A Step Two Close

  His lips were on mine again, as he reached one hand and dipped it between my legs. “Fuck, AJ, you’re soaking wet.”

  All I could do was moan. I had been longing for him to be inside of me for what seemed like decades.

  As we continued kissing, Hunter lowered my legs to the ground and pushed my dress up. He broke our kiss and knelt in front of me. With both hands, he trailed them up around my stomach, around my waist until he reached my knicker line. Once there, he pushed them down with aching slowness. I closed my eyes and threw my head back. That alone had my head spinning.

  When he reached the floor, I lifted one foot and then the other. Once my knickers were gone, Hunter lifted up my dress and stared at my pussy. He licked his lips. “I have to taste you.”

  He moved his head towards me, and every millisecond felt like an hour. So... achingly... slow.

  With his hands, he parted my folds and swiped his tongue over my clit. Without thinking, my head banged back right against the wall. “Oh fuck!”

  “Are you okay?”

  I grabbed at his hair. “Yes. Yes. Please don’t stop. Please.”

  Hunter chuckled and went back to licking my little nub. I was already going to blow. I knew it was going to be quick, but I wanted it to last as long as possible.

  When he licked me again, I moaned, and my legs gave way. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you, sweetheart.” He grabbed the back of my legs and held me in place before getting back to his glorious licking.

  “Oh, God, Hunter!” I screamed.

  “You taste so fucking sweet, AJ. I could have you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and still want to snack on you between meals.”

  Holy fuck, he was good. “Don’t stop. Keep going.”

  He didn’t disappoint. He lapped his tongue around my clit like there was no tomorrow. The more I moaned, the more pressure he applied. The more I gripped his hair, the faster he went.

  “Oh no, not so soon!” Shit, I was going to come and he had only just started. If I was a man, I would be so lame.

  Hunter didn’t relent. He just kept going faster. It was almost as if he was as keen for me to come quickly as my body was.

  And then it started. The trembling. The build up. My body went rigid and my grip on his hair tightened as my orgasm built to its crescendo.

  Hunter’s hands were suddenly at my arse as he gripped it with all his might and practically buried his face in my pussy. With no way out, Hunter sealed my fate. My orgasm exploded, and I swear I saw dancing colours in my eyes.

  I had my head on the wall, and at first, I couldn’t open my eyes. I was lost—breathless and so fucking up there in fairyland that at first, I didn’t want to come back down. Shit, that was intense.

  As my breathing calmed, I licked my lips and opened my eyes to find Hunter staring at me. “Now I can see what you saw earlier. Best. Sight. Ever.”

  I smiled, still in euphoric orgasm-land. He must have a magic tongue because there was no way it could possibly always be that good.

  As I was thinking this, Hunter came in to kiss me again. I could taste my juices on my tongue, but instead of it freaking me out, it made me horny all over again.

  “Fuck!” Hunter shouted. He suddenly became frantic as he pulled a condom out of his trouser pocket and tried undoing his belt. He was just in the middle of unzipping his trousers when we heard a car pull up outside.

  “Fuck!” Hunter zipped back up, did his belt up and ran his fingers through his untidy hair. He placed the condom back in the pocket and looked outside. “Shit, it’s your mum.” He placed his forehead on the little window and closed his eyes a moment. I felt really bad for him. He kept getting me off, and then we would get interrupted every time it was his turn.

  Just before my mum opened the door, he turned to me. “I’m tired of this fucking horsing around. Meet me at the penthouse tomorrow.”

  My eyes widened. “If you think I’m going to meet you where you’ve taken all your fuck buddies, you’ve got another thing coming!” I was angry with him again. Just as I was warming to him, he came out with this shit.

  I grabbed my bags and knickers and headed for the stairs just as I heard Hunter curse. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t think.”

  I just huffed and carried on walking up the stairs. My mum had the door open by then, so all conversation had to cease.

  “Hunter, darling, how are you? You’re looking a little flushed, is everything okay?”

