Hunter kept his promise, and three nights a week we worked on self-defense techniques in the ROTC’s private gym. Bob was very accommodating when it came to switching around a few of my shifts so that I could devote my time to my lessons. Every week my moves progressed a little more, and I had even put on a little muscle in the process. Hunter threw every imaginable scenario at me and showed me multiple ways of responding based on my attacker’s preferences. By the end of October, I was able to successfully pin Hunter to the mat with ease, and I always managed to do it with the biggest f*cking grin on my face.
“Oomph! Damn, girl… I think… you knocked the wind… out of me… that time.”
Hunter struggled to catch his breath, and I giggled because that was the fourth time in a row that I had brought him down. I straddled Hunter’s lap after I kicked out the back of his leg and used the momentum of his fall and my quick reflexes to subdue him. “Well, maybe if you weren’t such a wimp you wouldn’t be lying here after having your ass kicked by a girl.”
“Hey, my ass is just fine, thank you very much. I’ll be up and ready for another round, just give me a sec.”
I gave Hunter a sultry grin before lowering my body down until my breasts were pressed firmly against his chest. Leaning in even closer, I took his ear lobe between my teeth and playfully nibbled and sucked on the soft flesh. He drew in a deep breath, and I knew I was getting to him. “Hmm, I’m up for another round, but I have something else in mind.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s that?” he choked out.
My mouth brushed against his, and I traced my tongue over his lower lip. He let out a breathy moan, and his lips parted just enough to allow me entrance. Good boy. I loved the way his velvety tongue moved with mine, swirling and tangling together in some kind of sensual, exotic dance that was all our own. His full lips were greedy as they sucked my tongue in his mouth, gently biting me and sending a shockwave of pleasure straight down to my core. Unfortunately in that moment, I let my horny state get the best of me, and Hunter took advantage of my guard being let down. He tucked his arm under my leg and expertly flipped me onto my back, sliding between my legs and grinding his pelvis into mine so that I couldn’t escape. Little did he know, I had no intention of trying to escape. I never wanted him to let me go.
“You think you’re pretty slick, don’t ya?” He licked a moist trail up my neck while his hands had my legs pinned to my chest, giving him better access to rock his hips against me.
“Oh, I’m definitely slick all right.” I gasped as his tongue circled the sensitive spot just below my ear. “Maybe… maybe you should check and see if I’m right.”
Hunter pulled away from me and looked down between our bodies, taking in the position we had found ourselves in yet again. Things had quickly become heated between the two of us over the last few weeks, but just when things were getting good and I thought he might finally give in to his desires, he would quickly pull the plug on the idea. I couldn’t understand why he was being so difficult. I wanted him so badly that my body literally ached for him, and from the bulge pressing against his shorts, I was pretty sure he wanted me, too. Somewhere deep inside, though, he found the self-control to put a stop to our lustful wrestling match and pried his body away from me. I wanted to protest, but he always gave me a stern, knowing look. God, he was so frustrating!
“We should probably hit the showers.” He extended his hand down to me and helped pull me up. “You did well, Maddie. Really well. I honestly didn’t know if you had it in you, but I’m blown away by how much you’ve learned in just a few short weeks. I’m proud of you.” His smile was genuine, and although I was disappointed yet again that things hadn’t gone further between us, I had to smile as well. Before Hunter made his way into the men’s locker room, I caught up to him and wrapped my hand around his arm.
“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to want to come over for dinner tonight would you? Liberty was planning on cooking a huge feast for the whole crew, and I thought that since we’re friends and all that, maybe you’d… ” I chewed my lip nervously while Hunter’s brows pinched together at my invitation. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. “I mean… you don’t have to. I’m sure you have other plans on a Friday night. It’s no big deal.” I waved off the idea. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Madelyn, shut up,” Hunter chuckled and caught my hands mid-wave, pressing his lips to my knuckles. “I would love to have dinner with you and your friends.”
“Great! Um, do you have a change of clothes with you, because we could just head straight to my apartment from here?”
“Yeah, I got some in my gym bag. Do you want me to pick anything up from the store on the way there? I feel kind of bad showing up empty handed.”
“Nope. You just need to bring your handsome self.” I smiled sweetly at him.
He nodded with a lopsided grin, and we went our separate ways to shower away the sweat and lust coating our bodies.
The whole ride over to the apartment, I was in a smitten daze, and my emotions had my head spinning. I clung to Hunter a little tighter, hoping that he was feeling them, too. When we pulled up to the apartment and stepped inside, I was snapped out of my daze as we were blasted with the delicious aromas of garlic and basil permeating in the air. Oh, how I’d missed Liberty’s cooking.
Loud chatter filled the living room, and Hunter leaned in close to press a kiss against my temple before leaving me to say hi to the guys. I made my way into the kitchen where Liberty was standing next to the stove, stirring a pot full of her homemade sauce.
