My eyes widen.
My heart skips a beat, lips sealed by confusion. But his tongue pressing against the latter creates a slit between.
His warmth fills my mouth alongside the rich taste of berries and lavender, the most intoxicating effect flooding my senses before a surge of tingling sensations courses through me, mingling with an overwhelming heady feeling of floating.
My eyes flutter shut as our lips move in sync. Our tongues meet in a sensual dance while matching the slow rhythm of our breaths.
When I place my hand on Hunter's jaw, he abruptly draws back to cut the kiss.
Fuck, no, please.
I'm starving. I want him. I'm longing for more. And I'm almost reaching to pull his head down as my eyes shoot open.
"What was that for?" I whisper, searching his emotionless gaze. A faint smile tugs at his lips—a goddamn smile that shies away from his eye.
I can't believe I just shared my first kiss with him; I don't understand the meaning behind his sudden display of affection either.
I feel both giddy and confused, but I put my confusion behind my mind and gently stroke Hunter's face with my thumb, watching him close his eye to savor the touch.
When it reopens, his lips move, and I don't catch what he said.
"What?"
"I need to use the bathroom," he repeats calmly before I shift to let him move.
The force with which I sit up reminds me of the headache that lingered since this afternoon, only now it's growing into a full-blown ache, throbbing behind my eyes.
As Hunter disappears into the bathroom, I glance around the room. I'm only now realizing we've been on the bed the entire time.
The room is large, but sparse, with the big bed as the centerpiece. Across from it is a couch, and beside the couch a small desk holding framed photos of a toddler alongside other trinkets that I don't bother to inspect.
I glance at the bathroom door while pondering the questions that need to be asked—where we are, how I got here, and many others. One, however, weighs heavier than the rest.
Hunter soon emerges from the bathroom. He undoes his cufflinks and the first two buttons of his white shirt before rolling up his sleeves to reveal veiny forearms covered in ink. Then he walks over to the full-length mirror beside the table and runs his fingers through his hair, while I'm sitting on the bed and watching him.
My fingers are fidgeting on my thighs, nervousness invading me.
I don't know why my heart's beating so fast—whether it's the serious conversation I'm about to initiate or the lingering effects of the kiss. Or is it because he's standing in the same room as me, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever?
Turning to the mirror, I find him watching me through it. He seems to have been doing so since, seeing as he's not moving away from there.
"Hunter, about the fact that we were… siblings," I begin cautiously, gauging his reaction, yet his expression remains unchanged. "Did it kind of… turn you off?"
It seems as though the world stopped for a moment before Hunter tucks a hand into his pocket and turns to face me. And I find my head going down, staring at him from beneath my lashes while biting my lower lip hard, anxiety knotting in my stomach.
He beckons for me to come to him. I obey without hesitation.
When I stand in front of him, he cocks his head to look down at me, then slides the hand out of his pocket along with a rusted iron penknife.
"Kill me," he says dryly, holding the penknife to me. His face still has that blank expression that I can't read—that's now making me miserable as I stare down at the blade in shock.
"Huh?" I return my gaze to Hunter.
"Drive this blade through my heart, mama…" he whispers, stepping closer until our bodies brush against each other. "…please." No. I shake my head continuously. Why's there so much pain in his voice; an intense agony?
It's heart-wrenching and causes my eyes to well up with tears as I refuse to tear my gaze from Hunter.
I can't comprehend what's wrong with him and, for some reason, can't find the words to ask. I just stand there, utterly confused, wondering what exactly went on with him in the past few hours.
"I can't afford to hate you. I cannot watch you despise me either," he raps out, then wraps my stiff fingers around the hilt and guides my hand to press the blade against his chest. No! I'm trying to drop the knife but he's holding them fingers of mine together. "Please do it; end this once and for all."
I force back tears, yet it keeps coming. I'm even about to sob before Hunter's other hand holds my chin.
He leans down to kiss me again. This time, I feel his shoulders shudder as my free hand cups his cheek. And those tears my fingers brush that's sliding down his face turns out to be the one thing causing panic to grip me.
I try to break the kiss, but Hunter's hands seize my jaws to stop me from moving my head an inch. It hurts, not more than what's twisting in my chest.
"Wait," he mumbles breathlessly against my lips and pulls back after a few seconds; just enough to rest his forehead on my shoulder.
I hear his sniffles; the shudder in his breath, and though I don't know why he's crying, my tears begin to fall faster.
"Please look at me, Hunter." I try to lift his head, but he resists.
"Hunter's gone," he mutters, his voice a broken whisper.
"I don't care, Hunter. I―"
"It's Caryllix now." Hunter's tone sounds like a growl.
And as surprise grips me, darkness descends again, with him truly gone.