Devil’s Game (Reapers MC #3)(75)
Author: Joanna Wylde

I glared at him a moment longer, because he was making sense and that was frustrating as all hell.

“I hate it when you’re right,” I finally muttered. He gave me a crooked smile, so sexy I actually felt a twinge down below.

Bad girl!

“Well, lately I’m not right very much,” Hunter said. “Don’t know if it makes a difference, but I’m really damned sorry for what I did to you.”

“About that,” I said, glancing away. “You’re going to need a new phone. Yours may have gotten smashed up a little more after I left last night. . . maybe run over a couple times.”

“Kinda figured there might be a tragic accident,” he said with a straight face. “I’ll pick one up.”

“What about the pictures?” I asked. “Where else do you have them?”

“They were backed up on my laptop,” Hunter said. He caught and held my gaze. “I erased all but one last night. Secure erased, overwritten on the hard drive. Nobody will be able to get to them now.”

I considered, wondering if he was telling the truth.

“I don’t know whether to believe you. And what’s this ‘all but one’ bullshit?”

Hunter glanced down at the pavement.

“I kept it,” he admitted. “My favorite. I figured if you’re dumping my ass, I wanted something to remember you by. As for believing me, I guess the only way to get there is for you to give me another chance. Give me a shot, Em. No more lies. We both know there’s shit I can’t tell you—”

I cut him off, holding up a hand.

“Club stuff wasn’t part of this,” I said. “And you know that I know better, so don’t try to use it as an excuse.”

He sighed, leaning back against his truck, hands in his pockets. I tried to think, figure out what to do.

“You can drive me home,” I said slowly. “But you’re not staying with me, and this isn’t me saying we’re back together. I need time to think things through, decide if you’re worth the risk. I won’t be with someone I can’t trust.”

“I understand,” he said. “If nothing else, I’m relieved you’ll let me see you home. We all want you safe—me and your dad both. He and I aren’t on the same side very much, but I respect the hell out of him. He raised a daughter who won’t take my shit.”

I turned away, my eyes suddenly full of tears.

“Deke says you need to leave,” I said. “Come pick me up at ten.”

“Will you actually be here?”

Swinging back around, I narrowed my eyes at him.

“I guess you’ll just have to trust me, Hunter. Don’t worry, I’m not the liar in this relationship. I’ll be here.”

“Guess I earned that,” he muttered.

“Damned straight. Now get out of here before Deke has a temper tantrum.”

HUNTER

I watched Em out of the corner of my eye as I drove. She was staring out the window at the desert, apparently fascinated by the vast expanse of nothing. Either that or she just wouldn’t look at or talk to me because she was pissed off.

Still pissed off, that was.

We’d been on the road for three hours, and the only time she’d said a word was when she needed a pit stop. It’d felt like a huge victory this morning when she’d agreed to ride with me—like getting a second chance. Now I was starting to worry it was just a ride, that she’d never talk to me again. That f**king hurt. Hurt in a way I’d never experienced before. Like real pain, physical pain.

I was starting to hate this romance shit. Life is just so much damned easier when you don’t feel anything.

I had to make it end.

Spotting an exit up ahead, I flipped on my turn signal.

“What’s up?” she asked, turning to me and frowning.

“You’ll see,” I murmured. We pulled off the freeway and I turned onto the small, lonely road and started driving. A few minutes later we passed behind a big hill littered with exposed rock formations and tumbleweeds. I slowed and shifted the truck into park, swiveling to face her. She stared straight ahead.

“Em,” I started.

“I’m not ready to talk to you,” she said. “Just keep driving. I don’t know how I’ll feel after the weekend, but I just want a break from you right now.”

“You want to kick me in the balls again?”

Christ, did those words just come out of my mouth?

Em looked at me. Finally.

“What is this, some kind of joke?” she demanded. “You think me kicking you will change what you did?”

I shook my head slowly.

“Nope, I know it won’t change a thing,” I said. “But it might make you feel a little better, at least it seemed to last time. If it does, that’s good enough for me.”

“I won’t promise to forgive you.”

“That’s okay.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You’re insane,” she muttered, but I could see her softening, her mouth twitching. Thank f**k for that. “Kicking you in the nuts won’t fix anything.”

My balls agreed one hundred percent.

“But you know what? Last time it really did make me feel better. Let’s do it.”

I swallowed, then opened the truck door and stepped outside slowly. Em climbed out, and we met in front of the truck. I spread my legs, crossed my arms, and waited.

“Close your eyes,” Em said, her voice cold. Somehow that was worse, but I did it anyway. “And pull down your pants. Briefs, too.”

“That’s not part of the deal.”

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll get back in the truck. Let’s go.”

I looked up at the sky and swallowed, wondering how I could care about someone so much and want to strangle her so badly at the same time. Then I unbuckled my pants and dropped them, closing my eyes. Nothing. She walked back to the truck and I heard her digging around.

“Do it,” I growled. “I can’t just stand here forever, waiting.”

“If you insist. Are you ready?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Fucking do it already, Em.”

“Okay, get ready.”

I heard a strange, popping noise, and then icy cold liquid sprayed my balls and cock.

“The f**k!” I yelled, jumping back and opening my eyes. Em stood in front of me, spraying me with a can of Diet Coke in one hand. The other held her phone.

Pictures . . . Fucking karma, biting me on the ass.