Hunter (HC Heroes Series Book 8)

by Donna Michaels

  “Absolutely beautiful.”

  He stared at her nakedness and another realistic tattoo of a vine of apple blossoms that started on the underside of her left breast and bloomed across her belly to curve around her right hip, although they didn’t end there…which he appeared to appreciate.

  The same stark hunger burning in his eyes sizzled through her veins.

  His turn.

  She unzipped his jeans but before she could free his fundamentals, he dropped to his knees in front of her.

  “Not yet,” he said, his breath warm on her belly before he kissed each tiny apple blossom on the squiggly branch tattooed from below her right hip, over her mound and down the left side where it stopped on her upper left thigh.

  Last month, she’d had Mel ink a tiny purple realistic butterfly hovering over the blossom closest to the center. Christa loved it and apparently Hunter agreed, since his tongue was lightly tracing the wings.

  Okay, so she might actually love that even more.

  She closed her eyes and rode out the wave of heat his touch incited.

  “So damn sexy,” he muttered, and she opened her eyes in time to watch him spread her thighs with his hands.

  Her heart beat hard in her chest as she anticipated his next move. Then he leaned in and put his mouth on her center, stroking her with his tongue.

  She sucked in a breath that sounded strangled and needy to her ears, but she didn’t care. He was right on target. Right where she’d hoped he’d go. And go, he did. Over and over, making her pant and moan and clutch at his shoulders, avoiding his tattoo, her fingers digging into his muscles as she fought to remain upright.

  “It’s okay,” he said, pausing to glance up at her. “I’ve got you. Just relax and let me take care of you.” Then his mouth was back on her…and he added a finger, sliding it inside her as he flicked his tongue over her aching center.

  Her gasp turned into another moan she tried to keep low, but the sounds still echoed around her tiny room. That seemed to spur him on. He upped his pace, and she rocked her hips against him in slow, erotic circles, wanting to hold on…to enjoy the crazy enveloping sensations, but she was on the edge, teetering.

  “Hunter,” she said, half-questioning.

  He glanced up again, his gaze delectably dark with a fierce hunger and determination she was not likely to forget.

  “Come for me, Christa. Now.” He put his mouth back on her and sucked her gently into his mouth.

  That was it. All the years of celibacy and neglecting her needs came to an end at that very moment. Christa flew apart, clamping her jaw tight to keep from screaming his name, and bless Hunter. He used his expertise to prolong her pleasure as he held her hips and kept her from falling to the floor.

  When her vision returned and the room righted itself, she sighed and smiled down at him.

  Pure male satisfaction blazed in his eyes. “Damn, Christa, that was amazing.”

  “You don’t have to tell me.” She willed the strength back to her legs and straightened against the wall. “It was beyond amazing.”

  She didn’t know if it was because it’d been so long since she’d had an orgasm without mechanical help or because of the man.

  Probably both. But she suspected it was mostly due to the latter.

  “Oh, we’re not finished yet.”

  In one fluid motion, he rose to his feet, shoved a hand in her hair, cupped her ass with the other, and dragged her against him. Her brain barely had the chance to register the incredible feel of her breasts brushing his hard, naked chest when his mouth came down on hers for a heated, hungry, demanding kiss that had her knees threatening to buckle again.

  By the time they broke for air, she was thrumming with need and halfway to that glorious edge again. It was crazy. But she wanted this man badly. Needed to feel him inside her…

  Shoot.

  She stiffened and leaned back against the wall. “Please tell me you have a condom.”

  He shook his head, and she was seriously ready to cry when his mouth twitched. “But you do.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “No. I don’t. Sorry. It’s like I told you. I don’t usually do—”

  “Not on you,” he said, cutting her off as he walked over to the shelf by her door where she kept the basket with promotional items Mel had placed in each of the rooms to give out to clients.

  She laughed. “I forgot Mel added condoms last month.”

  He rooted through the assortment of keychains, matches, nail files, and gum she knew occupied the basket, and finally produced a foil packet.

