Hunter (HC Heroes Series Book 8)

by Donna Michaels

  “Hey, Christa,” he said, approaching the reception desk she was manning. “I didn’t expect to see your SUV out back on a Saturday.”

  Normally, she didn’t work on Saturdays. Not since Mel had hired Trudy and Jose last year. The pair usually worked evenings and Saturdays, but this week everyone was taking turns covering for Jose, who was out with appendicitis. Since Trudy was already scheduled to work today, and Mel was in New Orleans with Carter for a weekend getaway the couple had booked months ago, Christa took the shift today.

  Thankfully, the Daltons were able to watch Dillan, who, of course, was thrilled to get to spend an entire day at the ranch.

  “Hi, Hunter.” Her heart leapt in her chest at the sight of him.

  This was the first time they’d actually been face to face since the kiss that’d sent her into a tailspin…and she was still spinning.

  Dammit.

  “I’m filling in for Jose,” she said. “Why are you here?”

  “To see if I could see you, actually,” he replied, and her heart leapt a second time.

  Maybe Stef was right…

  She swallowed past her suddenly dry throat. “Me? Uh…what about?”

  Or maybe there was something wrong with his tattoo…

  “Mac just took on an emergency case for next week, so I need to reschedule my Tuesday session,” he answered.

  And her heart dropped back into place. “Ah…sure, no problem,” she said. “Any idea what day you want me to check?”

  “How about right now?” he asked, and the heart leaping commenced again. “Can you fit me in?”

  Her body immediately begged, “Oh, yes. Can we, please?”

  Hysterical laughter bubbled up her throat, so she cleared it.

  “I know it’s short notice, but since you’re here…” his voice trailed off as he watched her closely.

  “Actually, yes. I can.”

  Today was a quiet day. She’d only had two walk-ins, and Jose only had three scheduled appointments, two of which Christa already completed. Working on Hunter would pretty much fill in the gap between now and her last appointment.

  “My next session isn’t for almost three hours so I can get a lot of work done on you.”

  Her body rejoiced with a surge of heat.

  Too bad that hadn’t been the kind of work she’d meant or what he was interested in, if his cool expression was anything to go by.

  Apparently, she’d been contemplating about him for nothing the past two weeks.

  Oh well, at least she no longer had to make up her mind.

  Fighting back more stupid laughter, she activated the door alarm to buzz if someone entered, then got off the chair and motioned for him to follow her into her room.

  It boggled her mind how she could shut the door with any other client inside, but it never felt as closed-in and tight—like it had shrunk to the size of a closet—as it did whenever Hunter was in the room.

  She drew in a breath, knowing it was easier to inhale when she wasn’t looking at the guy…especially when he was removing his shirt, like he would be any second. And she was right in front of the hooks for discarded clothes. Not good. She moved out of his way and busied herself at the counter, finding her equilibrium as she removed his tiger sketch from a folder kept in her unfinished tattoo bin.

  “Where do you want me?” he asked from behind.

  Anywhere. Top. Bottom…

  Christa closed her eyes and inhaled slowly. This was ridiculous. She needed to get a grip. Her reactions to this guy were foolish and messing with her head and now her work.

  Unacceptable.

  She exhaled and opened her eyes before turning to face him. “Like the last time, but hang on, I have to fix the chair.”

  Her previous client had wanted a tribal tatt inked on the arm, so she’d needed to adjust it from normal chair position to what she called the chest rest position, which she liked to use for inking shoulders and upper backs.

  Excitement increased her pulse. She was looking forward to layering in more detail today. His tattoo was turning into one of her all-time favorites. When it was finally completed, she already knew it would deserve a special spot on her photo wall.

  Provided he allowed her to take a photo.

  Christa understood about keeping secrets and suspected he valued confidentiality involving his identity, but she refused to contemplate the reason.

  It was none of her business, because he was just business. Nothing more.

  No matter how great he kissed.

