“Can I help with the sides?”
“Nah, you hang out with Calum. I got this.” He winked. He was never going to let me live down that breakfast.
“You’re spoiling me. You know that, right? I’m going to have to hire a chef when I get home. How will I live off frozen dinners?”
He laughed at my ridiculousness. “Maybe one day, I’ll be there to cook for you full time.”
My eyes went wide at his statement.
“Don’t panic, Jules. You look like you’re about to freak out.” He grinned.
“I am not.” Well, maybe a little bit. I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool.
“Sure, you’re not.” He kissed me with that grin still on his face. Clearly, he found this amusing. Fucker.
We all changed into dry clothes, and I grabbed a couple balls for Calum and my kindle. I’d brought it with the hopes that I could get some reading in but didn’t really expect to. I was going to try since Calum would play with the balls for a while.
I settled into the camping chair, swinging my legs over the arm as Calum ran around playing. I was taken out of the story so many times by squeals that I put the book down with a groan. There went that idea.
Running up behind Calum, I snatched him into the air and twirled him around. He yelped and laughed. I set him down and grabbed his ball. “I got your ball. Come and get it.” I laughed as he started to run after me as fast as his little legs would carry him. I was jogging so he could catch me. He grabbed on to my legs, and I pretended to stumble and fall.
“Oh no. You caught me.”
He jumped on top of me as we both laughed.
“Help! I’m being attacked by Calum.”
I heard footsteps, so I turned to see Hunter barreling toward us.
“Don’t worry, I’m coming to rescue you.” He ran up, grabbed Calum, and dove, doing some crazy tumble like something out of an action film.
Calum was cracking up and shrieked when Hunter started to tickle him.
“Thank you for saving me, kind sir.” I was such a dork, but that’s what happened when I spent limited time with adults and most of my time with a toddler.
Hunter got up and took my hand, bowing. “Anytime, my fair lady.”
My cheeks flushed, and I swear my ovaries exploded. I just fell a little harder for him, knowing he was still a dork, too, but he was hot as fuck.
He straightened up before pulling me in for a kiss, taking my breath away. “I better get back to making dinner. I just couldn’t leave a damsel in distress.” He winked before walking away.
I looked down at Calum, watching Hunter walk away. He looked a little upset.
I picked him up. “What do you want to do, buddy?”
“Sim.”
“Nah, we just got finished swimming.” Then I remembered I had brought some craft stuff with us. “How about a craft? Do you want to paint?”
“Yay!” He loved crafts, thanks to spending all that time at Margaret’s.
We headed back to the trailer and grabbed the bag of supplies, setting up a garbage bag to make cleanup a lot easier before dumping out the contents.
Calum’s eyes went wide at all the stuff I had picked up at the dollar store. I’d practically cleaned them out. I wasn’t sure how this weekend would go, so I wanted to be prepared.
We spent time making a bunch of crafts, including a bird feeder. Hunter checked in with us while he barbecued the steaks. Once dinner was ready, we cleaned up and dug in.
Best. Steak. Ever. I kept saying it, but there was no way I could go back to the shit food I made. “I’ve decided I need to take some cooking lessons. Do you think they have any in town?” This would be good for me.
He laughed. “I’m not sure, but I’d be happy to teach you. I’m no chef, but Grams taught me all I know.”
“That would be awesome. I always wished I could cook so I could make better meals for Calum, you know?”
“I can help with that for sure.” He smiled.
“Honestly, this steak is orgasmic.” I put another piece in my mouth, closing my eyes and moaning around the deliciousness.
I opened my eyes to find Hunter staring at me with a heated look in his eyes. I blushed at the thoughts that raced through my mind. I cleared my throat, startling him out of whatever trance he was in.
He laughed. “Orgasmic, huh?”
“Mhmm. Definitely. Maybe even better than—”
“Don’t even. You know damn well it’s not better. I plan on proving that fact to you tonight,” he said, pointing a finger at me.