  It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if it was the correct size, but he set the packet on the counter and proceeded to strip. By the time he was naked with the condom in place, he vibrated with a tension she felt clear to her core because that same tension shook through her.

  She stepped forward and reached out to grip his length. Mel must’ve bought mega-sized because Hunter was long and thick and completely covered…and damn, Christa couldn’t wait to have him inside her.

  He clenched his teeth and a sheen of sweat broke out across his brow. “Killing me.”

  Inspired, she smiled and leaned in to flick her tongue over his nipple.

  With a curse on his lips, he cupped her ass, lifted her up, and she automatically hooked her legs around his hips as he walked with her until her back hit the wall. Then, holding her gaze, he entered her in one delectable, long, hard thrust.

  The man filled her so completely she gasped and clutched his upper arms. This was what she’d wanted for so long. What she’d fantasized about with him…hell, it was so freaking much better than fantasy.

  He felt amazing.

  “You okay?” Concern started to replace some of the heat in his eyes.

  “Yes. Very okay,” she muttered, her voice that low and needy decibel again. “Please don’t stop.” And to prove she meant it, she locked her ankles behind him.

  That drew him in farther, and their sounds of approval mingled in the air.

  “You feel so damn good, Christa. So damn good,” he repeated then he began to move.

  She moaned again, clutching his upper arms, her eyes threatening to roll back in her head. Over and over, he withdrew and returned, holding her against the wall for his slow, exquisite thrusts.

  There was no doubt now, he was in control. He had it…all of it. His grip on her hips prevented her from upping the pace. She tried, but it was a no go. He was in command, and heaven help her, she loved it.

  If his purposeful, vigilant thrusts weren’t enough to drive her out of her ever-loving mind, he bent forward to capture a nipple in his mouth. She cried out, couldn’t help it, and this time her eyes did roll back in her head as he divided his attention between both peaks. The incredible, mindless pleasure took her right up to the top of that blissful cliff again.

  “Hunter.” She tightened her grip on his arms. “It’s so…”

  “I know,” he said, his voice rough as he kissed her neck and continued to stroke her with those fierce thrusts.

  Then he maneuvered his hand between them and pressed his thumb over her center. Between that and knowing he was just as lost in the fierce, engulfing heat sent her over the orgasm bridge and if he hadn’t covered her mouth with his, she would’ve indeed screamed through her mind-blowing release. A sexy, raw growl rumbled through him as he pressed her against the wall and drove up into her hard and deep and followed her over that blissful edge.

  After several long, crazy, amazing seconds, he slid them to the floor, pulled out, then slumped against her.

  Christa was content to stay that way, working to find her breath…and her legs. They were a quivering mess. But it was all part of the wild, amazing adventure Hunter had taken her on.

  Or perhaps, together was the more appropriate, because the man appeared to be just as boneless and air starved as Christa at the moment.

  His hot, ragged breath hit her satiated body in wonderful spurts.

  Good.

  That mean
t they could both consider this an incredible, unforgettable, one-timer.

  ***

  It was Monday morning, a good hour before briefing, but Hunter wasn’t the only one at ESI. Everyone was present.

  Mac and Dean were tuning up their motorcycles, Carter was currently taping his hands, apparently getting ready to go a round with the heavy bag, RJ and Cooper were lifting weights in the corner, and Dex was cleaning out Marilyn’s large, man-sized bird cage—as the bird sat on her tree perch and supervised.

  It was nice to be around people who didn’t like to sit idle. He couldn’t stand to do nothing.

  Yesterday, he’d been forced to stay home or risk running into Christa. Normally, he spent his free time helping Kade with the larger animals at the shelter. But since the tempting woman had mentioned she volunteered on Sundays, Hunter had remained in his cottage, fixing loose doorknobs and squeaky floorboards. He answered texts from Carter and Dex informing him of Mac’s impending fatherhood then called the father-to-be and congratulated him. He even spoke with Sinjin for a few minutes when the guy surprised him with a call asking for Mac’s contact information.

