Family Bonds- Hunter and Kayla (Amore Island Book 1)

by Natalie Ann

  “You don’t seem too interested since I’m still dressed.”

  He laughed when she lifted her hips, allowing him to finish undressing her. “Look at you. I didn’t expect this.”

  She had thought of grooming though and had asked Amanda about waxing. The salon Amanda worked at did it and Kayla had bit the bullet and gone over yesterday before work. Now that was what friends were for, as Amanda laughed like crazy outside the door while Kayla yelped.

  “First time and all,” she said.

  He stopped and looked up at her, his eyes softer than she expected. She wasn’t sure what that look meant and he didn’t stare at her long. Nope, he lowered his head and put his mouth right on her swollen nub, pulled it into his mouth like that bee to pollen again.

  No teeth this time. Just his lips and his tongue swirling around.

  If Kayla thought she was wet before, she was pretty sure she was dripping on the bed and was hoping he wouldn’t notice. She’d always thought she got wetter than average but never knew for sure and was always too embarrassed to ask someone.

  “Hunter. If you keep that up I’m going to finish without you.”

  “No, you aren’t,” he said, his mouth moving lower and almost slurping at her. Tasting everything she had to offer.

  “Yes, I am,” she said, her hips moving up and plastering herself to his mouth. The throbbing just wouldn’t stop, going on and on the longer he continued to devour her.

  She was sucking in great gobs of air when he stepped back. Her eyes opened—she hadn’t even realized they were closed she was so lost in the sensations—to watch him undress.

  Oh yeah, now that’s what she was hoping for. Waiting on.

  She got a good look at his toned arms, trim waist with muscles galore contouring toward the bulge in his shorts.

  He wasted no time dropping them down with his underwear giving her an impressive view of what she’d been dreaming about. Thoughts of his cock inside of her were making the fluid drip out some more.

  He reached down and got a condom out of his shorts and slipped it on, her eyes never leaving his movements. Then he gathered her in his arms on the bed, his body coming over her, and slipping inside.

  Her back arched as she took all of him in. It was a tight fit, but a delicious one at that.

  “You aren’t going to finish without me this time,” he said.

  She hoped not. If there was one thing she loved about sex it was finishing the same time as her partner. Their bodies moving together then releasing all the pent-up energy while they clung to each other. Too bad it didn’t happen often in her life or with many of the partners she’d had.

  But she knew it was going to with Hunter.

  His hips were moving in and out at a steady pace, Kayla matching it.

  They were building up a sweat, the heat from their bodies just burning each other with no cool relief in sight.

  But she didn’t want a cool relief. She wanted to burn some more. She wanted it to be scorching.

  He must have too when his hips moved faster forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist and just hang on. They were almost slipping and sliding at this point, something she’d never had happen before.

  Either she’d never been this worked up or the air conditioning wasn’t working in the hotel.

  Hunter put his hands under her ass and held her in place, then he just started to slam into her. Her head went back on the bed, her mouth flew open, and she let out a screech as everything inside of her just released and the floodgates opened up.

  He crushed his mouth to hers, his body pulsing inside of her, matching her own spasms.

  “How is that for a memorable first time?” she asked him when she was able to get some air back into her lungs.

  “I think we need a shower to cool off. I’ve never sweat so much in my life,” he said, grinning.

  “It has to be the AC is broken. I feel the same way.”

  He got up off the bed and moved to the unit on the wall. “Nope, it’s working. Guess it’s just what happens when two people click.”

  “We clicked all right,” she said. “Good thing there wasn’t a matchbook by us or we would have set this room on fire.”

  Hunter reached for her hand and pulled her up, her body bumping into his. “Nothing wrong with that. Let’s go get cleaned up. Or maybe we can find another position while we are in there.”

  “We can do that too,” she said, knowing that this was going to be the best night of her life.

  19

  Important Enough

  “I wish we had more time together,” Hunter said when they were standing on the deck of the ferry Sunday afternoon and making their way back to the island.

  “Me too. But this was great. Thank you again for thinking of it. For planning it.”

  “I think we both needed it.”

  He knew he did. It’d been almost a year since he’d spent that much time with a woman. He had a few that he could call for a night out but tried not to do it a lot. It’d probably been six months since he had and his body was definitely in need of a release.

  But it wasn’t just his body that found a release this weekend. It was his mind and maybe a little bit of his heart.

  “I’ve never had a vacation before so I guess I could consider this somewhat of one.”

  It bothered him to hear her say that but knew enough to not talk about her past. Every time he wanted to bring it up she’d get this distant look in her eye and he’d back off.

  “We’ll have to do it again,” he said, knowing he was going to have to find time for it.

  “I’d like that, but I know we are getting into your busy time of year. It’s probably hard for you to get away on the weekend.”

  “I’ve got managers that work on the weekends,” he said. “Many are just used to me being there, but I’m very rarely called. I guess I’m not as important as I think I am.”

  Kayla giggled. “You’re important enough.”