“Is that so? Well, I look forward to that.” I smiled.
He reached down, shifting in his seat, and I laughed. “Enough talk about orgasms.” He turned to Calum who sat beside him actually eating his baked potato. “Calum, what do you think about having a fire and making s’mores tonight?”
He looked up at him, not understanding.
“It’s yummy with chocolate and marshmallows.” Hunter grinned with his eyes widened to get Calum excited.
“Yes. Me love. Mmm.” Calum was so freaking cute.
After dinner, we cleaned up and went for a walk, killing some time before the sun set. As soon as the sun was low in the sky, Hunter started the fire, and I got out all the ingredients for s’mores. I walked out the trailer door to find three chairs sitting around a blazing fire, and Calum in Hunter’s lap.
“Who’s ready for dessert?”
“Me,” they both called in unison.
Hunter helped Calum roast his marshmallow, and then I sandwiched it with the chocolate between two graham crackers.
Calum took his first bite and tried to talk with his mouth full.
“Wait until you’re finished chewing.” I laughed at my little monster.
“Dat so yummy. More, pease.”
Hunter held it out, and Calum took a bite. His face was covered in marshmallow and chocolate and looked absolutely adorable.
“He’s going to be a mess. I should go grab some napkins. I’ll be right back.” I got up and headed toward the trailer
“That’s definitely a good idea. Grab your phone while you’re in there so we can take some pictures before you clean him up.”
I came back a few minutes later and had burst out laughing as soon as I saw Calum’s face. He had s’mores everywhere. I wasn’t sure that even a wet paper towel was going to help at this point. I took out my phone and started snapping pictures. These were going to be great for embarrassing him one day when he brought home a girlfriend.
“More, pease.” He reached out with grabby hands.
“I don’t think so, buddy. I think you’ve had enough.”
“Pease?”
“Sorry. It’s almost bedtime, so I need to get you cleaned up and brush those teeth, so no bugs come and eat your teeth tonight.”
Hunter looked horrified.
I rolled my eyes. “Remind me to explain later.”
I’d been telling Calum that for the last little while. It was the only thing that got him to brush his teeth before bed. Surprisingly, I got Calum cleaned up with the paper towel.
“Come on, buddy. Let’s get you ready for bed.” I reached my hands out to pick him up, but Calum shook his head no.
“Hunter.”
Hunter chuckled. “You want me to get you ready for bed?”
“Yup.” Calum gripped Hunter’s neck.
“All right. Come on.”
“You want me to come with?” I felt bad, but Hunter seemed okay with it.
“Nope. I’m good. So PJs, teeth brushed, pull-up, anything else I need to worry about?”
“You got this. He’ll pick what stuff he wants to sleep with, but that’s it.”
“Okay. I’ll be back out soon.”
Hunter looked confident, but his voice wavered a little. I bet he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing, but I loved that he was willing to try for Calum’s sake. My heart melted into a puddle.
16
Hunter
It was the wei
rdest thing, but this felt natural like I’d been doing it my whole life. I knew jack shit about kids, but I thought I was doing pretty well. I mean, I wouldn’t want to be left alone with him for a week. I didn’t think I could handle that just yet.
Getting Calum ready was pretty easy. He didn’t fight me on anything. He even sat still while I cleaned off the caked-on s’mores that Jules missed on his face and in his hair. He rested his head on my shoulder as I carried him to the bed. I could get used to this. I didn’t know where that thought came from, but it was true. Who wouldn’t want this?
When I’d heard that Jules was having a baby with someone else, it gutted me, and my world crumbled to bits. Looking back on it now, I wasn’t upset about the baby as much as thinking I had lost her forever.
I’d always wanted kids, and the fact that Calum wasn’t biologically mine didn’t mean shit. If things worked out between us, which I would do anything in my power to make sure they did, then I would raise him as if he were my own. He would never know the difference.
