Baked (Love Burns #3)

CHAPTER FIVE

H unter could not believe he’d just done that. He hadn’t planned on kissing Rachel tonight. He definitely hadn’t planned on sticking his hand down her panties either. But he didn’t regret it. Couldn’t even if he wanted to. Tasting those sweet lips for the first time, touching her silky skin, seeing her in a state of bliss ... it was the closest he would ever get to heaven. And it would forever be burned into his memory.

She wasn’t just cute or as sweet as sugar. She was a goddamn sexy fucking fairy. Full of fire and passion. Enough to burn the whole damn world down.

After seeing to her pleasure—once, using just his fingers—his self-control had kicked in, and he’d stopped it from going any further. The only problem with that being here, lying on the couch, he was so turned on, he couldn’t see straight.

Think about something else, for the love of God.

But he couldn’t. Not when Rachel was just yards away. Wanting him. Needing him. He could still see the look on her face when he told her they had to stop. Confusion. Disappointment. The second kiss he’d given her before she went to bed wasn’t enough either. It didn’t convince her this wasn’t the end, not in the slightest.

You’ve fucked up.

He had. Massively. And he didn’t know what to do to fix it. He couldn’t carry on like nothing had happened, but he couldn’t continue what they’d started either. Not without a conversation at least.

And you’re so good at those.

Pushing up from the cushions, he reached for his phone on the wooden coffee table. He needed advice, and there was only one person he’d dared to talk to about Rachel.

Luke.

He wouldn’t normally be Hunter’s first choice to go to for advice. Hell, he wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice. But he wasn’t about to go running his mouth to anyone else anytime soon, so Luke it was.

Hunter: I think I fucked up with Rachel.

Slumping back into the couch, he discarded the woolen blanket he’d had over him and waited. Two minutes later, Luke replied.

Luke: What did you do?

Hunter: We kissed ... and some other stuff. But I stopped it before it went too far. I think I hurt her feelings.

Luke: Dude. Please tell me you spoke to her about it afterwards and explained why you stopped? For the record, why did you stop?

Hunter: No. I didn’t know what to say. But I kissed her again before she went to bed. I thought that would be enough, but now I’m not so sure. I stopped ’cause I didn’t want our first time to be on her couch, when I haven’t even taken her on a date yet. You only get one first time.

Luke: Look at you. All romantic and shit. Who knew you were such a soppy bastard!

These weren’t exactly the words of wisdom he was hoping for.

Hunter: That’s all you have to say? How about some useful advice, man?

Luke: You know what you need to do. You need to go talk to her. Tell her all the soppy stuff about taking her out first before you go there. Chicks eat that shit up. Also, there’s a good chance that right now, she thinks you don’t like her enough to go all the way. Time to use your big boy words.

Damnit, he was right.

It wasn’t like Hunter didn’t know that he needed to talk to her. He did. But this was hard enough for him as it was. Throw in a conversation where he had no other choice but to be vulnerable, and he just wasn’t sure he could do it.

After shooting off a thank you text to Luke, he pulled up his email. He wasn’t about to sleep right now, so he might as well do something useful. Cody had sent him all the information he’d requested on the men Rachel’s dad owed money to. It was time to check it out.

***

H unter had underestimated just how upset Rachel would be. Actually, upset wasn’t the right word. She was pissed. Pissed as hell. And for someone who was up at five in the morning, she sure did have a lot of energy. Enough to bang every cupboard she opened, to stomp on the kitchen tiles, and to loudly huff an extraordinary number of times.

He’d put his plans to kiss her again on temporary hold. Mostly for fear she might stab him with her coffee spoon. If he wanted to fix this, he’d have to do it soon though. He was back at work today, and after dropping her off at the bakery, he would be on shift for twelve hours.

“Honeybun.” He made sure he was out of stabbing distance, leaning against the chrome fridge as she perched on the stool next to the floating countertop.

“Don’t,” she interrupted before he had a chance to finish.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t you dare call me honeybun right now, Hunter Campbell.”

Why does she only use my full name when she’s pissed?

He tried again. “Baby, I’m—”

“That either! No terms of endearment that could be construed as you giving a damn.”

Now she was pissing him off. “Not only is that not fair, but it’s also not true, and you know it. Look, I get that you’re upset about last night—”

Wrong thing to say apparently because he was cut off again.

“Upset? Oh, I’m not upset.”

Sure, and this is a perfectly normal pitch to speak in .

