Chapter 5 Hunter
FIVE
HUNTER
Her perfume clings to me, making it hard to breathe deeply. Not because it isn’t nice—it suits her well because it smells just as luxurious as she is—but because the more I breathe it in, the more I want it.
Every time she shifts in the passenger seat, I can’t help but lock in on her.
The Mrs. Claus dress rides up around her thighs, so much so I can see the edge of her pantyhose.
She still wears my jacket, hugging it to her body.
I know once I drop her off and get it back, it’ll be stained with her scent.
And I’m not sure whether I should like it as much as I do.
Maybe I should have taken the out. Requested the date get refunded or passed on. But as soon as I consider it, I tense. As much as my daughter is in deep trouble for going behind my back and doing that, there’s a part of me that is also a little grateful for her intervention.
Even if it means it can’t go anywhere.
“Oh no,” she whispers, sitting up.
I follow her line of sight and take in the ROAD CLOSED sign that leads to the rental she’s been staying at the last couple of weeks. There are a couple of flashing lights, but no other cars.
Slowly, I pull in beside it and idle, searching the darkness for any reason why they might have blocked access to her street. “Did you know anything about this?” I ask quietly.
Sylvie shoots me a look as she pulls her hair out of the bun it’d been in during cleanup. “Of course not. What, you think I orchestrated this as some ploy to get close to you?” She rolls her eyes. “Let me out. I think I can walk it.”
I growl and slam the locks on all the doors. “Absolutely not.” I don’t even comment on how over the top she is. “You aren’t walking home in that.”
I pull away from her street, ignoring her indignant grunt as I do.
“Hunter, turn around and drop me off,” she demands, arms crossed.
“No,” I reply, pulling off onto the long road leading to my cabin.
Sylvie makes a sound in the back of her throat. “Why are you taking me to your cabin?”
“Because you clearly can’t go back to your place, and I would have been alerted if my cabin was blocked.
” I don’t look at her as I carefully take the curve in the road and pull onto my access road.
I’m one of the few guys who live closer to the main road, mostly because my cabin sits along an access path into the mountain and near the rescue centre.
Huffing, Sylvie slides down in her seat. “You really don’t have to do this.”
“And where else would you go?” I ask honestly. “Unless you want me to take you back to town hall so you can bunk with Marvin?”
Sylvie snorts, though she doesn’t look at me, not as we pull into my cabin.
My property is less rustic and more house, mostly for Opal’s sake.
The two-storey building has a wraparound porch, three dormers looking over the front and back of the land, and more windows than are probably necessary.
We’re lucky enough to have a creek running right past the house, though it’s frozen over now.
Pulling to a stop, I leave the engine running and say, “Either you stay here while I get you a pair of boots, or I carry you in.”
Sylvie cuts me a glare. “Bossy much? You know I’m not Opal, right? I can make sound choices.”
Leaning towards her, I breathe in that intoxicating perfume. “Oh, I definitely know you aren’t my daughter. Because she knows how to listen.”
“Really?” Sylvie cocks her head, shifting to face me. “Because last I checked, she got a hold of your bidding paddle and made you bid on me. Unless…you told her to do that, Hunter?”
I bite down on my irritation. “Of course, I didn’t.”
“Hmph.” She looks a little too pleased with that admission, a smirk curving her red lips. Somehow throughout the night her makeup had remained perfect. No smudging, no running mascara or faded lipstick.
Without another word, Sylvie pushes open the passenger side door. A shiver rushes through her, visible and dramatic, but she doesn’t let it stop her from putting on her heels.
For fuck's sake.
Growling, I jump out before she can put the second stiletto on and enter the snow.
The sky has a strange, almost silver tint to it, like a warning it’s about to get worse.
I haven’t shovelled my driveway in nearly forty-eight hours, and the thick layer of snow proves that.
I’m nearly calf-deep in the icy cold substance. Her heels wouldn’t survive.
Before she can make it out of the truck, I round the open car door. “It’s fine, Hunter,” she says flippantly, waving a hand. “It’s like five feet away.”
“Not happening. If I have to carry you, then so be it.”
Her eyes narrow as she tries to stand, but I grab her by the waist and pull her over my shoulder as the blackened sky opens up.
“Hey!” she shouts, thumping my back. “Hunter!”
I slam the truck shut and start for the cabin. “You just don’t know how to listen.”
Sylvie huffs. “If you think this is going to win you any brownie points, then you’re sorely mistaken. The first time was sweet. This is just excessive.”
Excessive. As if this woman doesn’t live in excess.
“Hunter, seriously. I get it. You’re an ex-firefighter and all that, but really, put me down before you hurt yourself,” she says, sounding a little more desperate.