  Once she finished adjusting the chair he sat down, and she prepared his skin for tattooing.

  “I’ll be right back with the stencil,” she said afterward, then grabbed her design and headed to the thermal copier in the back office.

  When Mel had renovated the parlor with permanent rooms last fall, she’d also invested in equipment that produced stencils printed in stencil ink. It saved a lot of time having to sketch with tracing paper several times to get the correct orientation. It was basically a special photocopier that printed the design in stencil form, instantly.

  They all loved it.

  And two hours later, Christa loved how Hunter’s tattoo was taking shape.

  Three-quarters of the back work was finished now, and she was thrilled with the progress. And equally thrilled she’d managed to keep her attention on the job and not the sexy hunk straddling the chair. She only had to stop once, when she’d initially touched his skin, because her fingers shook.

  Even through her gloves, the man’s tempting body felt hot and electric current had shot up her arm. Their chemistry charged the air. But she’d pushed through and soon the thrill of the job and her creation took over, and in what seemed like minutes, she’d finished inking today’s stenciled area.

  “What do you think so far?” She gave him a hand mirror and motioned to the full length one on her photo wall.

  Christa watched as Hunter checked out her work, trying to gauge his reaction, but man, the guy was tough. He had the best straight face she’d ever seen. No way would she want to play poker with him.

  “Amazing as always,” he said, but it wasn’t so much his words, as the way he said them that had her stupid heart leaping again.

  But this time, she ignored it and went about her business as usual, treating his tattoo before covering it up, all while telling herself she’d imagined his tone and that he’d leaned closer and inhaled. That was crazy.

  He wouldn’t do that.

  Yeah. It was stupid and improbable since his eyes had been unreadable.

  Although, when she straightened and met his gaze it was very readable…and very heated.

  This time when her heart leapt, it kept jumping, beating faster and faster until she could barely breathe.

  “W-what?” she asked, stepping back, needing the wall for support.

  Christa’s attempt to suck in some air failed. It clogged her throat the instant Hunter palmed the wall by her head.

  “I was trying to keep from crossing the line. To keep from touching you, but you and I both know it’s inevitable. The line crossing. The touching.” He lifted a finger and traced a path from her ear to her chin.

  She nodded, thanks to her heart pounding away her voice. He was right. Their chemistry was fierce. She’d never experienced anything like it before.

  “This poses a problem, Christa,” he said, his voice deliciously low and so sexy her nipples tightened.

  “I-it does?”

  He nodded, a finger now skimming her lower lip, sending jolts of heat straight to all her good parts.

  “Yes. I can’t get the taste of you off my mind.”

  Good.

  It was nice to know she wasn’t the only one haunted by that incredible kiss a few weeks back.

  He must’ve read her thoughts because his jaw tightened. “Not sure it’s good because I really want to take you against this wall. Right here. Right now. Hard and fast.”

  She sucked in a breath, heat rushing through her so fast
she shook. “You really can read my mind.”

  His other hand hit the wall as he closed his eyes and muttered a curse. “You’re not helping.”

  Helping?

  She wasn’t sure how to fight the attraction either. Or even if she should. It was too strong and distracting. He was too distracting. She wanted him so bad she ached…craved him.

  Christa had never craved anything or anyone before. Ever.

  Opening his eyes, Hunter stared down at her, gaze dark with need, yet clouded with restraint. “I don’t do relationships.”

  Relief pushed the air from her lungs in the form of a sigh that had his brow lifting. She smiled. “That works for me. I’m not looking for a relationship either, Hunter. I don’t even date. I refuse to subject my son to false hope or anything like that. He comes first. Always.”

  Holy crow, she needed to stop babbling.

  “I know.” He nodded. “I get it. I just wanted to be up-front and honest with you. This would be a one-time hook-up.”

