Page 45 of Hunter

Hunter’s eyes narrowed, and his expression tightened as I slammed my fists into him with all my might.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Hunter growled, grabbing my hands.

“I should be asking you that!” I hissed, pulling back and snapping my hands out of his hold.

“Me? I did you a favor. Now you can get new clothes. Proper clothes.”

“They weremyclothes. You had no right to destroy them.”

“Well, it’s too late now, and you should be thanking me, not bitching.”

“Thanking you?Thanking you?” I was incredulous. “Your arrogance is astounding!”

“And so is your idiocy.” Hunter got into my space. “You think I was gonna let you walk around in those rags?”

“Why do you care? It’s not like you give two shits about me, anyway. All you’re here for is Adair.” I refused to back down. I didn’t care what he smelled like or that he had given me the world’s best orgasm only moments ago. No way was I letting him get away with this.

“You really think I would have my fingers deep inside your pussy, playing these fucking games with you and tolerating all your bullshit because you’re Adair’s mother?”

I cringed at the way he had said that, knowing better than to accept them, as much as I wished I could.

“I know you have a reason, Hunter, and I’m not it.”

“If it’s not you, then what the fuck is it?”

“I don’t know. I want to think it’s Adair, and that’s it. But I know that’s not all you’re up to. I know you’re looking for something else from me. I’m not stupid. And I’m not going to let you drag Adair into this.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about, the second I get a chance, I’m going to get the fuck out of this place, and next time, you won’t see me again. You won’t find me, and you won’t find Adair.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew it had been a mistake.

I watched as Hunter went deadly silent. It wasn’t as if the words had been a lie, but any attempt I had been making to get his guard down so I could escape was now futile. I knew I’d had plenty of chances to escape over the last two weeks, but I had wanted to give myself a little bit longer in this house. Wanted, as much as I hated to admit it, to explore the little connection I had with this man, my son’s uncle. I shouldn’t have let Adair get attached, but Hunter made him smile, and Adair did the same to him.

Maybe Adair would be safer here, but I couldn’t be sure. That was why I couldn’t take the chance. That was why I had never unpacked that suitcase. Why I had those train tickets on reserve.

“You’re not all wrong,” Hunter said, his voice quiet and cold. “I do have an ulterior motive.”

“See, I—”

“But that doesn’t mean you’re right, either.” Hunter looked straight at me. I had made space between us in the silence of his moment, but as he began to walk toward me, that safety barrier began to shrink. “I don’t believe you ran because of your guilt over Noble’s death. I think there’s another reason. But you’re wrong about the rest. I love Adair. He’s the only flesh and blood I have left, and yes, he’s the reason I sought you out. But he’s not the only reason I want you to stay.”

“Hunter, I—”

“Shut up and listen to me for a second.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Hunter clamped his hand over it.

“I said,shut up.”

I wasn’t stupid enough to open my mouth a second time. I could see how serious he was by the way his green eyes never strayed from mine. Because of that, I gave the smallest nod.

He removed his hand from my mouth, and instead of putting it back by his side, he moved it up to tuck a strand of loose hair behind my ear, and then he cupped my cheek. “You’re so crazy I’m scared to leave you on your own. You don’t listen to anything I say, and when I want to spoil you, you fight me at every turn, as if the world would fall apart if you let me help you. You infuriate me at the best of times, and seem to irritate me whenever you get a chance.”

My heart and face flooded with heat and annoyance. If this was going to be one of those bitch speeches again—

“But for some reason, I can’t leave you alone. I can barely stand in a room with you and not want to touch you and kiss you. I want to spoil you and protect you. And even if you won’t let me, I want to. I love that you’re so selfless. Love that you’re so strong for that dazzling little boy. Love that you’re the best mother I’ve ever met. And I love the way you cry my name when I make you come.” Hunter shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“I don’t want you to run anymore, Mallory. I want to get a ball and a chain and tie you to me, but I want you to rely on me, too. I want you to let me protect you. I get jealous when other people look at you, and I want to monopolize every inch of you. I want you to be mine, and nobody else’s.I want you, Mallory.The reason you were looking for—that’s it. You may not believe me, but the real reason I’m keeping you here is because I don’t want to let you go.”

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