by Caz May
He dumps the bag on the floor and when he speaks my stomach fills with butterflies, ”This is your room. As long as you need it to be."
Your room.
Why do those words hit me like a tonne of bricks?
Smiling in thanks at him doesn't seem like enough so instead I step closer to him and wrap my arms around his back.
He embraces me back, pulling my body closer to his and I revel in the way his arms around me feel warm and safe.
"Aww Savannah I..." he mutters before freeing me from his arms.
The tension between us is intense. In his dark blue, brown tinted eyes lust is evident.
He hesitates for a moment, like he’s maybe going to cut the tension by kissing me, but instead he turns to leave the room, leaving me feeling a little taken aback.
"I'll leave you to freshen up. Bathroom is back down the hall on the right."
I exhale a deep breath, closing the door behind him. Bending down to pick up the bag of clothes I realise Blitz is still in the room.
"Hey Blitz, I'm Savannah,” I say out loud, ruffling the fur of his head.
He barks in greeting, making me laugh.
Hunter must have heard him bark as his voice calling Blitz's name is ringing down the hallway.
I sneakily open the door and Blitz slips out, scooting down the hallway.
I’m hoping to slip into the bathroom but find myself stopping in the hallway outside Hunters room firstly and then the other spare room.
It isn't that I want to remember that night but just being there means I can't block it out anymore.
Reality hits me again however when Blitz comes skidding around the corner with a shoe in his mouth, Hunter close behind chasing him.
Blitz is obviously thinking it’s game when it clearly isn't a game, as Hunter looks furious but I laugh anyway.
Blitz stops at my feet, dropping the shoe.
Picking it up I hand it to Hunter.
“Thanks," is all he says, with a slight smile on his face.
I find the words of reply are stuck in my throat and it frustrates me as I know I'll have to talk sometime but I’m just not ready to.
Hunter is looking at me like he’s expecting a reply that I don't have.
We are so close to each other again that I could hug him again, could kiss him in reply but instead I brush against him as I edge away to head to the bathroom.
My movement isn't quite quick enough though as he pulls my body towards his and lightly touches my cheek, mumbling, "Savannah you have no idea what you do to me, I want to k.."
I panic at his words, feeling my body tense up.
He’s going to say he wants to kiss me.
But I can’t do that can I?
I can't kiss a stranger.
Mustering as much strength as I can manage I free myself from his embrace and stumble back to the guest room, slamming the door behind me.
(18) Hunter
Watching Savannah walk away from me down the hallway, close to tears from my actions makes me feel absolutely wretched.
The mystery of her past is really getting to me and it hurts my heart to see her upset.
It must have been horrible for her to have to escape from and I’m kicking myself for even thinking about kissing her, let alone actually almost telling her my intention of wanting to kiss her.
The need to be with her is becoming consuming.
There isn’t really a minute that goes by that I’m not thinking about her and now having her in my house is going to make the need, the want to be with her even harder to resist.
I’m basically clueless as to whether she’s feeling the same about me and her not speaking to me doesn't make it any easier, as it’s not like I can just ask her.
After she'd slammed the door of the bedroom behind her, Blitz had retreated to his bed in the kitchen.
Going to lay in my own bed, I try closing my eyes to try to sleep, but the wretched feeling won't leave me.
My mind keeps thinking of Savannah lying in the hospital alone and now she’s in my guest room, alone.
I'm sure she’s scared, worried what might happen if she opens up to me but I know that if I was in her situation though I wouldn't want to be alone.
I’d not undressed, still in my jeans and flannel shirt, so sliding out of bed I walk down the hall to the guest room. I knock, even though I know she won't answer anyway, a habit of coming to a closed door.
Her sobbing tells me she’s still awake.
Slowly opening the door, I find her curled up, clutching the bed covers and sobbing into the pillow. Looking at her breaks my heart.
She’s too beautiful to be feeling so wretched.
Kneeling by the bed next to her I wipe the tears from her cheek.
"Savannah, don't cry beautiful. I'm sorry if I upset you."
She shakes her head.
"Please speak to me Savannah."
Again she shakes her head, and takes a sharp breath in through her sobbing.
"Savannah I want to protect you, please."
This time her response is different.
Her hand appears from under the covers, pulling the blanket and doona back before grabbing my hand in hers. It sends a rush of warmth coursing through my body.
"You want me to lay down with you?” I ask, nodding my head a little.
She nods smiling, as I walk around to the other side of the bed to slide in next to her.
Placing a hand across her stomach, hoping she won’t flinch or pull away, I pull her body closer to mine. Her breathing is heavy and laboured, as though she has every worry in the world plaguing her.
It feels amazing to have her so close, but I have to control myself, knowing it isn't the time to make a move, no matter how much I want to.
I'd already moved too fast for her.
All I can do is be content with just having her close and hold onto the hope that she will open up to me soon.
She needs to trust me, trust that I’m not going to hurt her, like she’d been hurt in the past.
