by Rosie Praks
Oh shit. He could see Anton’s head bobbing up the stairs now.
Panic! Panic! Panic!
Because he was running out of time and options, he skipped the permission bit and plunged his mouth onto Clarice’s, sealing their lips together.
Clarice was taken aback, but she kissed him anyway, enjoying those lips, forgetting all about her dislike of public affection.
Hunter wasn’t expecting Clarice to be this cooperative, but she really mellowed. And as time moved on, he found he was still kissing her.
Deep in this intoxicating trance, Hunter was awakened again as he felt a hand fall upon his shoulder.
Oh crap! His body stiffened. Caught in action, kissing my girl. What am I going to do now?
Hunter looked like a little boy who was about to be scolded for stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. He was now sitting beside Clarice, his hand clasping hers his only security, as he stared timidly at his cousin sitting in front of him.
Anton directed a silent, frosty glare straight at Hunter’s face.
Hunter didn’t like that look. He felt nervous all of a sudden. His mouth went dry and his heart pumped much too fast for his liking. He clenched and unclenched his hand, the one that was now connected to Clarice.
Clarice wasn’t sure what was going on. She wasn’t sure why Hunter looked so scared of Anton. And the way Hunter was clasping and unclasping her hand was making her feel uncomfortable. She wanted to retract that hand, but Hunter only gripped tighter, like this particular action was his life support.
What Clarice didn’t know was this action was Hunter’s only life support. She glanced his way again, and again she saw that scared look in his eyes, which made her heart contract in pain.
Why is Hunter so scared? she wondered. And why is my heart feeling this pain?
“Care to explain what’s going on?” Anton’s voice had her looking at him instead.
“I know. I know. I can tell you, Anton.” Fern, who was sitting beside Anton, jumped up excitedly from her seat.
“I’m not asking you, Fern. I’m asking my cousin.” Anton lectured the girl beside him.
Fern only retracted back in her seat, a disappointed look on her face. She then turned to Hunter and said, “It’s all right, Hunter. You tell Anton. I have your back.” She reassured her friend, then turned to look at Clarice and smiled warmly at her before putting her hand on Clarice’s. “All will turn out well, Clarice.”
“What is going on here?” Clarice asked, even more confused.
A gentle squeeze on her hand had Clarice averting her gaze to Hunter again.
Hunter looked so tense. She saw his eyebrows knitted together in concentration, as if he were thinking hard, his jaw clenched tightly.
Right now, no one spoke. The silence was clear enough.
“Clarice is my woman.” He slammed his fist on the table and stood, threatening his cousin when he couldn’t endure this silence anymore. “So you better back off, Anton, or I will disown you.”
At Hunter’s sudden attack on the table, all Anton could do was stare in puzzlement, his eyes flicking between Clarice and his cousin. Is Hunter really that serious?
“What?” Clarice glared at Hunter when she heard his outburst. “I’m nobody’s woman.”
“Yes, you are, Clarice. You’re mine,” Hunter shouted back, possessively wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her forward. “So if you think about going back to Anton, I won’t let you.”
“Hunter, I’m not your woman. Nor am I Anton’s,” Clarice repeated, trying to remove Hunter’s grip on her waist.
Hunter didn’t listen to Clarice. Instead, he was hell bent on letting Anton know Clarice belonged to him and only him. So he let Clarice go and turned his attention back to his cousin. “Don’t think about touching my woman. I gave you the title of heir to the Silverton Enterprise already, and this is all I ask of you. Don’t touch my woman. She belongs to me. And only me. I saw her first. Everything about Clarice belongs to me. Even the baby she’s carrying is mine, so don’t even think about asking her to be yours.”
“What did you say?” Anton stood, all the fog clearing now. “You got Clarice pregnant?”
Oh crap! Hunter face-palmed himself. At that moment, he just wanted to put a sock in his mouth so he would shut up. The things he spurted out when he was mad.
“I… I…” Hunter couldn’t say anything to save himself.
