The Hunter Brothers Complete Box Set

by Parker, M. S.

  What sort of strange alternate universe was this? Because that was the only rational explanation that existed for what Jax was telling me. Granted, he’d been gone over that woman before I left Boston, but marriage?

  “Congratulations.”

  I could almost feel him smile. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  I doubted that.

  “It was fast, I know,” he continued. “But Syll and I…I’ve never met anyone like her. She just gets me, and she’s not afraid to call me on my shit. Have you ever met someone you just clicked with? Someone who you felt so in sync with that the idea of continuing your existence without her just doesn’t seem possible?”

  Shit.

  I had.

  Twenty

  Addison

  I trusted Cai with my life, quite literally, as it turned out. I hadn’t even thought twice when he told me that he had a potential cure for the infection. I volunteered to be the test subject, and I hadn’t let him see for one second how scared I was.

  By Monday night, the blood tests showed that the antibiotic cocktail Cai had given me was doing exactly what he’d hoped, and then it was given to the others. I didn’t know any of that, though, because I’d fallen asleep shortly after he’d come to see me, and I didn’t wake up until Tuesday morning.

  Cai was sitting in the chair next to my bed when I opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was how much easier it was to breathe. The second thing was that Cai wasn’t wearing his hazmat suit.

  “Cai, what are you–?”

  He held up a hand and smiled, his expression weary. “You’re not contagious.”

  “I’m not?” I looked down at my arm where the intravenous tubing continued to pump in what I assumed was more of the cocktail.

  “Have you ever heard of tularemia?”

  I glared at him. “You’re seriously giving me a pop quiz?”

  He chuckled. “It’s an infection that is contracted in different ways and has various manifestations.”

  “Ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, difficulty breathing, coughing.” I listed off several of the symptoms.

  Cai nodded. “When you stepped on that pile of detritus out at the cabin shed, it released the organisms in aerosol form. That’s what you breathed in when Pansy pulled out your air hose.”

  “That’s how the kids got it too. They were in the cabin.”

  “Some of it got on their clothes,” he continued the explanation. “When Nurse Diaz packed up their things, she inhaled the same thing you did, maybe a little less.”

  “And the others?” I asked.

  “The men came in direct contact with the contaminated animal or animals.”

  “And the second wave of patients encountered the animal or animals after the hunters brought them home,” I finished.

  “Exactly. Once I was able to pinpoint how Nurse Diaz was infected, everything fell into place.”

  “Does that mean everyone else is okay?” I glanced toward the curtains pulled around the other beds.

  “They will be,” Cai said. “You were the last one infected, so it worked faster on you than it will on them.”

  “Does that mean we can go home?”

  He gave me a sorry look. “Not yet. You still must go through another round of bloodwork, so we can make sure the infection is completely gone. The rest of the team is taking care of the cabin and the shed, then they’ll return to Atlanta. I’ll be staying here until you’re discharged sometime tomorrow.”

  He was staying here with me?

  I didn’t want to read too much into it, but something told me that he wouldn’t have been staying with any of the other doctors. I wasn’t sure that meant anything more than us being friends, but it was something.

  * * *

  I was beyond ready to get out of the hospital. I’d never been a fan of being a patient, but this was worse. I had nothing to keep me busy, and I kept feeling like I should be up working even though Cai kept reassuring me that there wasn’t anything for me to do.

  We’d spent most of yesterday talking. I’d dozed off a time or two, but he’d always been there when I woke up, reading a book or making notes. It was odd, I knew, for someone I barely knew to make me feel as safe as he did, but it shouldn’t have surprised me. After all, I’d felt safe with him at the club when I hadn’t even known it was him.

  “Are you ready to get out of here?” Cai said as he came into the room. “I have your test results, and you’re all clear.”

  “That’s great.” I tried not to let my relief leak into my voice.

  “You’re going to have to take some time off.”

  I stared at him, thrown by the sudden change of topic. “What was that?”

  “It’s part of your contract,” he said. “I’m guessing that means you haven’t read it since you remember everything you read.”

  “Are you purposefully being a pain in my ass?” I immediately clapped my hands over my mouth. “I am so sorry.”

  He laughed. “It’s all right. I wasn’t exactly explaining things well.”

  “No, you weren’t.”

  “Let me try that again.” He leaned against the wall. “If we’re ever exposed to anything while in the field, we’re required to take a few days off, the number to be determined by the supervisor.”

  “You’re the supervisor,” I pointed out.

  “I am,” he agreed. “And you’re going to take the rest of the week off.”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Yes,” he insisted. “And for today, at least, I’m going to make sure that you rest. I’ve already had our luggage taken to the hotel.”

  “The hotel?” I echoed.

  “The plane is currently in use, so we can either wait here or drive back to Atlanta. I don’t know about you, but I don’t much feel like renting a car and driving for twelve hours.”

  “You have a point.”

  His expression grew serious. “Let’s go back to the hotel, get real showers, sleep in real beds, have real food. Then, tomorrow, we can talk about everything else.”

  “I do like the idea of a shower.”