“Hey girl, I didn’t hear you come in. Is that Hunter I hear laughing out there?” Liberty nodded her head in the direction of the living room.
“Yeah.” I watched as a wide grin slowly spread across Liberty’s face. “I invited him for dinner. That’s okay, right? I didn’t even think about whether we’d have enough food.”
“Maddie, it’s more than okay. I made plenty. Besides, it’s your apartment. You don’t need my permission to invite anyone, and we already consider him part of our little group anyway. Why don’t you take him a beer and let the guys know I’m just finishing up.”
I grabbed a bottle of Sam Adams for Hunter and poured a glass of my favorite sweet red wine for myself. I almost stumbled, spilling beer and wine everywhere, when I took in the scene playing out before me. Hunter had Robbie on the floor in some kind of modified sleeper-hold, while Lance, Shayne and Brett cheered them on.
“What the hell are you guys doing?” I shook my head, laughing at the pair of them.
“Robbie was showing an interest in what I’ve been teaching you, so I figured I’d demonstrate a few moves,” Hunter explained. He was on his knees leaning over Robbie’s back with one arm loosely around his neck and the other locking Robbie’s arm behind his back.
“It sure looks like you’re putting the moves on him all right,” I chuckled, wiggling my eyebrows at him.
Hunter quickly released his hold on Robbie when he caught what I had implied and stalked over to me with a devious smirk plastered across his face. His cheek brushed against mine just as he moved in to whisper in my ear. “You are being very naughty tonight, missy.”
“Well, it appears a certain someone has recently brought out my naughty side.” He shook his head and I handed him the beer, watching him take a long pull from the bottle.
“Dinner’s ready!” Liberty shouted from the dining room, and the guys eagerly barreled their way past us.
Hunter and I took our places side by side at the table, but he caught me totally by surprise when he pulled my chair out for me. Well, that was a first. Liberty was seated straight across from me, and I looked up to find her smiling at his thoughtful gesture.
“Shayne, how come you never pull my chair out for me anymore?” Liberty turned to Shayne, and his expression looked like a deer in headlights. Hmm, this should be good.
“Uhh…”
“You always used to when we first started dating.” She sat staring at him pointedly. “So what’s changed?”
“Well, you see, sweetheart… I uh… yeah… I got nothing.” Shayne shrugged, looking down at the table, and went back to twirling the spaghetti on his fork.
“Hey, you never pull my chair out for me either, Lance. What gives?” Robbie chimed in, and Lance let out a frustrated sigh.
“Good job, Hunter. Way to bring everyone’s manhood down a notch,” Brett deadpanned, throwing his napkin down on the table and tossing a dinner roll directly in Hunter’s face.
Hunter looked to me for help, and I burst out laughing. I knew they were all doing this to get a rise out of Hunter as a friendly form of hazing. Soon, the entire room was filled with uproarious laughter, and everyone dug into the feast Liberty had made for us. I looked around the table and realized that we really had become quite an eccentric little family, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I loved how well Hunter had effortlessly meshed in with our lives, as if he had always been there. He grasped my hand under the table, brushing his thumb over my knuckles, and I looked over to see him mouthing “thank you”. For what, I don’t know. I should have been the one thanking him. He finally opened my eyes and allowed me to see the good in myself, something no one had ever taken the time or put the effort in to do so. But Hunter was different, and I knew he wasn’t going to give up on me so easily. Although, for his own sake, sometimes I thought it might be better if he had.
Hunter held my hand throughout the entire meal, resting it on his thigh. Periodically, I would give him a little squeeze and catch him looking at me from the corner of his eye, an adorable smile tugging at his lips. Never in my life had I felt more content and at peace than in that very moment.
We finished up Liberty’s scrumptious dinner and the tiramisu she prepared for dessert, and after a few hours, everyone parted ways with their bellies full. Hunter and I volunteered to clean up the mess left in the kitchen, and I was grateful Robbie and Lance chose to spend the rest of the night at Lance’s seldom-used apartment. That left us completely alone, and I appreciated the unexpected privacy.
Hunter rinsed off the last dish in the sink and smiled as he passed it over to me. I quickly dried it, placing it in the cabinet next to the stove, and leaned back against the counter across from him. I watched as he stretched his arms above his head, and his shirt rode up a bit, exposing his taut abs and just a hint of his V-muscle that continued further south. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him and the way his hooded gaze drank me in… Oh God, I had to have him now!
Hunter cleared his throat, and my eyes shot back up to his. F*ck, he caught me staring again. How could I not, though? With a body like that, he was the epitome of every straight woman’s and gay man’s sexual fantasy, and I was dying to get a piece of him for myself.
I abruptly broke eye contact and shook my dirty thoughts away. “Is it hot in here or is it just me?” I fanned at my face.
