Fierce(20)

“Don’t you have to pay attention?” I say, avoiding his eyes.

“To you? Yes.”

His words make my insides broil.

“The teacher has already started talking.” I point to the front, but Hunter doesn’t even flinch. His eyes are still on me like a hawk zooming in on his prey.

“I don’t care.”

I swallow, gathering the courage to turn my head and look at him. The moment my eyes make contact with his I’m drowning. Drowning in amazement. Drowning in fear.

Fear of the unknown.

“But your grades …” I stammer.

He snorts, and a smile curls the corners of his mouth while he shakes his head. “Yeah, right.”

And all I can do is stare.

If looks could kill, I would be dead.

He looks so damn handsome when he smiles. It’s like everything around us fades, and all I ever want to see is that smile. It just makes me feel good.

But when the smile disappears, so does my good mood.

The darkness falling over his face unsettles me.

In his eyes I see the hurt, the worries, the insomnia. Sleepless nights have worn down his face, making him look saggy and dull. But I know there’s so much more inside there.

Endless stories and an undiscovered world I’m intrigued by.

I want to know what’s in there. Inside him. Why he’s so angry and sad at the same time.

A sudden overwhelming feeling to grab him and hold him tight takes me aback.

He’s having so much trouble in his life right now, even though I have no idea what’s going on. I can see there’s something wrong. And I want to help him get through it.

But I don’t come any closer. I don’t move one muscle.

I’m scared. Scared of what he can do. Scared of his power, and his temper.

In my mind I can still see his bloodshot eyes and the hateful look on his face. He was in that fight yesterday, I’m sure of it. The only question is: who was the one instigating it?

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

I can’t ask him. I just can’t get the words to come out. I’m really chicken-shit.

“Something wrong?” he says.

I shake my head.

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

Hunter inches closer. I instinctively draw back, but he scoots even closer to my side. I’m scared to death he wants to do something to me, and I have no idea what, which makes it even scarier.

A devious smile appears on his face, and it’s almost as if he’s enjoying this. Taunting me seems like his way of passing time in class. I don’t like it one bit, but on the other hand I’m excited as hell.

He raises his head, and his nostrils flare. I turn my head, my breath hitching in my throat. I can’t look when he’s doing this, entering my private space uninvited.

It feels as though his nose is close to my hair, because there’s hot air flowing close to my ear. And then he inhales.

Holy shit.

Is he smelling me?

I’m frozen in place from sheer panic, my heart beating like crazy.

No guy has ever come this close to me.

He lets out a huge breath afterward and chuckles softly. His breath lingers on my ear, and a shudder runs through me.

“I like it,” he whispers.

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

My skin tingles where his hot breath brushed over me. My groin clenches, and my clit thumps.

Why?

His whisper does this to me. Just a whisper.

I’ve never felt like this before. I think I just died inside.

Hunter muffles a laugh. It’s like he can smell my fear.

He takes in a sharp breath and moves back to his usual spot. As if what he did just now was the most normal thing in the world.

I’m still shaken, my body stiff from the encounter. I feel completely naked, and I know he’s watching me.

The look in his eyes is like that of a boy who just did something totally against the rules. And it’s so fucking sexy I can’t stand it.

Still panting, I straighten my glasses. I wait until I calm down before I open my mouth again. “Why did you do that?”

The left corner of his mouth forms half a smile, and he continuous to gaze at me with animal-like eyes. It’s his thing, I guess. A ‘Hunter’s’ thing.

“No reason.”

“What?” I say, befuddled.

He slumps down in his seat and starts watching the teacher.

“Are you going to explain why you’re acting this way?” I ask.

“Nope.”

I frown. “Why do you even come to class anyway? Only to torment me?”

He closes his eyes and laughs out loud, making me feel like a fool.

“Leafy, don’t take life so serious.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You gotta live a little.”

“Excuse me, but I think I’m fine without your advice, thanks.” I open my books and concentrate on the pages instead. I’ve had enough of this.