Hunter

by Melody Anne

  His hands roamed her back until he reached her curved behind and tugged her into him, allowing her to feel the power of his desire. He was so hard, so strong. She wanted to be lost forever in his embrace.

  The desire she’d been feeling was now boiling over, and she wiggled against him, unable to get as close as she wanted to be. She needed him inside her, and even then she feared it wouldn’t be enough.

  No matter how much she’d tried fighting it, Hunter was the one person who allowed her to be free, and she relished in that freedom. She wasn’t willing to let it go — not when she was so happy where she was.

  When his lips broke away from hers, a whimper escaped. She clutched at his hair, trying to bring him back. When her eyes opened, she gazed at him and her core squeezed tightly.

  “I need you, Becka. Come home with me,” he said before bending down and kissing her neck. He knew just the place that made her fall apart.

  “Yes,” she told him. She was willing to follow him to the pits of hell if that’s what it would take to ease this suffering she’d self-inflicted for so many years.

  They’d been so good together but even back then, she’d known it would end, knew he would go off to see the world while she stayed and did what she’d been raised to do. But for those few short months they’d had together, none of it had mattered. What had mattered was the two of them being together. That’s how she felt at this moment.

  But as he gazed at her, the remembered pain of him leaving her behind began to filter through her hormone-addled brain. She’d barely survived re-entering the real world. She’d almost given up all of her plans and dreams so she could chase after him.

  Now that she was older, and could hesitantly admit her life wasn’t as perfect as she wanted it to be, she wondered if this time she’d be able to pick up the pieces. If she fell into his arms and sated the need within her, would it open the gap of her pain to unbearable trauma?

  Was Rebekah willing to take the risk?

  She shook as she gazed at him. She watched as careful awareness entered his eyes. He knew she was pulling back. He could fight her on it — and win. She knew that too. She almost wanted him to.

  “We can’t,” she said, feeling the need to break into tears. “This was a bad idea, Hunter.”

  Rage filtered through Hunter’s gaze, but he somehow managed to control it. His fingers pressed tightly into her skin as he struggled with whatever it was streaming through him.

  “We both know this is right, Becka,” he said through clenched teeth. “You want me as much as I do you.”

  “This is just a chemical reaction,” she insisted as she pushed away from him. This time he let her go and emptiness filled her as ragged breaths huffed out of her.

  “I didn’t take anything from you. I asked. You answered,” he reminded her.

  There was a clap of thunder at the end of his words, and the promised rain poured down over them, steam coming off of their overheated bodies. The sight made her knees weak. She wanted to run her tongue along the raindrops dripping over his lips. They’d made love in the rain before. It had been exquisite.

  “No, you didn’t take what I didn’t want to give,” she admitted.

  “But you’ve changed your mind.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “You’re damning us both,” Hunter growled. He reached out and grabbed her wet hand, pulling it against his body so her fingers were pressed against his solid flesh. The rain had molded his clothes to him and she could see and feel his desire. It made her core tighten even more. She squeezed the slightest bit before pulling away from him.

  “It’s just desire, Hunter. It means nothing. The need can be met by anyone,” she said with sadness. He didn’t know her, didn’t understand her. Not even ten years ago had he understood who she was. Nothing had changed in their time apart. They could sate each other’s needs, but she’d become even more broken and empty after.

  It wasn’t worth it.

  “I’m leaving.” She turned and took several steps before his words followed her. She didn’t stop as he spoke them.

  “This will happen, Becka. You can’t fight it any more than I can. I’ll wait. We will finish what has always been inevitable.”

  The rain poured down, the sea churned and the skies flashed. Rebekah kept walking. She knew he was right — and that was what frightened her the most. She was losing more control with each passing day. And sadly, she wanted to.

  Hunter. It had always been Hunter — and it always would be.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hunter had managed to let Becka get away from him, and he’d even succeeded in staying away from her for a full week. He’d put a pause on their treasure hunting. He’d already been back home for the longest stretch since the summer he’d spent with Becka. Everything within him said to run away, to give up this idea of finding some treasure his father felt he needed to earn.

  But instead of running away he found himself pulling up to the campus where Becka worked, found himself walking to the building where he knew she’d be giving a lecture, then slipping inside to hide in the back of the classroom as he gazed at the woman who took his breath away.

  Becka was standing at the front of the classroom, a smile on her face as she stood at the podium, speaking. Hunter looked around the room and noticed bored expressions on many of the students’ faces. How could they be bored with her up there? He noticed one guy focused completely on her before he turned to the guy next to him and made a comment. His friend made a rude gesture, and Hunter was absolutely certain about what they were talking about. Rage filtered through him.

  Someone made a comment that stopped Becka’s lecture and she looked up, clear irritation in her eyes. Hunter smiled as he sat back. She might appear young and tiny, but she was a force to be reckoned with.

  “I know many of you would rather be anywhere but a history class with the holidays quickly approaching, but those not interested in how this country came to be should be ashamed of themselves. History is vital to who we are and I’m attempting to make it as fascinating to all of you as it is to me. That being said, just remember that you are paying good money to be here and keep your negative comments to yourself,” Becka said.