“I’m pretty sure it’s just you, beautiful.” He padded across the linoleum floor and slinked his arms around my waist. “You want to watch a movie?”
Pressing my cheek against his chest, I soaked up his warm, masculine scent, and my arms instinctively went around him. I placed a chaste kiss just over his heart before tilting my head back and nodding in agreement. Quickly perusing my movie collection, Hunter picked out Anchorman, and slid it into the Blu-ray player before sitting beside me on the couch.
“Will Ferrell fan, huh?” I giggled, and Hunter wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into his side.
“I’m pretty sure if you’re not a fan of Will Ferrell, it’s a total deal breaker.”
“Seriously?” I buried my face into his chest, laughing even harder. “I guess it’s a good thing I own every single one of his movies, or else I’d be shit out of luck.”
“Oh, I’m sure I could’ve made an exception for you. Just this once.” He winked and returned his attention back to the movie.
We spent the next hour and a half laughing our asses off as we snuggled up under a throw blanket, but I still managed to pass out just four minutes shy of the ending. The next thing I knew, I was lying in my bed, and Hunter was tucking me in beneath the covers. He bent down, pressing a kiss to my forehead, and whispered, “Goodnight.”
I placed my hand on his forearm just as he turned to leave. “Will you stay the night? Please?”
He looked as though he were battling his own inner demons, but when he came around to the other side of my bed and peeled back the blanket, I knew he had made his choice. He slid his shirt off and reached down to undo the button of his jeans but looked up at me for permission first.
“Do you mind? I usually sleep in just my boxers.”
I shook my head, biting my bottom lip, and pulled the blanket up higher over my body. I only had a tank top and yoga pants on, and when I realized there would only be a few scraps of material separating us, my mind began racing with all of the deliciously naughty things I imagined doing with him. He tugged down the zipper of his jeans, but quickly pulled it back up and told me he needed to grab something from his bike. He came back with his gym bag in hand and was now sporting a pair of black-framed glasses. I was pleased to find that he did in fact look like a sexier version of Clark Kent… and boy, did that give me a lady boner!
“Sorry about that.”
“That’s okay. I like the glasses.”
I watched Hunter’s jeans slowly fall to the floor, and he climbed under the blanket, placing his glasses on the nightstand next to him. I whimpered softly, disappointed to see the glasses go, and that earned me a smirk from him. He knew he looked damn good in them. I rolled over onto my side and reached to turn the lamp off, but was startled by Hunter’s arm sliding across my waist and tensed up at his touch.
“Is this all right?”
I nodded, my words caught in my throat, and he pulled me closer so my back was pressed flush against his hard, bare chest. His hand ran across my stomach, slipping beneath the hem of my shirt, and the butterflies that had been lying dormant until recently took flight. With my hair fanned out over the pillow, he nuzzled into the crook of my neck, and his lips brushed against my skin. He continued to feather kisses down my neck and across my shoulder until my body shuddered beneath his gentle touch.
With his rough hand spanning over my stomach, he breathed into my ear, “Baby, your skin is so soft. I don’t know if I can keep my hands off of you.”
I sucked in a breath and rolled over to face him. “Then don’t take your hands off of me. Yours are the only hands I want on me.”
We were so close that I could see the lust swirling in his eyes, and I knew for certain that he was feeling this, too. Hunter couldn’t hide it anymore. I knew he had been fighting this, just as I had been at the very beginning, but I could see his resolve was slowly crumbling. I slipped my fingers through his silky brown hair, urging him to take what I knew he truly wanted. I wanted it too. I wanted him to take me, all of me. F*ck, I was already his.
I cautiously slid my lips over his and waited for the tension to release from his body before I allowed my tongue to dart out and trace over his bottom lip. His lips parted ever so slightly, but it was enough to let me slip through and gently sweep my tongue over his own. I took my time exploring his mouth, coaxing him to make the next move, and thankfully Hunter obliged. He pressed his body against mine until I was on my back and he was hovering over me and nestled between my thighs. I ran my hands all over his body, craving the contact, and his mouth began to move with more urgency.
Just as Hunter moved his hand further under my shirt, barely grazing the underside of my breast, a loud crash came through the window, and shards of glass dispersed in every direction. His body flew over mine, pulling me down to the floor on the opposite side of the bed, and for the tiniest moment, I considered ignoring the mess scattered around us and pulling his lips back down to mine.
“Are you all right?” He cupped my face, and I nodded as he kissed my forehead. Once again, Hunter had managed to slip his gun into the nightstand drawer without me noticing, and he reached for it before bolting out of my room. I followed him down the hall, matching his brisk stride, but he stopped dead in his tracks before he reached the front door.
“Wait here. Let me just make sure everything is clear out there first.”
