by Leesa Bow
‘Is that right? So you were capable of fighting off that sleaze hanging around.’
I didn’t remember any sleaze. ‘It wouldn’t have taken long for Maddy and BJ to come looking for me.’
He tilted his head. ‘In your condition anyone could’ve had their way with you, Aubree.’ He shot me a disconcerting look.
I squirmed. ‘Well, I’m grateful.’ And annoyed that I ended up here and not back at Maddy’s or in my own bed.
‘You don’t sound it.’
I sighed. If the situation was as bad as he said, the night might not have ended well. Maybe I should show some gratitude, but I couldn’t help thinking Hunter had an ulterior motive.
‘Thank you.’ My thoughts shifted to last night. ‘Did you carry me into bed?’
He grinned. ‘I’m not Hercules.’ I scowled even though his physique reminded me of a Greek god. ‘You woke long enough to stumble inside. I offered to help you get changed, but you were out to it the moment your head touched the pillow.’ I inhaled sharply—Hunter seeing me naked was not a comfortable thought. His lips curled up. ‘It’s not like I haven’t seen a girl’s body before.’
I lowered my gaze and fiddled with the pillow. After being called frigid at school I had always tried not to act so stuck up about sex, but the words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them. ‘Not mine.’
‘I kinda have. And we still need to talk about that.’
Boom. I shot him a look.
‘But we’ll eat breakfast first.’ My mouth opened. Words stuck in my throat. Hunter patted my leg. ‘I know how you must be feeling so I’ll bring it to you in bed.’ He stood and strode out of the room.
What do I say to him? Admit to my virginity? Not a chance. I’d prefer to argue with him. My tongue was usually my best weapon to keep guys at bay, thanks to my skill at trash talking on a basketball court and learning to think quickly to distract an opponent. Yet after two years away from the game I had nothing. I reminded myself that there was nothing about Hunter Stone I liked.
An hour later, the frustration of being cornered mellowed, replaced by the contentment of Hunter cooking me breakfast in bed. He’d really gone all out with the haloumi cheese, bacon, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms on a thick slice of toasted wholegrain bread. Somehow I’d managed to dodge the talk, distracting him with trivial conversation.
‘Did you win footy this weekend?’
Hunter smiled. ‘Yeah, we won.’
I nodded, and noted his better mood, remembering what Maddy had said about him losing. ‘Next weekend?’
‘We play in Melbourne. You finished with your plate?’
‘Thank you. It was delicious.’
Hunter stood. ‘You want coffee?’
‘Oh God, yes.’
As soon as the door closed I flew out of the bed with an urge to go to the toilet and, thankfully, the bathroom was behind the first door I opened. I paused for a moment to admire the stylish black décor, the clean lines and fancy stainless-steel fittings. I washed my hands in the charcoal glass basin, looked in the mirror and cringed at my wild hair. What the hell did I do in my sleep? Panicked, I scurried through drawers and found a hairbrush. Then I used his toothpaste and finger-cleaned my teeth. When I walked out I noticed my clutch in the far corner of the room and breathed a sigh of relief when my phone wasn’t flat. After sending Maddy a text to come rescue me, I positioned myself back in the bed, fluffed my hair around my face and waited for coffee.
For a moment I regretted the text. Somehow Hunter had relaxed me, although his track record of talking girls into doing things I wasn’t ready for played at the back my mind.
The words of my old basketball coach echoed in my head. Come on, Taylor. You’re stronger than this.
The way my stomach fluttered with a hundred butterflies, I doubted my strength in rejecting Hunter.
The door swung open and Hunter walked in with a mug of coffee, bare-chested. The butterflies inside me quadrupled. My eyes followed the ripples of his stomach and stopped at the scattering of hair above his jeans. Noticing my expression, he smirked.
‘Really?’ I said sarcastically. ‘Do you have to get around like that?’
He chuckled. ‘I spilt coffee on my top. It wasn’t deliberate, but seeing the look on your face . . .’ He grinned and sat next to me.
He handed me the coffee. When I glanced up our eyes met. Passion and power mixed together stared back at me. Feeling my resolve weakening, I tried to pull my gaze from his only to fall further into a blue haze. I had to think of something to break the spell.
