Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
HUNTER
“They left together?” Jonah leans back in his office chair as I pace in front of his desk.
“Yes. Trey said they’re at her loft. I’m trying to believe Dorothy will tell Jamison there’s no longer a chance for them, but he has a hold on her in a way I don’t think she even understands.”
“Hunter, I heard her after the Christmas ball. She’s happy with you, so don’t ruin a good thing with your insecurities.”
I deadpan. “Says the guy who just got done talking about how concerned he is because his new love interest has been acting differently since we returned from Paris.”
Jonah picks up his cell, checks something, and then tosses it on the desk. “And she still hasn’t responded.”
“From my experience, Melanie’s a straight shooter. If she says nothing’s wrong, then believe her.”
“I’m pretty sure I know her better than you, and there’s something different about her.” He shakes his head and sighs. “I didn’t tell you this, but when she left your place to go back to hers, she left everything I gave her. Why would she do that? ”
“Little brother, I know nothing about why women do anything, so you’re asking the wrong guy. Maybe it’s jet lag.”
“I don’t think that’s it. I went down to her floor to see if she wanted to grab dinner, come to my place, and recover from the trip. Before I had a chance to ask, she made a comment about me being an old man.
“Then she told me she was young, which meant she was going out tonight. We just got back, and she’s going out? Where and why?” He picks up his phone again and growls at the screen. “It can only mean she’s got a date.”
There’s a knock on Jonah’s door, so we turn to see who’s there.
Ava steps in. “Happy New Year. Sorry to interrupt, but can I steal Hunter from you?”
“Ava. Happy New Year.” Jonah organizes some things on his desk, getting ready to leave. “Hunter and I were just wrapping up, so he’s all yours.”
My stomach knots and I get a dreadful sense this New Year isn’t going to be as smooth sailing as I wish.
“Ava.” I dip my head to say hello. “I didn’t think you and I had anything left to discuss.”
“It’ll only take a minute.” She smiles at Jonah and glances back at me.
Her eyes expose her unease, so I suck up the need to run and give her the time to talk.
“Let’s go to my office. I’m leaving soon and need to make sure I have everything.” I lead her to the door.
We say good night to Jonah and walk in silence to my office. I shut the door behind me in case she’s bringing me bad news.
To my relief, she stays standing and keeps her coat on. Maybe for once, she won’t try to stay and wrap me into some nefarious plan.
I round my desk and begin to pack up my belongings. “ What brings you here tonight, Ava? I thought our business was settled.”
She comes to the edge of my desk. “It is. At least, I hope it is.”
The hairs on the back of my neck spike. “What does that mean?”
Her voice lowers. “I know our fathers have given us their support and protection around your mother’s demands, but something’s not right, Hunter. I don’t have a good feeling about it.”
Ava has my full attention. This is either a ploy to reengage me, or she has a valid concern.
I assess her to see if I can pick up on any deceit. “Tell me what’s got you worried.”
“Your mother called me today. I didn’t say anything about us getting our dads involved, but she knew everything. She knew we decided to go against her wishes and was fine with it.”
“That does seem out of character.”
“Her easy relinquishment is strange enough, but what’s more bothersome is that she laughed when I apologized for not giving her the heir she wants. Hunter, I don’t think she’s done with us.”
Ava’s voice shakes. “I knew we were asking for trouble by telling our fathers. She even knows I’ve been staying here in town.”
“What other choice did we have? Neither of us wants to produce the baby she so desperately wants.”
“I know that, but she scares me. I came here instead of calling you.” Ava walks to the window and scans the area below. “She probably had me followed anyway, but at least she can’t hear us.”
My nerves fire. My mother has stayed far away from me for years, so I don’t know what she’s capable of. But she causes enough unease in me that I brought on security for Dorothy .
I didn’t want to, but I told Dorothy everything there was to know about the situation with my mother. She read through my man of steel shield and saw how concerned I was, which is probably the only reason she agreed to let me assign Trey to her.
“Ava, was your conversation with my mother confrontational?”
Ava faces me and shakes her head.
“Then why all this panic? A phone call isn’t enough to rattle you normally, so what aren’t you telling me?” I fold my arms.