  Hunter had to admit he wasn’t much of a history buff himself. He did enjoy a good movie on epic battles, but he rarely popped open a non-fiction book. He’d rather live in the moment and see current events. But she had a point. Current events wouldn’t be what they are without the history that preceded them.

  As Becka continued to speak, he was riveted to his seat. He slouched down, not yet ready for her to know he was there. He wanted this unguarded look at the woman he couldn’t get out of his head. She was beautiful and talented and so damn smart. The only flaw he could find with her was that she fought her feelings for him.

  “We can now continue discussing the Civil War which still has such a hold on us as Americans that mock battles are still being played out. Why do you think it’s such a fascinating piece of our history?”

  Living out west, this wasn’t something Hunter really thought much about, but it did make sense. Every once in a while he would see a Confederate flag fluttering in the wind on the back of a truck, or hear heated debates over who was right or wrong, or for that matter, what had caused it at all. It wasn’t something he’d ever put much thought into, but at the same time, would America be where it was had the Civil War never occurred? He wondered how different the present time would be if no battles had been fought.

  He sat there for an hour, listening to the smooth tones of Becka’s voice, the questions people asked, and noting the way she thought for a moment before answering. She wasn’t just spouting off words to appease her class. She seemed excited by the participation, and involved with the students who actively contributed. It was giving Hunter another glimpse into who she was — and into who he was whe
n he was around her.

  When she ended the lecture, most students grabbed their books and ran for the doors. A few climbed down the stadium staircase, and she easily and readily answered their questions. Hunter didn’t move from his seat. The last of her students ascended the stairs, a couple looking at him in question, but they passed by without a word.

  Becka began gathering her books, and only then did he stand. He didn’t make a sound, but suddenly she looked up and their eyes connected. He watched as a shudder passed through her and then her face flushed, her body stiffened.

  This woman was destroying him piece by piece, making it impossible for him to sleep, to leave, to do anything other than seek her out — even in her safety zone of a campus. The sound of her beautiful voice lingered in the recesses of his mind as he lay awake thinking of her.

  It had only been a week since he’d last seen her and yet, it felt like a year. Maybe it was because they had unfinished business. Hunter was confident he would be able to let this woman go. He just wasn’t sure when.

  Quickly gaining her composure, the look she sent him seemed to say she didn’t need him, nor want him, there. She was telling him he was overstepping his boundaries. Hunter didn’t care. He’d never been a rule follower. He went where his heart took him and it didn’t matter if anyone else had a problem with it.

  “Let’s have dinner, Becka,” he said as he climbed down the steps, drawing nearer to her. It was insane how his body was seemingly pulled to this woman. Even if he’d wanted to leave in that moment, he didn’t think he’d be able to.

  Hunter refused to analyze that line of thinking.

  “No,” she told him as he drew much closer than she was obviously comfortable with.

  “We’re partners. We have to talk,” he said. There were many more things he wanted to say to her, but he hesitated. They hadn’t ended on the best note when she’d run away from him on the beach after a scorching kiss. He’d wanted so much more.

  “I don’t think this partnership is going to work out,” she told him, refusing to look at him. That irritated him more than anything else. If she were going to dismiss him so easily, the least she could do would be to look him in the eyes.

  “I’m not interested in a new partnership, Becka. I only want you,” he said, his voice purposely low and soothing. She seemed like a cornered animal and he didn’t want to frighten her away.

  “This is stupid, Hunter. We’ve tried to do this together. It hasn’t been working out. I’ve accepted it. Can’t you do the same?” she said. Finally, she looked up and the emotion in her eyes told him everything her words weren’t saying.

  She was fighting him, sure, but she was fighting herself a hell of a lot more. Why? He didn’t understand how so many people bottled up how they felt, and lived a life they couldn’t stand. Life might seem endless, but he’d watched in first person as timelines were shortened drastically by a natural disaster or even worse, by another’s hands. To repress what you actually wanted was a crime in his own mind. Believing enough in yourself to take what you wanted and deserved was a person’s right.

  “I think you might be afraid of letting go, Becka. You are enjoying yourself and for whatever reason, that scares you. I won’t force you to be with me, but I won’t turn you away when you admit to what you want,” he assured her.

  “I’m a professional, Hunter. I assure you I know how to speak my mind. I don’t hide,” she said. She looked away from him as she finished that sentence. She did hide and she knew it. He decided not to call her on it.

  Instead, Hunter walked around to the back of her desk. She leaned into it to try and pull from him, but he closed her in. He wouldn’t take what she wasn’t willing to give, but he would certainly hold out a piece of candy to tempt her to give in to her hunger.

  “Ten years ago we were young and stupid. We both lived for the moment and we had a wonderful time, but now we’re grown up and for some reason, we’re drawn to each other. Why not explore that? Why not let go? It can’t cause any harm,” he told her, his mouth only inches from her own.