“You made Clarice pregnant?” Anton growled again. And when Hunter didn’t respond, Anton started on his preaching. “I told you one of these days something like this would happen. Does Uncle even know about this? What are you going to do now? You’re hardly a grownup.”
“I’m twenty-three.” Hunter lifted his head and responded. “Of course I’m grown up.”
“An immature twenty-three-year-old, Hunter. That would be you. This is a serious matter. How are you supposed to look after Clarice?”
“I work now,” Hunter put in.
“Today was your first day at work.” Anton carried on. “I’m talking about the future. How are you supposed to support her if you don’t have Uncle to back you up?”
“I’m working on it,” Hunter said before being slashed down by Anton.
“Seriously, how did you get Clarice pregnant?”
“That’s enough, Anton.” Hunter struck back.
“No, that’s not enough. Hunter,” Anton fired. “I’ve pampered you too much. I’ve never reprimanded you before, so this should be a lesson for you and for me.”
The atmosphere now held an icy, eerie tone. Clarice wasn’t listening to Anton’s rambling lecture to Hunter. She was too busy taking in Hunter’s reaction.
She couldn’t understand why it hurt her so much to see Hunter in this vulnerable state. He was taking it all in without saying a single word. Once or twice, he tried defending himself, but all he could do was squeeze her hand for support.
Why did I get involved with these two? Clarice asked herself. Why has my idea of wanting a little sperm caused such a catastrophic effect on the cousins? She didn’t want to be the main cause for their fight. But more than anything, she wanted to stop this pain gnawing at her heart. She wanted Hunter to smile for her again. She wanted Hunter to tease her again or kiss her without permission. And so without thinking, she suddenly spoke, interrupting Anton’s lecture.
“Hunter didn’t make me pregnant,” she said loud and clear for everyone sitting at the table to hear. “I wanted to be pregnant. I love Hunter. That’s why I chose his sperm.”
Chapter 14
I love Hunter.
As soon as Hunter heard this, he froze. Everything in the café ceased to exist and his vision zoomed in only on Clarice.
“So don’t blame Hunter. He’s very dear to me. I’m sure whatever obstacles will come our way; we will deal with it together.” Clarice finished off by winding her arms around Hunter. “Isn’t that right, Hunter? We love each other. That’s why we made this baby.”
Hunter was still standing like a statue. Inside his heart, he couldn’t begin to describe the feelings that flitting about in there. His heart just pumped and pumped, yet it combined with a fluttering effect like he was a little butterfly about to fly off into the clouds.
“Isn’t that right, Hunter?” Clarice hardened her voice when he didn’t respond. This time, though, it awoke him from his dreamlike state.
“Yes… yes.” Those were the only words he could squeeze out in his perpetually tumultuous state.
Could it be true? Had Clarice finally admitted to herself that she’d fallen in love with him?
“Yes. Yes, we are,” Hunter finally fired back with a renewed sense of determination and enthusiasm now that he had Clarice backing him up. “So you don’t have to worry about me anymore,” he said to Anton, who was still sitting there with his mouth gaping open. “And regarding any romantic feelings you might harbor for my woman, I suggest you look elsewhere because this one is taken.” He turned to Fern, who was eyeing him so proudly.
“Fern, I entrust my cousin to your hands. Find him a nice girl or something so he doesn’t have to act like a grouchy grandpa all the time.”
Once Hunter had finished, he all but dragged Clarice from his cousin’s penetrating gaze and headed back out into the car park.
Clarice almost had the wind knocked out of her lungs when she felt Hunter’s crushing bear hug. He tucked his head between her neck and shoulder and inhaled her scent.
“Say that again, Clarice.” Hunter’s voice trickled into her ears, laced with so much emotion. “Tell me again that you love me. Say it so I can hear it and believe it with my own ears.”
“Hunter, I…” Clarice couldn’t form any words. She tried forcing them out, but it wouldn’t come out. Her body was in a state, too shocked to comprehend what Hunter had just asked.