She continued, “Why would I be? Just ’cause you don’t want me, Hunter Campbell, doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other men out there that do. In fact, don’t bother picking me up tonight, I’ll be going to the Tipsy Cow to find one of them.”

Okay. Stab risk be damned. Stalking around the counter, he spun her stool until they were eye to eye, only needing to dip his head slightly to get right in her face.

“Now, you listen here, honeybun, and you listen good. If you think for one second I’m gonna let another man lay a finger on you, you’re sorely fucking mistaken. You’re mine. You hear me? Mine.”

They both remained quiet. An electric stare down commenced, long enough to turn his blood to lava.

When she spoke again, the fire that had once been there was no more. And the look that replaced it twisted his insides. Vulnerable.

“But ...” Her voice was soft. Unsure. “After—after we ... you didn’t touch me. You refused to. And then you practically marched me to my bedroom and shut the door.”

He was such a dumbass. “I know, baby,” he soothed. “And I’m sorry. I really am. I fucked up. But I swear to Christ none of that has anything to do with me not wanting you. I burn for you. I want you so badly, I’m in fucking pain.”

He lost her eyes for a second as they dipped below his belt, her chest rising and falling harder as she got a look at his predicament. He’d been as hard as nails all night.

“I don’t want to be someone you’re settling for,” she blurted before bowing her head.

His knuckle was under her chin a second later, forcing her to look at him. “Settling for? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about nine months, Hunter. Why now? Why not nine months ago? Is it ’cause ...” She paused and bit down on her lip, so hard, he felt the need to use a single finger to pry it loose. “Is it ’cause you’re just not that into me?”

Seriously? That’s what she thinks?

He dropped his forehead onto hers, letting vanilla fill his lungs. “Honeybun, you have no idea just how fucking into you I am.”

“Yeah?” Her breath hit his lips and sent tingles down his spine.

“Yeah, baby.” Needing to get closer, he moved one thigh between her legs. “Me not making a move earlier has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. I promise you that.”

Feeling her melt into him was enough to make his pulse quicken. She was intoxicating. Like some kind of drug.

One more kiss. He needed another rush.

Capturing those plump lips with one swoop, he took his time pulling them apart, savoring every taste. His body shook more violently with every swipe of his tongue. As he took the kiss deeper, his hands found her hips and tugged her closer. He needed to feel those soft curves pressed up against him again.

Snaking her hands between them, he felt her fingers claw his chest, nails digging into every dip and valley. Injecting fire into his veins. Driving him to insanity. But it was the whimper that finished him off. That sexy sound vibrated down his throat, prising out his own groan.

The kiss grew more urgent the further she arched into him. His own hands, needing more, slid up her curves until they reached her chest. Brushing his thumbs inward, they sought out those tight little nubs and began teasing.

Fuck me. So damn responsive.

He lost her lips as her head fell back on a moan. But it didn’t matter, his mouth found a new home in the crook of her neck. Sucking hard, drawing out more noises from those wet lips.

“Hunter ...” The way she said his name was so strained, he barely heard her. “Don’t you ... shit ... don’t you have work?”

He stopped sucking long enough to allow his tongue to trail along her collarbone, his chin pushing the loose straps of her vest top aside.

“That’s what you’re thinking about right now, honeybun?” The words reverberated off her silky skin. “I must be doing something wrong if that’s the case.” Biting down on her flesh, he could swear he heard actual sobbing.

“Fuck,” Rachel panted. “I want you.”

“Soon, baby. Soon.”

Knowing it was about that time, he reluctantly drew back, taking his time to admire the view. Blue-glazed eyes fluttered open, her long red hair falling into her face as she slowly righted herself.

“Next time I touch this sexy-as-fuck body of yours, there will be no stopping.” His voice sounded raw, even to his own ears. “I mean it, Rachel. I won’t be able to stop myself again. So you need to be sure. Sure you want this.”

“I want this,” she answered, still panting.

“I’m not talking about a quick fuck. I’m talking about us doing this. For real. For keeps.” He watched her swallow hard, eyes flashing. “Four days I’m on shift. After that, I wanna take you out. On a proper date. That gives you four days to decide what it is you want. Because I’m telling you right now, once I’ve been inside of you, there’s no going back. You’re mine.”

“I thought I was already yours?”

He felt his mouth tip up on one side. She was starting to get it. “You are, baby, but if you think I’m possessive now ... just think how crazy I’m gonna get once I’ve been inside that tight—”

Her index finger came to his mouth. “You think that maybe you can stop turning me on now? There’s only so much a girl can take.”

That smile. It was everything.

“Whatever you want, honeybun.”