Page 81 of Hunter

His hands moved down to my waist before circling and settling on the small of my back. My mouth opened, but nothing came out as his finger drew aimlessly on it.

“Relax,” he said softly as if it was easy. “I just want to hold you a bit before I take you out on my bike, and we go out for breakfast.”

“Your bike?” I asked.

“A motorcycle.”

“Oh.”

I didn’t know he rode.

That was kind of hot. I wondered how fast he would go.

I shivered in excitement, and his smile turned up a notch.

Bringing my thumb up to my mouth, I gently nibbled on it nervously as I looked at him.

We didn’t say anything for a moment, and then slowly, as if he was afraid of scaring me off, he pulled me in closer until my head rested on his shoulder, my face half-buried in the crook of his neck.

He smelled amazing.

Like the outdoors, just before a massive storm hit.

He made me just want to snuggle up close to him and not leave the safety of his cocoon.

I didn’t know how it was possible to feel this way about someone I had just met, but I did, despite his rough exterior.

There was always a strum of anticipation humming in my skin whenever he came to mind.

Xavier’s hands moved up and down my back, his fingers playing along the column of my spine, and I bit my bottom lip and snuggled in closer to him to keep from making any noise.

That felt so fucking good.

I couldn’t even remember the last time someone had touched me…

At all.

My parents were worrywart parents, but they weren’t affectionate.

The last time we had come close to showing affection was on my mom’s birthday when she had allowed me to kiss her on the cheek after I gave her a birthday present.

I was desperate for touch.

I craved it.

And Xavier was giving it to me, even if he didn’t know how much I wanted it.

His hands came back down to my waist and held them there. The top of my head burned from his heavy stare, and I braced myself as I pulled away and looked him in the eyes.

They glinted with something dark. Something filthy and dirty and wonderful all at the same time.

What would it feel like if he kissed me right now?

I might self-combust.

“Xavier?” I whispered.

“Yeah, baby?”

---