  Sounded like his D-force brother might be making a trip to Harland in the near future. It would be good to see the guy outside the shadows.

  It would almost be like having the old unit together again, except it would never be complete since Baxter had bought it few years back, proving no one was invincible.

  Hunter shook away his dark thoughts and walked further into the garage, noting that if Marilyn and Dex were here that meant Rylee was too, no doubt in the breakroom with her friends. He was fairly certain it was the woman’s turn to host the girls’ morning coffee break again. It was the reason he’d delayed his arrival. He didn’t want to chance a meeting with Christa and cause her any awkward moments in front of the guys.

  He inhaled. Yeah, he definitely detected the scent of coffee and baked goods.

  Which meant Christa was in the building.

  Chapter Nine

  A strange unsettling rippled through Hunter’s stomach.

  The last time he’d seen the incredible woman, he’d left her with a satisfied smile on her beautiful face, and departed the shop with his world effectively rocked. The hot as hell encounter would remain burned in his mind forever. A repeat, though, was unfortunately out of the question. He refused to allow it. His lapse in control couldn’t—wouldn’t—happen again.

  They’d had their one-time. It had been their agreement. An unwritten contract. And Hunter always followed the rules of his contracts.

  Since their encounter was now a thing of the past, it was time to concentrate on the present.

  “Hey, Hunter,” Dean said, gaze narrowing slightly.

  He nodded a greeting to him and then one to Mac, who’d glanced up at him as he tightened a bolt, and then…son-of-a-bitch, Mac did a double-take.

  What the hell?

  Was his shirt on backward? Zipper down?

  He glanced down at his clothes, finding everything as it should be.

  “It’s not your clothes,” Dex said, tossing a ball of wadded up newspaper in the trash before grabbing a new pile from a stack against the wall. “It’s you.” The guy smirked as he returned to the cage to line the floor.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” He narrowed his gaze and flicked it over his smiling buddies.

  Mac rose to his feet and shrugged. “You look different. Lighter. Relaxed.”

  “Yeah.” Dean nodded. “Not as rigid.”

  Cooper and RJ stopped pumping iron and stared at him too.

  The latter nodded. “They’re right.”

  A knowing gleam entered Cooper’s eyes, but the SEAL remained quiet.

  Smart move.

  Finished with the cage, Dex washed his hands then walked closer, his gaze unwavering. “It’s kind of like you remembered how to breathe.”

  Perhaps the slight thawing out he felt on the inside was starting to show on the outside.

  “How was your weekend?” Carter asked, punching the heavy bag.

  Hunter’s pulse jumped and it took him a second to recognize the feeling as one of excitement, then another second to link it to the memory of thrusting, fast and deep into Christa. A memory that had instantly flashed through his mind in response to his buddy’s question.

  Not good.

  He lifted a shoulder. “Fine.”

  Carter stopped pummeling the bag to grin at him. “Tatt session went fine with Christa?”

  Shit.

  His heart careened into his ribs.

  What did the guy do? Spend all his free time reviewing the feed from his wife’s shop?

  “No, I didn’t look at any feed,” Carter said with a shake of his head. “I just recognized the look and knew the reason. Been there. Done that. Got the wife to prove it.”

  “Holy shit.” Cooper blinked. “You and Christa finally combusted?”

  “That’s great, man.” RJ smiled.

  “Happy for you,” Mac said, walking over to slap Hunter’s right shoulder. “She’s a wonderful woman.”

  Dean followed suit. “Yeah. Good for you.”

  “Whoa. Hang on.” He held his hand up. “There’s no reason to congratulate me. Nothing’s going on.”

  Cooper raised a brow. “Does Christa know?”

  “Pretty sure the woman would know if she’d slept with him, Coop.” Carter snickered.

  Hunter swallowed a curse. “It was a one-time thing. A mutually agreed upon one-time thing.” He straightened his spine and stared at them. “She doesn’t deserve it getting out or people talking. Got it?”

