Chapter 16

Hunter

Hunter rubbed his face, trying his best to calm his racing heart because his mind was consumed by Cassia. He could still feel the way she touched him, the way her lips moved against his full of desire. Under the spray of the shower, they got lost in each other. It felt as if Cassia had grabbed his hand and pulled him under to drown with her. But strangely, drowning with Cassia hadn't been suffocating.

He flushed. He could still remember the way he picked up his clothes and wished her goodbye, and how Cassia couldn't meet his eyes after they left the shower. They'd gone too far too fast and he feared the consequences. He feared he pushed Cassia away, even though he didn't regret what they did.

"Are you alright?" Chase asked.

Chase glanced at him from his bed. He was eating a berries and he was in the middle of chugging down water. He was reading a book about weapons; as he usually did to keep up his training.

"Yes," Hunter said. He paused, contemplating on whether or not to confess to Chase, but then it flew out. Because for once, he couldn't repress his emotions. "Actually, no. I went all the way with Cassia and I'm scared she hates me now. I caught her at a vulnerable time and what if I made her do something she wasn't ready for?"

Chase coughed horribly, his body wracking. He put his water bottle down on the night table separating their beds and he gaped at Hunter. Hunter's cheeks were enflamed.

"You slept with her?" Chase said. Horror was all Hunter could hear in his voice. "How in the world did that happen?"

"I brought her back to her cabin and one thing led to another..."

Chase shook his head as if he thought he was dreaming and Hunter could relate. He could still visualize Cassia pulling him in for a kiss - the way her hands trailed down his back. It felt like a fantasy he conjured up.

"Well, um, congrats," Chase said. Hunter blushed more madly. "Wow, I mean I knew you were into her, but I didn't think Cassia reciprocated how you felt. She seemed shy around you at times, but I thought it was... I don't know. I never thought it would lead to this."

Hunter wrung his hands together. His heartbeat quickened at the memories of Cassia blushing.

But, under the spray of water Cassia didn't seem nervous. She had thrown herself into their kisses, into their touches as if she was experienced. Hunter didn't have many relationships, but no one had ever touched him the way Cassia did. No one had ever made him feel the way Cassia did. It was intoxicating.

"She was in a vulnerable state," Hunter said. "After what Liana did, she broke down and I'm scared I took advantage of her. I swear I didn't mean to though."

"Hunter... you wouldn't do that. I don't know what exactly went down, but Cassia doesn't seem like the type to do irrational things. She must have been sure of what she wanted."

Hunter buried his face into his hands. It was humiliating talking about this. Because it wasn't the physical aspect that left him clinging on - it was the emotional part. It was the way Cassia had whispered his name over and over again, her voice a prayer in his ears that he would hold her forever. He shivered at the mere thought and it embarrassed him further.

"I talked to Liana by the way," Chase said. Hunter pulled his face out of his hands to look at his friend. "I told her what she did was horrible and if she tries to pull anything like that again, I'll make sure she's sent home. That was too far."

Anger rose within Hunter. He immediately forgot about his others problems as he tensed at the thought of what Liana did.

"She shouldn't have done that," Hunter said. "She did it to get back at me because I rejected her and... well, she was the one to realize I had feelings for Cassia."

Chase nodded numbly. He didn't even seem surprised to hear that Liana liked him.

"Liana has liked you since we were kids," Chase said, his voice dropping an octave. "Doesn't excuse what she did, but... I understand her pain. She was at your side for years and Cassia's father is the reason behind our misery. So to see you falling for the enemy is horrifying to her."

"And what do you think of me falling for Cassia?"

Hunter's heart jolted. It was his first time confessing he fell for her, but it was true. It had been true for a while now.

"I don't know," Chase said. His eyes softened. "But like I said before, I want you to be happy. I don't think she's good for you, but if she makes you happy... then well, I guess it isn't my place to judge."

Hunter sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling lost.

"But love is a drug and we tend to make bad choices in the name of love," Chase said. "So promise me you'll think this through. Remember the people who care about you and choose for yourself what you really want. Because choosing Cassia is not an easy choice. Okay?"

Hunter hesitated. His heart sank as he grew more and more lost.

"Okay."

*****

Hunter exited his cabin. Chase had gone to hang out with Liana and Hunter wasn't ready to face her yet, so Hunter prepared to go on a walk. There was a lot on his mind and he needed to think things through.

But then, he saw Cassia.

Cassia sat in front of the pond cross-legged, her pink dress hugging her figure. He gulped, trying not to think about her soft skin and gentle curves, and he faltered. They hadn't spoken since their moment in the shower and he was dreading it.

But, he had to see her. He had to before the thought of her tore him apart.

Hunter took a deep breath in and strode over to Cassia. His heart hammered against his chest at the sight of her feeding the fish again. On her face was a gentle expression as she smiled down at the lake.

She was everything he ever wanted.

"Cassia."

Hunter stopped next to her and Cassia grew still. Hunter's heart immediately sunk.

Cassia turned and rose to stand. But, her eyes were on the ground - on the distance between them. Her body was rigid and her hands were at her sides, curling into fists as she kept her eyes anywhere, but on him.

"Yes?" Cassia said.

Cassia's brown hair was out and flew back with the wind sailing past them. Her brown eyes were clouded with emotions - emotions he couldn't swim through and decipher, and his heart stuttered. She was so beautiful and maybe, she slipped through his grasps because he'd been mindless enough to dive too far with her into a place they shouldn't have journeyed to.

"Do you hate me?" Hunter whispered.

His heart slammed against his chest. Weeks ago Cassia would throw that word at him and he never minded it, but now he couldn't bear to hear it.

"No, of course not," Cassia said. Finally, her eyes rose to meet his and he stilled at the look of fear on her face. It hurt him to see her shaking as if he frightened her. "What happened was just a lot to take in and... I don't know. It was a lot."

"I'm sorry if I went too far with you," Hunter whispered. "I know you were in a vulnerable state and I'm sorry if I caught you in a bad time. I wasn't thinking straight and I should have said no."

Cassia shook her head. Blush filled her cheeks and his heart tugged. Cassia had a way of pulling his emotions around.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I promise," Cassia said. "I was the one to make the first move anyways."

Cassia blushed madly now. Her entire face was crimson with blush and Hunter's heart slammed against his chest.

He'd never felt this way before.

"But I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," Cassia said. "It was in the heat of the moment and I promise it will never happen again. It was a mistake."

Hunter's heart dropped. A second ago his heart had been soaring, sending him faraway into a blissful land where Cassia was all there was to life, but now she had stomped on his heart and shattered it. Because from her words alone, it was obvious his feelings weren't reciprocated.

"Oh, okay," Hunter said. He paused, his hands shaking as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Yup, it won't ever happen again. My bad. Well, our bad."

Cassia tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. He stepped back, feeling as if she was shoving him away. It was as if she was trying to throw him so far away he could never lay a hand on her again.

"Yes, back to rivals. It never happened." Cassia laughed half-heartedly. "I'll see you around, Hunter."

"See you."

Hunter wheeled around stiffly and strode back to his cabin. He felt robotic and cursed himself for being so awkward. And he hated the way his heart ached at the way she told him to forget about what happened.

Because how could he forget when Cassia had dragged him into a world where she was the only thing to exist - the only person he wanted to see and hold and love. She had pulled him underwater and given him breaths of air with her kisses, but now he was drowning as she let go of him to resurface.