast I can barely squeal as he jumps out of bed and throws me over his shoulder, carrying me to the shower. Where he thoroughly distracts me.

~

Walking down the sidewalk of town today feels different than other days. Just like how waking up naked in bed with Hunter felt different. It's a good different.

Hunter holds my hand, our fingers entwined as we stroll lazily down the street toward the Ugly Mug from where we parked. The last time I walked hand in hand with a boy and wasn't photographed by paparazzi, I think I was in the third grade and had declared Dillon McDermit was my forever boyfriend, and one day we were gonna get married and have ten children. That only lasted till second recess when he decided Jane would be a better wife, and I decided I didn't want to marry someone so fickle.

Before reaching the Ugly Mug, Hunter stops us in the middle of the sidewalk and turns me to face him, gripping at my lower back to hold me close. His other hand trails a path around my throat to grip the back of my neck, holding me possessively.

Leaning down, he places a scathing kiss on my lips, making my toes curl and my belly flutter. Public displays of affection have never been my thing, but I think they are now.

"What was that for?" I ask breathlessly when Hunter breaks the kiss.

"Because I can, and I want to," he answers right before he locks his lips to mine again, and I melt against him.

Click.

The sound filters in through the lust-filled haze Hunter has placed me in, but I don't register it until I hear it again.

Click. Click.

Shutter clicks from a high-speed digital camera. I'd know that sound anywhere; it haunts my nightmares.

Instantly, the warm and fuzzy feelings evaporate and are replaced with an ice-cold chill.

Please don't let it be cameras. Please let me be crazy and hearing things that aren't really there.

When I stop reciprocating Hunter's kiss, he frowns down at me, and immediately, concern washes over his handsome features.

"What's wrong, Lottie?"

Turning my head in the direction I thought I heard the clicking. I pray it's a local taking photos or Michael testing out a new lens. Hell, I'd even accept Ginger taking our photo to mock us with later.

No such luck.

There, standing on the corner right by the entrance to the Ugly Mug , stands the unmistakable figure of a classic paparazzi. More than one, there's at least three of them. Large digital cameras with wide lenses pressed up to their faces shift to a new position every other second to try to get the best angle. The shutter speed picks up when I turn to face them.

There's something different about these paparazzi than others I've seen before. Their skin is a sickly gray, but I can't seem to process anything else. I can't see any of their faces, as you normally can't with paps; all I can think is, they found me .

"No," the word is a whispered whimper on my lips, and I don't even think to explain to Hunter what's happening. I just run.

Turn and run back in the direction we came from. Run towards Hunter's truck, away from the cameras, the gossip columns, the limelight, and my mother, who will undoubtedly find me within days or even hours after they post those photos.

I need to pack. I need to leave.

But I don't want to leave. I like it here. I like the people. Ginger, Dottie, Becca, Tobias . . . Hunter.

I can't think about any of that. If I don't leave, they'll be exposed. Others will come; they always do. They'll turn this town into a circus or, worse, a science experiment.

My legs pump beneath me, strong and sturdy, carrying me far away and fast. Even with my long legs and speed, Hunter catches up to me quickly, hauling me to a stop just as I reach the passenger door of his pickup truck.

"What the hell, Lottie? I love a good chase, but what is going on?"

The tears are already streaming down my cheeks, and when Hunter sees them, he freezes but doesn't release his hold on me.

"Lottie. What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

His voice is stern but uneasy. I suppose I did literally just pull a one-eighty. Going from blissfully doe-eyed to running in terror.

Sucking in gasping breaths, I steady my racing pulse.

"They found me."

"Who found you?"

"The media. There were paparazzi back at the Ugly Mug. I don't know how they found me or knew where I was, but they were there. They took our picture. I have to leave." My words rush out in a panic.

I'm pulling on Hunter's sleeve, trying to get him to move, to go. He loosens his hold enough that I can break free and scramble into the passenger seat of his truck. Slamming the door, I don't bother with the seat. I slide down to the floor and huddle, making myself as small as I can so no one can see me from the outside. It's not the first time I've had to hide like this, but I had hoped I never would have to again.

So much for wishing; I should have known I could never escape them. They're vultures. They'll find me anywhere. As soon as I get an inkling of happiness or normalcy, BAM! They show up just in time to destroy it.

