Page 40 of Hunter

My cheeks heated, but I didn’t deny it. Because it was true.

I didn’t confirm it either. I wanted the first time I said it to be to Wesley.

The distant rumble of engines cut through the air—and my heart stopped in my chest.

I knew Wesley would be fine since there was no chance Austin could successfully take him on, especially with his club brothers at his back. But every sound made my heart stutter while I waited.

Finally, the rumble of engines grew close. Loud, deep, and familiar to me now.

I shot to my feet before the bikes had even fully rolled into the lot, my heart slamming against my ribs. Racing out of the clubhouse, I was out the door before his boot hit the pavement.

He looked up at the sound of my footsteps, and the second our eyes locked, the rest of the world fell away.

“Sad—”

He didn’t even get my whole name out before I threw myself at him. His arms wrapped around me instantly, catching me midair as though it was the most natural thing in the world. I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in, clinging to him like I never wanted to let go.

And I didn’t.

He held me just as tightly, one of his big hands curling protectively around the back of my head, the other wrapped low around my waist.

“I have you, sunshine,” he murmured, voice gravelly.

I nodded against his throat, trying to keep my tears in check and failing miserably. “I know. I just—needed you to come back safe.”

“Wasn’t much risk of the kid doing anything to me.” He leaned back slightly, just enough to tip my chin up so I’d look at him. His thumb wiped away a tear rolling down my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere, sunshine.”

“You better not,” I whispered.

His eyes softened. “Never.”

Wesley hadn’t let go of me—not completely—and I didn’t want him to. I felt anchored in his arms, like everything was finally okay again. And I knew it would only stay that way as long as he was with me.

“I thought I was handling everything fine,” I whispered, brushing my fingers along the edge of his cut. “But the second you were gone, I realized I wasn’t okay. Not without you.”

His expression turned fierce, as though I’d just confessed something sacred.

“Sadie,” he said, his voice low and rough, “I love you.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. My heart did this silly fluttery thing in my chest, and my eyes filled again because I felt it in every part of me—he meant those three little words. All that protectiveness and quiet intensity wasn’t just about the broken window and note. It was me. It had always been me.

“I love you, too,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. “So much.”

He kissed me hard. Not rushed, not wild. Just deep and consuming, as though he needed to make sure I felt what he just said all the way to my bones.

We might’ve stayed wrapped up in each other forever if it hadn’t been for a familiar voice behind us.

“Figured you’d be needing this,” Fox called.

We broke apart, and something hit Wesley in the chest.

He caught the leather vest without breaking our eye contact, and I realized instantly what it was.

My heart stopped.

Wesley turned the leather around so I could see the patch on the back—Property of Hunter.

My breath caught. “You really want?—”

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