Placing a soft kiss on her hair I close my eyes, trying to slip into sleep. But sleep never seems to come in this bed for some unbeknown reason, so behind my closed eyes I allow my mind to focus on trying to piece together what I knew about her so far.
It all pointed to her escaping from something or someone, a past that makes her withdraw and has left physical scars evident on her body.
I recall Addison telling me she was pregnant and had miscarried and I can't help but wonder if she'd known about the baby before she escaped.
It’s all so mixed up.
I just want answers.
I want to know her secrets.
She murmurs softly, as though she’s trying to say something, but looking down at her in my arms I see her eyes are tightly shut in sleep.
Placing another kiss on her head I take my arm away from her side gently and climb out of the bed, pulling the covers back over her.
She is absolutely beautiful.
Leaving the room I leave the door open, tip toeing down the hallway to grab my phone from the kitchen.
I'd had enough of wondering, I want some answers about her and about her past and there is only one person who can possibly give me some answers, so I quickly dial his number.
I barely say hello when he answers, “Hi…any updates Quent?"
"Well, hello to you to Hunter and no I don't have any updates,” he replies with a hint of laughter in his tone.
"Oh, so nothing?” I ask, a little deflated.
"No nothing Hunter. Why are you so keen about this case?” he asks, his tone laced with concern.
"She's staying with me Quent,” I admit worried about what my younger brother is going to think.
“Oh,” he says shocked
"Yeah and I kinda fucked up."
"What do ya mean?"
"I nearly kissed her Quent. She panicked and ran to the guest room."
"Seriously Hunter."
"I know Quent, but I don't kn
ow, I..."
"Hunter I don't know what to say, but maybe take it slow or you know leave her be,” he says sounding wiser than his twenty-six years.
"I can't Quentin. I think i'm falling for her,” I admit, surprising even myself.
"Hunter come on bro, thats crazy. She hasn't even spoken a word to you."
I sigh, hating to admit to myself that my younger brother is right.
How can I be falling in love with someone I’ve never spoken to?
"Yeah I guess. Um Quent?”
"Yeah Hunter?"
"Could you investigate the car owner more? I think he might be her husband."
"Yeah sure Hunter, but just lay low bro ok? Give her some space yeah?"
"I will Quent and thanks."
"No worries bro. Goodnight."
After hanging up I cross the kitchen plugging my phone in to charge.
Blitz had woken up when he heard me talking and he gives me one of his signature looks of disgust, like he’d understood what I was saying to Quentin.
"Don't judge me Blitz,” I spit at him, feeling a little silly to be angry at my dog.
He lets out a grunt in response closing his eyes when I pat his head before heading back to my room.
It’s another night that sleep isn’t going to come easy, not from worry about the farm, but from thinking about Savannah and how she’s making her way into my heart.
(19) Savannah
Waking up in Hunter’s farmhouse is so much more pleasant than the hospital.
Sunlight shines through the windows, warming my body and making me feel so alive.
I feel more at home than I have in a long time, and that thought truly scares me.
I’d thought my home was with Dante, but what he put me through, the scars he left on my body and heart tore me apart and anywhere with him was hell, not a place to call home.
Rubbing my eyes from sleep, I look around the room, noticing the door is ajar. I can't help but smile thinking about Hunter coming in last night to comfort me.
It’s blindly obvious that he wants me, from the way he looks at me lustfully, almost longingly. When he lay behind me last night, his body also betrayed him holding me so close.
He wanted to kiss me, I know that, and a part of me wants to kiss him too.
But I can’t do that. I can’t kiss someone who is practically a stranger.
Cheating on Dante, after what he'd done shouldn't be an issue but it is.
He’s still my husband and I'd made vows to love him for better or worse.
This is surely worse, but I’d still made the vows and even though i’d left him behind in Adelaide, my heart is still tangled up with feelings for him.
Banging sounds come drifting down the hallway from the kitchen, signalling that Hunter must be up making breakfast.
Stretching my arms above my head to wake up and embrace the morning I put my feet tentatively on the floorboards and prepare to face him.
He’s being truly kind to me and I feel underserving.
There has be some way to repay him for all his kindness, the most amazing thing being open to letting me into his home without knowing me at all.
But I want to find a way to repay him that isn't physical, as I’m not prepared to let him or anyone near me in that way.
Out in the kitchen, his back is turned as he cooks bacon and eggs on the stove.
He’s humming a song I’m not familiar with and his back is bare, his only clothes are jeans that hang low on his hips.
He isn't wearing a belt like usual and unintentionally I let out a ‘ahem' to clear my throat, but instead alert him to my presence in the room.
Turning and seeing me, a smile spreads across his face and his dimples nudge the corners of his mouth.
I gulp, my eyes not able to focus on his face, as him turning towards me shirtless bares his muscular chest.
God, he’s gorgeous.