“We’re almost at the porch, I’ll put you down there,” I mutter, holding her tighter as the wind grows harsher.
I have to squint to see through the flurry of ice and snow; suddenly freezing cold, I’m almost thankful to be holding Sylvie now, because she’s the only thing keeping me warm.
I quicken my pace, trudging through the snow to get her under cover.
The Mrs. Claus getup can’t be keeping her warm.
I feel every shiver, the tremble of her thighs, her shaky hands as they smack my back.
As soon as we make it to the porch, I set her down gently. “Get to the front door,” I tell her, missing her warmth as soon as she’s off me. “We need to get you warm.”
Sylvie’s cheeks and nose are red, not even my suit jacket protecting her. “Fine,” she says through chattering teeth. “Let’s go then.”
Without thinking, I join her on the steps and wrap an arm around her.
Sylvie stiffens, but she doesn’t shove me away.
As soon as we get to the door, the only thing we have to deal with is the wind.
My hands tremble as I get the keys out, but I hold tighter to Sylvie, blocking her from the worst of it.
As soon as the door opens, I get her inside. The cabin is quiet except for the wind. It’s strange not having Opal here to greet us, but at least I know she’s safe with her uncle, probably already asleep. And it’s probably best she’s not here when Sylvie is.
“I have warmer clothes in the bedroom you can change into,” I say, “but let me get the fire going.”
Sylvie shivers, arms still wrapped around herself, and half-nods. “O-okay,” she stutters.
I curl an arm around her again and move us into the living room.
The fireplace sits empty, with wood piled beside it.
I guide her to the sofa in front of it and make her sit, grabbing a thick throw blanket off the arm and pulling it around her.
Sylvie says nothing, her eyes locked on me, and I can’t make myself look away.
Her eyes shine in the dim Christmas lights still blinking around the house and from the Christmas tree in the corner.
Red lips part on a shaky breath, red lips that have been teasing me all damn night.
A catch sight of a snowflake clinging to her bottom lashes.
Without thinking, I swipe my thumb under her eye and catch the melting flake.
Sylvie sucks in a sharp breath, lips parting more as she gazes up at me. The rosiness of her cheeks isn’t just from the cold. Beneath my fingers, I feel them start to warm.
Clearing my throat, I force myself to step back and start for the fire. “Starting the fire will only take a few minutes. Then you can get changed and I’ll show you to the guest room.”
Behind me, Sylvie shifts on the sofa. “Thanks,” she mutters. “Do you know the phone number of who I can call about the road?”
I stiffen, tossing a log into the hearth. “Yeah,” I reply slowly. “They won’t answer till late morning, though.” If they answer at all on a Sunday.
Sylvie curses under her breath, her heels hitting the hardwood as she kicks them off. “Fantastic.”
“You might hate it,” I say, sticking a match, “but you are welcome here.”
“And why would I hate it?” she asks, crossing her arms over her full chest as I look over my shoulder at her.
I have to swallow hard and not let my eyes roam her figure. “Just figured this would be the last place you’d want to be.”
Sylvie cocks her head, blonde hair falling over her shoulder. The neatly pinned styling she’d done for the event tumbles around her face. “I unfortunately don’t have anywhere else to be,” she says, looking around, “but I will admit, I am intrigued.”
“Intrigued by what?” I ask, turning to face her now that the fire has started. I feel the flames at my calves, but it’s nothing compared to the fire licking at my insides from her.
All night, she’s been a temptation I haven’t been able to escape.
“Getting to snoop through your life,” she says with a smile. “Not once since I’ve been in town have you invited me over. Now, I have full access to everything.”
My eyes narrow as she stands, the blanket around her shoulders going tight. “That’s really what you’re thinking about?”
Sylvie shrugs as she steps up to me, face tilted back, that teasing smirk still playing at her lips. “Maybe not the only thing.” She takes another step, making us almost flush. “Maybe I’m also thinking about the fact that this has to be pissing you off in some way. That I piss you off.”
“You don’t piss me off,” I tell her, lowering my face like she’s the magnet I’m in orbit of.
“Don’t I?” she whispers.
“No.” Our lips are suddenly a breath apart, and all I can think about is claiming them. Tasting her and quenching this strange desire.
When I move closer, she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she holds firm, and I hesitantly brush my lips against hers. That first touch isn’t enough.
Sylvie makes a sound in the back of her throat. “If you’re going to kiss me, Hunter, then actually mean it.” She moves to take a step back, but I grab her arm and tug her into me.
“Like this?” I ask quietly, watching her expression shift from frustration to surprise as I claim her in a hard, unforgiving kiss.
It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done before. Ever felt. And it is all-consuming. Too much.
This alone tells me a kiss won’t be enough to quench the desire.
Nothing would be enough.