Page 43 of Kiss the Bride

“It’s a risk I’m not prepared to take.”

“At least sleep with me.” I wriggle over to my side of the bed and open the sheet. “If you’re not gonna sleep, and I’m not gonna sleep, at least lay down with me, and let’s not sleep together.”

I can’t fall back asleep. Not with the sound of waves crashing, faint giggling from a nearby villa, and Hunter’s steady breathing.

I’d forgotten how quickly and deeply Hunter can fall asleep, his rhythmic breathing providing a calming background to my thoughts. One deep breath in, and then out, like a soothing melody.

I know two things: he’d never lie to me, and I can trust him with my life. I had before.

I smile at the memory. We were sightseeing in the south coast town of Kiama, and I wanted the perfect selfie. Going beyond the safety rails, my phone slipped from my hand. Without a second thought, I leaned down and overbalanced. Hunter grabbed me just as I started to slip down the cliff. His quick reflexes were the difference between lying between the sheets with him that night or lying at the bottom of the rock face.

Years later, we are different, but still us. I could have fallen apart after my wedding fiasco, but Hunter had been there—ready to catch me if I fell. Because of Hunter’s support, I’d been able to walk away from Mitch as if three years had meant nothing.

Hunter.I heard what he said about wanting me to be sure about rebounds and relationships, truly I did. But I don’t want to go the rest of my life wondering what if—what if I’d been brave enough to give us a chance while we’re here. I don’t want to go back to Sydney and face reality with all thewhat ifs. Here, we can explore each other without the pressure and judgment from family and friends. Here, we can get to know each other as the people we are and not just the people we were five years ago.

I don’t want to look back and regret not making the most of these precious moments away from the rest of the world.

Carefully, I remove the pillow wall Hunter built between us, one pillow at a time.

A thin white sheet remains. We used to have insane chemistry. Surely, he’ll remember?

Should I start with kisses, or wake up the rest of him first?

As if he’s deciding for me, he rolls onto his back, the slight bulge obvious. Typical. I lean down and start blowing hot air over his nipple. His beautiful cock twitches of its own accord, lengthening as he groans, “Liv, oh, fuck, Liv.”

Taking his groans as consent, I blow more air, willing him to say it again. I press my lips to his nipple, softly at first, until he grabs my head, pulling me closer. “Liv, oh, yes, baby. Love you, baby. Love you, Liv.”

He knows it’s me. He wants me. I tug at the sheet, my hand heading south when he bolts upright and flings me aside.

“Liv! Hell! What the fuck?”

“I couldn’t sleep.” No amount of doe eyes can get me out of this. Why did I think Hunter would want me after Mitch? But he said it. He said, “love you, baby.”

“Fuck, Liv, I told you why we can’t.” He rubs his eyes, glaring at me while using his pillow to hide his erection. “If you can’t sleep, go for a walk… read a book … wake me up so we can talk.”

“I thought you’d appreciate a different kind of conversation.” If he meant what he said in his sleep, why the hell did he stop me?

“No. Liv—for the love of—no!”

“Why not? You said you wanted me to be sure, and I am. Don’t you want me?” Being rejected by Hunter hurts more than walking in on Mitch and Lina. I can’t lose my best friend—I can’t lose Hunter from my life. He called my name. He was asleep and called my name. How did I get things so wrong?

“Liv, oh, Liv.” He reaches for my hand, but my embarrassment doesn’t deserve his pity.Stupid, stupid, stupid girl. “This isn’t about what I want.Youdon’t want this.”

“What if I do?” Humiliated, I need him to tell me he doesn’t want me, will never want me, and that we are forever done so I can hit rock bottom. I’ll be on the first boat or helicopter off the island tomorrow morning, and I’ll take the first flight from Cairns to anywhere I can get. He’ll never need to see me again. I’ll sell everything I own back in Sydney and start a new life where there is no Hunter Williams and no proof of my bad choices.Over-reacting much?

“No, sweetheart, you don’t.” He turns on the light, his eyes filled with compassion and concern. “You’re hurting and damn it, you can’t just do that.”

“Do what?” I need him to tell me he doesn’t want me because if he says those words, I will be unwantable. Unfuckable. Unlovable. Despite what I thought I heard. It must be a mistake. “Don’t answer. It doesn’t matter.” Clutching the sheet to my chest, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, not wanting to look at him, ready to flee.

“Liv, come back here.” His hands burn my waist but I allow him to stop me from running. Where would I go? Jog to the airfield and hitch a ride on the first helicopter? I don’t want to see the compassion in his hooded eyes, but it’s better than pity. “Come on, up here.” Hunter pats the bed next to him, and my eyes burn with unshed tears of relief. He doesn’t hate me. “Talk to me, Liv. What happened.”

“I just thought, I couldn’t sleep, and you were lying there.”

“Asleep. I was lying here, asleep.” He smiles and pulls me closer to press a kiss to my head. “Talk to me. Don’t think about your answer, just talk to me.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“What’s it really about?” he shoots back in the way he used to fire questions at me until I came to my own conclusions—the way I fire out questions to myself.

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