26. CHARLOTTE
26
F or the past thirty minutes, I’ve been hyper aware of Hunter’s calloused palms on my hips, his fingers grazing my skin every now and then. Each time our skin connects, I sink deeper into his embrace, unable to resist his touch. My go-to is to scold him for it, telling him to stop flirting with me, but I don’t this time. The boundaries we’ve set are blurring by the minute, and I can’t find it in myself to care.
I don’t know why I kissed him that day at the quarry. It’s like something pulled me in, and before I knew it, my lips were on his, and all I knew was that it felt right. It felt right in that moment. It felt right with him. And not that I was surprised… it always feels right with Hunter.
I could still feel his kiss on my lips days after, and I’ve been dying to have them all over again. For him to lose control and gather the nerve to do the thing I want more than anything, but haven’t found enough courage to do again myself.
Letting out a content sigh, I stare into the dancing flames, his breath fanning the skin on my shoulder, causing my body to drum to a tune I’ve never felt before. It’s humming all the nerves beneath my skin alive, scorching, electrifying, and vibrating with enough force to drill deep into my core. I’m assuming it’s unintended, him having no clue that he’s close to making me combust into flames any second now by feeling his mouth so close to my skin.
I assumed wrong.
It isn’t until he presses a lingering kiss on the same spot, that I realize he knows exactly what he’s doing. With my skin blistering under his soft lips, I turn my head, immediately meeting his hypnotizing eyes that are clearly longing for more. The moonlight dances in his gaze like sparks of mischief, and the corner of his mouth raises in that boyish grin. The one that melts any restraint I have for him every single fucking time, while my breath stutters as his hand spreads out over my stomach. The heat of his palm has butterflies swarming to his touch like a magnet, and I drag my lower lip between my teeth to hold back the shudder that’s trying to break through. His thumb gently rubs tiny circles below my shirt, each more calculated than the last. You can’t see anything from the outside because it’s only his thumb that disappears under my shirt, but the feeling burns me on the inside like an eternal flame.
“You look gorgeous all flushed, babe. I like it.” His open mouth lands on the nape of my neck. Hot damn.
I suck in a breath, doing my best not to close my eyes and really give in to his touch.
“Stop flirting with me.” My hoarse voice lacks strength, and it doesn’t surprise me that when I let my eyes fall to his, he raises his eyebrow.
“Do you really want me to, though?” He swirls his arm around my waist in a controlling way, tugging me closer against his chest, his other hand brushing away my hair to plant a kiss in the crook of my neck. This time, he makes me gasp for air and, unwillingly, I close my eyes. He opens his mouth, then starts to nibble my skin. I have to hold back a moan.
“Do you need me to stop flirting with you, Charls?” He rustles against my neck in between kisses.
Yes.
No .
Yes.
Fuck no.
My mouth stays shut with a hum, not sure about what I want and what I need. My eyes glance around us, hoping no one will notice Hunter’s successful attempt to cross the line more blatantly, but also not giving a flying fuck if they do.
“What are you doing, Hunter?” My face turns toward him, even though I know I shouldn’t.
I’ve put him in the best friend box, because it’s safe. Because we agreed on that from day one, but here he is clearly breaking that rule, and I can’t deny he isn’t the one who haunts my fantasies when I’m alone. I can’t deny that I want this.
I want him .
“Taking advantage of the fact that we are both drunk and won’t overthink it.”
I furrow my brows in an incredulous look, trying to ignore the intense feeling of his hand still caressing my stomach.
“I had one drink, and you had a ginger beer.”
“Hmm, in that case—I’m just winging it.” His counter is murmured against my shoulder, making my stomach flip with anticipation, before he grabs my hand and lifts us both to our feet.
“Let’s go.” Without waiting for my response, he drags me behind him, making me glance back to see if anyone notices, as we make our way to his truck. An exhilarating feeling grows inside me, although I haven’t figured out yet if it’s excitement or straight up fucking fear, knowing that whatever we have, it could be changing in mere seconds.
When we reach his tailgate, he yanks me in front of him, twisting me on the spot to face him. There has always been a hint of craving in his eyes whenever he would throw me another flirty line like the playboy he is, but now there is a craving in his eyes that he’s never shown before. A savage lust that is set to devour me, making me want to throw out every reason I can find to not give into this pull. He roughly slams me against the cold metal of his truck as he presses his hands beside my head, caging me in.
