I'll Reach For You, page 23
"Skylar?" I hear dad say my name uncertain, but still, I don’t move.
"What’s wrong?" I hear the deep voice of Liam. After a few minutes, Hunt opens her eyes, blinking and tilting her head, studying me. She looks at me and I’m not sure if she’s confused. Amber told me she would be, so I guess she is. Her eyes move up and down, to the right and left on me, as if she’s looking for something. Then her mouth opens barely, but nothing comes out. She keeps on trying while staring at me. Then I hear new footsteps coming in and on the other side of the bed comes a light-haired woman, and I know it’s Amber.
"Hunt?" I finally say. She tries to speak, her mouth moving. The whole room is quiet, all waiting for Hunter to say something.
"Wha-what happened to you?" She asks so weakly and trembling, I burst out in tears. Hunt moves her shaking hand towards me and I take it in both of my hands. She looks at me so confused.
"A-and why are you so angry?" She asks, narrowing her eyes.
"I’m not angry." My eyes won't stop allowing my tears to flow down my cheeks. She looks more confused.
"Then why did you yell at me?"
"I didn't..." I stop myself from talking, I did yell at her.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I cry and feel the wet tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Goddammit, Hunter! I just needed to yell at you to make you wake up?" I ask irritated. Everyone around is trying to keep their laughs inside, but I can still hear them. Hunter shrugs weakly.
"You’re cute when you’re angry." She says, and Amber and the rest burst out in laughter. Hunter lets go of my hand to grab the hoodie with her shaking hand.
"You love me, today?" She asks with her crooked smile and her blue eyes that I always seem to fall for.
"I love you every day," I tell her, and she smiles brighter.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak to Hunter." I hear Amber say, apologetically.
"Yeah," Dad says, and I hear a multiple of footsteps walking out the door.
"We’ll leave you alone. Skylar, you should come too you might distract her." Hunter shakes her head carefully.
"She’s not a distraction," She smiles.
"Everything around her is." Her blue eyes shine so brightly. I remember she told me that, how could I not? She and her words make me love her so much. I stand up and kiss her on the forehead.
"I’ll see you in a bit," I whisper as a promise. Then I look at Amber with a smile and walk out the door.
chapter 65
I Know
Iwalk in the door and Hunter's eyes are on me the whole time. I sit down in the chair and she rests looking at me.
"Why are you staring?" I ask a little nervous. It's been a while since her eyes were locked on me. A grin stretches across her face.
"Because I haven't seen you for two months and my eyes are a little weird. Things get a little unclear sometimes." She says and closes her eyes hard, then opens them again with a smile on her face.
"I missed you," I tell her and stand up to kiss her on the cheek.
"I missed you too." She says as I sit back down in the chair.
"So, what did you and Amber talk about?" Hunt blinks her eyes again.
"Umm, she told me what happened and asked if I remember anything," Hunt takes a deep breath.
"There’s not really much I remember just some bright lights," She rubs her forehead with her trembling hand.
"My hands are weak, actually I think everything’s weak. Amber said it’d take some time before things... would get better." She bites her inner cheeks and looks a little confused by her own words. It makes me laugh.
"I’ve got a huge headache." She confesses.
"Did you get something for it?" I ask, and she nods lightly.
"Hunt, can I ask you something?" She nods again.
"Why did you ask me what happened to me when you finally manage to speak?" I was a little confused when that was the first thing out of her mouth. She narrows her eyes and looks down at herself.
"When I first saw your eyes on me, you looked so tired and sad, but when you realized I was awake your eyes widened. I looked at you for a while and you didn’t just look exhausted, but also smaller in some way." She looks at me worried. Now, I’m the one looking away from her concerned eyes.
"I'm sorry," I tell her guilty and she snorts.
"That’s my line, but there’s no need to be sorry. I still love you." She jokes, and I chuckle. then I look at the warm smile she has on her face.
"Come here." I lay down next to her. Then I bury my face in her chest and lay her arm around me, she’s too weak to move.