‘So, this is a common thing for you on a Sunday morning? I can imagine you’d get a lot of practice being nice to girls the day after —’
‘Don’t.’ He tilted his head back on the pillows and stared at the ceiling. ‘Don’t act like you know me.’
‘So you want me to believe that this is a first.’ I rolled my eyes.
He turned his head, and those eyes silenced me. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. But you are the only girl who has slept in this bed.’
I snorted out a laugh at his attempt to play me. I refused to fall for typical jock tricks.
‘Ever since I moved into this house I’ve taken girls to the spare bedroom. That’s where I slept last night, in case you were wondering.’ His gaze washed over me.
I blinked slowly, trying not to think about Hunter in bed. Naked. ‘Whatever.’
His expression turned serious. ‘And all this is about . . .’
‘That your ego is so distorted you think you’re irresistible?’ I snapped.
‘My ego has nothing to do with it.’ He leaned close enough for our breaths to mingle.
Air caught in my throat. Where the hell was Maddy? He placed his hand on my neck, his thumb on my pulse.
‘You want me,’ he whispered and it was not a question.
‘I don’t,’ I squeaked, hardly convincing.
‘Bullshit.’ His lips brushed mine and I sensed he was giving me a chance to pull back. When I didn’t resist his mouth closed over mine, at first a soft kiss that changed to something needier. My memory jolted, remembering how much I liked Hunter kissing me. His hand trailed along my collarbone then edged down and slipped beneath my bra. I sucked in air, taking in the aroma of coffee from his mouth, and not a single part of me wanted him to stop. My nipple hardened at his touch, and a need, strong and dark, uncoiled within me. His fingers circled my tummy, slowly heading south. My skin tingled under his touch and all the desire I’d held back over the years was released suddenly in a wave of heat. His soft lips sucked harder and his tongue plunged further. Every cell in my body sparked and I was sure if it were dark I’d light up the room like a glow-worm in a cave. His fingers fiddled with the button of my jeans and an alarm bell sounded in my head. Did I really want to be doing this now? Maddy could arrive any minute.
‘Stop,’ I whispered.
Hunter froze. I opened my eyes and looked straight into his, which were burning with desire. He moved away and coughed.
‘I don’t do casual one-nighters.’ Even though it was morning and I never did casual anything.
He rolled onto his back. ‘I assumed after being overseas you would’ve —’
‘What?’ I cut him off. My torso constricted as though I was wearing a corset and couldn’t breathe. Did he now think of me as easy?
‘When I found out about your situation after you left I assumed you,’ he hesitated, ‘you’re no longer . . .’
‘My situation,’ I said every syllable slowly. ‘What situation?’
Hunter coughed again. His eyes softened. ‘That you were a virgin. Maddy said I’d spooked you so you ran out on me.’
‘Don’t you dare,’ I warned, my voice deep and throaty. ‘I can’t believe she talked to you.’
‘I spoke to her after you left. I didn’t understand what I did wrong.’
‘So Maddy made excuses for you at the expense of my dignity.’ I swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the growing lump in my throat. My
heart rate increased in a combination of anger, hurt and betrayal. ‘Did you ever think that I just wasn’t interested? That all of a sudden I realised you were a big mistake? And that I didn’t want to carry the burden around with me when I hoped to start a new life and get away from all the bullshit here?’
Hunter blinked and his face fell.
‘Oh, and did Maddy happen to mention that she had picked me up? I ran out of your old house and called her. She drove me home.’
His eyes flashed wide.
‘I might have self-esteem problems but yours is blown out of proportion.’ I lowered my voice. ‘I didn’t want you. Is that so hard to understand?’
He moved away from me. ‘I think you’ve brought my ego down a notch or two. And no, it’s not because it was my first reaction.’ His shoulders slouched.
My stomach clenched at seeing his reaction. Why couldn’t I shut up? After all, I wasn’t a virgin anymore. My so-called friend in England had fixed that. It was the reason I’d come home. I no longer knew who I could trust, and after two years away, it was long enough to rid myself of the demons of my past. I now had other demons to fight.
‘I didn’t say it to upset you,’ he whispered.
