Blow Page 9

  I was starting to think that maybe the reason we hadn’t had sex yet ran a lot deeper than him waiting until I was ready. Whatever demons he was dealing with had royally done a number on him. If he needed to use my body to chase them away, then I was willing to let him.

  But there was a dark side to our time together and getting closer. Knowing that while we were out and about today, we were both going to pretend we barely knew each other…that stung.

  It stung badly, actually.

  I had agreed to this. But it was still hard to swallow the fact that we had to keep everything secret from the rest of the world.

  And now there I was at work and I was dreading what came next.

  The clack of hurried heels sounded behind me and I almost groaned aloud. I knew I’d see her sometime today, she’d called my cell multiple times yesterday. I should’ve answered, but I selfishly didn’t want to taint my time with Hunter.

  I turned around just as she came to a stop behind me.

  “What the hell was going on with you and Hunter the other night?” she asked, popping a fist on her hip.

  I couldn’t tell the truth, and as much as I hated lying to Sophie, I was much more in tune with Hunter’s motivation. He wasn’t keeping me a secret because he was getting his jollies while reconciling with Sophie. He just wanted no drama, and after her reaction to mine and Hunter’s encounter at the club, drama was going to happen once she found out.

  “A misunderstanding, Sophie. That’s all. I was dancing with some guy, he got a little handsy. Hunter saw me trying to push his hands off me and came to my rescue. I got bent out of shape because I didn’t need nor want a man to rescue me. I had it handled. He got pissed because I was pissed at him.”

  “Oh.” Sophie’s entire demeanor relaxed. “That was sweet of him. He’s always been the knight in shining armor type.”

  “I guess,” I muttered. More like bullheaded and possessive, but whatever.

  She pulled out a seat and sat down. “I’ve never seen him that intense or angry before. It scared me a little but was sexy at the same time. Weird, right?”

  No, not weird at all. What was weird was pretending Hunter and I hardly knew each other.

  I shrugged. “I think we’re programed to like that stuff to a certain extent.”

  “True.” She tilted her head, lips pursed as if she was in deep thought. “I don’t know…something just seemed off with him from the moment I got to the club. He seemed distracted.”

  Because he’d been keeping an eye on me.

  Time to deflect. “Hunter’s been through a lot, Sophie.”

  She jerked back, shock evident on her face. “I know that! It’s why I’m trying so hard to be patient. He needs time to get back to his old self.”

  “What if his old self is gone and not coming back?” I countered, needing her to think a little deeper. “No one knows what he’s been through, what kind of things he’s seen. Stuff like that changes a person.”

  Sophie dismissed my words with a wave of her hand. “For a time, maybe. But he’s out of the military now, he’s back home, he’ll eventually come around. I mean he’s only been home for a short time and everyone still sees the Hunter that left for boot camp two years ago.”

  There was no reason to keep going. That was exactly the appearance Hunter was trying to portray. How could anyone see he wasn’t the same when he refused to allow himself to be seen the way he truly was now?

  Sophie pushed to her feet. “Anyway, I need to get upstairs. Daddy wants me to work with Hunter some more the next few days. He’ll be going solo in a couple of weeks to New York and we want to make sure he’s prepared. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Then she left. That hadn’t gone as bad as it could have. She still seemed set on getting back with Hunter, but I was no longer worried about that happening. Now my worry was what would happen if or when she found out about us. But I’d cross that bridge if it happened.

  Right now, helping Hunter needed to be my priority.

  Customers started filing in, signaling the start of the morning rush. I hurried behind the counter and was lost in a plethora of different coffee, espresso and latte orders for the next hour. Just as quickly as they filed in, they left. Watching the last customer leave, I breathed a sigh of relief.

  Now it would be slow until lunch. I went to work catching up on my morning duties. I was so engrossed working on the weekly supplies list that I jumped when someone cleared their throat a few feet from me.