“Clarice, you love me, don’t you? You really love me? Tell me,” Hunter breathed into her neck, making her skin tingle and her breath shudder. “Tell me again that you wanted my sperm. I want to hear it. Then when we get home, I’ll make love to you. Tender and sweet. Slowly and passionately. To prove I also love you.”
“Hun-ter.” Clarice squeezed her eyes shut, feeling a damp arousing heat penetrating her body. Her knees felt weak and her breath became shallow. Her mind was in a turbulent storm as she felt his hand gliding to her back and slowly drawing lazy circles. She gripped his shirt to balance herself and stilled her beating heart, for any more of that touch and those soft whispers of nothingness into her ears would have her knees buckling in no time. She was weak to his seduction, and right now she wanted…
Dear heaven, this mad Casanova is seducing me in the car park.
Clarice managed to tear Hunter off and regained her strength. She stood back and gave a fake laugh.
“Oh, Hunter.” She feigned. “Of course it’s not true. It was only an act.”
“An act?” Hunter’s lips pursed into a thin line, a straight match to his emotions right now, a very thin thread that was barely holding him together.
“Of course,” Clarice said. “How could I tell Anton he was the guy I wanted as the father of my baby?”
A sharp pain stabbed at her heart when she saw Hunter’s hurt expression.
Oh, what had she done? Why did she have to say that? Now Hunter was hurt even more.
She’d only wanted to make Hunter feel better, so she’d pretended to love him in front of Anton, to spare him from Anton’s wrath and reprimanding ways, but she didn’t expect him to be so upset.
Hunter looked so wounded right now that she wanted to hug him, but then she remembered he was dangerous, very dangerous, and he could turn her perfectly normal self into a wanton nymph. He almost had her. So she did the only thing she could think of, which was step back and look at the gravel pavement of the car park and reflect upon her previous bad behavior, for making Hunter hurt and for almost allowing herself to indulge in that carnal desire in the car park.
Clarice heard a boisterous laugh. She jerked up her gaze and saw Hunter holding his stomach like he was a lunatic, laughing so manically that he had to hold on to the hood of her car to stabilize himself.
“What are you laughing at?” Clarice asked, confused.
He just continued to hold his stomach until his laughter slowly died down.
“I don’t care what you say, Avocado.” Hunter smirked and looked up at her with a twinkle of delight in his eyes. “For now you may say it’s only an act, but in the future, I know you’ll fall for me.”
“Why are you so sure of yourself?” she asked.
Hunter leapt forward unexpectedly, thrust Clarice into his tight embrace, and brought his face down to her level.
Clarice gasped at the sudden action but didn’t remove herself. Instead, she just stood there, staring at him with her big midnight pupils.
Hunter looked into Clarice’s eyes and said, “I’ve never been so sure of anything before, but for once, I have a good feeling you’re going to fall in love with me.” Hunter rubbed his nose to Clarice’s before finally releasing her and pinching her nose playfully. “It’s just a matter time; that’s all.” And then Hunter kissed her on the cheek and said, “See you at home, baby.”
Clarice was left standing there in the car park, watching Hunter as he drove off in his red Ferrari, her thoughts consumed with what he’d said. You’re going to fall in love with me… It’s just a matter time.
“How long do I have before I fall in love with you?” Clarice asked herself with a hand on her heart as it beat thunderously within her chest.
“Have you fallen in love with me yet?” Hunter kissed her on the forehead.
“No.” Clarice pushed his head back and sat up. “And where have you been all this time?”
“Were you worried?”
“No,” Clarice said, averting her eyes.
She’d told Hunter a lie. Of course she was worried. Worried sick, in fact, when he’d just disappeared right after their doctor visit at the hospital this evening. She thought maybe he’d gone back to his home, but when she tried calling him, he didn’t reply.
It was approaching midnight when her worry was at its peak, but knowing she couldn’t get him to answer his phone, she thought of going to sleep instead to try and ease her mind. But her mind would not be eased as a thousand scenarios played inside her head. She tossed and turned, but sleep would not come.