I smiled weakly, a tad guilty that I’d lashed out at him. ‘Would you believe me if I said it’s not you, it’s me? I have some personal shit to sort out before I can —’ My phone beeped in the corner, alerting me to a new message. ‘That would be Maddy, here to pick me up.’
‘What, you asked her to come get you again?’ His fingers raked his fringe, pushing it over the top of his head. ‘Jesus. What’s wrong with you? I thought you might’ve grown up while you were away. Apparently not.’ He stormed from the room, leaving me to find my own way out.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘So, you and Hunter,’ Maddy said to me on Thursday night at the gym. She removed the earpiece, slowed the treadmill and wiped her face with a towel. ‘Want to fill me in?’
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ I kept my gaze on the screen and increased the speed.
‘If there’s something going on, you should talk about it.’
I huffed.
‘I’ve managed not to ask questions, but I know something happened last weekend. I’ve remained silent long enough and you’ve had enough time to mull it over. Spill.’
‘Nothing happened,’ I said, and bit my lip. An image of Hunter kissing me flashed through my mind and then him telling me to grow up. I was thankful Maddy never probed during the silent drive home. Then again, the warning look I’d given her when I’d first jumped in her car had sent a clear message.
‘Really?’ Her brows arched above her blue eyes, her way of interrogating me.
‘That’s all I’m saying.’ I slowed the treadmill and turned my head. I needed to see her reaction. ‘How dare you tell him I was a virgin before I went overseas?’
‘He told you that?’ Her forehead wrinkled.
‘You’re lucky I’ve calmed down. I was furious with you.’
‘But you have to understand he —’
‘Please never discuss my sex life with him again,’ I warned.
‘Fine, but it’s not as bad as it sounds.’
‘It sounded bad when it came out of his mouth. Do you realise that he thought I’d turned slutty?’
She looked incredulously at me. ‘No way. Hunter would never think that of you.’
I laughed sarcastically. ‘Oh, yeah?’
She grinned. ‘Maybe more relaxed about sex, but not slutty.’
I glared at Maddy. ‘Not funny. Anyway, how long has he lived in that house?’
‘Eighteen months. He decided to buy his own place and get out of the house he shared when —’ she paused. ‘He thought it was part of the reason you —’
I scowled at her. ‘Don’t.’
‘I’d never say anything to hurt you, Aubree.’
‘Good.’ I increased the speed and broke into a jog.
On Saturday night we went out for coffee instead of to a nightclub because Maddy had caught a cold. Not that I minded. After coming home I’d lapsed too easily into the binge-drinking habit like many other girls my age. Not to mention the weather had turned stormy and the last thing I wanted was to dress in skimpy clothing and stand in a queue outside the front of a club in the rain.
‘Streets are quiet,’ I said to Maddy as we walked into a popular organic cafe in the city.
Maddy shrugged. ‘Both football teams are playing in Melbourne. They usually bring a crowd after the game.’
‘True.’ My stomach dropped at the prospect of not bumping into Hunter.
I sighed. Why couldn’t I be like other girls and act carefree about sex and handle one-nighters like they meant nothing? For the past week I’d hardly slept, lying awake, thinking . . . A night with Hunter would be unforgettable.
And there lay my problem. I wouldn’t be able to handle one night with him and be capable of letting go. I’d want more if I gave myself to him, and Hunter didn’t do girlfriends, so I’d be the one left hurt. Hunter was a player on and off the field, and in my experience of competitive sport, I didn’t take too kindly to being played, wherever the arena – especially when it involved my heart.
‘You never know who you’re gonna run into in a small city.’ A low-pitched voice came from behind me and snapped me out of my thoughts.
Maddy squawked and sprang out of her chair. I turned to see designer jeans hugging lean hips. My eyes wandered up to a trendy black shirt and then met with familiar blue eyes. Air froze in my lungs. The guy standing before me looked a lot like Hunter.
‘Connor, this is my best friend, Aubree. She only got home a month ago from overseas. Aubs, this is my cousin, Connor, Hunter’s younger brother. You may remember him?’
