Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
DORI
Hunter stares me down like I just pointed a gun at his chest. I shake my head as I step back with the ache from today pushing against my lungs.
“I got carried away. It’s not that I don’t want this because I do.” I point to my bathroom. “It’s just that I’m on an antibiotic for the UTI. I’m not supposed to engage in sex until it’s gone.”
“And how long will that be?” He scowls at the bathroom.
My blood swishes through my ears as it pumps wildly through my veins. I can’t tell him I’m supposed to wait at least two weeks before I can have sex again. He’ll lose his mind and have a million questions.
I make a quick decision. What I’m about to do is a better distraction anyway. I’m done feeling sorry for myself. It’s time to say fuck off to everything and take matters into my own hands.
Goodbye to thinking about the future consequences and dealing with a garbled ball of confusion that has me straddling two worlds with two different men.
I’ve already crucified the relationship I’ve been hoping for most of my life. There’s no reality in this lifetime where Jami and I get the happy ending we deserve. He’s off dating a bunch of women, so I need to let him go.
I only remind him of things that cause him pain. He deserves to find someone who’s good for him—a woman who hasn’t dragged him through hell.
This life with Hunter is the one I’m supposed to be in. The universe keeps showing me and it’s time I pay attention to the signs. He’s been patiently waiting for me.
He loves me and will give me anything I want. Well, almost everything, but it’s my choice to lock the hope of having children away in a faraway dungeon where no one will ever want to visit.
Now all that’s left standing in our way is the clause in my contract. And that’ll be taken care of when I do what he suggested long ago and marry him. They can’t fire me if I do.
I sway back to the bed, forcing all my pain of today into a compartment that will remain locked and buried.
His eyes find mine, still shining with desire. “What do you have in mind, beauty? I know that look, and it’s not one where you’re thinking about antibiotics.”
“Sit on the edge of the bed and I’ll show you instead.” I take his hands in mine and pull him to the side of the bed as I descend to my knees.
My eyes remain locked with his. I feather kisses along his defined, toned thighs while taking him firmly in my hand.
I pump his shaft and it grows harder in my hand, showing me how much he admires me. His body speaks of the appreciation he has for me, and it’s something I so desperately need.
He’s the only one who can fulfill this hole in me because I’ve mutilated any craving Jami would ever have for me. I’ve stripped him of the ability to appreciate and admire me if we were ever to be this way again.
I took something from him that night and then again today. Something I can never give back. A piece of his flesh and blood, a child, a part of the family he hopelessly yearns for. Something I’ll never be able to give him.
Jami deserves to find someone who can give him everything. Someone he can adore and not be reminded of all the torture and never-ending pain she’s laid upon him when he looks into her eyes.
Yes, it’s time I let him go like he begged me to do in Denver. I’m nothing but a dreadful memory.
And now that those remaining ties are severed, he’s free to find the love I can’t give him. A love that can give him a child.
I blink away the future with Jami and shine my dreams toward Hunter. He’s my future because despite all the hell I’ve put him through, he doesn’t look at me like I’ve killed a part of him.
He’s good and forgiving. He’s the one who fits with me. There’s nothing stopping us now, and I’ll let him know soon. But first, I want to show him all he means to me.
I pump his cock harder as I kiss around his balls. I lick and run my tongue over his skin, peeking up in lusty want.
“When you look at me like that, I think I’m going to explode.” He runs his hand over the back of my head. “I love you so much.”
God, I needed to hear that.
“I feel the same about you.” I line him up and hold him between my lips as I flick my tongue over his tip.
“Fuck, you know how to welcome a guy home.” His voice simmers as I take him into my mouth.
I get him slick with a few glides and licks as I take him in and out of my mouth. I suck hard and show him all my desire to do this. When his shaft is wet enough that my lips won’t stick to his skin, I move my hand away.
Hunter tilts his head and watches me with hooded eyes. “That’s it, beauty. Just the way I like it.”
I slide him in and out between my lips. Down my throat, letting him gag me just as he loves. I cup his balls in my hand and I roll them around in my palm with the perfect amount of pressure.
He gathers my hair into a fist and uses it to set the pace. His heated gaze flicks between pleasure and desire.
“Take all of me, my queen.” He pushes farther down my throat.
I moan, telling him to keep going if he wants. He thrust into my mouth faster and harder.
The wetness that trickles between my thighs is filled with a desperate need, yet it’s denied any chance of release.
