He moved to stand in front of her, lifting his hand again, this time to lightly graze her cheek with his knuckle. “You’ve helped me since the first time we met.”
She swallowed. “I have?”
“Yes,” he said, kissing her cheek, then jaw. “More than you know.” Then he nibbled her lower lip, and a thrill ran up his spine when her hands slid up his chest to rest on his shoulders and she sighed.
A wave of warmth mixed with need and hit him hard. He cupped her face and kissed her square on the mouth. Without hesitation, she opened for him and kissed him back. She tasted of popcorn and ginger ale—sweet—and for nearly a minute, he’d forgotten where they were and that they could have an audience. A young one.
Hunter knew if he pushed things, Christa would ask him to stay. But as much as he wanted to lose himself in her warm, soft, curves, he wouldn’t. He remembered all too well the many times he’d see men leaving his mother’s room at all hours of the night. And in all manner of nakedness.
He refused to give that haunting, disruptive memory to Dillan.
Reluctantly, he drew back and kissed Christa’s nose. “Time for me to go.”
She inhaled and nodded, but didn’t move.
Damn, she wasn’t making it easy.
Because it wasn’t easy. But knowing she was having trouble letting him go went a long way to inflating his ego and gave him the strength to release her and step back. “We’ll continue this tomorrow at lunch.”
She smiled and a wicked gleam entered her eyes. “I already can’t wait.”
Neither could he.
Nor could he wait to make a few calls from one of the unused burner phones he kept in a go bag in his closet at the cottage. He no longer needed the bag, but he was glad he had the phones.
A shaft of guilt rippled through his gut. He hated to dig into Christa’s past, especially behind her back, but if it would keep her and Dillan safe, then he’d do it.
***
Thursday evening Christa was at Stef’s ranch, sitting with her friend on the front porch, drinking lemonade, watching Dillan ride Napoleon, her friend’s miniature horse, while Mac walked alongside.
She was getting better about letting her son do things. It didn’t mean her heart wasn’t in her throat or that she wasn’t fighting the urge to jump up and rush to the small corral, grab her son and set him on the other side of the fence.
All it meant was that she was making progress.
She wasn’t the only one.
Hunter was making progress, too. He was much more open and relaxed than the closed-off man who’d first arrived in Harland County last November. And he definitely wasn’t as uncomfortable around children as he’d been back then, either.
No. He seemed to enjoy building Lego cars and playing dinosaurs and superheroes with Dillan last Sunday. Her son was pretty taken with the guy, just as she’d first feared. But it no longer bothered her.
Probably because she was taken with the guy, too.
Big time.
“I was going to ask how thing were going with Hunter,” Stef said. “But I can tell by the happy, content gleam in your eyes, they’re going good.”
She sighed. “I hope that doesn’t mean it’ll turn sour now.”
Experience had taught her that just when she got to a point in her life where she was happy and content, the rug was yanked from under her feet.
God, she hoped not this time. She liked the rug right where it was, and the people on her rug.
“I used to think that, too. You just have to trust that your feelings are returned.”
“They are. At least, I think so.”
Hunter had never come out and told her, but she could see a lot of warm emotions in his eyes and that was good enough for her. She knew he was working on opening up, and again, he’d come a long way there, too.
“Oh, yeah, I’d have to agree on that.” Her friend smiled. “Mac told me Hunter was proud as punch to show the guys his finished tattoo yesterday. Which, of course, everyone loved and should love because it’s a-may-zing. And okay, so Mac didn’t say proud as punch. That’s my terminology.”
Christa laughed at her friend’s babbling. She’d been afflicted with it too when she’d carried Dillan.
“Anyway,” Stef said, drawing in a breath. “When Cooper asked how he was going to handle not having any more sessions with you, Hunter said he didn’t need sessions. And that he’d had dinner with you and Dillan at the Pub the night before.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “He admitted to the guys that he was seeing me?”
Stef nodded, her smile almost as wide as Christa’s. “Yep. And Mac told me that just the fact that Hunter was seeing you was a big deal, but actually telling the guys? Mega deal.”
Mega deal…
Being with the guy was a mega deal for her, too.
“Mommy!” No longer on the horse, Dillan was rushing toward her from the corral. “Can I?”
She chuckled. “Can you what, buddy?”
“See Aunt Cwowee and Katie?” he replied, running up onto the porch, only stopping when his chest hit her knees. “Can I?”
Stef laughed. “Mac must’ve told him we’re going to Cloe’s this weekend. I know they’d all love to see Dillan.”
Her heart squeezed. Christa had looked forward to seeing Hunter tomorrow night. He was away on a job today and most of tomorrow and would be back late afternoon. And since it was the Dalton’s turn to host the weekly playdate, it meant she and Hunter would get to spend some time alone.
“Can I go with Uncle Mac and Aunt Stef? Can I?” He jumped up and down. “I wanna see Gwandma and Gwandpa McCall.”
Again, her heart squeezed. Guilt sucked. She hated to disappoint her son. Mac’s parents were sweethearts, and even though she was not blood, they’d treated her and her son like family from the very first time she’d visited Chloe and Logan.
