Page 17 of My Mail Order Valentine

Jenny: HELLO?!

Me: I can't talk right now. I'll write more when I can.

Jenny: You can still come back home.

Me: I'll talk to you later.

Yeah, she's going to be pissed at me for brushing her off. The truth is that I really need some time to gather my thoughts about Hunter and his attitude towards me. Hopefully I can do that during the next few days.

"Dinner is ready."

His voice startles me from my thoughts, and when I look at him, so handsome and with a caring smile on his face I can't keep myself from fantasizing about a life with him and Evie. I take a seat at the table and wait for him to take a bite.

He bites, chews, and moans. The sultry sound hits me in the core, and I fidget in my chair.

"I'm glad you like it."

"I might never let you leave."

The words send a chill down my spine, but I know he doesn't truly mean them the way I wish he did. After we finish our meal, I ask him if he’d like some coffee with his pastries.

"Don't go to any more trouble, Elena."

"It's no trouble at all."

I walk into the kitchen and place the Moka pot on the stove for the coffee to brew. I'm surprised he has one, but many things about Hunter seem incredible. I arrange the pastries on a plate and bring them to the dining room. Hunter is just standing there, seemingly lost in thought.

"Have you tried their pain au chocolat?"

"No, did you get some?"

"Oh, yes. I've been dying for another taste."

I lift the pastry from the dish, and I don't know what comes over me, but I tear off a piece of the sweet treat and lift it to his lips for him to take a bite. His gaze grows heated as he accepts the bite I offer. His eyes close in bliss, but all I can see is the piece of chocolate now sticking to the corner of his mouth.

When he opens his eyes, eager to take another bite, I lift my other hand and wipe the offending piece of chocolate from his mouth with my thumb. I don't know why I do it, but I put my thumb in my mouth and suck the chocolate off as if it's the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. And it just might be.

The look Hunter gives me is scorching hot, and I'm paralyzed by it. He lowers his face to mine until our lips are just a breadth away from touching.

"Elena…"

"Kiss me."

And he does. His warm lips touch mine, and my body reacts as if it has come into contact with a live wire. Every part of me is electrified from that single point where we connect. His kiss starts off tender but soon ignites into passion, fire, and pure lust. I've never experienced this before in my life.

I start to melt in his arms when his tongue finds its way inside my mouth and begins an erotic battle with mine. I grab onto his shirt because I'm scared my legs will give out with the intensity of feelings I'm experiencing when a shrill noise starts and breaks us apart.

Hunter is faster than I am and rushes to the kitchen. There's a fire, and he quickly grabs the fire extinguisher. I didn't even know he had time to replace the used one. When I look closer at what is burning, I see that I left a towel too close to the coffee maker which has caught fire.

I turn to look at him and notice how pale he is. He's a firefighter, and he's scared? I open my mouth to speak, but he just holds his hand up to silence me. A few minutes pass, and I start to feel embarrassed. Hunter won't move to let me out of the kitchen. His next words leave me in shock.

"Elena, you are an amazing person, but I think you are a fire starter."

Chapter 6

Hunter

It's been a week since Elena started the last fire, but I can't stop being vigilant. I check everything around the house, especially if I have to leave Evie with her. When I accused her of setting the fires to get my attention, she became flustered and then proceeded to pack her bag. I wouldn't let her leave.

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