Page 61 of Making New Plans

“I should go,” I said quietly.

“I’ll walk you to your door.” He hopped out of the car then came around to open my door.

Taking his hand, I stepped out, and my skirt flew upward in the wind. Hunter’s eyes flared as he caught sight of my exposed thighs. His hand crushed mine for a moment before he looked away and shut the car door behind me.

Wondering if my imagination was simply out of control, I let go of his hand to adjust my skirt. We walked up the steps as if nothing had happened. Under the dim light of the screen porch, I fished out my key. I’d gotten it in the lock when his voice stopped me.

“Chloe, I hope…I hope that whatever your mother told you in the kitchen didn’t…” He heaved a sigh as if struggling to get the words out. Then he focused on me, and his words flowed smoothly. “I hope she didn’t say anything to you to change your mind on how you see me. Especially when it seemed like you were starting to see me pretty well.”

I drew in a shaky breath. “I was worried she’d done the same to you. About me. You wouldn’t be the first person she’s scared off.”

Hunter shook his head. “You have no idea, do you.” He inched closer to me, his face morphing, as if a mask were slipping away. And underneath was barely restrained, exhilarating desire. “Do you want to know what you do to me?”

A shiver rippled through my chest. My mind blinked through a thousand possibilities then fell blank. Yes. Yes, I did. More than anything at that moment.

I nodded jerkily, my pulse pounding in my throat. He moved so close to me, one of his boots slid between my feet. His heat and manly scent enveloped me. The open zippers of his jacket grazed against the thin material of my blouse as my skirt fluttered around his legs.

I’d become a statue, my mind in overdrive trying to memorize every detail and brand it in my eternal memory. The whole town could’ve paraded by naked with fireworks and the school marching band, and I wouldn’t have taken my eyes off his.

His lips parted enough to let a sigh out. Then he lowered his head and ever-so-softly pressed his lips to the slope of my neck.

My eyes rolled back up into my head. I bit my lip hard to keep from making any embarrassing noises.

His fingertips brushed my hair away before his lips moved from my neck to a spot behind my ear that must’ve had a straight line to my gasp reflex. One slipped between my teeth.

Suddenly, his warm hands gripped my waist as if to anchor me. But it only made me want to melt even more.

Please, please, more, I begged him silently. Don’t stop.

“I won’t,” he whispered against my ear.

I didn’t even have time to be embarrassed as a much deeper heat flared under my skin. My stomach sucked inward when his fingers crept under my blouse hem. Then he was kissing my jawline with gentle, lingering caresses.

I couldn’t focus. He was setting off reactions all over my body, releasing some wild, ravenous energy from my core. My hands gripped his forearms, but it wasn’t enough. Damn it, I needed…I needed…

His thumb stroked my spine above my skirt hem while his other fingers painted languid strokes over my bare ribs. My eyes flew open to meet his heavy gaze. I clamped my hands around his neck to give myself some leverage and pulled his mouth to mine. I kissed him like I was trying to pour my pent-up fire into him. Everything that had happened tonight. Every vulnerability, every question, every hope, every desire burned into that kiss.

He responded with such intensity, tangling his mouth with mine, that the fire roared to volcanic proportions. We slammed against the door, but I hardly noticed. I wanted to wrap myself up in and on and around him and never let go. I wanted to savor this feeling forever.

A dog barked somewhere nearby, and I ripped myself away, panting and shaking. I glanced behind Hunter to make sure no nosy neighbor out walking their dog had seen us. The last thing I needed was my mother hearing about her daughter jumping a man’s bones on her porch.

Realizing that Hunter had stiffened in my arms, my blurry thoughts sputtered out of my mouth. “I don’t know… I thought maybe… I’m sorry.”

His expression shuttered, and he stepped back from me. “Don’t be,” he said, his voice quiet and raw. “Now you know.” With one last blazing look that singed my soul, he left.

My stomach soured as I stood there feeling like an idiot that I’d let my mother ruin the night even after we’d left her. With my lips tingling and my heart still pounding, it took several minutes for the cold to finally register. I stumbled inside and made it to my room, shedding clothes and accessories as I went.

What would’ve happened if I hadn’t pulled away? Just how much did I want this? Want him?

He wanted me. He’d made that clear. But there were a million reasons to say no. To put a stop to whatever this was before it went any further. That would be the smart thing to do. The thing I would usually do.

After all, we were playing with fire. But, for once, I didn’t care about getting burned.

22

Hunter

I woke up the next morning and dressed in record time. Not because I was eager to start on a tedious day of chores, but because I’d gotten a text from Chloe last night, right before I’d gone to bed:

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