  * * *

  The room was nice enough, but I barely saw any of it. I was just happy to be out of the hospital. No beeping monitors. No sharp smell of disinfectants. No murmur of people talking, or the tossing and turning of other patients. But as much as I liked the idea of not being around other people, I didn’t want to be alone right now. I’d think too much.

  “I’ll leave you to it,” Cai said as he set my bag down next to the dresser.

  “Cai?” I didn’t look at him, knowing I wouldn’t have the strength to say what I wanted if I faced him. “Will you stay? Please.”

  “Go get cleaned up,” he said quietly. “I’ll be here when you get out.”

  I could feel him watching me as I walked over to the bathroom, but neither of us said anything. I gathered the items I needed for my shower, then closed myself in the bathroom. Despite all the sleep I had gotten over the last couple days, I was exhausted, and I let my brain float as I went through the motions of getting ready.

  I turned the heat up until steam filled the room, and then stepped under the spray. I closed my eyes and let all the filth – real and mental – slough off. Shampooing my hair, washing, shaving, all of it was done on automatic pilot. I knew I’d eventually have to truly deal with what happened to me, how much danger I’d been in, but I wouldn’t do that today. And I wouldn’t deal with the still-present questions about my feelings toward Cai Hunter either.

  Not today.

  I felt more human as I toweled off, more than I had since I’d gone to that cabin. My clothes had been cleaned, but I didn’t put them on, needing something more comfortable. I pulled on one of the hotel robes, then stepped out into the room.

  Cai was sitting in the chair across from the bed, his gaze immediately settling on me. His eyes were darker than usual, tension radiating off him. I’d seen that look before, though I hadn’t recognized him at the time
.

  How had I not known it was this man behind that mask?

  Need made my stomach clench painfully, but it wasn’t hunger for food that had me walking across the room. Any thought or logic that had made it through my shower disappeared, leaving behind a primal desire I was quickly learning only one thing could satisfy.

  He watched me as I stopped directly in front of him, his fingers digging into the arms of the chair as I bent down and pressed my lips to his.

  Twenty-One

  Cai

  I told myself that when I booked the rooms here, this had been the last thing on my mind, but a part of me knew that wasn’t entirely true. From the moment I realized that she was the woman behind the mask, having her again had been on my mind. Honestly, that thought had been lurking ever since that night, even before I’d known who she was.

  There were a thousand different reasons why this was beyond a bad idea, but only one reason why I wasn’t going to stop unless she asked me to – I needed to have her again.

  She dug her fingers into my hair, and I grabbed her hips, pulling her down on my lap. I kept one hand on the small of her back and moved the other up to tangle in her wet hair. I swept my tongue between her lips, exploring her mint-flavored mouth. She moaned, squirming on my lap until my cock pressed painfully against my zipper.

  It would be too easy to do this right here and now. I wasn’t wearing anything under my jeans, and I doubted she was wearing anything under that hotel robe, leaving a button and zipper the only things preventing me from being inside her. Skin to skin, inside that burning, molten heat. I’d never been tempted to forgo condoms until this moment. The worst part was, it wasn’t logic or concern that kept me from doing just that. I just wanted to take my time.

  I pulled on her hair, baring her neck so I could kiss and lick every inch. My free hand roamed now, exploring the firm curve of her backside before moving to her long, amazing legs. My fingers crept under the bottom of the robe, and I waited to see if she’d ask me to stop. She didn’t, her hands dropping to my shoulders as she gave over control to me.

  “Cai,” she breathed my name as my hand moved up her thigh. “You feel so good.”

  I smiled against her throat, then pulled skin between my teeth, worrying at it until I left a small mark. She could cover it with make-up, but I’d know it was there. She’d know too.

  I moved my face lower, kissing across her collarbone, then down to the valley between her breasts. I pushed open the robe, my hand tightening on her upper thigh. Her breasts were perfect, from their size to the peach-colored nipples that hardened under my gaze.

  I took one in my mouth, sucking on it even as I flicked my tongue across the tip. I was rewarded with a gasp, and then she said my name again. And again. I’d loved hearing her calling me ‘Sir’ before, and I wanted to hear it again, but not right now. I rarely bedded women who knew my name, so to hear it as she writhed on my lap was sweeter than I’d have imagined it to be.

  “Please, Cai, I want…I want…please…” Her hands fisted in my shirt and she tugged at it. “Off.”

  I chuckled, letting the vibration move across her skin before releasing her nipple. “Patience. I intend to take my time with you.” I met her eyes, needing to know one thing before this went any further. “If that’s what you want.”

  She nodded, crushing her mouth against mine hard enough to bruise. The muscles in her slender body flexed as she wrapped her arms around me. I slid one arm under her ass and the other across her upper back. My tongue tangled with hers as I stood, taking her with me. She yelped in surprise, and I used the opportunity to take control of the kiss. I nipped at her bottom lip, then drew it into my mouth, sucking on it until I reached the bed.

  I sat her down on the edge and disentangled myself. Her hair hung in wet locks, twisted and tangled from my rough treatment. Her lips were slightly swollen, her breathing rapid. One of her breasts was still bare, and I reached out and ran my thumb across the nipple.

  “That night in the club,” I began, “that was the first time you’d had sex.”