  Hunter nodded. “Everything’s fine. I’ve just been running around a lot today, that’s all.”

  She grabbed his arm. “Take a rest. I’m going to cook us all a wonderful meal, and your dad is bringing home some champagne. We’ve all been working hard lately and deserve to let our hair down.” She looked up then and saw me. “Oh, Ayden, there you are. I didn’t see you, sweetie. How was your day?”

  I smiled politely because that was what I was expected to do. “It was great, thanks Mum. I have to do an essay on terrorism, but I don’t have to hand it in for three weeks.”

  She smiled up to me. “That’s great, honey. Don’t let me keep you. Just be ready in time for dinner at seven o’clock sharp, okay?” She directed the question at both of us.

  We both nodded and said okay, and then she disappeared into the kitchen. Hunter looked up at me, but I ignored him and carried on up the stairs. I got to my room, slammed the door behind me, and slumped on my bed with all my bags.

  Great. Just great.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Five weeks went by, and there were two days to go before my mum and Mason’s big day. Life had been hell for those five weeks because Hunter acted like a bear with a sore head, and Mum was acting... well... nice. Way too nice. I mean, it was almost as if a switch had flicked on in her, and it made me even more cautious around her. In fact, I was so paranoid about her behaviour that it was all I could think about for days on end. I did my essay, but knew I didn’t put enough effort into it, so I wasn’t entirely surprised when I turned up to see I had been given a D. I was used to A’s across the board. Getting a D was a highly unusual event—so unusual that my tutor pulled me aside and asked me if everything was okay. I just fobbed her off with some story about my mum getting married in two days, and she gave me an extension to finish off my paper properly. I was grateful to her for that, but I didn’t think I deserved it. My head was in the clouds, and I didn’t give that paper my usual one hundred percent.

  The other thing that didn’t help was the awkwardness between me and Trey since that incident outside my college. I never should have agreed to go out with him in the first place, but I was single and thought, “Why not?” I never thought about the consequences or how it would affect us both at college. Thank God I only had another year left. I couldn’t handle another potential Robert causing me problems. Trey didn’t seem like that type, but for some reason, I seemed to attract them.

  I was at home moping. No one was around, and I knew I should really take that as an opportunity to get back to my paper. I just didn’t have the heart for it. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me, but it wasn’t usually like me to get in a funk like that.

  I was sitting outside on my usual rock when I heard a sound behind me. I gasped, turned, and when I saw it was Hunter, I let out my breath. “Hunter, you scared the shit out of me. Again!”

  He looked sheepish. “Sorry. I knew you were here, because your satchel was by the door when I came in. When I couldn’t find you anywhere in the house, I thought you may have been down here. What’s up?”

  I sighed and looked away as he sat down. “I failed my terrorism essay.”

  Hunter looked away a moment and then back at me. “I’m sorry. Is there nothing that can be done?”

  I nodded. “Yes, my tutor has been kind enough to give me until tomorrow afternoon to sort it out. She pointed out where I went wrong and suggested I take another look. Tomorrow is the last day before we break up from school, so it’s my final shot for the end of the year.”

  Hunter frowned.
“So, why aren’t you doing it?”

  I shrugged. “I just haven’t got the heart right now. I will do it. I must do it. In fact, I should force my butt to do it right now.” I got up, but Hunter stopped me.

  “Wait a minute, not so fast, AJ.” He smiled, as he grabbed my hand. “You still don’t look like you have the heart right now, and may end up flunking it again. Besides, I want to take you somewhere first.”

  I sighed. “Hunter, now is really not the time.”

  He squeezed my hand gently. “I know, but I promise it will be good, and I also promise that when we get back, I will lock you in your room until you’re finished with your essay. In fact, do you want to stay at the penthouse tonight? There will be no distractions there. You can order pizza and just get on with it.” When he saw my face, he smiled. “Don’t worry; I won’t be there. I’ll drop you off on the way home and pick you up first thing in the morning. We have a wedding to plan together.”

  I looked at Hunter’s sincere face and smiled. “You would do that for me?”

