A Step Two Close

  I sighed. Instead of deflecting, I seemed to have just dug myself into a deeper hole. I really needed to get out of the house on Saturday. I couldn’t possibly let Hunter win. I chose Saturday because it was on my terms. Since he had twisted everything back around to his, I didn’t want to give in.

  How fucked up was I?

  Chapter Nine

  I was so screwed! Literally, I was as screwed as they came. The reason? Mandy couldn’t come out with me on Saturday because her parents were celebrating their twentieth wedding anniversary and were going away for the weekend with the whole family. Why couldn’t they have been married a week later? A week later when it was more convenient for me?

  To make matters worse, I rang Christian to see if he would go out and then let me stay the night at his place after. He said yes at first, but then, a couple of days later, he suddenly cancelled on me. It was something to do with a last minute job that paid well¸ and he needed the money.

  I was thinking I may as well give in to Hunter, but then something made me change my mind.

  I was on my way home and felt like I was being followed again. It freaked me the hell out, and I didn’t know who else to call.

  Sighing, I gave into the fact I had no one else and dialled Hunter’s number. I really wished I hadn’t. I heard a girl giggling straight away.

  “AJ?”

  My fear quickly turned to anger. “AJ?” he asked again, but I didn’t want to hear anymore. I was done.

  Instead, I kept hold of the anger, and that was what drove me all the way home. Once I was there, I looked both ways before unlocking the gate. I knew no one would be at home as it was close to four, and no one would be back until at least six.

  I walked in, quickly shut the gate behind myself, and made my way to the door. Once there, I opened it and immediately slid down once it was shut.

  Fuck! I was sick of this. Sick of feeling used. Sick of feeling scared, and sick of feeling anything but hatred for that damn man!

  Knowing that I didn’t want to feel like this anymore, I quickly got myself up. The pain on my stomach was nowhere near as bad as it had been a few days earlier. It was Friday, and I groaned, knowing all too well what that meant.

  The party.

  The endless act that my mother would put on.

  The act that I would have to put on while knowing I was living with two men... both of whom I had screwed.

  God, this was hell.

  Feeling sweaty, I decided to go for a swim. I was feeling too uptight and needed a distraction to calm me down.

  After dropping my bag in my bedroom, I changed and walked downstairs towards the pool area.

  I dove in, feeling the cool water on my skin. I loved these times. At least these moments were mine, and no one could take that from me. Swimming was the one thing I could do to escape my troubles. I would just get lost in the water and let it take my anxieties away.

  I swam a few good lengths before movement caught my attention. Hunter was standing at the side of the pool, staring at me.

  “Why did you call me?”

  I looked around, but couldn’t see anyone with him. “Why are you here? I thought you were entertaining someone.” My sarcasm wasn’t lost on him.

  Hunter smiled. “So that’s why you hung up? You were jealous.”

  “No, I fucking well wasn’t.” God, yes I was.

  His smiled faded. “You scared the living shit out of me, AJ. Why didn’t you return my calls? I was fucking frantic.”

  I swam to the edge and pulled myself out of the pool. “Why should you care?”

  Hunter’s eyes gazed down and immediately spotted my burn. I tried turning, but he grabbed my arm and spun me back around.

  Once he held me in place, he knelt down to inspect it. He trailed a finger lightly around it and instead of it making me feel bad, it made me want him even more.

  “This is not hot chocolate. It looks like a cigarette burn, but bigger.” He looked up. “Are you going to tell me who did this to you?”

  I sighed. “I did it. Okay? I was smoking a cigar in my room wanting to try it out, but I heard a noise outside. I panicked, dropped the cigar, and when I tried to pick it back up again, I burnt my stomach. I was lying down and it was probably a stupid thing to do lying down.” I rolled my eyes, trying to make it seem unmentionable.

  Hunter scanned me for a moment, and I knew he didn’t really believe me. I thought he was going to say something, but instead he surprised me by tenderly kissing my burn.

  I couldn’t help it. I moaned. When Hunter saw my reaction, he stood up and came closer to me.

