I’ve apologized time and again since everything happened, but he’s been more concerned with the cuts on my feet. Not only is he a hunter, but he’s a protector and provider. I’m fine, just a few shallow scrapes and bruises, but they always heal quickly, unlike the scars of the heart.
With those thoughts, I pick through the vague memories of my parents again, attempting to squeeze out every detail possible. I want to remember what my father was like, his temperament and mannerisms. Would he respect Hunter or be against the semblance of friendship we’ve forged? I’d like to believe he’d approve of him, but there’s no true way of knowing. The only thing I’m certain of is he’d want me to survive this overwhelming, scary new place I’ve merely begun to discover.
Needing to be close to Hunter again, I make my way through the house, ready to find him and put this behind us once and for all. We’re both adults, and there’s no reason to keep any lingering tension between us. We seem to be walking a fine line between anger and passion—either we’re going to fight or fuck—his words, not mine.
I’ll never forgive myself if I’ve ruined our friendship all because I was overcome with a moment of irrational fear. I have to finish remembering everything and no longer be a burden to the man I consider my savior.
HUNTER
As much as I’d prefer to have my way with Aura, I refrain. It’s not an easy feat when she draws me to her like a moth to a flame. She’s the flower, and I’m the bee, ready to pollinate her sexy ass and then some. I’ve already made the mistake of kissing her, and it nearly tipped me over the edge of no return. It’s far too fucking easy to lose myself in her, and I can’t allow myself to be swept away. Something doesn’t sit right with me on everything, but my gut tells me I won’t know exactly what it is until I allow her to return home—not to the island and not here, but to her parents. I don’t want to let her go, but I’m going to have to, eventually.
Lying in bed, it’s another long, sleepless night full of tossing and turning. Knowing Aura is right down the hall is an alluring tease that seems to have a penchant for keeping me up at night. I’ve lost more sleep from thinking of this woman than I have over anyone else, combined. Ever since the day in the bathroom when I walked in on her naked, I can’t seem to wash the image from my mind, nor do I want to. I know what she has underneath those oversized, borrowed clothes of mine, and it’s done nothing but torment me ever since with all the possibilities of what I could do with her.
“Hunter?” My fantasies of the woman standing in my doorway come to a screeching halt. It’s bad enough I’ve broken a sweat, but if she comes close enough, she’ll get an eyeful of my stiff dick. This isn’t how I anticipated any of this would go with her, not at all.
“Mmm,” I reply with a frustrated grunt. I shift my leg up, the angle helping to hide away my throbbing length.
“Are you awake?” her sweet melodic voice asks, still too shy to just waltz into my room.
“Not by choice,” I murmur, cracking my lids open enough to gaze at her, yet not be blinded by the hall light she’s flicked on.
“I can’t sleep either. Not since…”
“Since what?”
“Earlier. You know when we…”
Ah. She’s either too nervous or reluctant to say it outright. “Tell me, Aura, have you ever kissed another man before?” I’m a glutton for punishment and need to know.
She shakes her head.
“Answer me,” I demand gruffly.
Her mouth gapes open briefly, then she shifts, standing to her full height. She’s got a backbone in her. I assume she’s just not used to showing it. “No.”
“No other men or no other person? Ever?”
“I’ve kissed my friends, sure, but it wasn’t quite as intense. Our kiss was different.”
Intense. Yep. Good word for what was exchanged between us in the woods. Discovering she’s never kissed another man has my desire for her skyrocketing to another level entirely. “What are you doing up?” I can’t help but sound grouchy. She’s in my doorway wearing nothing but my long shirt. I can see her stiff nipples, for Christ’s sake, and I want to taste each one. It’d drive any man with a lick of sense nutty inside. Lord knows my cock’s already on lockdown wanting to claim the bitch.
“I thought I heard you.”
“Liar. Try again.”
She sighs, glances around, and stares at me on my bed for a beat. I’m about to turn over and give her my back when she takes a step in my direction. I pause, eyes locked on her as she strides toward me, peeling off the shirt. She lets it fall to her feet, forgotten, as she makes her way to me. I quietly groan at her silhouette. It’s been too long since I’ve fucked a woman, and she’s only making it harder to resist the temptation she imposes.
“I don’t like sleeping alone,” she finally admits, climbing into my bed, stark naked. I was right, she doesn’t wear panties or boxers under those shirts she’s borrowed. A man’s nemesis is a sexy woman wearing his shirt with nothing on underneath. It’ll bring the strongest guy straight to his knees for you.
Nearly choking, I’m taken off guard but manage to swallow it down without making myself look like a total jackass. I’ve had plenty of women before, so no reason to get all jittery around this one. Only, she’s special, at least she is to me. I look at her knowing she was meant to be mine from the start, yet I can’t do anything about it, and the knowledge teases me each time it passes through my mind. I’m left in this strange sense of limbo, attempting to be the better guy and do the right thing when everything in me strains to do what I desire.
Lying stock still, I watch her as she makes herself comfortable in my bed. Kicking her off is absolutely out of the question. I was literally just wishing she was in my bed, and now here she is. I’d be an idiot to tell her to go back to her room. It’s crazy I’ve come to think of the guest room as her private space. I’ve never lived with a woman before her, but surely, they all need their own room. Kind of like guys having the garage or those elaborate closets I’ve seen women have on design shows. They’re massive with chandeliers and shit, and the same Aura would have if she were home, no doubt.
She lays on her side facing me, staring at my lips enticingly, making me want to lean over and kiss her once again. This time around, I wouldn’t stop so suddenly but prolong it and savor the feel of her mouth pressed to mine. I watch as she licks her lips, saliva pooling on my tongue at the thought of tasting her—not only her tongue but her pussy. Aura’s everything good and sweet in the world, so there’s no doubt in my mind that her pussy tastes like a sinful dose of heaven.
A contradiction does suit her, though. She’s innocent and almost timid yet wants to be fucked like a bad girl. I can read it all over her features, and fuck, if it isn’t the true test of my will. Every minute with her, the struggle to keep my hands to myself becomes harder. Just like my fucking cock at the moment. Her in my bed, naked and wanting, will drive even the saintliest of men mad with untamed lust.
“What do you want, Aura?”
It’s taking everything in me to keep her stare when I want to be ogling every glorious inch of her full tits. She flutters her lashes, sending me a coy look. I know what she wants, she doesn’t need to say it, but I’m still going to make her. This is wrong, her here in my bed when I know so much and haven’t told her anything. I push the thoughts to the back of my mind as she whispers, “I want you.”