  “Am I to you?” he asked and wished he hadn’t let that slip. They were nowhere close to talking about feelings at this stage yet he felt so different with her than he had with anyone else in his life.

  “Would it scare you if I said yes?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Then that is your answer,” she said, poking him in the side with her finger. Just a playful move that he enjoyed with her. Most women he dated were more concerned with dressing up and going out on the town than they were about having fun and just enjoying each other’s company.

  Fun to those women was what he could buy them. What he could do for them.

  They weren’t concerned about him or what he wanted.

  Maybe he was at fault for his choice in women or the fact he accepted that behavior from them when he was looking.

  But he was thirty-five and sick and tired of the games now.

  He saw what his parents had. He saw how his mother was a support system for the long hours and stress his father had on the job.

  He wanted those things for himself in a mate but had given up thinking he’d find it. Yet here in front of him was someone he was thinking could be that person…if he opened up enough, or could convince her.

  He wasn’t stubborn. She wanted this relationship hidden too. She was worried about being judged also. Only they’d be judged for different things.

  “Why didn’t you tell me Patrice talked to you about that guest?”

  Her smile dropped and he regretted bringing it up, but the truth was, he wanted her to know that Patrice had guessed they were dating. The more he thought of it, the more he realized she should be aware.

  “So she thought I was lying and went to you with it?”

  “I’m not sure what she thought,” he said. No use giving all the details. “I think she was more surprised that I got involved and was concerned I was being called down there for something she felt was trivial.”

  “I think it was more that she believes I can’t do my job and that I lied about how you fou
nd out. It’s that or it reflects poorly on how she oversees her staff.”

  He grinned at her. “There is a tiny part of that there too. The reflection on her. Patrice and I have worked together for a long time. She’s good at her job, but she is always worried someone will think she isn’t.”

  “That’s not my problem though,” Kayla said. “Sorry. That was me being defensive and I shouldn’t be. I like my job and that was a bad day for me. Between my car dying and that guest. I was happy the day was over and then to be talked to about it days later...it just hit me out of the blue.”

  He ran his hand up and down her back. “There was nothing to worry about. I told her exactly how the situation came about.”

  “Which matched what Tiffany and I said because it was the truth. I know she talked to Tiffany too.”

  “She did. And yes, the stories matched. The thing is, there was more to it than that. She came to me as a test of sorts.”

  “A test of what?” she asked. “Oh my God, she doesn’t suspect this, does she?”

  Her hand was waving back and forth between them, her eyes wide and getting glossy. The last thing he wanted was her to get upset, but it seemed like he was failing at that.

  “She did. She won’t say a word.”

  “So you told her?” Kayla screeched. “I thought we weren’t saying anything to anyone.”

  “We aren’t. But I wanted you to know that she approached me. She’s fine with it. It’s not that. She knows I’m not going to interfere one way or another and it doesn’t affect your ability to do your job.”

  “But she is going to think I get special treatment now. I don’t want that.”

  “Has she treated you any differently in the past few days?”

  “No. I don’t see her much.”

  “Exactly. Don’t worry about it,” he said and pulled her into his arms. “I just wanted you to know. It doesn’t mean you have to say anything to her or that she will to you, but if there is one thing I’ve learned in life it’s to be aware of everything going on around you. That is all I was doing with this conversation.”

  “So you want me to watch my back?” she asked.

  “I guess I do.”

  “You think I slipped up and that is how she guessed?” There were more tears in her eyes. “I shouldn’t see you on my breaks. Or talk to you. Nothing at all when I’m there.”

  Not what he wanted to hear. “Whoa. You didn’t do anything wrong. We aren’t doing anything wrong. I’m just telling you so you know. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything though.”

  “No. I’m glad you did. But I also feel awkward now.”

  “This is a small island, Kayla. Your roommates know who I am, right?”

  “Of course.”

  “And they all work on the island. They could easily slip and say something not meaning to. My family is everywhere on this island. It’s a secret, but it won’t be one for long. You needed to know so we can be prepared if anyone comes to you and says something.”

  She knuckled a tear away. “What am I supposed to say? It’s got to be such an embarrassment for you to be dating me.”

  This was just getting worse and worse and he was wondering how the conversation was slipping out of his hands like a bar of wet soap.

  “This isn’t an embarrassment and don’t think of it that way. I don’t want you to feel bad about anything. This is about us and no one else. But you have to be aware there might be talk at some point and the best way to handle it is to be upfront.”

  “If you say so,” she said.

  He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. “I do say so. One day at a time.”

  “That’s how I pretty much live my life.”

  Again, not words he wanted to hear. “We had a great night together and I’m already counting down the time until we can do it again. Let’s not let this conversation mar anything.”

  Kayla nodded her head, but he knew she was just pacifying him.

  “You’ve got the look of a woman who’s been well and truly used,” Amanda said, wiggling her eyebrows when Kayla walked into the kitchen. There were peanut butter cookies on the counter and Kayla reached for one.

  “It was a great night,” she said even though the trip back didn’t feel so wonderful to her when Hunter dropped the bomb on her about Patrice.