  I stepped back, remembering whom he had just been with. “Don’t. You can’t think you can come home after you’ve just been with another woman. That shit’s fucked up. I have more self-respect for myself than that.”

  Hunter smiled. “That person you heard giggling was my friend’s girlfriend, Daisy.”

  I stood there and crossed my arms. That just made his smile wider. “You don’t believe me? I’ll give him a call and you can chat with him. He’ll tell you I’ve just left after some crazed, lunatic of a woman rang me up and worried me sick.” He put his hand in his pocket and pulled his phone out.

  I rushed forward, unable to comprehend what was going on. I was so confused. “Don’t,” I said, placing my hand on his arm. He looked me in the eye, and right there, I saw it. Those eyes that had captured me since the moment I felt him moving inside of me. The first moment in my life when I felt that two souls were coming together. He hadn’t just fucked me that night—he had made love to me. That was the reason I couldn’t seem to get him out of my head.

  “You were worried about me?”

  Hunter’s eyes widened like I had just made him realise something. “Of course I was. You have some fucked-up lunatic following you around like a lovesick puppy.”

  I smiled. “Robert’s not that bad.”

  Hunter’s mouth took a hard line. “Please don’t say his name in front of me.”

  I wanted to shout, “Why?” but those eyes were still boring into me, daring me to take action. Without thinking, I pulled his head up to my lips. He stiffened, making me pull away, but the moment I did, he captured my lips again in a ferocious kiss. He pulled me closer, making me worry about his expensive clothes.

  “Your clothes,” I protested.

  “Fuck the clothes,” he breathed into my mouth. He caught my lips again, and this time, he pushed his tongue into my mouth.

  I was lost. I was completely taken over—just like I knew would happen. It didn’t take much; it never did with him. I remembered those sweet kisses. I remembered the feel of his warm tongue in my mouth, the minty scent of his breath, and the feel of his teeth grazing against my lips.

  “I don’t think I can wait.”

  I moaned when he placed his hands in my wet hair. I was desperate for those lips on mine again. “I don’t think I can either.”

  Hunter suddenly broke away, penetrating me with the heat in those blazing green eyes. “Come with me.” He held his hand out.

  Under normal circumstances, I would have swatted his hands away and told the overbearing, domineering oaf where to stick his demands.

  The problem? I was overcome with so much lust that I didn’t give a flying fuck.

  The moment I placed my hand in his, Hunter pulled me with him towards the house. I grabbed my towel along the way and kept up his speedy pace. I knew he was as desperate as I. The hooded look in his eyes told me as much.

  Once he got me up the stairs, he pulled me into his room and slammed the door behind us. His lips were back on mine, fisting his hand inside my hair. “Fuck, AJ, why did you keep me waiting? Why can’t I stop thinking about sinking my cock inside you?”

  Shit. My head swam with every conceivable emotion I could think of. I knew Hunter was wrong for me, but every cell in my body screamed at me to have this moment with him. It screamed at me to let him take it. Take it all, Hunter. Have your fucking fill!

  As I
yanked him to me, Hunter trailed his hand from my hair down to my left breast. My nipples were already hard and erect for him. It was almost impossible to bear. I needed him to touch me as much as I needed my next breath.

  As he swiped his finger over my nipple, I gasped, making him growl. He pushed himself into me, and I felt how hard he was. I wanted to touch him. I had this dying urge to get on my knees and suck him dry.

  Moving my hands around his pecs, I slid down them and gripped his waist to me. Hunter moaned into my mouth, and I swear I almost came from that alone.

  Needing more, I travelled further down until I reached his erect cock and squeezed him. “Fuck, AJ. I need to feel you.”

  Feeling so overwhelmed, the only answer I could give him was, “Yes.”

  I was breathless, so breathless. Grabbing my wrist, Hunter stopped me from rubbing my hand on him. “Not yet, AJ. I need to make sure you’re ready first.”

  “But—”

  He placed a finger on my lips. “I want to feel you come on my fingers. Do you know how fucking sexy it is to feel your tight pussy convulsing around them? I swear I could bust a nut just from that alone.”