"I missed you so much," I tell and breathe her in. I’ve longed for her to hold me close for so long now. She rests her face on the top of my head and then I feel her kiss me.
"I missed you too, every piece of you." She says with her tired voice and kisses me on the head again.
"Sky, I'm tired." She whispers.
"I know, honey," I say and hold her tighter.
"Would you hate me if I fell asleep?"
"Of course not." I snort and hold her tighter.
"Good, because sleeping without you has been a nightmare."
"I know, honey."
"I love you." She says, and I feel like I’m about to cry. It's been a while since the last time I heard her say it.
"I love you too," I tell her with my whole heart. The sound and feeling of her chest moving up and down let me know she’s sleeping. This time it’s different, she’s not gone, and she’s holding me in her arms. She’s keeping me warm and now I feel the hot tears flowing out of my eyes. I knew I missed this a lot, but not so much that I cry when I first end up in her arms again.
chapter 66
Maybe a little after That
Iopen my eyes and smile brightly as I find myself in Hunt's embrace. She’s as warm as the sun on a blazing summer day and her sweet smell makes me hold her tighter. I turn my head and realize we’re surrounded by darkness. We must’ve been sleeping for hours, I can't remember the last time it felt so good.
The disappointment and sadness are gone after all the times I woke only to find Hunt still gone. Now, she’s awake! I’ve missed the tingling feeling in my stomach and the weakness in my legs from her touch. I roll out of her arm, lightly so I don't wake her. Then I sit up in the bed, look out the window and smile as I see it’s snowing again. The snow isn’t what I usually like, but I’ve gotten used to it.
I reach for my phone and see by the clock it’s ten in the evening. Dad sent a message telling me they came in but left not long after they found us sleeping and they’ll come back in the morning.
I throw the phone on the chair and lay down next to Hunt. Her eyes are closed, the mouth is locked, and she’s breathing gently. I put my lips lightly on her forehead and kiss her a couple of times, then her cheek, her warmish skin so soft. I lace my fingers in her silky hair, enjoying the feeling of having her here with me. Hunt’s always so breathtakingly beautiful when she’s sleeping. I kiss the corner of her mouth. It almost made me jump out of the bed when she took a deep breath. Then her shaking hand comes on my face, she moves it lightly across my skin and I chuckle.
"What are you doing?" I mumble against her hand as it came to the middle of my face.
"Just checking." She yawns.
"Checking what?" I ask and take her hand off my face and kiss it. She grins as her eyes open slowly and her blue eyes are so damn bright, just like the sky.
"If you’re real." I close my eyes and snort at her cuteness.
"Am I?" I tease her. She smiles, and her eyes wander all over me. Then she moves her hand lightly on my cheek and brushes my blond hair behind my ear. Her gentle touch makes me shiver and my skin turns into goosebumps, it’s been so long since she touched me tenderly. I know everything in my body has longed for it, just like you long for the feeling of warmth when you’re outside in the snow, freezing your ass off.
Hunter's eyes look at me so intensely as if it’s the first time she’s seen me, and she can't believe I exist. She moves closer to me, slowly. I close my eyes and the next thing I know her lips are on mine. It's been too long since the last time I tasted her. Hunt manages to ignite that little fire she started when her hand brushed my face and all those emotions I always get are swirling through my entire body. Those feelings are screaming in my skin, bones and the one thing that always seems to beg for her, my heart. She pushes herself back and still, she looks at me as if I’m a miracle. The kiss was just the way she treats me, so gentle, so careful, and so full of love. I gasp for air as I feel the tears forming in my eyes and they fall slowly down my face. Hunt's eyes turn to worry.
"I'm sorry," She says so apologetically it tore at my heart.
"I didn't mean to make you cry." She brushes the tears away from my face. Still, her hand’s trembling a little, but she’s trying to control it better. I shake my head and snort.
"No, you just..." I take a deep breath.
"You can't kiss me like that when I haven't kissed you in two months." She chuckles and starts to move her fingers lightly on my cheek.
