A Step Two Close

  Hunter quickly placed his glass down on the table. “I’ll get that. You make yourself comfortable.”

  Ha! If I made myself any more comfortable, I would be riding your lap, sunshine. Phew, is it hot around here all of a sudden?

  I waved my hand in front of my face and took a seat at the table. Within a couple of minutes, Hunter emerged and placed the bag down. He took the contents out and started opening the containers. “Chicken with black bean for you.”

  I nodded. “Thanks.”

  He then opened his, and I saw he must have ordered sweet and sour balls. “What balls are those?”

  Hunter almost choked on the champagne he was sipping. He coughed a little and smiled at me. “Chicken.”

  I opted for chopsticks rather than a fork and picked a piece of chicken up. I placed it in my mouth and moaned. “Hmm, this is good.” Hunter stared at me, and I looked down at his balls again. I thought it best to change the subject. “So, do you like eating balls, Hunter?” I smiled mischievously at him, and he aimed one back at me. God, I was so going to be dead meat.

  “Listen, sweetheart, these are the only balls I will ever put near my mouth.”

  I pouted my lips in a smile—afraid I might laugh too hard otherwise. Hunter picked one up, placed it in his mouth, and I took that as my opportunity. “Can I taste one of your balls?”

  Hunter almost choked again, but gained his composure quickly. “AJ, are you trying to kill me?”

  I placed a hand on my chest. “Me? No, of course not. Why on earth would I want to do that? You wouldn’t give me your balls otherwise.”

  I laughed and it felt good. Even after the few shitty past few weeks I had just endured, I was already starting to have fun. I felt comfortable enough around Hunter to joke like that.

  “You, my darling, are pushing your luck with me.” He gave me a devilish smile and picked up a ball with his chopstick. “Here.” He motioned for me to come forward, so I leaned over the table. He placed it in my mouth and some of the juices spilled down my chin. Hunter wiped it with his finger and then licked the sauce off with his tongue.

  I seriously thought I had just had a mini-orgasm.

  “They’re nice, but not as good as mine. Here, try some.” I did the same with him and watched as he opened his mouth to accept the food. Shit, I was seriously losing it now. It was like torturous foreplay.

  Hunter chewed and shook his head. “Nah, not as good as my balls.”

  I burst out laughing. “I suppose they may be an acquired taste.”

  Hunter raised his eyebrow. “Really?”

  I nodded as I placed some more food in my mouth. “Hmm-mmm.”

  We sat in silence for a moment enjoying our food and sipping champagne. It was nice and relaxing. A little too relaxing. It made me want more of these nights with Hunter.

  “So, got any plans for the summer?”

  I shrugged. “I need to get a job so I can start earning my own money. My mum doesn’t like the idea though.”

  Hunter frowned. “Why not?”

  I shrugged again. “I don’t know. It may have something to do with the fact that we already have money. I just like paying my own way, that’s all.”

  Hunter smiled. “Understandable.”

  “What about you?”

  “There was some talk at Uni about us going on a beach trip to Spain for a few days.”

  I rolled my eyes, trying to feign disinterest when really my insides were twisting at the thought. “What, you mean an eighteen-to-thirties type thing?”

  Hunter straightened his posture. “What? No, of course not. Just a few days relaxing on the beach and getting some rays. Of course there will be drinking and maybe a club or two—definitely not eighteen-to-thirty clubs.”

  I smiled, but it didn’t help lighten my mood any. “You should go.”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to leave you.”

  Now it was my turn to straighten my posture. “Why ever not?”

  He gritted his teeth slightly. “I wouldn’t want to leave you here knowing that Robert was out there somewhere watching you.”

  I sighed. “If push comes to shove, I can stay with Mandy or Christian.”

  “Come with me.”

  My eyes widened. “What?”

  “Come with me... to Spain.”

  I laughed. “Hunter, I’m sure this little holiday doesn’t entail bringing any girls along. What would be the point in the boys’ holiday?”