  I didn’t argue. By that point, I didn’t want to argue. I wanted him to do whatever the hell he wanted to do to me.

  Fuck the consequences.

  Hunter pulled his finger away and lowered it towards my bikini bottoms. Once there, he placed his hand inside and parted my wet folds.

  “So. Fucking. Wet,” he groaned. “After you come on my fingers, you’re going to do it again around my cock. You got that?”

  My knees buckled as he moved his finger across my clit. Hunter grabbed me and held me in place. “AJ?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I got it. Just make me come for fuck’s sake.”

  Hunter laughed in my ear. “So feisty, AJ.”

  I couldn’t retort. Right then, I couldn’t say anything. Hunter’s fingers were delicately and slowly manoeuvring their way over my clit. It was agonisingly slow, but so good at the same time; I thought I was going to come on the spot.

  Knowing I must have been close, Hunter pushed his finger inside, and soon, one finger became two as he thrust them in and out of me. They were so powerful and so strong. He was practically banging me against the door.

  I was close. So close, I could almost see it. But then my world caved in.

  “Hunter... Ayden... Are you home?”

  “Shit!” I cursed, knowing that Mason and my mum were home.

  “Shh,” Hunter murmured, carrying on.

  “You can’t keep... Oh, God!” I cried as his fingers found that spot that would render me useless. I was going to blow, and right at that moment, my mum and his dad were downstairs.

  “Hunter, we can’t... Oh, fuck!” He kept up the momentum, torturing my little nub and pushing his fingers inside of me.

  “Hunter?!” I heard Mason shout. “I know you’re here, because your car’s outside.”

  Hunter didn’t stop. Instead, he just pushed me faster and faster until I knew I was going to crash over the edge.

  “Come for me,” he growled in my ear.

  So I did. I came, screaming inside Hunter’s hand as he carried on until I couldn’t take anymore.

  “Fuck me, that was sexy. I think I came in my pants a little.”

  My eyes widened, looking down at him before meeting his amused face. “I’m not that much of a lightweight.”

  A knock sounded at the door. “Hunter, are you in there?”

  My eyes widened again, as Hunter pulled me from the door. “Yeah, Dad. Hold up a sec. I was just taking a shower.”

  Hunter pulled the balcony door aside and gently pushed me out onto the landing. He closed it behind him, and I saw him quickly undress, using my towel to hide himself.

  With my body still quivering, I walked over to the sun lounger and laid myself down. I needed a moment to catch my breath after that fantastic orgasm.

  I wasn’t sure how long I was lying there, but by the time Hunter came outside, I was only just calming myself down. “I can’t believe you did that,” I said without turning.

  I looked up, squinting in the sun, and I saw him in just his swimming trunks. My God, he was hot.

  He smiled cheekily at me. “That was one of the best experiences of my life. Fuck me, that was hot.”

  I chuckled. “Not to mention dangerous. You shouldn’t have done that, Hunter. What if he had come up the stairs earlier?”

  He kept his smile. “Then, he would have caught quite the show.”

  I swatted at him. “Shut up!”

  He laughed, but tugged at my arm. “Are you coming for a swim? It will be our last chance before getting ready for the party.”

  I sat up, feeling bad for him. “What about you?”

  He frowned. “What about me?”

  I pointed to his semi-hard cock. “Doesn’t he need my help?”

  He feigned a gasp. “You want to help me when our parents are in the house?”

  I started laughing. “Don’t take the micky out of me, sunshine. I’m only trying to be nice.”

  Hunter bent down beside me, inches away from my mouth. “I know you are, AJ, but believe me when I say that by this time tomorrow, you will have more than paid your debt.” He kissed me lightly on the lips before venturing back into his bedroom.

  It was only once he left that I caught myself smiling like a lovesick idiot. Oh no you don’t, Ayden. You are so not falling for this guy. You hardly know him, and the parts you do know about him should make you know to stay away!

  Why couldn’t life be simple? If Hunter hadn’t come back into my life, then I probably would have moved on by now.