My sex will go untouched, and that thought has the pressure building inside me until I can’t help but move to escape all the reasons I’m out of commission.
I rock in rhythm with him and rub my clit. As he pushes into me, I twist my hips in search of that perfect friction that’ll bring me to a release.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” His eyes, full of love, stare at me in awe.
I need this so much right now.
Breaking our gaze, I take him down deeper. I’m not in the mood for love. I want control and power. That gives me an idea.
I tease him to the edge of his release and then change it up. He holds my hair tight and tries to get me to take him over the top, but I don’t let him. I lick him slowly as his balls pull high and tight.
This is something I do well, so I focus on it and force the pressing images of all that I lost today far down in the back of my mind. Hunter is my solace, helping me heal in ways I can’t on my own.
“Make me come, my love.” He thrusts harder, using his hands against the bed as leverage. “Make me come.”
I torture him a little more as I rub myself. If he’s going to get off, so am I .
“As sexy as you are, you should know I’m dying over here.” He gasps and grunts. “Beauty, stop teasing me.”
I moan and suck him a little more than I was. I work my fingers over my clit in circular motions until I’m ready to buckle and shake.
My stomach clenches down and my orgasm sputters from me as I try not to bite down on his shaft. I attempt to keep my eyes connected to his, but they flutter as I shudder out of control.
“Fuck, that was hot.” He pumps twice more, holding my head in place as he does. “Get ready. Here it comes.”
His salty, thick cum spurts over my tongue and then down my throat, pulse after pulse as his release seems to go on and on. Once he’s done, I swallow as much as I can.
There, I consider that a job well done.
His lazy eyes smile down on me. As I pull away, he falls to his back. I bring myself to my feet and stand before him.
Without moving, his eyes cast toward me. “I don’t know what that was about, but I’m not complaining.”
He runs his hands over his face while I gaze over his magnificent body. I take my win and strut off to the bathroom, sinking into this feeling and pushing aside everything else.
About an hour later, I feel sick to my stomach. Jami warned me it could happen, but I didn’t think it would be so soon. That means there’s no reprieve in sight for me, at least not for a while.
Hunter holds out two pills. “Here, take these for your headache. I’ve got your bed set up, so all you need to do is get in and let me care for you for the rest of the night.”
I pop them in my mouth and take a sip of water. “You don’t have to stay with me tonight. I know you hate my bed.”
“This is different. I’m going to cuddle you and take care of you all night. Besides, I’ve come to appreciate us sleeping next to each other without doing anything else.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I never would’ve believed you if you told me I would feel this way, but it’s true. I like having you by my side.” He nudges my leg, telling me to go to get up.
“I don’t feel well at all and that walk over there looks very difficult.” I sink back onto the couch, trying not to face why I’m feeling terrible.
“In that case.” He leans down, picks me up, and carries me to bed.
“Thanks. Will you please put the trash can next to my nightstand, just in case?”
While I fluff my pillow and fix it the way I like it, he goes to the bathroom to get the trash can.
He hollers back to me. “You know I’m willing to help, but shouldn’t you be feeling better since you started the antibiotic?”
“Yes, but they said the medicine can cause stomach upset. I think I’m emotionally drained, so everything is hitting me harder.” It’s the best excuse I can come up with on the fly.
“Did you eat anything for dinner?” He comes back into the room and prepares it according to my specifications.
“No, but I’m not hungry.” I pull the covers up, giving him an unmistakable message that I’m not going to eat.
He studies me for a moment before he strips down to his boxer briefs and slips into bed with me. Once everything is to his liking, he reaches up to the light that sits on the table next to him. There’s a click, and the room goes dark.
“Come and sleep with your head on my chest like you usually do. I’ll make sure you’re good and rested in the morning.” He moves his arm over my head and makes room for me to snuggle.
“That sounds nice.” I scoot and lay my head on him. “Would you mind if I work from home tomorrow? I think I’ll be?—”
“You’re staying home tomorrow, and work can wait. I’ll figure out what we need to continue going forward. You need to get better, and that’s a direct order from your boss.”
“Thanks. I promise I’ll make it up to the team as soon as I’m at full strength.” My insides pulse with guilt.
“I know you will. Since your brother got hurt, you’ve been going on fumes. It was bound to catch up with you.”
“Thank you for understanding. I know I’ve not been myself, but I promise things will change once I’m back to normal.”