“Remember how she threatened Helena and her family? What if she has the same plans for us?” Ava rushes over to me. “She’s too calm, Hunter. Her reaction to me was like she was dealing with a broken fingernail.”
I nod because Ava’s right. There’s no way my mother would be adamant about something for so long and easily give it up.
“Do you have a way to get a security team on you for a little while? At least long enough for us to figure out what she’s up to?”
“I can ask my dad, but I don’t want to get him involved any more than he already is. It puts a target on his back. He can’t be threatening her and we both know he would. I’m his little girl, his only daughter.”
I mindlessly move a stack of papers as I take a minute to analyze how Dorothy will feel about what I’m going to do. Considering Ava and my family’s bond and loyalty, she would understand my desire to keep Ava safe.
“Okay. I’ll get someone set up for you. I’ll have them contact you within the hour. Do you think you’ll be safe enough for that long?”
“Thank you, and yes, I should be fine for that long. It’s not like I’ve noticed anything, but I don’t have a good feeling about it.” Her eyes show her terror of being on opposing sides with my mother.
A wave of tension surges through me. “You’ve got me on edge, Ava. I’m used to ruthless bitchiness when dealing with you. Seeing you like this isn’t sitting well.”
“You don’t know her like I do. And half the attitude I had with you was how she told me to deal with you.”
Ava twists away, releasing a regretful sigh. “I never should’ve come clean with you about where the blackmail came from. Now it’s me she’s going to come after. I’m fucking screwed, Hunter.”
“Not to diminish your feelings, Ava, but I don’t think it’s you she’s after. This has something to do with me and an unborn child.”
My mind races. Mommy Dearest isn’t done with me and that’s enough to have me crawling the walls with anxiety for Dorothy’s safety.
If my mother is willing to kill the Dupree family to prevent them from ruining her plans, Dorothy will be nothing but a speck of dust to be wiped up and easily discarded.
I relieve Trey as soon as I get to Dorothy’s loft, draw in a stabilizing breath, and knock on her door. It opens and on the other side is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, wearing an oversized black sweater and flannel sweatpants. Her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head.
“Beauty, you’re going to kill me in those glasses.”
She reaches for them and pulls them off. “If you tell a soul I wear these, I’ll never speak to you again. I’m only twenty-six and shouldn’t be needing glasses yet. ”
“How you look right now is like a sex goddess disguised as the hottest librarian alive.”
She smiles and shakes her head as she opens the door. “Get in here. It’s cold out there.”
“Gladly.” I enter and take off my coat.
So far, she’s receptive to me being here, so I hope that means she gave Jamison the boot once and for all. There’s only one way to find out.
I steel myself for what’s about to happen. “How did your conversation with Jamison go?”
“Not well. We fought the entire time.” She strolls into the kitchen, hiding her expression. “I feel terrible about his loss, but it doesn’t change how betrayed I feel. He tried to talk his way around it but couldn’t deny how upset he would’ve been if the roles were reversed.”
My anxiety falls away, and I take her in my arms. “I wish you weren’t hurting. It’s hard to see you in pain.”
She slides her arms around my waist and rests her head on my chest. “You’ve been incredibly understanding for a guy who hates him.”
“Jamison and I used to be friends. I imagine we would’ve stayed friends, but we both fell in love with you. That doesn’t work out well for two men who want to be on top.”
She peeks up at me. “Was that a pun?”
Just with her suggestion of a sexual position, I want to carry her to bed. Being intimate with her over the last couple of days has awakened a sleeping, sex-deprived giant who desperately wants to catch up on what he’s been missing out on.
“Beauty, I want to be in any position you’ll have me. But thinking of you with Jamison is something I avoid with all my willpower. So, no. That wasn’t a pun.”
A flash of crimson paints her cheeks.
Damn, I’ll never get sick of seeing that .
I lean over and kiss her soft lips. We both complained of jet lag all day, but a newfound spark of energy takes hold.
I pull her into me as our tongues caress one another. Her body close to mine is perfection. When I lift her off the ground, she instinctively wraps her legs around my waist. I guide us to her bed and lie her on her back.