“Dillan,” Mac called, holding Napoleon’s reins. “Time to brush him down, remember? We brush after we ride.”
“Oh, yeah.” Her son turned and rushed back to Mac and the horse.
“God, he’s adorable. And those dimples?” Stef grinned. “So cute. Girls are gonna fall at that boy’s feet.”
Like she had with his father. Jack’s dimples had caught her attention from the get-go.
“So, are you going to let us take Dillan with us?” Stef asked. “We’ll be back on Sunday.”
Even if she was okay with spending time away from her son, which she wasn’t, there was the big factor of the helicopter, Mac’s mode of transport to see his family up in the Texas Hill country.
“And in case you’re worried about the helicopter, don’t be, because we’re driving. Mac doesn’t want me up there with inertia and all that blah blah. So, it’s the road for us.” Stef grinned. “Dillan will be fine. And the McCalls have a room all ready for him.”
She chuckled. “They spoil him.”
“They love him,” Stef corrected. “And you. So, give yourself a break. You need some time alone with Hunter. I mean, you guys have never spent a whole night together, have you?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I can’t…not with Dillan.”
“Then let us take him,” her friend said. “Enjoy a few nights, kid-free. See how it goes.”
Falling asleep with Hunter for the entire night. No rushing. The thought had her heart tripping again.
“But Dillan hasn’t been away from me that long. He stayed one night at the Dalton’s last year, but I ended up having to get him at one in the morning because he woke up and was scared. What if that happens this weekend?”
Stef set a hand on her arm. “Then we’ll deal with it and he will be fine. Besides, he’s a whole six months older now. Kids change.”
She nodded. “I know. Trust me.”
“So…then you’ll let us take Dillan?” Stef asked again.
This time, Christa caved. “Okay.”
“Sweet! Dillan is going to enjoy his sleepover!” Stef squeezed her arm before r
eleasing it. “And you deserve this.”
She did?
Christa didn’t know about that, but she was definitely looking forward to having her own, grown-up sleepover with the other special guy in her life.
Chapter Fourteen
Early Friday evening Hunter parked in Christa’s driveway and walked to her door with a duffle bag full of clothes and his head full of ideas on how to make the gorgeous woman scream his name.
Last night when she’d sent him a text telling him that Dillan was going with Stef and Mac for the weekend, he was a little surprised and proud of Christa for allowing her son to make the visit without her. He was also grateful, and yeah, selfish, because he got to have her to himself for two nights. Which was serendipitous, since he had another out-of-town, two day job starting Monday.
So, there was no way was he going to waste one damn second of this weekend.
God, he’d missed her.
And after the conversation they had the other day in her kitchen about Dillan’s father—or rather, the conversation they didn’t have—his imagination had run rampant and he’d been worried out of his mind about her and her son.
He hated being away from them. What if they needed him?
One of Hunter’s contacts had come up with a possible lead and was still following the thread. He just hoped to God the guy got back to him soon. He couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to things than she was saying and that whatever that more was, it was dangerous.
Inhaling, he knocked on her door and when she opened it, his heart skipped before doing the token slow roll in his chest at the sight of the beautiful woman wearing a sexy, strappy black dress.
“Hello, Christa.” He stepped inside and dropped his duffle on the floor as she closed the door. “You look amazing.”
She smiled and he loved how she moved easily into his arms when he pulled her close.
“So do you.” Her hands met his chest then slid over his shoulders, and the movement pressed her glorious breasts against him. “You feel good, too.”
“I know you do,” he said against her neck, nuzzling his way to her ear. “That’s look and feel covered….so what does that leave us?”
“Mmm…taste,” she murmured, her breath hot against his skin as she licked his throat.
Groaning, cupped her chin and drew her mouth to his, kissing her deep and long and…his pulse leapt when her hands slipped under his shirt and brushed his abs as she unbuttoned his jeans.
He was totally on board.
Need scorched a path through his body at Mach speed. Hunter released her mouth while gliding his hands down her sides to rest on her hips, loving the feel of her silky dress, but not as much as her soft, naked skin. “Nice, but we need to lose our clothes.”
“I agree.” She stepped back to tug the straps down her arms then wiggled her hips and, damn, the dress slid over her sweet curves and landed in a silken black heap on the floor.
His tongue nearly followed.
She stood before him in nothing but a silky, black thong. Then it, too, was gone.
Fuck.
He dragged in air. The sexy, gorgeous woman had no idea what she did to him. But she was about to find out. He swept her into his arms and headed down the hall.
“Is your room the one at the end of the hall?” he asked, already halfway there.
Although he’d been to her house several times now, Hunter had never set foot in her bedroom.
“Yes.” She nodded, arms wrapped around his neck, her sweet lips grazing his chin.
Once inside, he walked to her bed, then set her feet on the floor before he ripped the shirt up over his head, yanked off his boots, then shucked the rest of his clothes.
Her gaze heated when he dug into his discarded jeans and set two condoms on her nightstand.
“That’s just to start,” he said before he stepped close to trail his hands lightly up her sides. “Your choice this time. Do you want top or bottom?”