  Hunter shrugged. “I don’t care. They can think whatever they fucking well like. If they don’t like it, they can fuck off. Besides, I’m sure if they knew I was bringing you, a couple with long-term girlfriends would end up bringing them along, too. I’m sure they would prefer it that way anyway. I would be doing them a favour by starting it.”

  I shook my head. “Hunter, I don’t think—” Just then my phone pinged loudly alerting me to a text. All conversation halted for now.

  “Go see who it is, and then we’ll finish off this conversation. I’m not taking no for an answer, AJ.”

  I rolled my eyes at him, but got up to check my phone. It was an email from my tutor.

  With my heart thumping, I opened it up. Maybe it was just an email to let me know she received it. She wouldn’t normally acknowledge it though.

  Once I read it, I gasped. “Oh my God!”

  Hunter shot up out of his seat. “What is it?”

  I looked up to Hunter’s expectant face. “I got an A star.”

  Hunter picked me up and spun me around. “I knew you could do it.” Once he placed me down, he gave me a big smacker on the lips. At first, we just stared at one another, and then he got all excited again. “Go, sit. I have something to show you.”

  I watched as he walked away. “What is it?”

  He pointed outside. “Go sit and I’ll show you.”

  I did as I was told and sat back down. I took another couple of bites of food and washed it down with my champagne.

  As I took my final gulp, Hunter emerged with a wrapped gift. It looked awfully like a jewellery box. “It’s for your birthday, but I was going to give this to you after the wedding. I figured with this good news, I may as well give it to you now.”

  I stared at Hunter, wide-eyed. “What is it?”

  He pointed. “Well, open it up and find out.”

  I picked it up and carefully started unwrapping. Sure enough, it was a turquoise Tiffany box. When I opened the box, I gasped. It was a silver Pandora bracelet with one charm already attached. When I picked it up, I found it to be a diamond ice cream cone.

  The tears welled, and this time, I wouldn’t stop them if they fell. “Hunter, it’s beautiful.”

  He pointed to the charm with a smile. “I thought you could collect nice memories. First one being how much you cherished each Friday with your father and the ice creams he bought you. In time, I’m sure we could add more.”

  When he said the word “we,” I couldn’t help the flurry of excitement in my belly. I knew that wasn’t what he meant, but it still sounded wonderful nonetheless.

  I stared in awe as Hunter placed the bracelet around my wrist. Once fastened, he looked at me. “I knew it would look beautiful on you.”

  How could he say those words and expect me not to cross that line? I knew it was wrong, but right now, I couldn’t think of anything else that felt so right.

  Without a word, I placed the box on the table, got up, and offered Hunter my hand. At first he just stared, but then he took it—no questions asked. I didn’t know if he knew what I was about to do, but I knew he would learn soon enough.

  Chapter Twenty

  Without so much as a whimper, I took Hunter up the stairs with me. All dishes and glasses were left where they stood. I would deal with them later. For once, we came first. For the first time in a long time, this was for us.

  As we passed the threshold of my bedroom door, I could feel that electric charge between us. The one that was always there—slowly simmering in the background.


  As I turned to face him, his questioning eyes searched mine. Without looking down, I could tell he wanted this. He hadn’t even touched me yet, but the evidence was there if I chose to look.

  I didn’t. Instead, I let those eyes of his capture me with such force that I knew after tonight, he would win. He had me. He had always had me; I was just too stubborn to notice. After tonight, I would completely lose myself to Hunter. I knew this, but did it stop me? No. Because I was selfish. I needed this night. Even if I never had a night like this again, I would go away a happy woman. A completely lost woman, but a happy one.

  “AJ, I thought that with tomorrow, we—”

  I hushed him with my finger. “Tomorrow will come, but there’s still tonight.”

  He looked at me a moment, a pained expression on his face. “Are you sure?”

  I nodded. “You wanted my permission, Hunter. You have it. I’m asking you to take it. Take it all tonight, and don’t hold back.”

  “Fuck, AJ,” he whispered before closing the gap between us. I felt his toes climb over mine as he trapped me. I frowned, and he smiled. “Just in case you decide to run off.”