  “Pretty sure you know us better than that, Hunter,” Mac said, his tone as steady and serious as his own had been. “What’s said in here.”

  “Stays in here,” the rest of the guys said in unison.

  Hunter released a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding and nodded. “I had to make sure.”

  “Is there a reason you two are opposed to a relationship?” RJ asked.

  Hunter almost laughed. That would’ve been good. They’d recognize Christa as the miracle worker he already knew her to be and try to push their argument of a relationship even harder.

  “I understand each of you have found happiness with good women, but don’t try to play matchmaker. I’m still struggling to find my civilian feet.”

  “You’ve come a long way since November,” Mac said, and the others nodded.

  “And especially since you started to get your tattoo,” Dex pointed out.

  Dean nodded. “Christa is good for you.”

  Hunter blew out a breath. “But I’m not good for her. And I sure as hell am not good for her boy. So, let’s just drop the conversation and forget the whole thing.”

  Carter snickered again. “Can you seriously forget what happened between you and Christa?”

  Hunter’s heart literally rocked in his chest.

  Dammit.

  “Of course not.” He wouldn’t forget. Didn’t want to. As he saw it, it was part of his rehab. Christa had a way of reaching through his darkness and made him feel better. Calm. Grounded.

  Dean set a hand on Cooper’s shoulder but stared at Hunter. “A good friend once told me a woman changes your perspective, fills holes in your psyche you didn’t even know were there. And it was true.”

  Hunter believed it too but wasn’t about to let Christa that close.

  “Wow, Coop.” Carter’s brows shot up. “That was deep.”

  Cooper smirked. “I have my moments.”

  “Question is, will you, Hunter?” Mac asked.

  He shrugged. “If you’re talking about enlightenment from Christa, the answer is I already have but I don’t think any of you were listening. You’re blowing this out of proportion. It was a hook-up. Nothing more.”

  “Does Christa know?” Dex repeated Cooper’s earlier question

  The answer was still the same. “Yes.”

  “You sure?” Dean asked. “Sometimes we aren’t the
only ones enlightened.”

  Hunter frowned. She seemed fine about it when he’d helped her to her feet, and they got dressed on Saturday.

  Although her gaze had lingered.

  Shit.

  His chest tightened. He hoped she hadn’t changed her mind. Christ. He didn’t need a clinger. Suffocating wasn’t on his to-do list.

  The outside door opened, and a gust of cool air swirled around him from behind.

  “Have you seen her since?” Dex asked.

  He shook his head.

  “Well, that’s about to change,” Cooper said under his breath a second before the scent of fresh apples hit Hunter’s nose.

  His entire body stilled, even his breathing.

  Damn. He thought she was already in the breakroom.

  “Hi, Christa,” Mac said, and the others echoed a similar greeting.

  Inhaling, he turned around to face her and his heart did that slow roll maneuver as he watched her greet his buddies with a smile.

  This was the moment of truth. He watched her closely, looking for signs that she’d changed her mind. Signs of clinging.

  “Hi, Hunter.” She smiled at him, but her gaze didn’t linger any longer than it had on his buddies.

  Neither did she.

  The woman kept walking…right out of the garage and into the hall that led to the breakroom.

  His pulse leveled out. In fact, it seemed to beat slower than normal.

  What the hell?

  “Looks like you were right, man.” Mac cupped Hunter’s shoulder and squeezed. “She was good with a one-time.”

  The others nodded.

  Cooper scratched the bridge of his nose with his thumb. “Maybe your…session…wasn’t as memorable as you thought.”

  Asshole.

  He stared the guy down.

  “Don’t listen to him,” Carter said. “This is a good thing, right? It proves you don’t have anything to worry about.”

  True. He nodded.

  This was what he’d wanted. What they’d both wanted.

  It was just sex.

  Except, even as that thought flickered through his head, Hunter knew it to be bullshit. What had happened between him and Christa had been far from just sex. The mind-blowing, heart thudding, body blazing, world rocking encounter had gone beyond getting laid.