Maybe his car broke down and he’s stuck outside somewhere. All these thoughts ran through her head like a hamster in its wheel. And now, just when she was about to fall asleep, he’d woken her with a kiss.
“Well, it won’t be too long before you do,” Hunter muttered and then brought out a bouquet of roses from behind his back.
“You like them?” he asked, a puppy dog look on his face, waiting for Clarice’s approval.
Clarice couldn’t say anything. Had Hunter gone to buy another bouquet of flowers for her? Was that why he didn’t arrive home as promised? But what took him so long?
Clarice didn’t reply. Instead, she turned her back to Hunter, pulling the blanket up to her neck to cover herself, afraid of her feelings. With a trembling voice, she spoke. “I’m tired. Go to sleep.”
Clarice heard rustling from behind her, and then another kiss was dropped onto her forehead before Hunter said, “I’m sorry for making you worry. My phone ran out of battery. I’ll put these flowers downstairs for you to enjoy later. Good night, baby. You have a good sleep.” Then the door was gently closed behind him.
“Hunter…” Her voice quivered when she spoke again. “What are you doing to me?” she asked before slowing falling into a restless sleep.
Clarice’s little stage act she pulled off in front of Anton and Fern really had Hunter increasing the number of kisses per day, in turn making her internal thermostat increase a few more degrees.
Clarice really didn’t know how long she could tolerate Hunter’s presence in her house. Waking up seeing him, going to bed seeing him, kissing each other good night, eating breakfast together—it was like they were a newlywed couple, yet they were not. Every time Hunter came near her, her breath would shudder involuntary because he would remind her constantly that she was going to fall in love with him soon. And it scared her. Even though Hunter had promised he wouldn’t do anything to her, it was she herself that she couldn’t trust. She just wasn’t sure when her willpower would snap and her body would pounce. And if that did happen, she would prefer to jump off a cliff rather than die of the embarrassment of being called a cougar.
Tonight was no better. She’d been lying awake, thinking about what he’d said. It had already been a week since that day, but her mind just couldn’t rest. Her thoughts drifted to the image of Hunter hugging her at the car park that evening of the hospital visit. She could remember his words clearly inside her mind.
Then when we get home, I’ll make love to you. Tender and sweet. Slowly and passionately. To prove I also love you.
Just replaying that sentence inside her head had her body in havoc, her mi
nd clogged up with images of Hunter in different positions, naked, making love to her.
Her mouth was feeling all sticky and dry. She shut her eyes and squeezed out those disturbing images from her mind, but the more she tried to throw away those thoughts, the more illicit her thoughts became.
“Dear heaven.” She breathed out slowly, fighting the throbbing need inside her. Why must it be now? In all of her thirty years of life, she never thought much about this lustful deed.
“I need…” she said to herself, getting up. “I need…”
You need Hunter, a small voice inside her said. That only encouraged her traitorous mind to pour out more illicit thoughts of Hunter in various acts and positions.
She shook her head.
“I need… chocolate.” She scrambled to raid the pantry again.
“Crap.” All her strong will was rapidly drained from her body, her mouth giving out an amorous moan, when she saw Hunter sleeping on the couch as she entered the lounge.
Look for that chocolate, you idiot. She forced her feet to swallow the remaining distance to the pantry, but instead, she found herself moving in the direction of the couch, toward Hunter.
What are you doing, Clarice? Get your damned chocolate and get out of this damned room. Be gone. Now. DO IT NOW!
Her body, though, wouldn’t listen to her mind. Just seeing Hunter lying so peacefully and innocently like that drew her to him like a moth to a flame.
Her heart pounded as her steps took her closer. She knew she shouldn’t be doing this. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t help it. Hunter was so close, just a few steps away. He would be asleep by now, so even if she decided to take action, he still wouldn’t notice. Right? Her hand reached out to touch him to make sure he was asleep.
She yanked her hand back when she felt a burning sensation running through her already throbbing body as the tips of her fingers touched Hunter’s cheek. It burned her, seared her skin all the way to her heart. But at least she knew now that Hunter was really asleep. He didn’t move when she poked him in the face.