I carried him over to the dining room bed and laid him down.
“Rub back, pease.” Calum sounded so sleepy, and his eyes were almost closed.
Lying down on the bed beside him, I rubbed his back as he’d requested. It took no more than thirty seconds before his eyes shut and he was breathing heavily. I leaned down and kissed his head before tucking him in. I left the bathroom light on. I wasn’t sure if Jules did, but the thought of him waking in the dark just didn’t sit right with me. Snagging the monitor from the table, I headed back out to Jules.
“That was quick. I expected him to give you a little bit of a hassle.” She sounded a tad surprised.
“Nope. No hassle at all.” I shrugged like it was no big deal and sat down in my chair, but she was too far away. “Come here.” I sounded needy, but I didn’t care.
She looked up with a raised brow.
I chuckled. Stubborn woman. “Just come here.”
She got up and came over, standing in front of me. I reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her down to sit on my lap sideways. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her head.
“Much better.” I sighed. Having her in my arms was by far one of the best things ever.
“Agreed.” She rested her head on my shoulder, just like her son had done minutes earlier, and all was right in my world. At this moment, I was the happiest I’d been in...well, ever.
I was dying to tell her I loved her, but I knew she wasn’t ready to hear it. Instead, I settled for knowing that at that moment, she was mine.
We sat in silence as the fire crackled. I didn’t add any more wood as I was ready for bed. I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up, so letting the fire die out would be my subtle hint.
But of course, she shocked the shit out of me as usual. “Let’s go to bed. You promised me.”
“Fuck. I love you.”
She stiffened in my arms but whipped her wide eyes up to mine.
I wasn’t sure what to say. Clearly, I hadn’t meant to say that. I was absolutely terrified to say anything else because I couldn’t fathom the idea of her running.
“Did you mean that?”
I swallowed hard before responding. “That depends.”
She scrunched up her face. It was adorable, but I held in the laughter that wanted to bubble up and out of me.
“Depends? On what?” She narrowed her eyes, clearly confused at my word choice.
“On your reaction.” My words came out more like a question, and I wasn’t sure where to go from here.
“Hunter, my reaction doesn’t make anything true or false.” She blew out a breath exasperated with my non-answers.
“Let’s just forget I said anything and go back to our conversation about going to bed.” I was panicked at this point, hoping like hell I didn’t just fuck up everything.
She gave me the I don’t fucking think so look.
I sighed, and she adjusted her position on my lap, so she’d turned more toward me. For someone who had steered clear of any meaningful conversation, she was certainly pushing me on this one.
“Damn it.” I ran my free hand down my face, not wanting to have this discussion. “Of course, I meant it. Do you really think I don’t love you? I’ve been in love with you practically my entire life. I swear that you’re it for me.”
Her face gave nothing away. I looked down at the ground, terrified she was going to run. I waited with bated breath. She shifted slightly, and I gripped her waist, burying my face in her neck. I wasn’t ready to see the look in her eyes.
“Listen. I’m sorry. I know you weren’t ready to hear that, and I didn’t mean to say it like that. Can we please just pretend this didn’t happen?”
She pulled away and got off my lap. Standing, she reached her hand out for mine, and I took it without hesitation. I looked up cautiously, nervous as fuck to see what she felt. Her eyes were brimmed with tears, and she was smiling.
“Let’s go to bed,” she said.
I smiled down at her and pulled her in for a deep kiss, sighing with relief that I hadn’t spooked her.
She pulled back and looked up at me with a serious expression. “I’m not going to run, Hunter.”
I let out a huge breath, resting my forehead on hers and closed my eyes. “Thank fuck.”
She chuckled, and I hugged her tight. This girl. She never ceased to surprise me. It didn’t go unnoticed that she didn’t say it back, but that was all right. She would tell me when and if she was ready. But I had no doubt that she loved me. I knew it. I just had to wait for her to come to terms with it. For now, I was content that my feelings were finally out there, and she hadn’t rejected them.