Bad boy Hunter as my best friend is fun, adventurous, and playful, always the one putting a smile on my face, but bad boy Hunter, ready to shred my clothes to pieces, is making me gasp for air. He leans his forehead against mine, while his panting breath fans my face.
“I will stop if you tell me to, but fuck—I’m really hoping you won’t.” His nose brushes against mine, our lips closer than they’re supposed to be. I only have to move an inch to close the space between us, and press my lips against his once more.
But really kiss him this time.
Kiss him like there is no tomorrow.
Kiss him like he’s mine.
“We’re best friends, Hunt,” I state, even though I’m dying to let my tongue dart out and give in to the longing that is slowly crushing the restraints inside me.
“I will always be your best friend.” He moves one hand in my hair, fisting it, keeping my head in place. “But right now, I want to be so much more.”
He doesn’t wait for my reply, and somehow, I knew he wouldn’t. He is not a gentleman; he isn’t the boy who needs reassurance. He acts first and thinks later. Something I school him about on a regular basis, but in this yearning moment of internal desire, I’m so glad for that trait.
He runs his tongue along my lower lip, and my lips part in response. Finally, he pushes his tongue against mine and all boundaries we have set vanish into thin air in that same second. My hand grabs his neck, demanding him to deepen the kiss as he explores the inside of my mouth, slow and lingering. Massaging every inch he can find, I enjoy the tingling feeling that starts to form between my thighs as he keeps kissing me in the most sexy and affectionate, yet demanding, way. I never once doubted he would be a good kisser, but feeling his body against mine, with his tongue rubbing against mine sensually, makes me realize that’s an understatement.
Fuck, he’s a great kisser.
He feels like the sun on a cloudy day, his touch magical and capable of pulling me out of whatever numb state I was in before this. He never stops, steady, gentle, as if he wants to relish this moment for as long as possible. Each move, each tilt of his head, each time our tongues find each other again, it all gets tattooed on my membrane, wondering if he’s setting a standard no one can ever surpass.
After a while, he moves his head back, leaving me disappointed, because I sure as fuck am still craving more.
His thumb moves up and down my cheek as he bites his lip. “Let’s go to our place.”
I nod in agreement, making a big smirk appear on his face. He grabs my hand, walking me back to the passenger side as he opens the door, and I place my foot on the step to climb inside. I drop my ass on the seat like I’ve done numerous times, then I look back at him. It feels different. Everything feels different.
He puts his feet on the steps, pulling his body up in one move, hovering his face in front of mine. “Remind me to get you drunk more often.”
A wink is volleyed my way and, simultaneously, my mouth curls into a smile, relieved that even though the boundaries have blurred, we can also still be us.
“Stop flirting with me.”
“Fine.” He chuckles, then presses another kiss on my lips. He moves back down, slamming the door shut before he rounds the truck, and gets behind the wheel, then takes off as if nothing happened. As if we’re driving around like we didn’t just share the best kiss of my life .
But after feeling his body so close to mine, I hate the space that is now between us, like an awkward, invisible sibling that is forced to tag along. It has my fear and insecurity growing with each mile that passes, giving me way too much space to think of all the reasons why this isn’t a good idea. He reaches out his hand, grabbing my neck, softly pulling it to make me scooch closer to him. I slide right next to him and settle into the side of his chest, instantly feeling better from the warmth of his body. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, keeping me in a tight grip against him while he plants an affectionate kiss on my hair. It’s weird how in the last five minutes we crossed a line we were never meant to cross, but somehow it feels as comfortable as ever.
We drive to our spot in silence, and for a minute, I nestle my head closer against him, closing my eyes. A contentedness settles in my veins, and even though my thoughts are still laced with a hint of fear, I’m fully aware that there’s no turning back now. There’s no turning back from this. I know he’ll leave his mark on me, like a wound that will never quite heal, forever embedded in my life.
Five minutes later, he parks his truck next to our tree and shuts off the engine. I glance up at him, looking into his hazel eyes that are staring me down. He cups my cheek, narrowing his eyes, placing a soft kiss on my lips.
I sigh, knowing he ruined me with a single kiss.
“What’s on your mind, babe?”
“What if we ruin it?” I know the question is useless because the outcome will stay the same. We’re on this bridge and we’re getting to the other side, no matter what. But I need him to tell me we’ll be okay. We won’t lose what we have. I want him in every way possible, but I need him to stay my best friend.
I can’t risk that.
I’m not willing to risk that.
He smiles, brushing my lips with his thumb.
“It’s us. We won’t.