I nodded skittishly, my nerves finally settling in. As soon as Hunter swung the door open, I heard tires screeching against the pavement, but with the headlights turned off, I couldn’t get a good look at the car. Hunter circled the outside of the apartment to make sure everything was safe, and when he came back inside, his gun was tucked in the waistband of his boxers, and he was shaking his head back and forth furiously.
“You can’t stay here, Maddie. I’m taking you back to my apartment like I should have done weeks ago.” He brushed his thumb over my cheek and gave me a weak smile. “Why don’t you go pack a bag while I call the police? I’ll see if they can send the same officers over, since they’re already familiar with what happened to your car. Maybe they’ll finally have some new leads as to who’s responsible for this shit.”
I went back to my room and carefully tiptoed over the glass that sparkled against the moonlight as it trickled in through my shattered window. It was nice to find some beauty within the chaos, even if only for a moment. I quickly pulled a suitcase out of my closet and threw in whatever clothes I could grab without even looking at them. For a girl who took pride in taking the time to choose her outfits wisely, this was totally out of character for me. But from the look on Hunter’s face, I knew that it was no longer safe for me to stay here, and what clothing I packed should have been the least of my worries.
Maneuvering around the jagged pieces, I tripped over something hard and stumbled forward with my palms flat against the floor to brace my fall. The tiny pieces of glass bit through my skin, and I winced at the sudden sharp pain. I looked down to see what I had tripped over and found a chunk of brick with a piece of paper rubber-banded around it. I picked what glass I could from my hands before reaching for it, and the words typed out on the scrap of paper sent my heart racing.
Your true colors will always shine through…
Once a SLUT, always a SLUT!
Hunter came flying into my room and, when he saw the blood on my hands, fell to the floor in front of me, not caring about the glass that was now digging into his knees.
“F*ck, Maddie, what happened?” He lifted my hands gingerly with the scrap of paper still between my fingers. Hunter’s eyes went from concerned to seething with fury as he read over the words.
My heart was still beating like hummingbird, and I was breathing erratically. Hunter sensed my panic attack almost immediately and, just as he had done the previous two times, pressed his lips to my throat over my rapid pulse. I tried so hard to match his breaths, but nothing seemed to help. He pulled back and looked into my eyes, searching for an answer, and just when I thought he had found it, he crashed his lips feverously into mine. It took a second to register what was happening as Hunter devoured me, but soon my lips were moving in tandem with his with just as much ferocity.
I’m sure it was meant to be more of a distraction from my panic attack than anything, but I couldn’t help but savor the feeling of his lips on me. They felt like pure heaven, and the emotions he was evoking from deep within me were a welcome addition to the ones he had already surprised me with over the last few weeks.
Hunter’s quick thinking seemed to have worked, because my pulse gradually slowed and my breathing calmed. He tore his lips away and leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, okay?” His hand reached up to cup my cheek, and he brushed away a stray tear. “You’re going to stay with me until the police can find the little prick who keeps f*cking with you, and he better pray the cops do find him because he won’t be so lucky if I get my hands on him first.”
“Thank you, Hunter. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Madelyn. Don’t think for one second that you can get rid of me so easily. Sorry to say, but you’re stuck with me now, babe.”
I laughed softly and watched a slow-spreading grin appear on Hunter’s handsome face. “You make that sound like it’s such a terrible thing.”
“Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that after spending a few days with me,” he chuckled under his breath.
My heart stirred when I realized that, for the time being, Hunter and I would be cohabitating… just the two of us. It seemed that for every bad thing that continued to happen to me, something good always came out of it; and that something good came in the form of Hunter.
I was still worried about Robbie and Lance’s safety and thought it might be best for them to remain at Lance’s apartment for a while, so I shot Robbie a text message to let him know what was going on. The police arrived a few minutes later, and I answered all of their questions while they assessed the damage in my room. After they gathered everything they needed, and the paramedics bandaged my hands, Hunter grabbed my suitcase and secured it on the back of his bike. I looked back at my dark, empty apartment and wondered if I would ever be able to return to this place. If I would ever feel safe here again.
“You sure you’re okay?” Hunter ran his fingers over my neck, kneading the tension away.
I looked back at him, forcing a weak smile. “Yeah. I guess I’m just worried that they won’t find whoever’s been doing all of this. I just want to feel safe in my own skin again and not have to constantly watch my back.”
Hunter smiled sympathetically and pressed his lips to my forehead. “I know, babe. Let’s get you back to my place so you can get some sleep, and we’ll try to figure this all out in the morning.”
Hunter swung his leg over the bike, and I slid in behind him and wrapped my arms snug around his waist. He carefully lifted my hand and brushed his lips across my palm where it taped up with gauze before gently placing it back around him. My heart swelled in my chest and even though it hurt to do so, I held him a little tighter the entire way to his apartment.
