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I can’t believe I just did that

It couilty flashes: memories of me spread, nad, bound beneath him; the dark look of possession in his eyes; the desperate sound ofhim for more It’s like it happened to someone else, so I’ve ever done before has even coood

I feel lance over at Hunter, shadowed in the headlights’ bea wheel, the other draped out the open ; his eyes fixed to the dark road as if nothing’s happened

I feel a twist of insecurity How am I supposed to act with him now that he knows ain when he’s seen me, so desperate and undone? Did he like it, or--shit--was it some kind of test? My heart drops, as the realization takes shape in o so far Maybe he was just curious to see if my reputation was true

Well you sure showed him You’re just the trashy slut everyone in this town promised hiiddy afterglow ofof disappoints up like you always do

Hunter shuts off the engine There’s silence

"Thanks for the ride," I clench uess"

I open the door and scramble down before he has a chance to reply I sla back the sting of tears I’ in the back ofmy nails into my palms in frustration This hat I wanted, isn’t it? I was just pretending to buy into that whole ‘perfect date’ bullshit back at the fairground, after all I always knew this was hoould end, with ht where I started Alone Hell, at least this way I got a asm out of it, which is more than I usually walk aith

I hurry up the steps and scraain, growinghere on the porch I force myself not to turn around I haven’t heard Hunter’s truck leave, and--

"Looking for these?" His voice co around Hunter is at the bottoer "They fell out of your pocket, back at the stables But, you were kind of distracted…" His lips curl in a s his eyes

Hunter pulls them back, out of reach "Not so fast," he says "Look at aze fixed on the dusty floorboards I should sweep, I tellsuch a slob, and try harder, and be better

"Hey, Brit" Hunter’s voice is soft "Where’d you go?" He closes the distance between us and reaches to gently tilteverywhere but hi" I try to pull away

"Don’t lie toright through ht…"

"I don’t want to talk about it" I can feel the e, but I’d rather die than let hih" Hunter insists "I’ain"

"I’ truck," Hunter cuts me off

"I’m tired" I fold my arms "Can I just have my keys?"

"Not until you look at me, Brit I old in the porch light, blue eyes clouded with concern It’s aleous and perfect right now I’ht shattered so’s just messy and raw and impossible to control

"Hunter, please" My voice twists, and I’ it now

"Please what?" he replies, noton in that head of yours"

"Nothing’s wrong I’m fine" I clench my jaw

Hunter shakes his head "Don’t push ht ere past that"

"Why?" I answer darkly "Because I spread s and let you do whatever, like some cheap slut?"

Shock flashed across his face "Why would you say that?"

I give a bitter laugh "It’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it? It’s what they all think And I don’t exactly prove the athat you did tonight--e did, together" he tellsmind, you were so hot Unless…" his hands drop, uncertainty creeping into his expression "Do you regret it? Did I push too far, is that what this is about?" he asks quickly "Because Brit, I never ht there witheven for a minute that he forced me somehow "I wanted it too"

Relief floods his expression, then a confused frown "So what’s the problereat tio now"

He pauses "Is that what you want?"

No!

I s "Yes"

Hunter stares at me a moment, his expression unreadable The sad ache in me twists, sharp and painful This is it, I tellhio, and leave me For this to be over

Then he kisses me

I freeze in his arms, confused The kiss is soft, slow and tender, and heartbreakingly sweet, but before I can react, he draws back, and gently brushes hair from my eyes

"You’re not a slut," he tells me, his voice low but even "You’re not twisted, or trashy, or used up, or broken I don’t knohy you think it, and I could kill anyone who’s ever made you feel this way"

My mouth drops open in shock, but Hunter’s not done He tilts his head, resting his forehead against mine, so I can feel every word, the soft whisper of breath and the sweetness of his promises "You’re perfect, Brit Special, and rare And maybe you can’t believe that, but I swear, I won’t stop until you see what I do The irl I’ve ever met"

Hunter kissesthe door