Page 48 of Tainted Empire (Sins of Our Father)

“I’ll take some water before I go,” I say finally, earning a wide, gleaming smile from him as he hops out of the truck.

I kill the engine and follow him, fidgeting with my keys as he walks us to the porch and unlocks the front door, ushering me inside of the dark cabin.

He flips a switch and the small space is illuminated with soft light, showcasing a small and charming living room. There are two dark green couches with knit blankets as well as a large wood and glass coffee table. There’s a fireplace, a stereo and a really nice bookcase filled with books. I walk to it, my hand drifting over the spine of each novel.

“I didn’t know you read,” I say, looking at the titles that span from literature to action novels, to history books.

“When I have the time,” he says, walking into the small and open kitchen to pour two glasses of water before he walks out to hand me mine.

I sip slowly, looking around at the cute and quaint space that doesn’t really feel like him. I notice some medals on the walls, but I don’t have time to further inspect them or ask what they are because he’s suddenly crowding my view.

“Would you like a tour?” he rasps, setting our glasses down on the coffee table.

“Is there more?” I ask as he nods.

He grabs my hand and walks me down a small hallway, pointing to a closed door and mumbling that it was his bedroom before he opens a sliding wood door to show me the most amazing bathroom.

It’s quite large, half the size of his living room at least. There’s a double sink with farm style faucets and deep basins. In the center of the room sits a large, copper tub with a shower hose and gold faucets. I walk to it, running my hands along its rustic wonder.

“No shower?” I ask, turning to face him as he leans against the doorway, his head nearly grazing the ceiling.

“I have one out back. I don’t like tracking mud in here, so I usually just shower before I come in,” he says and I look around in silence, my mind wandering to a naked and wet Hunter, showering outdoors with the mountains of Wyoming behind him, steam rolling off his thick and tan muscles.

I swallow the lump in my throat, fidgeting with my hands and pulling at my sweater as his gaze travels up and down my body.

“What are you thinking about, Ali?” he asks in a low tone, his voice that of a predator.

I look up at him, eyes wide and full as my stomach tightens with want.

“That I should go,” I whisper, his footsteps echoing across the room as he walks to me.

“You can always stay here,” he says, stopping when he reaches me as his hand caresses my cheek, twirling a strand of hair around his finger as he brushes it back and away from my face.

“Hunter…” I can’t say much else because he’s already bending down to capture my lips with his.

38

Hunter

I kiss her slowly, savoring the taste of her strawberry mouth as she opens for me like a flower.

She moans into me as my tongue dances with hers, tasting everything she has to give me. I know she didn’t come in here for this. I know she’s been trying to stay away from me, and I’ve tried to let her, to not let her become tangled in my web of lies and bullshit, but without her everything is dull. Without her sunshine or her berry kisses, nothing seems to be worth it.

I wrap my hands in her wild red hair, my fingers tangling in her curls as I drink down her sounds of ecstasy, groaning into her warm mouth as I press my erection to her soft belly. I wasn’t trying to fuck her, it’s not why I invited her in, but every time I am near Alison Bailey, my body has other plans and lately, so does my heart. That’s the real reason why I’ve let her stay away. Because if she gets inside of my black heart, I’ll only dim her sunshine. I’ll taint every good part of her that makes her so special.

Her hands go to my arms, gripping my biceps as her short nails bite into my skin. She’s soft and delicate, plush and thick where it matters, but her bites and scratches do something else to me. They release the beast that I’ve kept locked away, a beast that wants nothing buther.

“Tell me no and I’ll let you walk out of here right now,” I say, my tongue tracing her full and swollen lips as she gasps into my mouth and stares at me with wide hazel eyes.

“Tell me you never want to see me again and I swear I’ll listen. God knows it’s for the best,” I hiss, my hands gripping her soft hips, pulling her lush body to mine as we moan from the contact.

For two people who shouldn’t be together, we sure do fit fucking perfectly.

“Tell me, Ali,” I beg, my lips whispering against her as she trembles in my arms.

Silence spreads and the only sounds in this small cabin are our heavy breathing, our unspoken words and increasing want, weighing down over us like a heavy rain that’s yet to drop from the clouds.

She pulls her face from mine, tipping her head back to look up at me as one of her small hands reaches out to brush a strand of hair away from my eye, her warm palm resting against my cheek as her eyes glitter back at me. God, she really is an angel. An angel sent straight from heaven and I’m nothing but a demon that wants to claim her.

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