  I snapped my head in that direction and shock made me lose my grip on the clipboard. Juggling it, I finally got it back in my grasp then clutched it to my chest. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to address him. We were out in public, but there was no one in here.

  Better play it safe. I placed the clipboard on the counter, then walked up to the register.

  “Can I help you, sir?”

  Surprise flicked in his eyes and it was clear that he wasn’t expecting me to be so formal with him. A hungry gleam entered his eyes as they traveled over me.

  “Oh, you can help me, alright,” his voice was deep, husky.

  It was his turn to take me off guard. Was he actually going to acknowledge us in public?

  “And how’s that?” I cursed the slight shake to my voice.

  “I’m craving something hot, wet and sweet. Any suggestions?”

  I pursed my lips, catching on to his game. Leaning forward, I propped my elbows on the counter and gave him an innocent look that made his lips quirk up at one corner. “Hot, wet and sweet, huh?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I know exactly what you need.” A wicked thrill went through me as I hurried into the back room. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to do this. I’d never done something so dirty before. Not of my own accord, at least.

  Once I was in a private space in the back, I snapped an intimate picture. Smiling, I loaded it into a text message for Hunter. All I had to do was press send. But not yet. I wanted to see his face when he got it.

  I walked back out into the front. Without looking at him, I poured him a coffee and added a sugar to it.

  As I placed the cup I front of him, I moved the hand holding my phone so it was concealed by the counter. Confusion was etched all over Hunter’s face. I wanted to giggle. He so hadn’t been expecting me to actually make him a drink.

  “Hot, wet and sweet with something a little extra.”

  A brow jumped up as his gaze darted between me and the cup. “And the little extra is?”

  I pressed the send button and his phone instantly beeped. His eyebrows inched up a little further as he pulled his phone out of his suit pocket. He pressed a couple of things then a surprised grunt came from him as his head jerked up to stare at me. A wicked smile sprang to his lips and he leaned forward, whispering, “You naughty, naughty girl.”

  I winked at him.

  “You win this round,” he said picking up his coffee. “But this is far from over.”

  Then he turned and strode out of the café; a second later my phone buzzed.

  I want that little extra hot, wet and ready tonight in my bed. 7:00.

  Biting my lip to keep from grinning, I went back to my work. Hunter had just invited me to his place for the first time.

  * * *

  Nerves attacked my stomach as I stepped out of my car onto the asphalt in front of Hunter’s apartment complex. I hadn’t been this nervous since I was introduced to Hunter at the frat party many moons ago.

  But I was getting ready to hook up with Hunter Rhodes at his apartment.

  Considering what he had done to my body multiple times, going to his place shouldn’t be a big deal. But it was.

  He had always come into my space. Today he’d willingly invited me into his. That was a huge thing coming from him.

  I’d had the hardest time figuring out what to wear. This wasn’t a date. The purpose for this get together had been completely clear in his text. So dressing up had seemed silly when everything was just goin
g to wind up crumbled on the floor, but wearing my pajamas seemed a bit too presumptuous. I didn’t know if he expected me to spend the night. So I’d opted for my nicest pair of jean shorts and a black and white polka dotted tube top. It wasn’t super sexy, but showed a lot of tempting skin.

  Not that Hunter seemed to care what I wore. He wanted me no matter what clothes I had on.

  As I reached his door, I inhaled deeply then knocked. It was like he’d been standing right by the door it opened that quickly. A naked chest greeted me, or at least that was the only thing I noticed. Defined muscles of his pecs and abs beckoned to be touched, and I so wanted to follow through with the instinct. But I kept my hands to myself, knowing that being shirtless in front of me was not easy for him.

  He hadn’t taken his shirt off since my reaction to seeing his chest the first night we were together. But he was bare-chested now and this was another silent, but huge, step for him.

  Camo shorts rode low on his hips. I licked my lips. Tonight I was doing some touching of my own. I wanted him in my mouth just as I wanted his mouth on me and I had been deprived for too long.