  A one-timer…

  Determined to keep from touching him until they were clear about everything, she shoved her hands in her pockets. “Perfect. And I want to be honest with you too, so you should know I’ve never done this before. I don’t mean sex,” she rushed to say at his frown. “Clearly, I’m not a virgin. I have a son.” And now she wished the wall would just absorb her. Sighing, she shook her head. “What I’m trying to say is that I…uh…haven’t done this in a long time.”

  Which was probably fairly obvious by now.

  If he expected a worldly woman then he was going to be disappointed. She glanced at his unfinished ink and held back another sigh. The universal misconception that tattoo artists were easy was wrong. Most weren’t. She was in that category.

  Hunter ducked down to catch her gaze. “How long has it been?”

  Of course, he’d go right to the hard question. Still, Christa meant what she’d told him. She wanted to be honest.

  “The last time I had sex, I got pregnant with Dillan.” Despite the heat flooding her face she didn’t look away. “Like I said, taking care of my son comes first.”

  His dark eyes drew her in, made her want to spill all her secrets. He was like a human lie detector.

  “You’re a good mother.”

  The unexpected remark and conviction in his tone shocked her silent. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear that. Christa’s throat heated and eyes stung. No one had ever said that to her before.

  She blinked through the stinging. “Thank you.”

  “Who takes care of you?” he asked, lightly touching her cheek.

  Seriously?

  Was he on a mission to make her insides feel like mush? Because if he was, then he’d succeeded. The man was full of surprises. She expected intense heat and even some control, but his concern knocked her off balance.

  She swallowed past her still tight throat. “No one. Dillan’s needs are my priority.”

  “Then right now, your needs are my priority,” he said, voice full of the determination blazing in his eyes. “I’m going to take care of you, Christa. Real good.”

  Heat flooded her body, perking all her good parts. Her neglected ones. But that was about to change.

  Finally giving her body permission to touch the gorgeous man, she set a hand on his solid chest while her other gripped his hip. “I like the sound of that.”

  And to prove it, she skimmed her hand across the hot flesh of his right pec and was rewarded with a hiss of breath when she grazed a fingernail over his nipple. “I like the sound of that, too.”

  A glorious palm touched her shoulder then glided down the front of her, brushing lightly over her breasts. Heat rushed between her legs and heaven help her, she arched into his touch.

  “What time is your next client due?”

  She glanced at the clock above the closed door of her private tattoo booth, thrilled to note they had time. “In thirty-seven minutes.”

  “You working alone today?” he asked, leaning in to drag his mouth down her throat.

  “No.” Christa’s pulse raced as she titled her head to give him better access. “Trudy’s here.” She glanced at the clock again. “But she’s on her dinner break at this time of the day.”

  Besides, the woman’s booth was two doors down, and they never entered each other’s space when a door was shut in case a client had private areas exposed for tattooing.

  The only time Christa’s door was open was when no clothes needed to be removed for her to work.

  But with luck, there was about to be lots of clothes removed and private areas exposed that had nothing to do with tattooing.

  Oh my God, was she really going to do this?

  It wasn’t professional, and they could be caught.

  Hunter sank his teeth into the curve of her neck, and she sucked in a breath as goosebumps shot down her body.

  Yes…yes, she was definitely doing this.

  “Are you sure you’re okay if I take you against this wall, Christa?”

  “Yes…” Her voice was needy and breathy, but hell, at least she still had one considering his mouth was on her neck and his thumb lingered on her nipple that was doing its best to bust through her lace bra and shirt to get to him.

  He released her and drew back a little, and she had to fight to keep her protest inside. “What about the security cameras?”

  She shook her head. “It’s all right. There aren’t any in the rooms. Just the reception, hall, and office area.” No way would she even have contemplated allowing the man to kiss her, let alone having sex in here if there were cameras.

  His lips twitched. “I know. But Carter’s equipment has great audio and will pick up loud…noises.”

  Ahh…

  She smiled. “Is that your way of asking if I’m a screamer?”