  Hunter sighed. “Of course I would, AJ. I would give anything to see a smile back on your face. What do you say?”

  I nodded. “Okay, but what about the wedding and my mum and your dad?”

  Hunter shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll tell them where you are and why.”

  I bit my lip. “Okay, but where are you taking me?”

  Hunter shook his head. “Uh-uh, it’s a surprise.”

  Hunter stood up, his firm grip still on my hand. He tugged at it and made me get up with him. “First of all, get your things. I will meet you in the car.”

  We ventured back up the hill, and Hunter went outside to his Audi TT while I went upstairs to pack an overnight bag. I grabbed my satchel and laptop on the way out and ran towards Hunter’s car.

  “All set?” he asked as I was putting my seatbelt on.

  I nodded. “Yep, all set.”

  Hunter winked, and the butterflies started. It didn’t take much to get them going where Hunter was concerned. I didn’t know what on earth he was up to, but I trusted that he had good intentions.

  Pretty soon, we were out of our security gates and on the road. I turned to Hunter for a moment and stared. He looked worried—much like he had been lately. Almost distracted even.

  “Hunter, is everything okay?”

  “What?” he asked, a little too loudly. “Sorry, I was miles away.”

  I nodded. “You have been a lot lately. That’s why I asked.”

  He looked at me briefly. “I have?” I nodded again and he sighed. “About three weeks ago, my mum turned up at my university.”

  My eyes widened, and I turned to him. “No! Really? I’m sorry, Hunter. What did she say?”

  He gripped the steering wheel. “She gave me her usual bullshit. Sure, she looked clean and like how a mum should for a change, but when I told her I was getting on with my life and that Dad was getting married, she looked shocked... without looking shocked. Does that make sense?” He looked at me briefly, and I nodded. He turned his attention back to the road. “Anyway, my suspicions soon rose when she told me she was getting married too and that she had been clean for the last four years. She mentioned that she and her fiancé were trying to set up business together in Cancun doing scuba diving for the tourists.” He looked over at me again. “Her fiancé is Mexican.”

  My eyebrow rose. “Oh.”

  Hunter nodded. “Exactly. I know it’s bad to judge, but her past history didn’t help her case. At first, she told me she just wanted to see me before they emigrated. I, like a fool, went along with it.”

  I watched his expression tighten. “What’s changed?”

  He sighed. “Just in the last few days, she’s been dropping hints that they need forty grand to get themselves up and running. She said they had been saving, and managed twenty so far, but just couldn’t quite get the other twenty in time.”

  I closed my eyes. “I’m sorry, Hunter. What have you told her?”

  “That maybe they should look at their business plan together and downsize until their business is up and running.”

  I smiled. “Good answer. What did she say to that?”

  “She started panicking, stuttering, and making up excuses as to why they needed so much money. I could tell then and there that it was all bullshit. In the end, I told her I wished her luck and if—and only if—she got her shit together and went to Cancun, then she could call me. I know she is my mother, AJ, but I won’t tolerate any BS from her.”

  I sighed. “You shouldn’t. She is the one who went down the path she chose. No one pushed her there. She only has herself to blame. The unfortunate thing is that addicts are selfish and always will be until they admit it to themselves and the ones they love.”

  Hunter smiled. “You’re right of course. It’s a relief telling someone. I haven’t told my dad because he’s so busy at work and with this wedding. I don’t want to add too much stress on him. I’m just worried. I don’t like the way things ended with my mum. I suspect she only turned up at the university because she doesn’t know where we live. It wouldn’t take a genius to find out where we are if she wanted to, though.”

  I placed my hand on his shoulder and rubbed it gently. “Well, if she does, we’ll handle it, and we’ll handle it together. That’s what families are for, right?”

  Hunter looked at my hand on his shoulder. “That’s right, AJ.” He then smiled cheekily. “Hey, did I ever tell you that you were okay for a chick?”

  I laughed. “You may have mentioned it once.”

