"We both know you're lying, so the question is ... why?"
"I'm not lying."
I can't tell him that after the talk Jenna and I had, I started thinking about him in a way that I just shouldn’t be. She brought it to my attention, very effectively, that I haven't been with anyone since high school. While I may not have answered her question, she knows. It's hard not to with the way I reacted.
"Fine." Something tells me this isn't going to be the end of it. But right now, I'm thankful for the reprieve. "I can take a hint."
Can he, though?
"But the only way I'll stop talking about it is if you agree to something."
Lord baby Jesus, yes! I clear my throat of the arousal before asking, "What would that be?"
"Come to the house on Saturday."
"I—uh ..." I stammer.
"The guys wanna meet the little man. They want to have a cookout before the weather gets too cool since it’s already nearly Thanksgiving," he says, and then rolls his eyes with a playful smile. "Easton also says he misses his marshmallow, even after me threatening his life to stay five."
Hearing Easton's little nickname for me cracks me up. Lord knows where he got it from, but the five away leaves me a bit confused.
"What's staying five?"
He licks his lips, which pulls my gaze from his. It's like a moth to the flame, and I want a taste of the burn. Everything about this situation is so, so bad. But it feels so freaking good, doesn't it?
Smiling, his white teeth seem to sparkle in the early morning sunshine that streams in through the tall panes of glass. He doesn't say anything, but he does lean toward me. Like a fool, I'm transfixed in a frozen state, allowing him to get closer. Finally, my eyes rise to his when his teeth nibble the plump part of his lip.
The moment our eyes meet, I can barely breathe. It's like he steals all my oxygen. Hunter's eyes are hooded and filled with desire, and his voice takes on that deep, raspy tone I love so much when he whispers under his breath, "He has to stay five feet away from you at all times."
“Why?”
I tilt my head to the side, giggling when he does the same. Our eyes stay connected, and his glimmer with amusement. "Because."
I push. "Because ... why?"
Hunter doesn't so much as take me off guard as he does light every nerve ending up in my body. Leaning closer, his breath wisps across my heated skin, causing a shiver to overtake me. He smiles, loving the effect he has on me, even when he knows nothing can be done about it.
"Really want to know?"
I try not to nod too enthusiastically, but I must have because Hunter’s smile stretches wider. A pleased sounding rumble vibrates inside his chest, which makes the ache build more. Even tightening my legs together isn’t quenching it.
“None of them is man enough to find out,” he says, flashing a wink that makes me weak all over. “Let’s just say, people have better sense than going around sticking their fingers in my cookie jar.”
To anyone else, his words would sound like a threat or promise. But to me, I know that’s his way of stating facts.
And fuck, it shouldn't feel as good as it does.
"Hunter," I admonish, albeit half-heartedly.
"So, since that’s been thoroughly explained, what do you say? Will you come?" he asks earnestly.
I know what he did just now. Thinking if he changes the subject, I won't bring it back up. He's wrong. I will. It’s ingrained in every woman’s DNA to bring up shit that seemingly has no use in being brought up.
Just not right now when it's the last thing on my mind. I need to stop myself from jumping his bones. Because, let me just say, I’m being tested—big time.
Plus, it feels good to be wanted, and I haven’t been wanted in a really, really long time. Even with the shit Hunter did, while we were on good terms, it was never put into question if he wanted me or not. We could hardly keep our hands off each other in high school. If it hadn’t been for Duncan walking in on us in eighth grade, right after Spring Fling, I would have lost my virginity then.
I pretend to think about it, already knowing that Maverick and I will make an appearance. Maverick has been asking me why Hunter has to be away so much. You'd think that Hunter has been there since day one of Maverick's life, with the way my son talks. But, it's just the bond they're creating. And that, seeing it in action, causes my ovaries to flutter in need.
It's so terrific watching them together. And until I saw it for myself, I didn't think anything of it. But now that I have, I couldn't imagine Maverick growing up any other way.
Well, maybe there is one other way, but that's not going to happen. Everything is good just as it is—no sense in changing things.
"Sure."
He smiles brightly and takes me off guard when he clasps my upper thigh and squeezes his thanks. My breath shudders in my lungs, and my eyes flutter closed at the contact. But before I can get used to it, his hand is gone due to the sound of Mr. Erikson coming into class and starting.
Give me the strength to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to not fall under Hunter Prince's spell again.
Nervous would be an understatement for what I feel right now. Everything in my stomach is churning, and I swear there's this acidic taste in my mouth like I'm about to get sick.
The fuck is that all about?
The words “nervous” and “anxious” just need to suck my dick and lick it clean when I explode in its mouth. Hunter fucking Prince doesn't cower to such emotions. I need to man up and get my shit together.
"They'll be here in fifteen minutes, guys!" I yell.
Well, maybe I won't freak out too much.
Leo eyes me warily, watching as I toss the throw blanket onto the back of the couch. Then, watches silently as I catch myself and pick it up to fold and neatly put it over the back so the GOU logo can be seen.
"Dude, you need to chill."
My eyes rise from the GOU themed throw pillow I now have in my hands, to peer at Leo. He's shirtless, with a bowl of cereal tucked closely into his chest like it's the holy grail, and a line of milk dribbling down his chin.
"You could help, fucker," I snark.
He shrugs like it’s a no-brainer. "I'm hungry."
"We're literally going to eat in about a half-hour," I remind him, flicking my eyes from the empty bowl of cereal up to his amused expression. "You won't die between now and then. Help."
Grumbling under his breath, he walks back into the kitchen and starts straightening things up. Of course, we could've done all the cleaning before doing a flight of the bumblebee twenty minutes until Harloe and Maverick got here, but where I've been spending so much time with them and not here, none of the guys cleaned up.
Is it weird that I'm excited they're coming to where I live? Harloe has already been inside, but not with the intent to stay. Her appearance sure wasn't in any way platonic, either.
She wanted to kill me.
Point blank. She wanted to string me up by my toes and leave me for the animals.
Can't say I blame her, either. I messed with her education, which she's told me a dozen times since that day that GOU is a last resort for her and that I can't be doing things like that to her.