A wicked smile curved her equally wicked lips. “Both.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His voice was rough to his ears, but considering he was as hard as a damn lead pipe, he wasn’t surprised. Hunter skimmed his hands down her sexy sides, brushing her ribs and the underside of her breasts.
So soft. So damn soft.
This peaked her pert nipples ever further, and the beauties practically begged for his attention.
Not willing to disappoint, he happily obliged.
Cupping each breast, he brushed his thumbs over both tips, then dipped down to take one into his mouth and tugged.
Christa gasped and her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into his touch.
Damn, he loved how responsive she was. The need to hear her scream his name shook through him. He released her, put on a condom, and then sat on the bed. A thrill rushed through him when she automatically moved close.
Nice.
With her standing in front of him, he ran his hands down her sexy tattoo, brushing his thumb over each butterfly but not the blooms before he slid a finger between her thighs and stroked. He was rewarded with a long, low moan.
Loving the sound, he did it again.
She gripped his shoulders. “Hunter…” she murmured. “I need you.”
He needed her too. Now that he knew she was wet enough, he released her to move up the bed until his back hit the pillows propped against the headboard.
“Come here, Christa,” he told her, and held her upper arms as she straddled him, with her knees hugging his hips.
Damn…
Heat flared through his body at the feel of her soft, full breasts brushing his chest.
She gripped his shoulders, and he grabbed her hips and guided her down, groaning as she took him in, her pleasure-filled gasp echoing around them. “Damn, Christa…”
Her eyes were dark and hungry as her mouth fell open, but no sound came out.
Lost in the bliss, Hunter set his head back and tried to find his breath. “So good.” But he needed more. Tightening his grip on her hips, he thrust up hard and deep inside her.
Twin sounds of approval echoed through the room. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her hard and deep and frantic, needing…everything.
Christa trembled and her heat and urgency matched the crazy, out-of-control fire burning white hot inside him.
He released her mouth to kiss a path down her throat and sink his teeth in her neck just behind her ear. She sucked in a breath and rocked against him again. Another spike of heat ricocheted down his body. She was too potent. He had to slow things down.
He flipped them so he was on top and immediately pulled out before the sweet sensation pushed him over the edge.
Another needy sound came from her throat.
“Soon,” he muttered against her collarbone, then brushed his lips down her breast and sucked a nipple into his mouth.
Moaning, she arched up, but he released her gorgeous peak for the other and tugged until she squirmed, then had to fight to keep from exploding. The woman was a gift. A damn gift. He didn’t know of he was worthy, but he sure as hell was grateful. She gave without even knowing.
He was good at giving, too.
Hunter kissed a path down her quivering belly, over the sexy tattoos, straight to the part he longed to taste the most.
As if wanting that too, Christa spread her legs and he trailed his mouth down her inner thighs and wedged his shoulders between them to hold them open. The view had his groin fisted tight.
“Hunter…” Her voice was throaty and full of need.
He reached out and brushed a finger over her center before pressing his mouth to her glistening folds.
A low, sexy sound met his ears as her fingers tangled in his hair as if to hold him in place. He wasn’t going anywhere. Glancing up, intent on telling her, Hunter stilled, his heart smacking into his ribs at the sight of her caught up in the fiery passion. Her lips were parted, eyes were half-closed, glazed over and dark with need. She was every man’s fantasy.
But she was his.
His.
Yeah, there was no denying it. Hunter had staked his claim a while ago but only recently realized it. He’d do whatever it took to make things work with this woman. He felt better when he was with her. She was his lifeline, his link to feeling alive. He belonged with her.
She belonged with him.
Empowered by that thought, he watched Christa’s face as he lowered his mouth back on her and didn’t let up until he received the sensual scream he’d longed to hear.
Once her sweet shuddering stopped, he brought her down slowly and didn’t pull away until he lapped up every last bit of her delicious taste.
She was exquisite…and he needed to be inside her again. Fast.
He was ready to burst.
The amazing woman—his amazing woman—was hot and willing, and waiting for him.
He had zero control. Not with her.
And he didn’t care.
It should’ve sent up those damn red flags, but they were nonexistent with her.
Always.
“Mmm…that was so good, Hunter,” she said, running her hand down his abs until she grasped his length and guided him to the promise land. “But I need something more.” She gazed up at him with a fierce hunger that darkened her eyes to that deep chocolate he loved so much.
Needing something more too, he settled between her legs, but didn’t push inside. Not yet. He entwined their fingers and lifted their joined hands to rest on either side of her face.
“Hunter,” she whispered, her voice sexy and hoarse with need.
He dipped down to softly kiss her lips. “I know.”
He felt it too. He wanted everything and wanted to give her everything, too.
With one last, lingering kiss, he held her gaze and slid into her. Home. That was what Christa was to him. Everything. His world.
Life.
She cried out and it mixed with his groan, the sound of their mutual pleasure echoing in the room.
“Christa…” He closed his eyes, basking in the feel of her lush heat. “You feel good―always so damn good.” The way he fit—the way she hugged him—it rocked him to his very soul.
Hunter (HC Heroes Series Book 8) Page 11