At first glance, I wasn’t even surprised to find Hunter’s humble abode in complete disarray: laundry scattered about the living room, dirty dishes in the sink and lining the countertops, boxes that still hadn’t been unpacked. This was your typical bachelor pad, and Hunter being your typical bachelor, I couldn’t hold it against him.
Between the kitchen and living room was a small fish tank with a massive goldfish filling almost the entire contents of the tank. Hunter set my suitcase down on the floor and wrapped his arm around my waist. “I see you’ve met Killer.”
“Killer?” I arched my brow. “What kind of name is that for a goldfish?”
“Well considering he ate every other fish I put in there with him, I thought it was very fitting. Plus, he’s old as shit. The bastard just won’t die.” Hunter shrugged with a smirk.
Laughter bubbled in my throat and it felt so good to laugh after everything that happened tonight. Hunter released his arm from my waist and took my hand, leading me down the hall to his bedroom. I sank down on the edge of his bed, and he came back into the room with my suitcase.
“Sorry about the mess in here.” He hurriedly picked up clothes that were strewn about the room and tossed them in the hamper.
“It’s no problem, Hunter. You were sweet enough to let me stay here. I don’t want you to have to change your living arrangements just for me. If you’re normally a slob then by all means, continue on with your filthy ways.”
Hunter’s comical expression made me question what I had said. Then I noticed the double meaning behind my words and mentally face-palmed myself. Nice one, Maddie. I pulled my suitcase over to the bed and dug through the contents to see what I had packed so hastily. Of course there was nothing appropriate that I could sleep in. While I stood there with my hands tugging at my hair, Hunter came up behind me and rested his chin on my shoulder.
“Something wrong?”
“Yeah, I didn’t pack anything to sleep in. Would you mind if I borrowed something to wear tonight?”
“Of course not, babe. Here…” He opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a long, gray t-shirt with the word ARMY printed across the chest.
“Thanks.” I smiled impishly, knowing by the looks of it that it would only hit about mid-thigh.
“You’re very welcome. I’ll just be out in the living room when you’re finished.”
Hunter shut the door behind him, and I quickly stripped out of my clothes and slid the shirt over my body. God, it smelled just like him, earthy and masculine; I could happily drown in his intoxicating scent.
When I made my way back out the living room, the clothes that had previously been scattered all over were now out of sight. I heard dishes clattering in the kitchen and found Hunter just as he was placing the last bowl in the dishwasher. He turned around and locked eyes with me, a beautiful smile playing at his lips.
“I thought I told you, you don’t have to change your filthy ways for my sake.”
Hunter approached me, breathing into my ear. “Maybe I should hold off on gracing you with my filthy habits until you get settled in here.”
He kissed my cheek and winked, spinning on his heel to head back toward his bedroom. Luckily, that time I caught the double meaning behind his words, but I was a little disappointed to say the least. Had that brick not crashed through my window tonight, who knew how far Hunter and I would have gone? I definitely wouldn’t have tried to stop him, but I guess we’ll never know.
And now I was going to bed with a delicious ache between my legs.
Waking up next to this breathtakingly beautiful man was almost too much to bear, but I never wanted it to end. With my head resting on his chest and my arm stretched out over his torso, I could feel my body rise and fall with every breath he took. I relished in the soothing effect that it had on me, breathing right along with his ever-steady pace, and quickly fell back into a deep slumber.
Before I heard him utter any words, I felt his hot breath fluttering around my ear. “Rise and shine, sweet cheeks.” Then he slapped my ass, and I jolted up in bed with my hair going every which way.
“Too early,” I mumbled, burying my face back into the pillow. “Need sleepies.”
He spanked my ass again, and it was then I noticed that his shirt had ridden up on me in the middle of the night, and my thong-clad bottom was now front and center for Hunter’s enjoyment. Wonderful.
“Babe, you’re wasting away this beautiful morning.”
“Ughh, are you always so f*cking chipper in the morning? You do realize that other than the days that I share a class with you, I normally never wake up before noon, right? Why would I want to start now?” I pulled the blanket up over my head, trying to block out his sexy as hell voice, but it was proving to be quite difficult.
“Because I see homemade Belgian waffles, bacon and hash browns in your near future. I know how much you love your greasy, high carb meals.”
I slowly peeled the blanket away from face. “I hope that’s not your way of trying to say I’m fat.”
“Not at all.” He paused for a moment, and a sly grin spread across his face. “You’re just a fat kid at heart, sweet cheeks.”
He ripped the blanket away from my body and slapped my ass one more time before high-tailing it out of the bedroom. I chased him down the hall and managed to hit him with an Angry Birds plush toy before he made it to the kitchen.
“Congratulations… your little scheme managed to get my lazy butt out of bed. Happy?” I tried to look pissed off, but it came off as more of a smirk. “Now that you got me in here, is there anything I can do to help?”
“Yeah, why don’t you start mixing the ingredients for the waffles, and I’ll heat up the griddle.”