  Ha! Who was I kidding? Hunter was the best sex I had ever had. I had been with five people all together, but Hunter, hands down, was the best. The only other person who came close was his dad, but I was a virgin before I had slept with him, so my nerves had gotten the better of me.

  Shit, I couldn’t be thinking about both Hunter and Mason in the same context. The whole thing was sick. If they both knew, I have no doubt that they would be disgusted with me.

  As I tried to wipe all thoughts of both of them away, Hunter appeared by the pool. He glanced up, waved at me with a wink, and I watched as his muscles flexed before diving in the pool.

  I sighed. Yeah, I really did have it bad.

  Without wanting to, I lay on the sun lounger watching him for a full half hour before I told myself off and got my arse up to get ready. No doubt my mother would be running around like a headless chicken downstairs and would need some help.

  Sighing, I got up, and Hunter noticed it immediately. He looked at me, giving me the thumbs up sign. I gestured one right back at him and walked through his bedroom to get to mine. I picked up my towel and walked out. Straight away, I banged into Mason’s chest.

  He looked confused. “Hey, Ayden.”

  Remembering my scar, I pulled my towel up over my stomach to hide it. “Hi.”

  “What were you doing in Hunter’s room?”

  Oh shit.

  “Erm,” I stuttered, “I needed a towel, and Hunter said I could take one from his room.”

  Phew, that should get me out of it.

  Mason smiled, and I knew that he must have bought it. “Oh, okay. Been sunbathing?” He looked over my breasts, and I immediately saw Mason’s intense gaze. It made my body react.

  Shit, I couldn’t be doing this. Suddenly, I noticed my nipples were rock hard.

  Oh, fuck.

  Mason’s eyes widened a little, so I knew I needed to distract him. “Yes, but I’m all hot now. I need to shower, so I can get ready for the party.”

  He finally brought his gaze up to meet my eyes. “Oh yes, of course. The party. I won’t keep you then.” After clearing his throat, he sauntered off as quickly as he could.

  That was a little awkward to say the least. Surely he didn’t still feel attracted to me? That would be a tad fucked up. At least he knew his boundaries—unlike some of the men my mo
ther had brought around here over the years. One of them even made a pass at me on my fourteenth birthday. Yeah, that was my life. Sick fuckers.

  Groaning at the thought of this no doubt lavish party, I went in search of my shower. The moment the cool water hit me was a welcome one.

  Once dried, I took my time blow-drying my hair and applying my make-up. I still had the towel wrapped around me as I flipped through the dresses in my wardrobe. I had hundreds in there—most of which I never wore. I wondered how many women could say the same thing.

  Smiling, I eventually picked out a one shoulder, pleated ivory dress. It was one of my favourites as it looked both sophisticated and sexy. I wanted to feel both right now... despite the fact that I knew my mother wouldn’t approve. She never liked me taking centre stage, but sometimes I felt like I needed a little boost. After the shit week I had had, I really needed this.

  Once I had my glad-rags on, I took a last look in the mirror and walked out my door.

  “Fuck me! Are you trying to kill me tonight?”

  Jumping, I looked across at Hunter walking out of his room at the same time. My breath immediately caught when I saw what he was wearing. He wore a loose-fitting, white, short-sleeved shirt and beige, khaki trousers. His mass of black hair was slicked back, making the colour of his green eyes stand out even more. He was staring with an intense heat that made my insides turn to jelly. He was simply beautiful.

  He took one look from my eyes down to my chest and then my legs. He took his time roaming them all over me. “Your legs go on for miles, AJ. I can’t wait to have them wrapped— Dad, hi!”

  I jumped, turning again when I saw Mason coming up the stairs. He looked at Hunter and then at me. His eyes travelled swiftly over me before he smiled. “Ayden, you look beautiful.”

  I smiled, feeling my heart beat a million miles an hour. How much of that conversation did he hear?

  “Hunter, I need to speak with you a moment.”

  Oh shit. He didn’t look happy. I turned to Hunter and gave him a sympathetic smile as Mason led him back into his room. I wanted to listen, but I knew it would be wrong of me. Instead, I turned on my heels and started walking downstairs.