Chapter 41
Jade
S pending time with Hunter felt like something out of one of my books. He was attentive and hung off my every word, holding my hand at every opportunity, and the things he did to my body… I honestly thought the authors I read had just a vivid imagination, but I think I just hadn’t found the right person. Hunter knows my body. Every single inch. Sex with him is intense, powerful and I don’t think I can ever have enough.
He talked in depth about what sort of non-profit he wanted to set up and how involved he wanted to be in it, meaning that potentially his role at Bright would need to evolve to allow him to do that. The charity would be an arm of the business, giving children the financial backing to attend university or give them apprenticeships and gain the qualifications to work in the finance industry and at Bright.
I felt like our relationship had reached the point where I was comfortable enough to be vulnerable with him and let him know about Mum and her illness. How he listened to my insecurities with Maddison and didn’t brush them off or make out that I was making it bigger than it was; putting my mind at ease, reassuring me that he only sees me.
“I know that look.” Ted bursts into my office with my morning coffee. “That’s the look of a woman thoroughly sated after a dirty weekend.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
Huffing out a laugh. “I can’t even lie. It was perfect.”
“The boss also had that dreamy look on his face this morning when he floated in, smiling that gorgeous smile of his at everyone he came across.”
“I did, however, have the pleasure of meeting Maddison on Friday.” Ted cringes at my admission. “She’s a delight.”
“Urgh, what was she here for? If she was here to try and get her claws back into the boss she’s out of luck because that man sees no one else when you’re in the room, and when you aren’t, he now has this glazed look about him, like he’s thinking about you or how he can get to you. Trust me that man has it bad.” I bow my head to hide my smile.
“Apparently, she came to talk and say that she’s going to back off. Got her claws into someone else.” I pick up the files from my desk.
“I should think so. She had her chance. Good luck to whoever has been unlucky enough to fall for her games.” He whistles when he spots my shoes. “You seriously have the best shoe collection I think I’ve ever seen Mrs. Are those this season’s Gucci pumps?”
Looking down at my new nude stilettos with the patterned cut out on the instep that fit me like they were made for me, heat flames my blood as I recall the look Hunter had on his face when he gave me them this morning with a little note telling me how much he wanted to see me in just these later on tonight.
“Thank you, they were a gift though.”
“Well, the boss has taste.” He gives me a wink.
“That he does. I’ve just got this weird feeling with Maddison. Call it female intuition. I don’t think she’s the type to just walk away.”
“I’m not going to tell you that she doesn’t have anything up her sleeve, because I never liked her. Always tried her hardest to be seen by the executives, and didn’t really make an effort with others. A mean girl for sure, but what I will say is the boss only sees you, so if she is up to something, he wouldn’t stray.”
“I hope you’re right.”
We take a table at the bar over the road and I look at Hunter expectantly. “So you need to talk to me?” He accosted me in my office earlier, inviting me for a drink while also whispering all the things he wanted to do to me that left my panties wet for the rest of the day.
He blows out a breath. “Yep, so the Spring Gala is next weekend. Are you still okay to be my date?”
“Of course.”
“Good because my parents have decided that they’re coming over from the States to attend, along with my sister, Ria, and I’d like you to meet them?” I freeze, my eyes bulging as I take in what he’s suggesting. We haven’t really put a label on what we are, but meeting the parents is kind of a big deal. That’s what you do with a girlfriend. Shit, am I reading too much into this? But he did say he also wanted to meet my mum.
“I’d love to.” My voices shakes slightly. His eyes search mine as he leans in closer.
“Thank you.” He whispers before he closes the space pressing a soft lingering kiss to my lips. I rest my head against his when we break apart. “But meeting the parents,” I say, my voice barely a whisper, “I’m petrified.”
”Petrified?” he questions as he breaks our contact.
“Yes, not only are they your parents, which by the way is incredibly scary in itself. I mean, come on, you’re billionaires, and, well, I’m just me.” He dusts the backs of his knuckles down my cheek.
“I happen to like just you.” Butterflies dance in my stomach at his comment and I press a palm there to calm them down.
“Charmer.” He winks and I roll my eyes. “But also, they’re my boss’s boss, like the big boss. I just know I’ll say or do something to embarrass you, the company, myself. Oh God, what if I spill something down my gown, or have it stuffed into my knickers with toilet roll stuck to my shoe? What if I trip and spill my drink down your mum’s priceless gown? Then, I try to get the stain out but I’m actually rubbing her boob? Practically feeling her up. Because that has happened. I’ve done that before at a friend's wedding I—”
“Woah, take a breath, Tink. You’re way overthinking this.”
“You think?” I stare at him wide eyed. No shit I’m overthinking this .
“Maybe make sure you’re wearing flat shoes?” Hunter’s shoulders bounce up and down as he tries, but fails, to hold in his laughter.
“Alright you’ve had your fun, laugh it up because when I embarrass us both, remember, no one knows who I am, but everyone knows who you are, and trust me,” I push my finger into his chest, “you’ll come out of this worse.”
“I’m sure we both will come out of the event unscathed.” He pinches my side making me jump. “So after all that rambling, you good with meeting my parents?” he questions his tone soft as he runs his hand up my thigh, and I shift in my seat.
“After that you still want me to come with you?” He nods and has that stupid look on his face that he knows gets me to do whatever he wants. “Fine, it’s your funeral.” I take another large drink of my wine, never once taking my eyes from his.
A smile creeps onto his face and I frown in confusion as I swallow. “Why are you smiling?”
“My parents are going to love you. Every time I talk to my mom about you all I hear from her is how I’ve finally met my match.”
He’s still talking but all I can hear is the fact that he has spoken to his mum about me. Still not believing what I’m hearing. “I’m sorry, I need you to repeat that.”
“What, that I’ve spoken to my mom about you?” His face is screwed up in confusion and I nod. “I tell my parents everything important going on in my life.” That one sentence makes my heart skip a beat.
“I’m important to you?”
“If you can’t see that, Tink, then I’m failing you. And that’s going to change.” Pushing his forehead to mine he closes his eyes. “No one has had this effect on me before, and I don’t ever want it to stop. Never did I think someone could make me want more but you do.” His voice is barely audible as his whisper. “You make me want it all, and with you, I believe I could.”