  He looked at me briefly, but it was enough to see that same look in his eyes. The look that pulled me in and never let go. I really needed to move out of my house and fast. Things were better when we were avoiding each other. I couldn’t handle it when Hunter turned into Dr. Jekyll. He made me fall for him all over again.

  With that thought in my head, I turned to the road and tried to find my bearings. “Hey, this is the A4010, isn’t it?”

  Hunter smiled. “It is. We should be there in about fifteen minutes.”

  I smiled, but said no more. I wasn’t sure what Hunter was up to, but I was going to go along with it to see.

  For the remainder of the journey, we kept silent. The roads were quiet and the sun was shining. It was a nice day. As we got to a clearing through the trees, we turned left into a car park. The place looked familiar, but it wasn’t until it came into view that I gasped. “It’s still here?”

  Hunter looked at my beaming face and smiled brightly himself. “It is. I actually looked for it on the Internet straight after you told me. I hope this is okay? I don’t want to brandish the memory of your dad.”

  Tears welled in my eyes. “No, Hunter. It’s perfect. Thank you.”

  Hunter breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, that’s good. I was hoping you wouldn’t get mad at me.”

  I grabbed his arm. “How can I be mad at you? This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me. Well, since my dad died.” I felt sad for a moment, but it was only for a split second. I wanted Hunter to see how grateful I was.

  Without thinking, I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Hunter. This means the world to me.”

  At first, he stiffened, but then he relaxed and hugged me even tighter to him. “You’re welcome, AJ. You deserve it.”

  I pulled away from him slightly, and for a moment, we stared at one another. His look was back, and at first I couldn’t look away. I was desperate to kiss him. I was so desperate to feel close to him, but knew more than ever that we shouldn’t. In two days, my mum and his dad would be married, and we would be a proper family. No matter how much I wanted him, that thought had to give me the strength to look away.

  “So, what flavour do you like?” I asked, clearing my throat.

  Hunter smiled and opened his door. “I’m more of a vanilla man myself.”

  I laughed, getting out of the car with him. “I would never have taken you for a vanilla ma
n.” I winked at him and he laughed. It was good to see him laughing again.

  “I wouldn’t push it, AJ. I remember just how ticklish you are. Care to find out again?”

  I put my hands up. “No, it’s okay. I’ll behave.”

  Hunter raised his eyebrow. “That would be a first for you, wouldn’t it?”

  I rolled my eyes. “So now we’re being cocky again, huh? I knew it wouldn’t last.”

  Hunter frowned as we neared the doors of Johnny’s. I was so glad it was still here. “Dr. Jekyll. He was in the car with me for a while, but now he’s disappeared.”

  Hunter shook his head at me and opened the door to let me pass through. “Oh... Maybe he’ll come back in a little bit.” I winked at him again, and he just shook his head with a smile.

  Without another word on the subject, Hunter ordered his vanilla, and I ordered my chocolate chip. It was what I had with my dad every time we came here, and I couldn’t wait to see if it tasted just how I remembered.

  Once we had ice creams in our hands, we decided to take a walk outside and sit on the bench. There were a few people around, but considering it was a working day, it was still quiet. As we sat down, I thought Hunter would sit opposite me, but he surprised me when he came and sat next to me instead.

  “Why aren’t you at Uni today?”

  Hunter shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve already done my exams for this year. It’s just really catch-up classes. It normally fizzles out this time of year. Classes end tomorrow for us just the same as you.”

  I nodded my head and then took a bite of my ice cream. A sudden memory came to me of me and my dad sitting on one of the benches nearby. I was laughing because I had chocolate ice cream all over my face and nose. My dad was frantically trying to wipe it off my face, but I couldn’t stop giggling.

  “You’re crying.”

  My head shot up to Hunter. I didn’t realise I was until he mentioned it. I wiped my eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

  “Hey.” Hunter placed a hand on mine. “It’s okay to cry, you know.”

  I nodded with a sniffle. “I know, I just didn’t think you would expect me to react this way just taking me for an ice cream.”