  I threw my hand around his neck and pulled his head down towards my lips. “I’m not going anywhere.” I kissed him once, then kissed him again. Before I could breathe, we had locked lips as our tongues began their slow dance. I was already lost in Hunter’s world. There was no going back for me.

  Hunter broke our kiss and stared at me for a while. His eyes were a darker shade of green... a lustful green. I could see his need to go slow, but there was an animalistic instinct that also roared at him to take me. Right then, I didn’t know which one I wanted to win.

  For a moment, we stood still but then Hunter’s hand came up, and he glided it down from my jaw-line to my neck. We both smiled as we remembered him wanting to do that on the phone with me in the changing room. His hand wandered further down my neck and across my collarbone. I closed my eyes, enjoying the pace, but also yearning for Hunter to hurry.

  As his hand glided towards my shoulder, he captured the string of my dress along the way and pulled it down along with him. He did the same with the other side, and pretty soon, the dress was hanging just above my breasts.

  “Bra?” Hunter was breathless as he looked down at them.

  I shook my head. “No.”

  Hunter groaned and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he tugged slightly at my dress strings, exposing my breasts to him. My nipples were erect, yearning for his touch.

  And he didn’t disappoint. With a hiss of his breath, Hunter bent down and suckled on my left nipple. I pulled my hand up, sliding it through his hair as he took me in his mouth.

  As he flicked his tongue, I moaned. “Hunter,” I breathed. Just that alone was too much, yet too little. I needed more.

  Hunter pulled back, giving me enough time to pull at his shirt. He let me pull it over his head, and, before too long, we were both bare from the waist up. For a moment, I took in the sight of him, marvelling at how beautifully toned he was. He had a swimmer’s body; there was no doubt about that. His arms were strong, and his shoulders were pronounced. I let my hands wander the length of his torso, coming in to kiss and nibble as I went along. Hunter moaned, squeezing my waist as I went.

  When his breathing picked up a notch, Hunter pulled me away and just stared at me again. He cupped my face in his hands and searched my eyes. “I can’t stop staring at you, AJ. You’re so beautiful.”

  I smiled. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

  Hunter laughed and dropped his hands. When he did, he looked at my dress riding on my hips. He placed one hand on each side. “Knickers?” I shook my head and he closed his eyes. “Fuck, AJ, I want to do this slowly, but you’re making it nearly impossible.”

  “Then, don’t.” I smiled, but he ignored me as he tugged on my dress. He followed it down to my feet, and I lifted one leg at a time to help him. He tossed the dress aside and grabbed my left calf. Pretty soon, he was trailing kisses around my knee and then my inner thigh. All I could do was moan and hope that he would hurry. I was practically dying.

  “Hunter, please.”

  Hunter laughed. “So impatient.” He got up soon enough and pointed to the bed. “Hop on, sweetheart.” I giggled and did as instructed, but Hunter frowned as if he remembered something. “Shit... be right back.”

  “Hunter, where are you—?” Before I could finish, he was out the door and was back in two seconds flat with a condom in his hand. Relieved, I laid myself back down and waited for Hunter to climb on top.

  He put the condom in his mouth as he undid his shorts. When they fell, I gasped. “I’m not the only one going commando, eh?”

  His cock sprung free to attention making me marvel at its size. I remembered just how big he was when we first had sex. I didn’t think he would disappoint at the time and boy had I been right.

  “I like to be ready for every occasion.” He winked at me. His mischievous smile faded as he climbed onto the bed.

  Our eyes locked once more, and again, I was lost to him. “Once I put this on, AJ, there’s no going back.”

  I nodded. “I know. I told you no holding back, and I meant every word. I’m ready for this, Hunter. I’ve been ready for a long time.”

  He edged between my legs and slowly lowered himself down on top of me. I could feel his cock digging into my stomach as his lips pressed against mine. When he pulled away, he started kissing my neck, and it was driving me crazy. “Hunter, please.”

  I heard a tremble of laughter as he pulled up. He grabbed the condom by his teeth and yanked. After he got it out, he offered it to me. “Do you want to put it on?”