  His body thickened as her eyes trailed down his face and feasted on his lips. She ran her tongue out and swiped it on her bottom lip before biting down on it as if trying not to speak. He could practically feel her heartbeat increase as her breathing deepened. She was as much in a trance as he was.

  “What’s the matter, Becka? Hungry?” he asked with confidence.

  When her hand lifted, her fingers scorched him through the material of his shirt. He wanted to tug her into his arms, but he didn’t want to halt the progress they were making. He also didn’t want to kiss her into submission. He wanted her to let go and let him love her because she needed it as much as he did.

  Instead of grabbing him though, she pushed. Hunter could easily withstand the pressure but he also had to show her he wasn’t trying to control her. With reluctance, he took a step back. The surprise in her eyes was his reward.

  Picking up her backpack, Becka began to walk. Hunter was at her side in an instant.

  “I have a great job, Hunter. I have a good life. I don’t need you coming in and messing it all up,” she told him, looking straight ahead.

  They reached her office without saying another word. When she stepped inside, he followed her, his eyes going directly to her desk. He grew even harder. This day could go one of two ways.

  “I have a lot of papers to grade, Hunter.” This time her voice came out strong and determined. He loved the professor voice. It only added to his arousal.

  “I’m not letting you quit,” he said. He locked her door.

  A slight panic flickered through her eyes before she got herself under control. She took in a measured breath and he waited to see what she would say next.

  “I’m doing what I want — not caving in to your demands,” she told him.

  “Okay,” he simply said. That seemed to take her back. She gazed at him incredulously and waited for the other shoe to drop. “I’ve always wanted to learn about the Civil War. I need to catch up on my history,” he finished.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked with wariness.

  “If you won’t come to me, then I guess I’m going to have to come to you for every single lecture. I’ll be your shadow.”

  “Then you’ll have to pay tuition,” she snapped.

  Hunter grinned. Damn it felt good sparring with her. Never before would he have put so much effort into one woman. Becka wasn’t just anyone though — she was incredible and well worth the pursuit.

  “I’ll register tonight,” he told her.

  Her hands on her hips, she glared at him for several moments before her shoulders drooped. There was excitement in her eyes though. She was enjoying this as much as he was. He was secure enough to admit that.

  “If I tell you I’ll think about it, will you go away?” she asked.

  “Nope. I want commitment,” he said, not willing to budge an inch.

  After several moments, he saw her lips twitch. She fought it, but she was enjoying herself. It was looking more and more as if this night might go in the direction he’d hoped.

  “Fine!” she snapped. “I’ll finish the treasure hunt.”

  Hunter felt as if he’d just won the lottery. He also couldn’t stand not touching her any longer.

  “Good. Now that business is over with, it’s time for pleasure,” he said as he stepped closer to her. She backed away from him, until her messy desk stopped her. Her eyes widened as he laid his hands on the desk and boxed her in.

  “Any protests, Becka?” he asked as he lightly brushed his lips against hers.

  Fire burned in her eyes. Damn, he hoped not …

  Chapter Twelve

  Hunter’s lips gently caressed Rebekah’s and slowly she melted against the desk behind her. No matter how many times she told herself this was wrong, she couldn’t seem to stop it — d
idn’t want to stop.

  “I’ve had a fantasy since I was a teenager that involved a teacher’s desk,” Hunter said with a chuckle as he trailed his lips down the side of her neck.

  Because Rebekah had savored that same fantasy she couldn’t be anything but turned on even more by his words. When she was locked in her office grading papers for hours on end, she’d thought about a savage beast of a man walking through her door and taking her to a whole new world.

  And she had the chance to live out that fantasy right then and there. Hunter’s lips reached the V of her neck and she felt cool air touch her skin as he undid the top buttons of her blouse, exposing more of her flesh for him to kiss his way down.

  “If you want this to stop, you need to tell me,” he warned.

  She shuddered in his arms as he pulled her close, then began walking them behind her desk. She was barely coherent as he sat down in her large leather chair, pulling her with him so she was straddling his hard thighs.

  He gripped her face, taking a moment to look into her eyes. They were glazed over in her undaunted lust for this man she’d always desired. How could she deny them both what they so desperately needed? What would it hurt to give in for once in her life, to be reckless … and happy?

  “Becka?” he questioned. His hands were on her hips and she felt the motion of her body as she swayed into him, rubbing her core against his thickness.

  “What?” she asked, not even recognizing her own voice.

  “Do you want this?” he asked. This time he wasn’t kissing her. This time he was waiting for an answer. She nodded. “That’s not good enough, Doc. I need the words,” he told her.

  Becka wasn’t sure what she was going to say, but her mouth opened on a sigh. “Yes, Hunter, yes I want this,” she said.

  His eyes filled with joy and she knew she’d made the smart choice — the only choice. She could have all the regrets she wanted later. But for this moment he was hers, and she was his. They’d done it before. Maybe not in her college office, but they’d done it all over his property. It made sense for the two of them to come together again.