"So, I’m not allowed to kiss you?" She asks, unsure, but with a hint of amusement.
"If there goes a day without you kissing me, I’m going to kick you," I warn her, and she makes a soundless laugh.
"And what about all those days I haven't kissed you?"
"I guess you owe me a lot then," I smirk.
"Do I have time for that?" She asks, with a hint of worry. I know what she’s really asking, she wonders if she has to stay with her foster family or if she’s going home with us. The scared look in her eyes makes my heart beat a little too fast.
"I hope you don't get tired of me because I want you until the day I die and maybe a little after that." I chuckle. Hunt's face turns blank and she seems speechless.
"Hunti," She smiles as I say one of the nicknames I‘ve given her. I should say that more often if it earns me the smile that’s on her face.
"You’re coming home with me." Hunt's mouth is moving, but either I’ve gone deaf or there aren’t any words coming out of her.
"Hunt?" She stares at me. Her eyes blinking a lot with her mouth slightly open.
"Hunti, honey?"
"I-I am going home?" Her voice trembles. She looks so lost it’s cute.
"Yes, you are." I nod. She looks so confused as if she can’t believe it. She opens her mouth again.
"Home to that wonderful house with you in that soft couch, with you in that messy room, with you in that sweet bed?" In some way it looks like she’s in shock, she doesn’t move, just blinking her wide eyes and breathing softly. Even though she seems paralyzed, I just can't stop smiling at those warm words she spoke. I’ve missed her in the house, her smile and laughter. I’ve longed for her laying in my lap on the couch. Most of all, I’ve missed her next to me in the bed. Now I’m going to have all of it back.
"Everything’s going back to normal," I answer her. She finally grins.
"There’s nothing normal about us." She says, and I laugh.
"No, there isn't. You were this shy, innocent girl who came into my house and turned everything upside down."
"You mean this girl you had hatred for?" I roll my eyes.
"Yes, but still I liked you. All those different emotions you made me feel drove me insane. You could make my heart melt, but then seconds later you’d make me so angry, and you can still control me with everything you say and do." Hunt grins. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
"So, when I tell you I love you, what does it do to you?" She asks teasing. I close my eyes and shake my head with a laugh. When I open my eyes again, she has that crooked smile. Her blue seductive eyes and face steal all the air from my lungs and my stomach tingles.
"I’d do anything for you," I lean in and kiss her cheek.
"And I will do anything for you." I move my lips from her cheek onto hers. How in the name of God, did I survive so long without her?
"I love you and I will always love you," I mumble against her soft lips.
chapter 67
Don’t you DARE!
It didn’t take long before Hunt could leave the hospital. When she was getting out of the bed, her legs failed. I caught her and fell backwards hitting my head when I tried to hold her up. It wasn’t that bad, I just got a little angry because she was too impatient to wait for someone else to help.
"Okay, come on," I tell her and step towards her. Hunt sits in the wheelchair in our hotel room looking at me with a grin. My eyes fall on the door as I hear a knock.
"Yeah?" I answer, and dad comes into view.
"Everything okay?" He asks, and I nod.
"Good, mom and I are going out for dinner and wondered if you two wanted to come?" I look down at Hunt, who’s smiling, but her eyes tell me she’s tired after all the stumbling and I’m exhausted from all the pushing and dragging. The earlier fall gave me a headache that’s still lingering.
"No, I think we’re good?" I ask Hunt and she nods.
"Okay, see you later then. There’s food in the mini fridge." We both nod, and he walks out the door. I take Hunt's hands in mine and bend down to kiss her on the forehead.
"You ready?" I ask, and she rolls her eyes.
"What?" I ask chuckling.
"My legs are jelly, Sky. I’m not paralyzed." Now, I roll my eyes.
"Come on," I say and pull her up, move her hand over my shoulder, then hold my arm around her waist. She takes the first steps slow but steady. Her next step is shakier, and she falls. I turn us, so she falls on my stomach. The air in my lungs almost knocked out.