I looked around for a box of waffle mix, opening cabinets and digging through their contents, but couldn’t seem to find any. “I don’t think you have any, Hunter.”
He quietly snuck up behind me and placed his arms on either side of me, pinning me against the counter. “What are you looking for in there? I have all of the ingredients laid out on the counter for you.”
I peeked over his shoulder and saw flour, sugar, milk and a few other things, but no box. “Where’s the box? How am I supposed to make them without the instructions on the box?”
Hunter leaned forward, laughing into my hair and causing a few strands to flutter over my shoulder. “Babe, have you ever made anything from scratch?”
I shook my head bashfully, and Hunter’s soft laughter continued to filter through the air before he placed a kiss to my forehead. “All right. I’ll pour all of the ingredients in, so you’ll just need to stir. Think you can handle that?” He grinned playfully, and I shoved him back against the stove.
“Yes, I can handle that. I’m not completely inept in the kitchen.” I rolled my eyes. After Hunter measured everything out from memory, I stirred it all together while he started preparing the bacon and hash browns. I loved watching him move around the kitchen like an old pro, especially since he still wasn’t wearing a shirt, which made the view so much more enjoyable. The muscles in his back flexed as he flipped the bacon in one pan and mixed the hash browns until they were golden in another. I just couldn’t take my eyes off of him, but I didn’t want him to catch me ogling again.
Before I could stop myself, I dipped the spoon into the waffle batter and whispered over to Hunter, “Psst.”
He slowly looked over his shoulder with an innocently sweet smile, his hand still holding the frying pan. The poor guy didn’t even see it coming as a big glop of batter went flying straight toward his face with an audible splat. My eyes widened to the size of saucers, and I threw my hand over my mouth, trying with much difficulty to mute my giggling. Hunter stood there, not saying a word, while the batter slowly dripped off of his nose. He strode toward me like a predator stalking his prey, but I had nowhere to run. Shit, he was totally going to get me back for that. I could see it in his eyes, and then that devilish grin appeared. Oh yeah… I was gonna get it all right.
Hunter reached into the bag of flour, and I shook my head, pleading with him, but he just grinned even wider. “Don’t even think about—” A plume of flour exploded around me before I could finish my sentence. I released a dry cough and shook the flour from my hair, glaring in Hunter’s direction. That little bastard. He was hunched over from laughing so hard, so I took that opportunity to grab an egg and smash it on top of his head, rubbing it in for good measure. I gasped as he grabbed my wrists and pinned them behind my back.
Hunter looked down at me with a gravely serious expression, and I worried that I might have gone a little too far. “You do realize, babe… this means war.” And with that, he grabbed a hefty spoonful of batter and took his time as he smeared it all over my face, making sure not to miss a single nook or cranny.
A full-blown food fight ensued with us grabbing whatever we could find, and by the time we had finally called a truce, we were coated from head to toe in enough food groups to fill a food pyramid. The kitchen was a complete disaster, and when we took in the scene around us and looked back at one another, we were laughing so hard that we collapsed on the floor, trying desperately to catch our breath. Hunter crawled across the floor and pulled me into his lap, peeling away the hair that was caked on my face.
“I have to say, Maddie, you looked delicious before, but now you look downright delectable.” He tilted my head and licked at the waffle batter that was smeared across my neck. “Taste so damn good, too.”
I giggled as he continued to lap at my neck and gently nibble my ear. I pulled back and playfully flicked my tongue over the tip of his nose, where there was still some waffle batter dripping. “Mmm, you taste pretty damn good yourself.”
After a few more seconds of tasting one another, the smoke alarms went off and we quickly untangled ourselves. The bacon was burnt to a crisp along with the now blackened hash browns. Hunter tossed the pans in the sink, shaking his head and still chuckling under his breath. I think it was safe to say breakfast was ruined. But it was so worth it.
Hunter looked over at me and smiled, lacing his fingers with mine, and led me down the hall to the bathroom. Our feet slapped against the floor as we left a trail of sticky reside. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I giggled silently at how ridiculous I looked. There was a mixture of waffle batter, peanut butter, egg and flour caked in my hair, and I knew it was going to be hell trying to get all of that shit out. Hunter pulled a towel from the cabinet below the sink and set it on the counter. He reached up to run his fingers through his hair, and I giggled as he found his fingers getting stuck in the sticky mess.
“I’ll let you shower first while I clean up the mess in the kitchen.” He shot me a show-stopping grin, one I quickly learned was reserved only for me, and just as he was about to leave, I pulled him back into the bathroom and shut the door. He cocked an eyebrow and looked at me as though I had lost my mind. Well, maybe I had, but there was no way in hell I was turning back now.
I gazed up at him through dark, hooded lashes and languidly peeled the shirt over my head, tossing it onto the floor with a loud slap. His eyes danced over me, and I felt absolutely no shame in him seeing my nearly naked body. I wanted him to see me… all of me.
