Page 86 of Reckless Desire

He kisses my forehead. Then my eyelids. The butterfly touches of his lips act like drumsticks reverberating through my chest. “When I first let a woman pay me for sex—because the first time it was just sex—I was ashamed. When I realized how much I could help with Julia’s medical bills, I got over myself and dove into it. I’m not comparing the situations, I’m just saying that sometimes we make decisions out of desperation, but that doesn’t define who we are.”

A sob escapes me loud and broken and Hunter seizes my lips. I don’t know how it’s possible that each of his kisses feels different, but that’s how it’s been since that first burning kiss at The Ritz-Carlton three years ago.

Tonight his lips give reassurance, absolution, care. I love this man. I love him more every day.

Hunter stands up and pulls me with him. He presses his lips to mine again immediately as he walks me backward. He lifts me to sit on the island and moves his lips lower, nuzzling my neck.

I bury my fingers in his hair as my head falls back, a whirlpool of pleasure swirling in my core. He finds the hem of my shirt.

“Too many clothes,” he growls against my skin. His words spur frantic action as we both shed our tops. Hunter doesn’t even take off my bra, just pulls it down, my breasts jutting out, the peaks tender with need.

“I need you,” I demand as he sucks on my nipple. “Now.” I’m crazed with desire.

My problem hasn’t gotten resolved tonight, but sharing the burden with someone has unleashed something crazed inside me. I need to wipe out all that lonely struggle with something wild and cathartic.

“Bossy tonight, beautiful. Does my girl need to fuck? No lovemaking tonight?” He growls, his eyes burning through me while he trails a finger over my ribcage. Just one finger, but oh what it does to me. I nod hungrily.

“Speak up, Sydney. What is it you need?”

“I need you to fuck me,” I scream, and the words don’t even leave my lips before Hunter yanks me off the counter, pulls my skirt up, spins me around and pushes me back to the marble surface.

My breasts ache at the contact with the cold stone, but the rest of me is burning. He rips off my underwear and hikes my leg up, flattening my knee on the counter. His other hand is pressed between my shoulder blades. I’m completely at his mercy, unable to move. Unwilling to move.

Hunter fills me to the hilt in one deliciously destructive move and starts a punishing tempo. The edge of the counter bruises my hips, but I don’t care. I need him like this. Like it’s punishment. Only it isn’t. It feels like a reward or atonement. Cleansing.

I take with abandon, moaning loudly against the marble as the heat spreads through me and awakens all the parts of me with a divine pleasure. And with a realization that hits me in the middle of my heart.

I’m no longer alone.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Sydney

“Okay, I’ll see you later. Love you, beautiful.” Hunter hangs up and I stand with the phone to my chest, smiling like an idiot.

Things have been fantastic. Hunter even survived lunch with my family. We’re trying to squeeze as much time together as possible right now, because he shoots the show in January and things will get even busier.

We agreed I’ll move in after Christmas as a trial. Okay, the trial is for Caro’s benefit. We told her that with the filming, it’s easier for me to stay there so I can take care of her. We’re hoping that will create a natural transition for her.

Hunter’s mom is leaving for Florida right after Christmas. It’s been a dream of hers to spend winters there, but she refused to leave before because Hunter needed her help.

We have been doing all these cheesy touristy things with Caro, and I love every minute of it. Next up is skating tonight at Rockefeller Center. For the first time in years, I’m enjoying winter in New York.

The trees I saw as bare before now sparkle with Christmas lights. We’ve been visiting markets, window shopping, writing to Santa, and taking advantage of the sizzling city life, bundled in our coats.

I would have hated all of it before. But with Hunter and Caro, Christmas cheer spreads through me along with the growing love I feel for both of them.

The only shadow on all of this is my dad. Our concerns materialized and he finally told us he was diagnosed with cancer. He is staying at London’s during his treatment, and I’m grateful I can visit him as often as possible.

I’m even more grateful for having Hunter in my life now, because dealing with this news alone would have spiraled me into a dark place. Hunter has been my rock.

“Are you leaving soon?” Lara sticks her head into my classroom door, startling me.

“I think I’m going to stay behind and grade a few papers. Are you done for the day?”

“Yes.” She enters and leans against a desk in the first row. “I meant to ask you. Is there something happening between you and the principal?”

What? Dan has been avoiding me since the incident. Things have been awkward, but I didn’t have time to delve into that. If he needs more time to process the situation, it’s fine with me. “Why are you asking?”

---