After putting out the fire with a bucket of water, I took her to bed. I was a little nervous like this was our first time all over again. I knew I could perform, obviously, but this would be different. We weren’t kids anymore, and I’d just confessed to still being in love with her after all this time.
She led the way, quietly of course, as we had to pass Calum who was sound asleep.
As soon as we closed the bedroom door behind us, she pushed me down on the bed. Climbing on top of me, she straddled my waist and devoured my mouth. She seemed frantic. Her hands were everywhere. She started to kiss down my neck aggressively while trying to tear off my belt. I reached down, stopping her hands. She pulled back, looking at me questioningly.
“What’s wrong?”
I flipped her over and hovered over top of her. “First of all, I want to take this slow. We aren’t two horny teenagers.”
“Speak for yourself,” she said under her breath. She was pouting, and it was kind of cute.
“Second, I’m in charge.” My tone left no room for argument, but this was Jules I was talking about.
She raised a brow. “Is that so?”
“It is.” I gave her a look that said I wasn’t fucking around.
“Well then, big man, get to taking charge because I’m not waiting all night for this show you promised me.”
“Oh, your ass is going to be red for that one,” I growled out.
Grabbing her hands to pin them above her head with my left hand, the other gripped her neck as I leaned in for a kiss. I took things slow, savoring every breathy moan. I let my hand slowly travel down the side of her breast, her ribs, her waist, her hip, and finally her ass. I gripped it firmly and smacked it. Catching her by surprise, she yelped, and I smirked. “That’s right. Who’s in charge?”
“You are.” She was panting already.
I sat on my haunches and lifted my shirt over my head. She went for hers, but I stopped her. “Uh-uh. Hands above your head.”
She immediately complied.
“Good girl.” I could see her smirking. She knew I wasn’t the type to dominate, but I could have a little fun with her. I slowly pulled off her top, tossing it on the floor. I groaned when I saw she wasn’t wearing a bra.
Leaning down, I took a nipple into my mouth while pinching the other
. She let out a low moan, and my dick liked the sound of that. He was already straining against my zipper to get out.
I sat back up, pulling her shorts down along with her panties, and I quickly stripped off mine, too. I hovered above her, rubbing my dick against her slick folds. I tried to breathe because I felt like I was going to explode.
I rested my forehead against hers and closed my eyes as I slid in deep. She let out a sigh as soon as I was rooted deep inside of her.
“Fuck, you’re perfect. I can’t get enough of you,” I gritted out.
She wrapped her legs around me but didn’t move her hands from above her head. “Can I touch you?” She was smiling, trying not to laugh.
“Don’t be a smart-ass. Of course, you can touch me.” I kissed her. “I want you to touch me.” I kissed her again. “I need you to touch me.”
Wrapping her arms around me, she ran her hands up and down my back. She lifted her hips, encouraging me to move.
I slowly pulled out and began to rock back and forth, keeping my movements slow and controlled. I wanted this to last, and I wanted her to feel every single stroke.
“Fuck. Harder.” She was already frustrated, wanting to fall over the edge so quickly, but my way would be much more satisfying in the end.
“Patience, Jules. I’m taking this slow.”
Before she could respond, I leaned in, kissing her intensely. I reached down and lifted her leg over my arm to change the angle, allowing me in deeper. She let out a moan.
“You like that, baby?” I gritted out.
“Yes. Oh God, yes. Please more. Don’t stop.”
I nipped at her ear and whispered, “I never want this feeling to end.”
I pulled back and stared into her eyes. I could see it. She loved me, and I bet she even wanted to say it. But something held her back. I needed to break down her walls. Brick by brick. It’d take some time, but I’d get there.
I continued thrusting, bringing us both closer and closer to the edge. I was so close. I needed her to come with me. I reached down, stroking her clit softly, and I felt her tense.
“Shit. Hunter, I’m going to come.”
Saved by Him Page 12