  As his heated gaze traveled over me, my nipples beaded against the tight fabric of my shirt. His eyes zeroed in there and locked. “Woman, if you don’t stop, you’re not going to make it past the threshold before I’m on you. I don’t care who watches.”

  He dragged his gaze up to my face, then stepped back. “Get your fine ass in here.”

  As soon as I entered the room, something amazing hit my nose, a mixture of garlic and marinara. My mouth started watering for an entirely different reason.

  “You cooked dinner?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my voice.

  “Uh. Yeah. You haven’t eaten have you?”

  I shook my head.

  “Good. The garlic bread is in the oven.” He ran a hand through his dark hair and I got the distinct impression he was nervous. Over what I had no clue. Maybe it was me being here. I wasn’t sure if Hunter had invited anyone into his sanctuary previously. It was very possible I was the first person—or at least the first non-family member--allowed in.

  The thought warmed me.

  “I guess I should show you around.” He swept his arm out. “This is the living room, obviously.”

  The room had to be two times the size of mine, and the features were definitely outside my price range. Polished hardwood floors ran through the entire area and down a hall. A half wall separated the living room from the gourmet kitchen. The counters were topped with marbled granite. Red cherry cabinets lined the walls.

  My apartment look liked a slum by comparison, and reminded me of how different Hunter’s background was from mine. Though I was getting to know him pretty well on a sexual level, I still didn’t know the man himself very well. Hell, with the way he talked, I wasn’t sure he even knew himself.

  He ran his hand through his hair again, and looked around, almost like he was seeing the place through my eyes. “When my parents found out I was alive and coming home, they set this up for me. Furnished it too.”

  I cocked my head to the side, studying him. Why did it sound like he was apologizing? “Well, I think they did a great job.”

  His lips pressed together as a shrug lifted his shoulders. “I guess. Just seems a little suffocating.”

  I glanced around again. There was nothing suffocating about the open floorplan. The walls were painted in a bright white, with black wrought iron accents, giving a very masculine feel to the living room. An expensive black leather couch and matching love seat sat in the middle of the spacious area. The super large flat screen was mounted on the wall, not taking up any space.

  Was his comment really about decorations or did he feel suffocated because this represented the old him? My heart squeezed for him.

  A beeping came from the kitchen. Hunter strode into the kitchen, donned a bright green kitchen mitt then opened the oven. The smell of garlic intensified and my stomach let out a loud rumble.

  Giggling, I followed him into the kitchen then leaned against the counter beside him and watched as he scooped noodles onto the plates, ladled marinara sauce on top, then finished it off with a piece of bread each.

  Picking up both plates, he turned toward me. “Hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  A wicked smile turned up his lips. “Me too.”

  A zap of desire hit my clit. I planned to have as much fun with him as I could while we ate to increase his anticipation.

  I took a plate from him. “So where are we eating this delicious meal?”

  He looked me up and down before he turned and walked out of the kitchen. I followed him into a separate room with an oval kitchen table. Glasses had already been filled with soda and forks lay on napkins. My chest expanded.

  No there weren’t any candles, soft music or dim lightening, but it was the sweetest thing anyone had every done for me. I didn’t say anything because I worried acknowledging what he’d done would freak him out. Hunter was like a feral cat. I never knew what would cross the line with him.

  I placed my plate on the table then sat down. He did the same.

  After spinning my fork in the noodles to get a good helping, I slipped the food into my mouth with the intention of exaggerating a pleased groan. Except I didn’t need to exaggerate. The marinara was the best I had ever had. “Jesus, Hunter, this is amazing.”

  I caught his look of pleasure before he focused on his own food. “Good. I’m glad you like it.”

  Liked it? I loved it. But even though he appeared to enjoy my compliment, something about it also appeared to make him uncomfortable, so I decided not to gush over his awesome culinary skills. I simply enjoyed the food for a few minutes. Once I started to feel full, it was time to have a little fun.