"Sorry." She says guilty. I take a deep breath of annoyance and rub my forehead. A stupid headache is killing me now. Hunt grabs my shirt on my shoulders and drags herself further up to me.
"You okay?" She wonders and kisses my cheek. I shake my head and sigh.
"Next time I’m going to carry you, I don’t understand why you won't let me," I say a little irritated.
"How am I supposed to get on my legs again if you’re going to carry me around?" She chuckles.
"Well, I’m going to break something if you fall on me all the time."
"Your head still hurts, doesn't it?" She says and cups the top of my head, stroking my forehead with her thumbs. I close my eyes at her soft touch and feel the pain lessen a little.
"Don't fall asleep on me now." She whispers, I nod slightly. After a few minutes, the pain has almost faded.
"Sky?" She kisses me on the forehead. I move my hands under Hunt's sweater onto her warm skin.
"Oh my God!" She yells and rolls onto the floor. I burst out in laughter.
"Your hands are as cold as the snow." She grumbles.
"I know," I tell and stand up looking down at Hunter who’s still lying on the floor. I bend down and pick her up in my arms, she’s so light. Hunt looks at me a little annoyed.
"I can walk."
"Not with me, you just knock me down." She rolls her eyes and looks irritated. I lean in and kiss her cheek.
"I love you," I tell her, she just shakes her head, continuing to be grumpy.
"Of course, you do, you’re wearing my blue sweater." She mocks. I move my legs to the big bed and lay her down. She rolls further into the bed and I move next to her. This bed is much softer and bigger than the one in the hospital.
I turn to look at Hunt who’s already staring at me, she always does. Hunt rolls and leans her head on my shoulder, then lays her arm over my stomach. I kiss her on the temple right over the wound she got from the accident. I don’t think it’s ever going to vanish, just like the scars on her stomach and back. I grab the duvet and lay it over us. She kisses me on the jawline.
"Sorry I ruined your Christmas." Hunt whispers.
"No, you didn't, I got pizza." She laughs.
"And when we go home, we’re going to celebrate it together." She smiles at me but the look in her eyes tells me she’s still a little confused.
"We are?"
"Yes, we are." I smile and kiss her temple again. She turns and lays herself upon me, then looks at me with a sly smile.
"Is it too late to tell you I have to go to the bathroom?" My eyes widen, and I clench my teeth.
"Are you kidding?" I growl. It makes her shrink and bury her face in my chest.
"I'm sorry." She mumbles at me so apologetically it makes me feel guilty.
"Hunt, honey." She looks up at me a little unsure and scared. I give her a warm smile and brush the hair from her face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound angry."
"I know. You’re tired, and I’m not making it any better." She looks behind her.
"I can probably crawl or some..." I push her off me and get off the bed.
"Come," I say and pick her up in my arms again.
"You need to eat more." I tease her. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. I start walking and she buries her face in my neck kissing me repeatedly. I chuckle as I walk out our bedroom door. Then I feel her lips on my earlobe.
"Don't you DARE!" I yell as she bites.
"Goddammit, Hunter!" She nibbles, and I tilt my head as I walk into the bathroom.
"Stop." I chuckle. She moves back and kisses my cheek.
"I missed you." She mumbles on my skin.
"I missed you too, even your biting."
chapter 68
And it is the last time I am ever going to ask You
Hunti's legs are better now, but still a little unsteady. She doesn’t want to use the wheelchair, I help her, so she won't trip. On the way to the airport she stumbled a lot, right now we’re sitting on the plane and I’m exhausted.
Hunt told me she could do it on her own when we were leaving the hotel. It went fine until we got to the door and I had to hold her up, her legs are still very weak. She’ll get better after a few weeks.
I turn to look at Hunt in the plane seat and she can barely keep her eyes open. I move in to kiss her cheek. She smiles, then cups my cheek and leans in to put her lips on mine. I grab Hunt's sweater at the collar, then she nibbles on my lip sending a shiver down my back. She breaks the kiss and leans her forehead against mine. I look at her and she has her eyes closed.
