Page 46 of Hunter

I couldn’t breathe, let alone think, as the words slowly sank into my mind. Hunter wanted …me? Not just Adair, but me? Little old me with barely a dollar to my name, and now no clothes or skills. I didn’t even have a college degree.

“But I’m … me.”

Hunter let out a frustrated growl. “I told you all of that, and you still don’t believe me?”

“But—”

Hunter crashed his lips against mine before I could finish, slipping his tongue into my mouth before I could close it. It demanded attention, and my own tongue couldn’t resist. Then he brought his hands around my ass and hoisted me up against his body, forcing me to clamp around him.

He ground one hand against my ass while the other gripped the back of my neck, pressing hard against me. His erection ground against my abdomen until he lifted me enough to press it against the inside of my thigh. The thin sheet I still held did little to protect against the feeling of the tent in his jeans, and when he brought me down lower, I couldn’t help the groan slipping from my lips.

Hunter stopped there and broke his lips from mine. A small noise of protest followed, and it surprised me how much I didn’t want him to stop, how little being my son’s uncle mattered, and how the many excuses I had been making over the last month to stop me from getting attached had failed. I was already attached. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I liked Hunter. I liked him a lot. I might possibly have even cared for him. And when I gazed into his eyes, I saw the same emotions reflected back at me.

“Convinced yet?” he murmured as he slowly slid me down his body, following me down and leaning in to run his nose against mine.

“Uh, yeah. I think I get it now.”

“Think?” Hunter whispered, and I heard that little promising rumble from the bottom of his throat.

“Nope. I get it. For sure this time. One hundred percent understand.”

“I don’t think you do.” Hunter released me and stepped back.

I stood there, feeling cold in my sheet as I watched him turn and walk to the other side of the room.

I took a step forward, unable to bear him walking away from me. “Wait, Hunter. I get it. I—”

“Wait there.”

Hunter’s command made me still by the fireplace. I should have felt warm with all the extra material burning on the fire, but the confusion made me feel nicks of cold. Did he think I didn’t understand? Was he coming back? Oh, God, was he mad?

I got it. I did. He liked me. And I … I liked him, too. Really liked.

I couldn’t contemplate any longer when Hunter returned, and I felt a wave of relief.

“Hunter, I—”

He held up a white envelope, which promptly cut me off as he stopped in front of me.

I took it from him and looked down at it. There was no writing on the front, and it wasn’t sealed. I looked up at him again, and when he nodded at it, I slipped my fingers underneath the lip and pulled out two small cards. The second I realized what they were, I could barely breathe.

“These are …?”

“Two plane tickets,” Hunter explained. “They don’t have a destination on them so all you have to do is pick anywhere on the globe, board a plane, and nobody, not even me, would be able to track you.”

My heart throbbed against my ribcage, my mind spinning in circles. “Hunter—”

“I told you that I want you to understand what I’m asking you, Mallory. By telling you everything I did, and by giving you these, you should understand now.”

I did understand. Hunter had given me the golden ticket to my problems. I could escape and nobody could find me or Adair. We would both be safe. I could up and leave, and nobody would ever find us. Except …

“You want me to stay,” I whispered.

“I want you to trust me, Mallory,” Hunter whispered back, stepping closer and cupping my face, forcing me to look at him and not the heavy weight of paper in my hands. “I want you to trust that I can protect you. Whatever it is you’re running from, me and my brothers can protect you and Adair. My brothers will lay down their lives to keep you safe. I want you to put your faith and trust in the club … in me.”

The emotions were choking me now. I was faced with a decision. I wouldn’t have to be on the run anymore. I wouldn’t have to be on my own. Adair could be happy. He could be raised with all his club uncles and not have to move around anymore, and he could make friends with kids his own age … should I stay here with Hunter. I could have a love life. I could have friends and my family. I could be happy …

All I had to do was choose him.

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