I tucked my thumbs into the sides of my thong, but Hunter reached for my hips, halting me. His hands were rough and warm, and the second he touched me, I instantly craved feeling them over every inch of my body. “Babe, why are you doing this?”
“Why? I think the real question is why do you keep putting a stop to this? Don’t you want me?” My voiced hitched, filled with disappointment. Was it possible that he might not want me after all? Just that little sliver of lost hope hurt so much worse than I ever imagined, and having never felt that before, it scared the shit out of me.
Hunter sank down on the side of the bathtub and rested his elbows on his knees. When his beautiful gray eyes connected with mine, I could see that he was fighting to stand his ground. “Yes, of course I do. You know I do, but… not like this.”
“Not like this? What other way is there?! I want you, and I think I’ve made that pretty damn clear over that last few weeks. Now, why is it every time things start to heat up between us, you pump the brakes?” My arms flew up over my chest, suddenly feeling more vulnerable.
Hunter slowly peeled my arms away, kissing the palms of my bandaged hands as he interlaced our fingers, and pulled me between his legs. “Because I want it to mean something to you. I’m not going to just f*ck you, Maddie. I’m not like that, and you deserve so much better than just a quick, emotionless f*ck. If you really want me, let me take things slow. Let me show you how special you really are to me.”
Tears quickly welled up, clouding my vision, and his heart-felt words had me melting into in his arms. Hunter stood, and I buried my face in his chest while he encompassed me in a warm embrace. I felt so at home wrapped up in his arms, and I never wanted to lose that… that feeling that this was where I had always belonged; it just took having Hunter unexpectedly enter my life to realize it.
“I know this might seem a bit forward of me, but… will you shower with me?” I looked up at him imploringly. “I think I might need a little help getting all of this crap out of my hair.”
Hunter barked out a laugh but looked down at me suspiciously. “You sure that’s a good idea, babe? I don’t want you to feel tempted—”
“I promise, I’ll keep my hands…” I looked down at the bulge beginning to form in his boxer briefs and smirked, “and mouth to myself.”
Hunter shook his head, and a playful grin lit up his face. My breath caught in my throat as he painstakingly slid my thong over my hips and down my legs. He knelt down in front of me and tapped my ankle to signal for me to step out of it before tossing the scrap of lace aside. Then he pressed his soft, plump lips to the spot just below my belly button, and I drew in a sharp breath. Ohmigod, if he only moved a few inches lower…
His lips continued their heavenly journey up my body, through the valley between my breasts, and when they reached my patiently awaiting mouth, I let out a soft moan. With his arms secured around my waist, he maneuvered our bodies closer to the shower, only breaking apart to turn the showerhead on. The room quickly filled with steam, and he pulled the curtain back, allowing me to step in first. My eyes shifted down, and I noticed he still had his boxer briefs on. Oh, we couldn’t have that now could we?
“Plan on wearing those is the shower?” I smirked.
Hunter pinned me with a look that was dripping with heated desire and slowly slid them down over his hips. The thin, cottony material pooled at his feet, and he kicked them to the side, his steely gaze never once deterring from me. My eyes slowly trailed down the length of his body, attempting to memorize every inch of him. His physique was a work of art with every muscle perfectly defined, from his wide, brawny shoulders down to his toned calves. If ever there was a man that I considered truly beautiful, Hunter without a doubt embodied that man.
He tucked his finger beneath my chin and lifted my head up until I tore my eyes away from his mouth-watering body. “My eyes are up here, babe.” His mouth tilted up into a lopsided grin.
“I uh… um…” I fell short on words as heat quickly crept up my neck and cheeks, staining them a rosy shade of pink. Hunter seemed pleased with my reaction and gently kissed my lips, simultaneously lifting me into the shower.
The warm water cascading down my back felt so good, but not nearly as wonderful as Hunter’s strong hands as they massaged peaches and cream scented shampoo deep into my scalp. I closed my eyes and leaned back against Hunter’s slick chest, letting him have his not-so-dirty way with me. His fingers worked through the thick waves of my hair, and when he reached the base of my skull, he kneaded with a little more pressure; oh God, that felt good. I bit down on my bottom lip but couldn’t help the deep moan that escaped me. If Hunter kept this up, he would bring me to orgasm in no time.
He ran some conditioner through my hair and rinsed it thoroughly, making sure any remnants of our botched breakfast no longer remained. Then he spun me around and took a moment to slowly drink me in before he poured some body wash onto a loofa and scrubbed every inch of my body clean. His lips trailed over my shoulder and his tongue dipped out, tracing lazy patterns along my skin. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as pleasure swirled low in my belly.
“Wh-what was that you were saying about taking it slow?” I panted.