My eyes widened as I recalled meeting Connor only once at thirteen. Of course he wouldn’t remember as he was seventeen and had a girlfriend from Melbourne at the time. I stood up and held out my hand for him to shake.
‘The smarter brother,’ he said, and swept my hand up to his mouth, eyes holding mine. Then I recalled Maddy telling me when we were younger that her cousin attended boarding school in Melbourne, and was a brain.
‘Oh my Lord,’ Maddy exclaimed. ‘If you think Hunter can sweep you off your feet, then you don’t know Connor.’
‘Is that so,’ I said, watching Connor’s eyes darken.
‘Tell me, Maddy, has my brother tried his charm on this gorgeous lady?’
‘No,’ I said too quickly. Maddy’s eyes rounded.
‘Good. Because I think I’ve just met the girl I want to marry.’
I laughed. ‘Oh, you’re good.’ I looked at Maddy, who wasn’t laughing. Her face had turned serious and she narrowed her eyes at Connor. ‘You never told me you had a comedian in the family,’ I said, trying to lighten her mood.
‘News to me, too. So, Con,’ Maddy emphasised his abbreviated name. ‘What brings you to Adelaide?’
‘Home, you mean. I finally graduated.’
‘Where were you?’ I asked.
‘In Melbourne, studying archaeology. Mum asked me to come home before I head to Greece.’
‘Greece,’ I said in an excited voice. ‘I spent two months on the islands. Where are you going?’
‘Santorini.’
‘Please sit and join us, Connor.’ I was curious and keen to get to know him. ‘Is archaeology your passion?’
‘Absolutely. I like to discover something old and forgotten, bring it back to life. Restore its beauty.’ He smiled and showed perfect teeth, reminding me of his brother.
I sensed Connor wasn’t just interested in talking about his work. ‘Santorini is simply stunning. Although it’s a party island,’ I added.
‘A rocking island. Unlike my brother, I like to dance.’
‘Are you staying here with Aunty Mary?’ Maddy interrupted.
He nodded. ‘Sure as hell can’t stay with my brother. Don’t want to cramp his style with all the chicks he brings home.’ Conno
r snickered. ‘Every time I call, no matter what day of the week it is, there’s some girl in the background.’
My stomach turned with disappointment more than jealousy when I thought about Hunter sleeping with other girls.
‘We’re nothing alike, Hunter and I,’ Connor said to me.
‘That’s for sure,’ Maddy butted in.
‘I’m a one woman, one man type of guy.’ His eyes twinkled. With his dark hair cut short in an army style, it brought out the blue in his eyes even more. Without a doubt his eyes were his best feature. A dimple creased each cheek when he smiled, and it made him cute rather than handsome.
‘A romantic, I bet?’ I grinned at him.
‘Love the cinema, walks in the park or on the beach. I’m happy sitting at home with my girl watching movies.’ He folded his arms across his chest.
‘Okay, I’ve heard enough. Stop hitting on my friend. It’s not cool,’ Maddy said dryly, wiping her nose with a tissue.
I laughed. ‘He’s not hitting on me, Maddy.’
Maddy arched her brow and tilted her head to the side like I was stupid.
‘Please don’t take this the wrong way, Connor, but I want to leave. I feel like shit.’ Maddy pulled out another tissue and blew her nose, hard. ‘Drugs have worn off.’
I stood and held out my hand. ‘It was lovely to meet you.’
Connor took my hand and this time gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘Likewise. I hope we see each other again. Soon.’
‘I see Maddy all the time so it’s likely.’
On Friday night I wanted to do something special considering every night for the past week I’d gone to the gym and then home to watch television with Mum. Maddy remained unwell and there wasn’t exactly a line of guys waiting to take me out. My list of girlfriends was even shorter. Growing up, basketball commitments had stolen my social life, and apart from Maddy I never developed close friendships with girls from school. Conveniently, I’d had friends from my team, but they had moved on, some to university, and it pained me to keep in contact. So tonight my only date was with the treadmill, again. At least I was seeing the benefits. My knee was stronger and I was fitter. My aerobic routine changed from all bike to a half hour of bike, a half hour on the cross trainer and ten minutes of jogging. Since I never completed my rehab, running was my biggest achievement.