  “Yes.”

  “Any kind of sex?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking how far I’d gone in the past?”

  I gave her a half-smile. “I suppose I am.”

  “Not this far.”

  Good enough answer.

  I pulled off my shirt, then went down on my knees in front of her. I kept my gaze on her face, wanting to see her expression as I became the first man to go down on her. I pulled her legs over my shoulders, tugging her closer. Her eyes widened as understanding dawned on her face. She didn’t say anything though, watching me as intently as I was watching her.

  Her eyelids fluttered as I ran my tongue across her sensitive skin. I teased her, tracing the outline of her lips before dipping the tip of my tongue between them. She moaned, shifting her hips, but I held her steady.

  “I’m in control,” I said quietly. “Do you remember what you’re supposed to say if you want me to stop?”

  She nodded. “Watson.”

  “Good. Now, let go and let me take care of you.”

  “I want to come.”

  I smiled and nipped the soft skin of her inner thigh. “I’m sure you do, but I get to decide when that happens. Understand?”

  She scowled. “You’re bossy.”

  “Yes, I am,” I admitted.

  “I could get myself off quicker.”

  I tightened my hold on her hips. I sincerely hoped she was kidding, because if I had to stop before I could make her climax from my mouth, I was going to hate myself for going into Dom mode. But I would hate myself just as much if I hadn’t let her see who I truly was.

  “Is that what you want?” I asked, careful to keep the desperation out of my voice. I would honor whatever decision she made, but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be disappointed if things ended here.

  She reached down and ran her thumb along my bottom lip. “No,” she said. “You’re in charge. I’ll be good…Sir.”

  Damn.

  I caught her hand and drew her thumb to my mouth. I licked it clean before releasing her. “Lie back and relax. Enjoy yourself, because I certainly intend to.”

  I lowered my head, resuming long, languid strokes that had her moaning my name. Her leg muscles flexed against my back, her heels thumping against my shoulder blades. I could feel the tension building in her body. I could make her come easily, pressure on her clit, a finger inside her, curling to find her g-spot, but I wanted to stretch this out, take her to the edge again and again, teach her how denial could give her the most explosive orgasm she’d ever had.

  I wanted to teach her about all my world had to offer. She would take to it, I knew she would. She’d be the sort of sub I’d always dreamed of having. Submissive, but with steel in her spine and fire in her eyes. Dominating a woman like that was a challenge that appealed to me on a deeper level than merely sexual.

  “Cai,” she whimpered. She caught some of my hair between her fingers, twisting and pulling until my eyes watered.

  “Yes?” I looked up, making no effort to hide my smug smile.

  “I’m so close.” She reached down between her legs, but before she could touch herself, I caught her wrist.

  “Who’s in charge?” I asked. I brought her hand to my mouth and kissed her palm.

  “You are.”

  “And who decides when you get to come?”

  “You do.”

  I stood, and she made a noise of protest. “Don’t worry. I intend to return to my task as soon as I’ve made an…adjustment.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  I reached down and pulled the belt of the robe free. The sides of the robe fell apart, revealing the pale skin of her flat stomach and a thin strip of auburn curls.

  “Hands.”

  Her eyes darted to the belt, then up to me. I waited, letting her decide without any persuasion, intentional or otherwise. When she held out her hands, a thrill went through me. No
matter how impulsive her kiss had been, or even if we were caught up in the moment, she’d made a choice to give me her power, and I wouldn’t take that lightly.

  I tied her wrists quickly, leaving enough give to prevent her skin from chaffing, but tight enough to restrict her movement.

  “Scoot back,” I said. I followed with the belt, indicating when she could stop. I pulled her arms up until they were over her head, and then wrapped the free end of the belt through the notch at the top of the headboard. I tied the knot tight, then stepped back to admire my work.

  Her body was stretched out, all long lines and lightly freckled flesh. The robe framed her nicely, somehow more alluring than if she’d been completely naked. I planned to have her that way at some point, but right now, this was perfect.

  I stripped off my pants and kicked them aside, pausing only to get out my wallet and retrieve my emergency condom. I tossed that on the bed and made a half-joking mental note to check the hotel gift shop for condoms.

  “Now, let’s see how close I can get you to the edge again.”

  She glared at me as I climbed onto the bed, but she didn’t try to keep me from settling down between her legs. I didn’t start slow this time, instead focusing immediately on her clit. Back and forth, circles, the alphabet. Every possible way to torture the sensitive bundle of nerves.

  And that was how I learned that Addison didn’t only babble when she was nervous. She did it when she was kept from coming, and it was as equally entertaining.

  “Please, Cai, I need to come. I’m going to explode. Everything’s on fire. Please, please. Sir. Let me come. I’ll do anything if you’ll just let me come. Anything. I promise. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. Please, Cai.”

  “Anything?” I echoed. “What do you mean by anything?”

  “I don’t know.” Her eyes were as wild and desperate as her voice. “Whatever you want me to do. I’ll suck your cock. I’ve never done it before, but I’m a quick learner. You’re too big for me to take all of it, but I’ll try. I’ll make it good for you, I promise.”