Page 115 of Back in the Saddle

‘I didn’t tell you the night of the karaoke because I was still making sense of my own feelings. She died on her way to see me. I felt responsible even though I wasn’t the drunk truck driver who killed her.’

‘It wasn’t your fault.’

Hunter gave her a sad, barely there smile. ‘I know that,now. But it’s only something I’ve come to terms with recently.’ He swallowed hard. ‘I understand why you need to go.’

‘I wish I didn’t need to. I wish we had more time.’

They looked at each other and Hunter felt a spark within his stomach. It spread across his chest, up to his throat. ‘I don’t know how to say goodbye to you,’ he choked, avoiding her eyes.

Caroline cupped his cheek, wiping away a tear, which slowly created a wet streak. ‘I don’t know how to either.’

He looked at her and his breath hitched.

It defied all reason. Yet, he covered her hand with his and looked deep into her eyes. Their eye contact was more intimate than words could ever be.

She was motionless, holding her breath in anticipation.

‘I suppose … if this is goodbye, we should leave with no regrets. No sadness.’ He looked down to her mouth, which was open slightly. He leaned down, stopping mere inches from her lips. ‘I want you to remember how it felt when we were together.’

She blinked.

Hunter wasn’t sure who moved first – he thought it might’ve been her, but the distance between them closed as their lips crushed together.

They had had sex countless times. Each time, it was both familiar and new. Exciting. With every touch, he’d felt like he was peeling away new layers of her inhibitions and worries. He’d learned how to coax the most pleasure out of her. How to make her scream and want more. She’d done the same to him. They had become attentive to each other’s needs, learning their deepest desires. Despite all that, right now, he was like a nerdy kid stumbling into the most exquisite library. He didn’t know if it was the finality of it. This was the last timehe was going to make love to her. And his body somehow knew that. The intensity, the desperation … Both made him feel like he was on fire.

He didn’t think it was possible to feel this much desire.

In a frenzied dance of passion, they stumbled to the table.

Caroline cocked her head to the side, a curious expression on her face. ‘You know, this is one surface we haven’t done it on yet.’

‘I think it’s a perfect opportunity to remedy that.’ He watched, mesmerised, as she took off her blue shirt dress; it pooled at her feet. Next, she pulled down her bra strap, exposing both of her breasts.

He peppered her bare clavicle and shoulder with fiery kisses.

She moaned, jumping on the table. ‘Agreed.’ She sank her fingers into his hair and tugged on it slightly.

He groaned, feeling a stab of pain. His teeth marked her arm. She lay down, back pressed against the table. Hunter positioned himself over her, finding her lips with more dizzying kisses. After she hooked her leg round his waist, after she took her bra off, after he clumsily rid himself of his shirt, the heady affection overtook him. He lost track of time. He felt like he was losing his mind. It was perfection.Shewas perfection.

‘Caroline …’ He looked at her as he climbed to the top of ecstasy. Her eyes were closed, mindless, all-consuming pleasure etched on her beautiful face. He kissed her, dragging his teeth over her bottom lip. She whimpered, green eyes flying open. This was all he needed to come.

‘Hunter – I—’

They rode on the high of pleasure together, collapsing in each others arms as the trembling subsided.

‘Can I stay? One last night?’ she murmured into his neck.

And she did. Because he didn’t want to refuse her. And, selfishly, he wanted to cherish being able to fall asleep while holding her in his arms. If this was the last time he could do it, he wanted to remember every detail. How she looked when she opened her eyes in the morning. The weird little noises she made as she was falling asleep. He knew he was thoroughly pathetic and that he should’ve told her to go.

But if being pathetic was what took for him to deal with losing her, then so be it.

In the morning, Hunter watched her get dressed. Caroline was jumpy, unfocused, and forgetful. She slid on her shoes, took her handbag, and looked round the room awkwardly.

‘I…I—’ Her voice broke a bit, but her eyes were clear. ‘Goodbye, Hunter. I’ll never forget you, that’s for sure.’

‘I’m not going to say goodbye to you. Because as idiotic as it might sound, I believe we might meet again. Someday. Somehow.’ His voice croaked and he felt his chest tighten. This was ridiculous. How could this be happening?

‘I hope you know how much you mean to me,’ she said, not looking at him.

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