  I was a bit apprehensive as I had never done that before, but thought I would give it a shot. I grabbed it off him and went to put it on. “Remember to hold the top as you slide it down. It stops the air from getting in.” I nodded and did as instructed. I fumbled a little, and I was also scared that I would hurt him, but Hunter never showed any signs of distress.

  It wasn’t long after I got it on the top that I managed to slide it down over him. Once I finished, I looked at my job well done and smiled.

  “You look like you’ve just created a masterpiece.”

  I looked up at Hunter’s smiling face. “Maybe I have.”

  Hunter leaned forward so our noses were touching. Again, all smiles were gone as he leant in to kiss me. “First me on top, then you. I need to feel you beneath me first.”

  “So there’s going to be another after this?” I smiled.

  “You fucking bet your arse, sweetheart. And there will be another and then another. You had better gear yourself up because sleep certainly isn’t going to be your friend tonight.”

  Oh boy!

  “Spread your legs for me, darling. I want to see that pussy of mine.” I did as instructed ignoring his reference of my pussy being his. “Fuck, you’re beautiful.” He grabbed his cock and placed it in position. I could feel him at my entrance and gasped when a little of him went inside. “Shit, AJ, you’re so tight.” He pushed forward again and this time all of him went in.

  For a moment, Hunter stayed still, resting his forehead on mine as he tried to catch his breath. “Do you realise how long I’ve been waiting for this?” He looked at me and I smiled. Hunter smiled back and came in for a kiss.

  He started moving, and, pretty soon, any small amount of initial pain faded away to pleasure and plenty of it. The way he moved inside me was the best feeling in the world.

  We moved like that for a while—our breathing harsh as sweat formed at our brows. “AJ, your pussy was meant for me. How I’ve lasted this long without you, I have no idea. Fuck!” Hunter immediately picked up speed, which had my body trembling in anticipation.

  Hunter grabbed my thigh and pulled it up allowing for deeper penetration. I cried out knowing that my orgasm was going to visit at any moment.

  “Let go for me, AJ.” He kissed me then slammed into me again and again. My e
yes were starting to wander around the back of my head. The speed of this man was incredible.

  “Hunter!” I screamed as I felt it rising. My whole body grew rigid and as he thrust back into me one more time before I climaxed all around him. I screamed out his name as the orgasm just kept going.

  “Fuck, AJ, I can’t keep it in any longer. You feel too fucking good.” With that, he came, growling out my name before eventually collapsing on top of me.

  “Tell me again why we waited so long?”

  I could feel his hot breath at my neck. I giggled, thinking the same thing. “I really don’t know.”

  He pulled his head up to meet my eyes. “I didn’t do all that tonight because I was expecting this.”

  I nodded and touched his face. “I know you didn’t.” Hunter pulled out of me, making me wince a little. I turned over to my side and watched as he walked to the bathroom. With the condom disposed of, Hunter climbed back onto the bed and pulled me into his arms.

  “Do you know ... I’ve never cuddled like this after sex? It’s kind of nice.”

  “That’s because you’ve never done it with the right girl,” I blurted. God, I should really watch my mouth at times.

  At first there was silence, and I was going to make some joke about me being extra special, when Hunter interrupted. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  I played with his hairless chest and peeked up at him as he stroked my hair. “Is this really strange for you? I mean, I know the cuddling part is strange, but the parts that entailed us living together for the past two months, and my mum and your dad getting married tomorrow?”

  Hunter shrugged. “It’s only strange if we make it that way. Sure, we’ll be a family, but not by blood. We didn’t know when we first met just how much we would really mean to each other. No one is to blame in this. It’s just circumstance.”

  I bit my lip wondering if he would be that understanding if he knew what had happened between his father and me almost a year ago to the day. I would love to lay all cards out on the table, but I thought this was one thing Mason and I would have to bring with us to our graves. It was not like anything could ever be between Hunter and me anyway. Both of us had to live with that fact come the light of dawn.