Staring at him, taking in his amazing body, muscular, peppered with dark brown hair makes me breathless. Stifling a whimper I shake the thought away of running my hands across his chest, feeling the muscle beneath my fingers, getting them tangled in the brown hair.
I can't feel this for him, I don't know him but God do I want to.
Catching me staring he grins, waving the spatula in his hand, greeting me, "Good morning beautiful. Hungry?”
I manage to say "mmm", hoping he doesn't realise it isn't actually a response to his question, but a response to his glorious half naked body.
Turning back to the stove, he serves up a plate of bacon and eggs to me.
Could he get any more delicious?
He’s gorgeous and cooks mean bacon and eggs, like a true domestic well raised gentlemen.
Shovelling a forkful into my mouth, I let it linger in my mouth, chewing slowly before swallowing it down hard and licking my lips.
He’s standing next to me, watching me eat, so close I could reach out to touch him.
My eyes dart up to look at him when he asks, "Tastes good huh?"
“Does it ever?” I moan.
Hospital food really did taste like cardboard.
Again I lick my lips, shovelling more food into my mouth.
Hunter has not moved away from the table and is contentedly watching me with a devilish grin on his face.
Having him so close, watching me eat and grinning at me like a cheshire cat is making me feel things I shouldn't.
Needing to put some distance between us, I press a hand against his bare chest to try and push him away, which backfires.
He lets out a deep murmur.
Oh God, that was so hot.
In response I pull my hand back like it’s on fire.
The tension between us is electric again, the feeling of warmth rushing through me from that single touch on his bare skin.
I want him but it’s wrong, isn't it?
Pushing my chair back from the table, I quickly get to my feet, wanting to run straight out of the room, away from him, but after standing up my feet will not move.
He touches my arm gently and the same warmth from before runs through my body.
There are words in my mind that I want to say, but I keep my lips tightly closed as I know once I speak, I won't stop and I can't begin to tell him, not yet.
That lustful longing look is still in his eyes, and it both excites and scares me, worried about what his next move is going to be.
Is he going to try and kiss me again? Do I want him to kiss me?
I don't want to know the answer to that question, so instead I pull him to me in a hug, finding my body melting against him.
I let out a deep sigh and revel in how his arms around me feel safe.
His kiss on my hair is soft and sends my mind again to wondering what kissing him would be like.
I have to stop thinking about kissing him though.
Pulling back from him, I feel the heat rising in my cheeks, just from thinking about kissing him.
I know that if I don't move, he will kiss me and as much as my body wants it, my heart isn't ready to take that step with someone else, even after all the hurt I’ve experienced.
~ ~
The days in the farmhouse have passed by in a blur and avoiding Hunter after our second almost kiss was easy enough.
Most mornings he was gone before I got up and left me be when he arrived back, as I was often engulfed in a book from the expansive bookshelf in his barely used study.
Some days Blitz went out with him and other days he was left at the house with me.
Those days were my favourite as being alone with a dog, having an animal to confide in had always brought me comfort.
It was the fact you could pour your heart out to them and they didn't talk back, content just to listen cocking an ear to listen as you ruffled their fur.
Blitz is sitting beside me now, watching me as I sip my coffee, waiting to see if I’m going to give him any of the biscuit I’m munching on too.
He can sense my unease too and
I find myself talking to him again.
“I'm scared Blitz,” I declare looking down at him next to me.
He cocks his head at me, whimpering in response, "Yeah, scared he's going to find me."
His response this time is a bark, "And scared I'm falling too."
He knows who I mean I’m falling for, a hundred percent knows I’m talking about his gorgeous owner. He puts his paw on my knee, showing me his approval of how I’m possibly feeling about Hunter.
I’m already in love with Blitz though and handing him the rest of my biscuit I whisper to him, "I've already fallen for you Blitz."
He devours the biscuit in one swift bite and barks in agreement.
My conversation with Blitz is cut short though when Hunter saunters onto the verandah, looking gorgeous as all hell in dark jeans, that are sitting low on his hips. If that’s not enough to make my libido spike, it’s paired with a flannel shirt unbuttoned to show just a peek of his muscular chest that’s dotted with dark brown hair. I gulp down hard, practically overheating from how gorgeous he is.
Blitz runs straight to him, jumping up his legs to excitedly greet him.
"Hey buddy, how was your day?" he asks him, ruffling the fur on his head.
Blitz barks excitedly, before running back to me and sitting at my feet.
"You like Savannah buddy, huh?"
Blitz puts his paw on my knee again.
Hunter suppresses a laugh at Blitz’s behaviour, instead lifts his akubra off his head and runs a hand through his luscious chocolate hair.
He looks incredibly sexy doing that and I find my thoughts wandering to wanting to run my own hands through it.
Stop it Savannah, seriously, you can’t think such things
Smiling at me a little cheekily, he walks inside the farmhouse.
I can hear his footsteps stop in the hallway, and his loud voicing of the word 'Gosh' which shows his approval of what I'd been up to the last couple of days whilst he’d not been home.