Hunter smiled against my neck and gave me a gentle nip, grazing his teeth over the sensitive flesh. “This is as far as we’re going today, sweetheart. I’m sorry if I’m torturing you, but I had to have a little taste before we finish in here.” He licked along the shell of my ear and lightly tugged against my lobe. “You’re just too damn irresistible.”
I placed an open kiss right in the center of his chest before pulling away a bit to return the favor. Pouring some shampoo into my hands, I worked it into a foamy lather and reached up on my tiptoes so that I could bury my hands in his silky hair. Hunter let out a deep moan as his eyelids languidly fell, and I leaned in closer with my breasts pressed into his hard pecs. My nipples were aching to be touched, and they rolled against the soft hair coating his chest. I could feel Hunter’s erection pressed against my belly, growing harder by the second, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold out when I was dying to grasp his thickness in my hand. He was right. This was absolute torture. Why did I ever think that I could control myself when we were both standing here, soaking wet and naked as the day we were born, begging to take one another? I had to give it to Hunter; the man had will power.
I leaned my head against his chest, my hair creating a dampened curtain around me and shielding me from my naughty wants and desires. Hunter reached up, pushing away the sopping wet tendrils of hair and cradled my face in his hands. His thumbs brushed over my cheeks in tender, sweet movements, and when I finally looked up to see the raw emotion pouring freely from his gaze, I was nearly brought to tears.
“So beautiful,” he whispered, bringing his mouth down to mine and breathing past my lips. “So f*cking beautiful.”
I could feel the knot in my chest beginning to loosen up, unbinding the ever-present hold it had over my heart, and I knew in that moment that he was it for me. No one had ever managed to break through my solid barriers, but he single-handedly brought my walls crumbling down.
Hunter had me completely undone.
He took his time, slowly devouring me with his succulent lips, and my tongue tangled with his, meeting him stroke for stroke. I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of his kisses, and Hunter continued to prove just how addicting they were.
Hunter finally broke the kiss but must have felt me pouting as he brushed his lips against mine one last time, taking my bottom lip between his teeth and giving it a gentle nip. “Let’s dry off and get changed. I think I owe someone some breakfast.” He shot me a sidelong grin and winked before wrapping me in a fluffy blue towel. He grabbed another one for himself from under the sink and wrapped it low around his hips.
“Actually, I think we’re quickly approaching lunch now.”
“What can I say?” He pulled me close, tugging the towel tighter around me. “I’m easily distracted when I have a gorgeous woman in my arms.”
“Well, I hope I won’t have to fight off your harem of girls, since you’re so easily distracted.”
“Harem?” Hunter’s soft laughter echoed throughout the bathroom. “Babe, there’s only one woman who’s managed to keep me distracted. You have nothing to worry about there.”
His words brought a smile to my lips. “Good, because I’d really hate to have to bring out my inner bitch. She’s been pretty feisty lately.”
Hunter slowly cocked his eyebrow. “Inner bitch? I thought that was just your normal sunshiny self.”
I smacked his stomach playfully. “Hey, don’t even try to bring her out again. You already got a taste of her when we first met, and she’s not a fan of repeat offenders.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind. Let’s get you fed before she makes another lovely appearance.”
“How about we head over to AJ’s after we clean up the mess in the kitchen? I think Liberty is working this afternoon, and I could totally go for some fish and chips.”
Hunter leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Sounds great. Why don’t you go get ready? I think I can handle things in the kitchen.”
Padding down the hallway to Hunter’s room, I pulled my suitcase up on the bed and dug through the mess of clothes. I threw on a pair of white shorts and an orange tunic shirt and quickly braided my damp hair, letting it hang over my shoulder. Having left the apartment in such a hurry last night, and not thinking to pack any makeup, I was forced to go au natural until I was able to go back there. If I’d ever be able to go back there.
When I walked into the kitchen, I found Hunter wiping down the counters with the biggest grin on his face. He was humming a tune that I didn’t quite recognize, but he looked like he was totally in the zone while rocking his hips to the beat. My hand flew over my mouth in an attempt to muffle my giggles… he was just too damn cute. I was worried that if he kept that up, he might dislodge the towel that was wrapped around his hips. Okay, worried might be the wrong word… hopeful would probably be more fitting.
Tossing the dishtowel over the side of the sink, he pivoted around, and his grin spread even wider as his eyes ran up and down my body. He stalked toward me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him until his pelvis was pressed against me. I smiled up at him, my teeth dragging over my bottom lip. Oh yeah, I felt that… message received.
“I’ll be ready in just a few, babe.” He kissed the sensitive spot below my ear before pulling away and heading back to his room.
I leaned back against the fridge, my legs feeling like jelly. I didn’t know how the hell that man got to me so easily, but every little thing he said and did had me feeling like I was the most precious thing in the world to him; someone to be protected and cherished as though I were a rare piece of treasure. God, it just made me love him that much more.