I was great at my job. I loved helping people, fighting for them. But I didn’t like to give them false hope before I’d had a chance to sink my teeth into their case.
“I’m certainly going to do my best. I need to review all the facts, but we’re going to put up a good fight.”
My mind was still spinning an hour and a half later, when I ended the call. I’d taken copious amounts of notes. I walked straight to the elevator, heading first to my office to drop all the case files and pick my bag.
All the assistants on my floor had already left, but when I descended to the lobby, both receptionists were still there. One of them waved at me.
“Josie, someone’s waiting for you.”
Was the case worker back? I couldn’t deal with her again today.
“I’ve been fighting with him for half an hour. He insisted on going up to your office. Told him we don’t allow anyone in our lawyers’ offices alone. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
I had a slight suspicion who he was.
“My husband?”
“Yes. He’s in the lounge.”
“Thanks.”
I rounded the reception corner, heading straight to the lounge—an elegant room with leather couches and oil portraits hanging on the wall, tracing the origins of the founders back to the old world.
Why was Hunter here? Had the case worker accosted him too? Had something worse happened?
That pessimistic train of thought came to a screeching halt when I noticed Hunter. He was standing, hands in his pockets, molten eyes trained on me, oozing testosterone.
His tan had faded a little, but his hair still maintained that bronze look, with a few blond waves here and there.
I smiled; I just couldn’t do otherwise.
“They didn’t let me up to your office,” he said.
“We have a policy.”
“I’m your husband. If I want to see my wife, I will see my wife.”
God, I loved the sound of that. Would this come to a natural end when the three years went by? I wasn’t sure how I’d handle it. How could I go back to not having Hunter be such a huge part of my life? How could I be just his friend when I’d had a taste of how he could light me up with a kiss, a touch? When I knew how it felt to lie in bed and laugh with him?
When he walked up to me, cupping the back of my head, slanting his mouth over mine, my worries melted away on the spot. Oh, Hunter. Was there anything his hot kisses couldn’t just push to the back of my mind?
“Mmm,” I murmured when we paused to breathe. “You should be on those danger signs. Like they have for blinding sun... only this would be ‘hot guy in a suit.’ Warning, don’t stare for too long. May cause accidents.”
He laughed, and the melodic sound relaxed me as well.
“If that deserves a warning sign, how about this hot guy out of a suit?”
“Are you offering to strip for me?”
“Yeah.”
“Not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, but what exactly did I do to earn that?”
He traced his thumb on my forehead. “I just want to make this frown disappear from your beautiful face.”
My insides felt all warm and fuzzy.
“How can you be so relaxed?” I asked.
“Because I’m sure you did great.”
“Has no one from the immigration office contacted you?”
“No.”
I relaxed a little.
“So, striptease is on the menu. What else?”
“You’ll see.”
“Give me hints.”
He cupped my jaw, tilting my head up slightly, giving me a quick peck.
“Come on, curious girl. I want to take care of you.”
He’d come by car again, and we drove to Brooklyn, getting out in front of a red-brick building. The large neon sign said Climbing Hall.
“Why didn’t I know about this place?”
“It only opened a week ago. I knew you’d love to try it out.”
He knew me so well. I was ecstatic as they gave me gear, and even more so when Hunter also borrowed some.
“Husband of mine, you’re going climbing with me?”
“I’ll give it a try.”
“You feel awfully brave now after scuba diving, huh?”
He walked right next to me as we headed to the changing rooms. I thought nothing of it until he pinched my ass.
Amusement flickered in his eyes. “You were the one afraid of sharks.”
“Any sensible person is afraid of sharks,” I countered, but stood a little away from him.
I loved climbing. Reaching for the next milestone, focusing on one move at a time was the best way to shut down the constant mind chatter.
From time to time, I glanced down at Hunter. I wasn’t going very fast, but he was still a good way behind me.
“Did you have fun?” I asked after we finished the session.
He waggled his eyebrows. “I had an excellent view.”
So that explained why he’d always remained behind me.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“What’s next?” I asked as he led me to the car.
He kissed my hand, opening the door for me. “We’re going home, and I’ll keep taking care of you.”
That sounded like a dream.
He’d ordered all my favorite food, and we arrived at the same time as the delivery guy. We relieved him of the bags, carrying everything to the kitchen.
“Bringing out the big guns?” I murmured.
I intended to put it all on plates, but someone kept distracting me. Hunter kissed the side of my neck, dragging his hands down the sides of my body. How was I supposed to go back to a life where we didn’t have all this? He bit my earlobe, pressing my ass against his crotch. Holy hell. He was semihard. He fondled one ass cheek lightly. I gasped, already anticipating his next touch.
“You’re so beautiful, Josie. So fucking sexy.”
He trailed his fingers from my ass cheeks up my back, resting them over the clasp of my bra before dropping his hand altogether.
“You’re mean,” I murmured.
“On the contrary. I am on my best behavior.”
“But I don’t want that.”
I turned, flashing him a pout to let him know I was only semi-okay with this. I mean, I wanted dinner, but I wanted Hunter more. Then I decided on another strategy.
“You’re right. Dinner is an even better idea than sexy time.”
“Babe, I’m offended.”
I peeked at him sideways.
“Offended enough to do something about it?”
He gave me a sly smile, bending to kiss my shoulder.
“You little vixen.”
“Learned from the best.”
He turned me around, kissing me so deep and hard, gripping my hips so possessively that I couldn’t help letting out that moan I’d been holding in.
When we pulled apart, we were both fighting for breath. I smiled, and we both finished putting our dinner on plates.
“By the way, you still owe me a striptease,” I informed him as we moved to the living room.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
“You’re impossible.”
“But you’re still into me.”
I sighed dramatically. “I totally am. What does that say about me?”