  After scooping a single noodle onto my fork, I brought it to my lips and slowly sucked the long, stringy food into my mouth. Watching Hunter in my peripheral vision, I saw the hand that had started to raise a fork to his mouth freeze halfway to his mouth. So I slowly sucked up another noodle, licking my lips so he could see what my tongue could do.

  “Mmmmm…” I moaned, lowering my lashes.

  “You’re playing a dangerous game, woman,” he said gruffly.

  “What are you taking about?” I asked as innocently as I could muster then dabbed my mouth with a napkin.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. That’s twice today you’ve teased me.”

  “I was just eating, Hunter.”

  “Sure.” He scoffed. “I have plans for you later. Nothing’s happening until then.”

  Scowling at him, I was perturbed with his declaration. Oh yeah, buddy? We’ll see about that.

  “Finished?” he asked as he rose and nodded towards my plate.

  I nodded, already trying to come up with my next tease. Hunter went back into the kitchen and started rinsing the plates. An idea had formed in my mind. I hurried into the kitchen beside him and took the plate from his hand.

  “You cooked. I clean.”

  His brow lifted as he raised his hands. “By all means, wash the dishes.”

  After I quickly rinsed the dishes, pots and pans, I opened the dishwasher. I covertly glanced to see where Hunter was. He was standing only a couple of feet away, leaning back against the counter with arms and legs crossed, watching me.

  Perfect.

  I took a plate from the sink, then bent at the waist to place the dish in the washer. The hem of my shorts rode up and a low, deep grunt came from behind me. I did it again, feeling extremely sexy, knowing that Hunter was watching my every move. On my third trip down, a hand suddenly pressed between my shoulder blades, keeping me bent over. Another hand slid over my ass and between my legs, rubbing. Closing my eyes, I groaned. I pushed back against his hand.

  Then there was a sharp, stinging, slap on my ass that made me inhale with a sharp gasp.

  “Don’t move,” he commanded.

  The pain coupled with the rubbing of my pussy made for an exciting
combination. I wanted him to smack my ass again. So I moved.

  I was rewarded with another exquisite pop on the buttocks. My pussy throbbed, begged.

  “I said. Don’t. Move.”

  I loved when he took charge, but I also loved being disobedient. There was nothing Hunter could dish out sexually that I couldn’t take. Not as long as it was from him.

  I rotated my hips against the fingers.

  “Alright. Have it your way.”

  He slid his hand from between my shoulders, into my hair, and then tugged me up until I was flush with my back against his chest. The sharp tug on my scalp caused my clit to quiver. I liked sexual pain. Hunter removed his hand from my pussy then slid it up my waist, my stomach until his finger curled around my neck and squeezed. I thought I would come just from the roughness of the moment. I was so fucking turned on.

  His breath warmed my ear just before he bit the lobe. “I want to fuck you. Hard.”

  “Yes,” I gasped out.

  I rubbed my ass against his erection. I’d do about anything for him to do just that. I’d waited so long, my pussy screamed to be filled, to be fucked.

  “From behind. Smack your ass as I thrust deep inside you.”

  I rolled my head against his chest, moaning. The picture he painted was almost too much. I saw it, me on all fours on the edge of the bed, him behind me, cock slamming in to me.

  “Do you want that, Eliza?”

  “Oh God, yes,” I whimpered. So, so, badly.

  He ran his lush lips across my temple. Then his hand released my neck, dove down my body into the front of my shorts. He rubbed my swollen mound hard and fast. I widened my legs, curling my arm behind me to wind around his neck so I didn’t fall. I was so aroused, I came hard within seconds, my fingers knotting in his hair, causing a pained grunt from him.

  “That’s right baby. Show me how much you like my touch.”

  After my release, he pulled his hand out and turned me around to face him.

  “I want to fuck your mouth,” he whispered in my ear.

  Without a second of hesitation, I dropped to my knees in front of him, eager to have him in my mouth. He brushed my hair back from my face as I made quick work of his button and zipper. The shorts dropped and pooled at his feet. His underwear followed.