  His gaze heated and he stepped closer. “No need to ask. I’ll find out shortly. But just so you know…” He ran a finger down her throat, the hollow of her collarbone, over her breast, brushing the tip before traveling down her belly to lightly stroke between her legs, stirring all kinds of fire within her. “I can make you scream.”

  Chapter Eight

  When Christa opened her mouth on a gasp, Hunter pressed her against the wall with his rock-hard body, shoved his hands in her hair and finally kissed her.

  A long, thorough, deep kiss that completely lacked restraint. It was gone, like her sanity. The amazing man kissed it away. She couldn’t even state primary colors. They were just a rainbow in her head at the moment.

  Over and over, he devoured her strength, his tongue brushing hers, his glorious hands under her shirt, caressing her sides, causing a fully body shiver. When they broke apart, she stared at him, trying to grasp onto a coherent thought, but they dissipated in the fog need created in her head.

  Dragging in air, he cracked a sexy smile and she immediately caught it with her heart. She couldn’t help it. This was the first time she’d ever seen him smile and it stole her breath. That…coupled with his half-undressed state made him absolutely scrumptious.

  She liked scrumptious.

  Loved scrumptious.

  Scrumptious was magnificent.

  Shirtless, muscles and ridges bared for her viewing and touching pleasure—oh, yeah, she touched and stroked and loved how his abs quivered beneath her fingers. It did crazy things to her breathing, which wasn’t steady to begin with, and the fact she’d somehow managed to unbutton the top of his jeans without realizing proved she’d lost her equilibrium.

  Out of her league and playing with danger, she was excited and scared and loving every blessed minute. Hunter pushed her boundaries, took her out of herself, just as she’d always known he would. With luck, she was doing the same to him.

  Setting her forehead against his collarbone, she worked to catch her breath. “I know I haven’t done this in a few years but wow, I’ve been missing out.”

  He slipped a hand under her long shirt to stroke her back while the other slid do
wn to cup her ass. “So have I.”

  Sliding his hand from her ass, around the side to her upper thigh, he brushed his thumb over the part that ached the most for his touch.

  “Hunter.” Her voice was full of hunger as she spread her legs in a welcoming gesture, uncaring if it made her appear wanton. But…well, she was.

  The clever, observant man needed no instruction. He had her pants unbuttoned, unzipped and down by her ankles, along with her bikini panties. “Step out of them,” he ordered after removing her boots, his voice as strained as her needy body.

  She did as instructed, eager for him to continue.

  He rose to his feet and held her gaze as he slid a finger between her legs. “So wet.” His voice was low and hoarse as he caught her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss and stroked her again.

  Christa moaned into his mouth, already way too close to the edge, but then he withdrew his finger and she stood trembling as he tugged her long shirt off and stopped to gaze at her turquoise bra and her tattoos, no doubt.

  The ones he could see.

  The raw need deepening his gaze made her heart skip a full beat.

  Hunter tugged the straps down her arms, and she watched mesmerized as his gaze darkened further at the sight of her bared breasts.

  He let out a rough groan. “Your tattoos are almost as gorgeous as your body.”

  That was good. Because she had a dozen—some big, some small—and knew there were a lot of men who wouldn’t approve. Not something she ever thought about or cared, until this moment, because if it had turned Hunter off, she probably would’ve died of sexual frustration right then and there.

  He lifted a finger and traced one of the wings of the realistic monarch butterfly tattooed on her left breast.

  Christa had a thing for butterflies and flowers. And a thing for the way Hunter’s slow, gentle touch warmed her entire body.

  “Hunter…” She closed her eyes, lost in the crazy sensations. “I need—Oh…” she moaned when he drew her nipple into his mouth and brushed it with his tongue. “That.” He transferred his delicious attention to her other breast, and she gripped his biceps and arched into him. “That works…really well.”

  She wasn’t sure if it was her hitched breaths or words or both, but something spurred him on because he had her bra unhooked and off before she opened her eyes.