“Dorothy, I’m going to remove your clothes and make love to you. We can talk afterward.” I bend over and push her sweater up. To my surprise, she isn’t wearing a bra. “Your breasts are perfect.”
I dot kisses around them as I remove her shirt. Our gazes connect and her eyelids are lustfully heavy. If I had known that baring my soul to her would bring us this close, I would’ve done it from day one.
“Thank you for making me a better man. A man worthy of getting the honor of loving you.” I run my lips down her naked torso.
She subtly lifts her hips so I can remove her flannel pants. I love that she wants me; I wasn’t sure I’d get another chance after her talk with Jamison. The weight of that thought overwhelms me. A surge of flaming heat rises from my toes and shoots through my head.
“Hunter, you make my heart full. Thank you for trying so hard for me.”
She calms my worries, so I remove her pants and slide my hands up her thighs. “Spread your legs, beauty. I need to taste you.”
She does what I ask without hesitation. “I want you inside of me soon, so you might want to get undressed first. That way, when I’m begging you to give me more, you can do it quickly.”
I smile down at her. “Something tells me you’re a little wound up.”
“No. I just want to be with you.” Her gaze drops to the bulge in my pants. “You feel so good. I love being with you this way.”
“Your wish is my command.” I work myself out of my clothes and crawl on top of her. “You convinced me. I need to be inside of you now.”
With careful precision, I position myself right at her opening. It’s fucking heaven. I have to restrain myself from exploding. Skin-to-skin with her is almost too much to take.
I stare into her eyes. “Are you still okay if we don’t use condoms?”
“I am. It feels so much better without.” She presses her hips up, giving me the go-ahead.
“Damn straight, it does.” I glide into her and suck in a breath. “Fuck, beauty. How do you feel better each time I’m with you?”
She rocks with more force and pulls my lower lip into her mouth. I shut the fuck up and focus on pleasuring this amazing woman I’m head over heels for.
Her hands run down my back and she takes my ass cheeks into her palms, pulling them into her. She needs more friction, so I angle myself to stimulate her better.
“Tell me if you need something different.”
“Just stay right there,” she pants. “Oh my god, Hunter. Fuck me just like that.”
I give her exactly what she asks for as I kiss her breasts, neck, and mouth. She rakes her fingers through my hair and scratches my back, then she twists her hips. The movement coaxes my release closer to the surface. Too close.
“Beauty, we’ve got to change positions or I’m going to come.” I tighten my lower abdomen to hold myself back.
When I can move without coming too soon, I roll her on top of me. She pushes up and stares down into my eyes.
This is my favorite way to make love to her. Her teardrop-shaped tits, her flat stomach, her gorgeous face, and a view of us joined together are like a work of art .
“You’re so beautiful. I love you so much.” I thrust into her, picking up my pace. “Beauty, take your hair out. I want to see it flow over your shoulders as I make you come. It’s a sight like no other.”
She reaches up and tugs out a band from her bun. Her thick locks fall over her chest, allowing her tight nipples to poke through. It’s enough to undo me.
I groan and take my thumb to her clit, pressing on it and circling. Her head drops back as her hands grip my pecks. She moans and grinds deeper, taking all of me.
“Harder, Hunter.”
I buck into her with more force while applying more pressure with my fingertips. She sucks in a breath and holds it in, going still and allowing the strong, pulsing tugs of her tight pussy coming all over me to milk my cock.
I lose it and orgasm so hard my body jerks. Coming from only her waves of pleasure pulling me to the other side is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. This woman undoes me.
She drops onto my chest as we come down from our high. I caress her skin with my fingertips. Love paralyzes me and my chest squeezes with fear of losing her.
I hold her tighter. “I love you, beauty. So much it scares the shit out of me.”
She pushes up and tilts her head to the side, studying my face. “What are you scared about?”
Honesty has been working well for me lately, so I lean into it. “There’s always a chance I’ll lose you to him. I almost did. The memory is still fresh in my mind. It was less than three weeks ago that I was just hours away from it. Who’s saying that won’t happen again?”