  “Bri, come on in here,” Amanda yelled. “Kayla is going to brag about her night.”

  “No, I’m not,” she said.

  “Yes, you are,” Bri said. “I’m single and lonely and want to hear about someone else’s romance.”

  She snorted. “Where’s Sidney? I’m not saying this twice.”

  “She’s working,” Bri said. “We’ll fill her in. So how many times did you and the wealthy hottie roll around in the sheets?”

  “Is that how people see him?” she asked. “By his value? His bank account?”

  “His last name is Bond on an island where his ancestors are responsible for the existence of it. Of course that is how he’s seen,” Bri said.

  “That’s not true,” Amanda said. “There are a lot of his family members that live here that don’t have nice fat bank accounts like him.”

  Kayla knew that. This weekend they talked about his family some more. Or about the history of the island.

  How there were lines that were straight and serious and those that were the black sheep. Some that worked for what they had and others that lived off of their ancestor’s hard work.

  “I just don’t want to talk about that,” Kayla said to Bri. “Whether he signs my paycheck or not, that isn’t what I see when I look at him.”

  “You see a smoking body and large hands,” Amanda said.

  “Yes, I do,” she said, glad that Amanda brought the conversation back. Kayla liked Bri well enough, but in the short time she’d known her, she’d already discovered that Bri looked for the wrong things in men. And she spent her time looking at a lot of men.

  “So what did you do?” Bri asked.

  “Not much. We got there around one yesterday, went to lunch, did a little sightseeing.”

  Amanda snorted. “I hope it was seeing the sight of what was in his shorts.”

  Kayla burst out laughing. “We did that as soon as we could check into the room. Then did it some more. Took a break for dinner, then more time in the bed.”

  “That a girl,” Bri said. “I’d ask how he was in the sack, but your relaxed mood says it all.”

  She wasn’t one to share intimate details with others about sex and wasn’t going to now. “This morning we got up and had breakfast, did a little bit more sightseeing that we didn’t get to do yesterday. Not of his body,” she told Amanda. “There is only so much a girl can take before she starts walking funny.”

  “It sounds like you had a great time,” Bri said. “When are you going to see him again?”

  “Not sure,” she said. “I guess this is the part where I tell you that my boss knows I’m seeing Hunter.”

  “Hunter is your boss,” Bri said.

  “No, my immediate supervisor.” She didn’t bother to tell them about her bad day at work or that Patrice had thought she was lying. That was in the past and she didn’t want to be petty. “Patrice asked him and he didn’t bother to lie about it.”

  “So,” Bri said. “What’s the big deal?”

  “The big deal is she doesn’t want people to treat her differently,” Amanda said. “Right?”

  “Yeah. Listen, I know you guys don’t know much about me, but when I say I come from nothing, I literally come from nothing. I spent most of my life in foster care and then was on my own at eighteen. The little I’ve got I’ve worked hard for. I haven’t always made the best decisions in life, but I’ve made them myself. I’m happy with my job and my life right now. But I’ve been homeless in the past. I had been out of work for almost a month which put me behind in rent. I was evicted and had nowhere to go. I slept in a shelter for one night clutching the few possessions I had because I felt eyes on me the wh
ole time. After that I slept in my car. I cleaned up in restrooms and at my job. It took me a few weeks to get another job and I had to hide it from them that I was living in my car until I could find someone accepting roommates.” She sniffled a little. “I’ve been judged and talked about my whole life and I’m kind of sick of it.”

  “Hey,” Amanda said, reaching for her hand and rubbing it. The tears that were forming in Kayla’s eyes just started to roll down her cheeks. “I had no idea. I’m sorry you had to go through that, but you won’t ever have that problem again. Trust me. Relax. We are here for you. What did Hunter say about Patrice?”

  “He told me that he felt I should know. Patrice has known for days and I had no clue. He told her to forget she knew but said that it wouldn’t stay a secret for long on the island. That you guys know and you see people and people talk about him.”

  “They do,” Bri said. “I haven’t said a word about you dating him, but you will hear his name a lot. Like I said, the Bonds that have the money, their names are said a lot. There is always someone who wants a piece of them.”

  “But that isn’t me,” she argued.

  “We don’t think that of you,” Amanda said. “Did you get upset when he told you?”

  She wiped her nose on her sleeve and reached for another cookie. If any time called for sweets, it was now. “I did. Not like this. I think I made him feel bad. He hugged me and said we’d get through it.”

  “Ah, what a sweetie,” Bri said.

  “Yeah, he is one. What am I going to do?”

  “You’re going to enjoy your time with him. There is no reason not to. He’s a big boy and knows what he wants. Or is that the problem? You think he might not be as invested as you?” Amanda asked.

  “It has crossed my mind. Is he just playing with me to pass the time?”

  “What does your gut say?” Bri asked. “Because trust me, I’ve been with enough men like that and when I look back I felt it and just brushed it off and realized I shouldn’t have.”

  “My gut tells me that I really like him and I’m scared.”

  “You’re scared because you think he likes you back,” Amanda said. “As much as you like him.”