“I know, and I’ll wait as long as you need. I love you, which means I’ll love you for the rest of my life.” He squeezes me tight. “Now go to sleep, my beauty. I want you to feel better as soon as you can. That means rest.”
Rest won’t cure me. Only ignoring my heartbreak will get me through the emotional sickness I have flowing through my veins. I suck in a breath and hold back my pain.
We fall asleep shortly thereafter. My night is restless and I’m in pain for most of it. I get up to get sick at one point, but nothing comes out. It only makes matters worse when I notice blood in my underwear.
“Nice fucking reminder,” I mutter as I dig in a bag.
Jami picked up everything I would need, including a box of pads. I haven’t worn pads since my first miscarriage.
Agony shoots through my chest. With both my middle fingers, I flip the container off as if it’s a living creature. When it doesn’t strike me back, I take the item and return to the bathroom.
A couple of tears fall when I can’t get away from my thoughts about earlier today. Ripping the paper away from the sanitary napkin so it’ll stick to my clothes makes it all so real. I press it to my pants and stare at it.
Right now, it’s clean and white. Pure of anything rotten, rusted, corroded, and so poisonous it could’ve killed me. The thing that buried my relationship with Jami.
But that won’t last. As soon as I stand and go back to bed, the proof of its existence will be there, forcing me to acknowledge it. Until then, I’ll pretend it didn’t happen.
It’s the only way I’ll make it through this misery. I leave the bathroom and slide back in between the sheets.
“Is everything okay? I heard you cursing at a box.” Hunter rolls to his side and pulls me into him as I turn my back so I’m pressed against his chest.
My tortured heart tries to bite me, but I ignore it by taking Hunter’s hand and tucking it around me. “It’s fine. It’s just that on top of everything, I started my period.”
“I’m sorry, my love. You seem to be getting it from all sides.” He kisses my cheek. “Rest and I promise tomorrow will be a better day.”
If only he were right.
“Surprise, little sis. I should be scolding you… Oh, sorry. I didn’t expect you to have company.” Aiden shuts the front door after Jami passes him to come into my loft.
I grab the sheets to cover myself and sit up in shock. “How did you get in here?”
“You left your door unlocked. I was about to lecture you but…” Aiden glances around the room.
Jami steps into the kitchen and slumps in disappointment when he notices Hunter in my bed. Jami leans against the counter with his head turned away and his gaze stuck to the floor. Nothing about his stance gives me any relief.
God, I’m a horrible person.
I try to deflect. “You should’ve knocked.”
Aiden huffs. “Obviously, but why is he here?”
I bite down on my lip and try to figure out a way to get out of this debacle. I peek over at Hunter.
“Let me handle this.” He slides out from under my comforter and grabs his pants off the chair that’s in the corner of my supposed bedroom.
He steps into his jeans and then works his way into his sweater. “I guess I should have that wall we busted down replaced soon. It would’ve come in handy this morning.”
“You’re telling me,” I say dryly.
My brother stares at him with his arms across his chest. Aiden wasn’t impressed with Hunter to begin with, and this makes it a thousand times worse.
Jami takes a quick glance in my direction. Betrayal spills from his eyes. My mouth turns to dust, making it difficult to swallow. I break our gaze and sink even more under my sheets.
I should get up and help, but all I want to do is hide. The air is thick with an uncomfortable silence as Hunter gets dressed.
Once he is, he steps to Aiden and holds out his hand. “I’m Hunter Efron and you must be Aiden.”
“You can move your hand away.” Aiden eyes Hunter up and down.
Hunter nods and takes his hand back. “Very well. I can imagine what you might think of me, but I love your sister and have no intentions of hurting her.”
“So when she gets fired, she won’t get hurt?” Aiden cocks his head in full FBI mode. “And aren’t you almost ten years older than she is? What do you want with a woman that much younger than you? ”
My glare shoots to Jami, knowing he must have said something about Hunter’s age to Aiden.
Hunter turns to me. “On second thought, I’m going to let you deal with this. Otherwise, I’ll make the situation worse.”
I nod and shift to get out of bed, but get caught up in the sheets. I trip and stumble to the floor.
Jami’s around the counter and by my side before Hunter. They both move to help me but freeze when they come face-to-face.
This could end in a grisly fight, and if it does, Aiden will know everything. This is my worst nightmare and I have no control over the outcome.