I hear Hunter get into the driver's seat and lock the doors. Thankfully, he doesn't comment on my current position on the floor. He just starts the truck and pulls out of the parking lot, hopefully heading somewhere with an underground bunker.

I don't look at him or speak to him while he drives. I just bury my face in my leggings-clad knees and thick sweater, hoping to disappear.

We must have arrived at our destination because Hunter opens the passenger door slowly. He doesn't try to force me out but coaxes me to unfurl and effortlessly lifts me from the truck floor, cradling me in his arms.

Tentatively, I raise my head enough to look around to see where he's brought us. There are many trees that look familiar, but the space is far too large and wide to be my little cabin. Swiveling my head around, I see a large two-story house that looks similar to a wood-planked lodge.

"Where are we?"

"This is my house. I wanted to bring you somewhere safe. Where I can protect you from any lurkers wishing to trespass."

The dread souring in my gut lessons, and I don't feel nearly as nauseous and panicked. Without me explaining or asking, he brought me somewhere safe without question or hesitation.

I manage a small smile up at him, and he quirks the side of his lips at me.

"You're not going to lock me in your sex dungeon, are you?"

His lip quirk turns into a full-blown grin, and he winks at me.

"Only if you want me to."

Maybe I do want him to.

The change in subject has the last embers of my anxiety fizzling out just as he opens his front door and enters his home.

The interior has the same style of décor as the cabin; it's instantly clear the two were decorated by the same person. Dark wooden floors and rich-colored upholstery and rugs.

Hunter doesn't set me down in the entryway as I expect him to. Instead, he walks through the open layout of a living room to set me down on one of the largest couches I've ever seen. It's plush and a deep navy blue. Behind us, I catch a glimpse of a kitchen with an island and dining table large enough for at least eight. There's also a large sliding glass door on the back wall that leads out to a wooden deck filled with outdoor seating, and, I think, a fire pit and bar-b-que.

Hunter sits down at my side and smooths my hair back from my face with a gentle hand you wouldn't expect from such a large guy.

"Tell me who you saw back in town, Lottie. I need to know so I can personally escort them back to the highway."

I love that he doesn't hesitate to take my side. He doesn't question my freak out or tell me to calm down and stop overreacting. He wants to make it better, not put the blame on me.

I explain to him the clicking sounds and then the men with the cameras, how their skin looked gray, but I had to have seen wrong.

"No, you didn't see wrong. Those were elves."

"Elves? You mean the bad elves like Vincent you told me about?"

He growls, and his entire body tenses.

"Yes. They may or may not work for Vincent, but I have a feeling they do. It's too much of a coincidence them showing up now after I've told him no, and he's already threatened to use you against me. He must have figured out who you were and sent them."

I frown and can feel the depth of my scowl scrunch on my forehead.

"So, they're not actual paparazzi, just guys he sent to freak me out?"

"No, they probably are paparazzi. Pretty much all are elves. They're well suited to be inconsiderate pricks."

The slight relief I just felt is already dissipating. I wasn't hallucinating, and they weren't just random guys sent to force Hunter to sell his land. They're legit paparazzi taking real photos that'll soon be posted on real gossip sites.

Panic starts to rise in me again, and Hunter notices. He takes my clenched hand in his and threads my fingers through his just like they were not ten minutes ago as we walked down the street without a care in the world. The action soothes me enough to focus on his face and not run away and hide in a closet.

"Don't worry, Lottie. I'll take care of it. We'll find the guys and get the photos before they have a chance to post them anywhere. And even if they do, Ginger will make sure they disappear within seconds. She doesn't let anything slip through the cracks."

"Ginger? What would Ginger do?"

He cocks his head at me in confusion. "Didn't she tell you what she does?"

"No."

"Ginger is our computer hacker. She monitors the internet and removes anything that mentions Snowberry or non-humans that may lead to people coming here and investigating," he explains.

I suppose that makes sense. How else could they manage to remain off maps and every online search engine? That's why Luna suggested I come here. Though I had no idea Ginger was so tech savvy.

"I need to call my brother. I need his help on this one. Are you okay here by yourself for a minute?"

I nod. I may be a puddle of a person right now, but I can handle sitting alone for a few minutes. It'd probably do me some good to pull myself together.