Page 182 of Between Hate and Desire

She nods with a smile.

I cup her cheek and brush my lips softly against hers before pulling back. “I’m so in love with you, Lennon, that I was willing to live the rest of my life as only your friend as long as it meant I got to be with you every day. Even as just friends. Or roommates. I would’ve learned to accept it. Love you proudly but silently. There was never a chance in hell I’d fall for someone else when I already had what I needed—you. It would’ve been lonely after a while, sure, but I was ready to do it. I wasn’t walking away from you or Allie. I’ll never walk away, which is something I’ve been trying to prove to you since Brandon died. You needed someone to lean on and grieve with, but I did too. Every time you pushed me away, I was determined to pull you closer. You fought me, and it only made me love you harder. You denied me, but I loved you from afar.”

“Hunter…”

“Hold on.” I take a second to catch my breath. “So I will tell you every single day, for the rest of our lives, night or day—I love you, Lennon. I love you so fucking much my heart goes into convulsions just thinking about it. I’ve never said those words to a woman before, and I don’t say them lightly. Because you’re it for me. You always have been.”

“I don’t even know how to respond, Hunter…” She licks her lips and doesn’t take her glossy eyes from mine. An electric current streams between us. “The love I have for you feels incomparable, and I’m sorry I made you wait.”

“God, please. Don’t be. You needed to heal and get comfort more than anything. I was always here, waiting, hoping, but also healing with you. I know the guilt you feel, I feel it too, but we deserve a chance at happiness.”

“You’re right. After I set my guilt aside, I realized that, and I want to be happy with you.”

“I’m here.” I bring her lips to mine. “Yours.”

“Mine.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

LENNON

Every nervein my body is on fire when Hunter’s lips brush against mine. Everything inside me lights up like fireworks when he says the most beautiful and heartfelt things, cherishing me like I’m his whole world.

He loves me.

I don’t think I will ever get tired of hearing him say those words. He says them with every fiber of his being, so truthful and meaningful it makes my heart pound at the realization we’re in love.

This whole time, I’ve been in denial, fighting it and refusing to allow myself to love again.

But I can’t live in the past anymore.

When our mouths fuse in a heated, passionate kiss, I’m done speaking and allow our bodies to do the talking. I want this so badly every part of me aches for him.

Sinking into him, we’re as close as two bodies can be, and I claw my nails down his back. Hunter rewards me with a desperate groan and reaches around to cup my ass. I feel how hard he is. I want to taste him, lick him, devour him the way he did me.

When he wraps his hand around my thigh, I use it as leverage to climb on top of him and straddle his waist. His lips consume mine, his large hands roaming over every surface of my exposed body, and for once, I don’t feel insecure.

Kissing my way down, I press my lips to his bare chest, silently admiring his tattoos and muscles. Then I feather kisses across his stomach and to his very admirable V over his hips. Hunter moans when I rub a hand over his cock, teasing and desperate.

“Fuck, Lennon…” His head falls back.

Knowing he’s already losing his damn mind when I’ve barely touched him has me smiling with pride.

I scramble to help him take off his pants and boxer briefs, and when he’s fully bared to me, my breath hitches at the sight of him. I always knew Hunter was a gorgeous man, solid and muscular, but seeing him like this, exposed and hard, makes me want to kiss every damn inch of him.

Unable to wait for another second, I wrap my hand around his cock and slide my tongue up his shaft. He groans, andoh my God, it turns me on even more.I look up at Hunter, whose eyes are glued to me, his mouth parted as he wraps a hand in my hair and pulls it to the side.

I slide my tongue around his tip before pulling him into my mouth. His fingers tighten in my hair, so I do it again.

“Fuck yes, sweetheart. Just like that.” Hunter moans as I rotate my hand over his length and suck on him, pulling him deeper into my throat. I do this over and over, before sliding my hand down to his balls to carefully massage him and then opening my mouth wider. With my ass in the air, I pull him all the way inside my mouth and suck. Hunter’s hips arch as he thrusts upward, and the taste of him has me growing more anxious to have all of him.

As I come up for air, I bring both hands to his cock and stroke him hard and fast. His eyes roll to the back of his head, and I love the way he responds to everything I’m doing to him. It gives me the confidence to climb up his body and straddle his lap.

Hunter sits up, cups my face, and slams his mouth to mine. He pours so much love and passion into everything he does, and right now, in the heat of the moment, it’s no different. It’s always been real. I pull him closer and rock my hips to let him knowexactlywhat I want.

“Hunter…” I beg against his lips. “I need you.”

“Yeah?” he asks, kissing down my neck and to my ear. “How much?”

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