5. Trinity
Chapter Five
TRINITY
I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My hair falls in loose waves past my shoulders, still slightly damp from the shower. I’ve put on some makeup and changed into the one nice top I managed to sling in my duffel.
For the first time in months, I look... normal. Like a girl going on a date, not a fugitive running for her life. Not that this is a date. It's just dinner with Hunter's family. A family that probably thinks I'm crazy for agreeing to marry a stranger in a town I'd never visited.
They're not entirely wrong.
I touch my lips, still feeling the ghost of Hunter's kiss. The way he backed me against the porch post, his hard body pressed against mine, the hunger in his eyes when he pulled away. No one has ever kissed me like that before, like I was everything he’d ever wanted.
Rennick's kisses had been calculated. Hunter's were pure fire.
Hunter is waiting at the base of the stairs, and the sight of him nearly stops my heart. He's changed into dark jeans and a black button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to expose tattooed forearms. He looks up as I descend, and something in his eyes makes heat pool low in my belly.
“You look beautiful,” he says, voice low and rough.
“Thanks. We should go. Don't want to keep your mom waiting.”
He studies me for a moment, then nods. “Right. We'll take the bike. I’ll lend you a jacket.”
The drive to his family's house takes us deeper into the mountains. I’m wrapped in Hunter’s jacket, his cinnamon and leather scent all around me.
The deep hum of the engine between my legs and Hunter’s broad, warm back in front of me on the bike has electricity zipping from my core all around my body.
Hunter points out landmarks, telling stories about growing up with six brothers in these woods. Each tale reveals a childhood so different from my own that it's hard to imagine.
“We used to race dirt bikes down that trail,” he says, gesturing to a narrow path through the trees. “Troy broke his arm doing it, but never told Mom how it really happened.”
The Blake family home comes into view, a huge, sprawling house with warm light spilling from every window. Several vehicles are already parked in the large gravel driveway.
“Looks like everyone's here already,” Hunter says, pulling up beside a shiny black truck. “Ready?”
I nod, trying to mask my nervousness.
He grins. “Apart from Marcus and Ryder, they don't know about... how we met. Just that you're new in town and staying with me for a bit.”
Relief washes through me. At least I won't have to explain the mail-order bride fiasco to a group of strangers.
The front door swings open before we reach it, and a woman who can only be Hunter's mother appears. She has Hunter's striking blue eyes and dark hair streaked with silver.
“You must be Trinity!” she exclaims, moving past Hunter to embrace me like we're old friends. “I'm Josie Blake. Welcome to our home, honey.”
Her hug is warm and tight, the kind of motherly embrace I haven't felt since I was fourteen. Something inside me cracks at the simple affection, and I have to blink back sudden tears.
“Thank you for having me,” I manage.
“Any friend of Hunter's is family here,” she says, releasing me. “Come in, come in. Everyone's dying to meet you.”
Hunter's hand finds the small of my back as we enter, a gentle pressure that somehow steadies me. The house is warm and inviting, with rustic furniture and family photos covering nearly every wall. The scent of pot roast and freshly baked bread makes my mouth water.
We're led into a large, open kitchen where what seems like a small army of enormous dark-haired men are gathered. They all turn as we enter, and I instinctively step closer to Hunter.
"Boys, this is Trinity," Josie announces. "Trinity, these are my boys. That's Logan, the oldest." She points to a tall man with a scarred face and a serious expression who nods in greeting. “Then Ryder and Frankie.”
A slightly shorter man with the same Blake blue eyes smiles, his arm around a pretty, curvy blonde who waves cheerfully.
“Axel and Nina," Josie continues.
“Hunter’s twin, Marcus." A leaner man with black-rimmed glasses raises his beer in greeting. “And that’s Troy over there. The only one missing is Zander, the baby. He’s over in Snowflake Falls. Now, Trinity, can I get you something to drink? Wine? Beer? Sweet tea?”
“Wine would be nice,” I say, overwhelmed by all the faces.
Hunter stays close as everyone finds seats around the massive dining table. I end up between him and Nina, which is a relief. The brothers are intimidating as a group, even if they do share Hunter's warm smile.
“So, Trinity,” Nina says as Josie brings out enormous platters of food, “Hunter says you just moved to town?”
“Yes, just yesterday actually.”
“Where from?” Logan asks.
I hesitate, not wanting to lie but unwilling to give specifics. “Arizona, most recently.”
“Big change. What brings you to Ember Heart?” Troy asks. “Do you have family here?”
Hunter tenses beside me. “Enough with the questions, bro. She wanted a change of scenery. Right, Trinity?”
I nod gratefully. “I've always loved mountains.”
"Well, we've sure got plenty of those," Ryder says with a chuckle.
The conversation shifts to town news and work matters.
I stay quiet, taking small bites of the delicious pot roast and watching the family dynamics.
The brothers tease each other mercilessly but with obvious affection.
Josie keeps everyone in line with a look that somehow manages to be both stern and loving.
It's so different from the silent, tense meals of my childhood, where one wrong word could set my father off on a drunken tirade.
“You're quiet,” Hunter whispers, leaning close enough that I can smell his freshly washed hair and that hint of cinnamon that seems to cling to him.
“Just taking it all in. You didn’t mention you had a twin.” I murmur back.
“Marcus and I are pretty different. He’s not the bike riding sort. He’s cool though. Smartest guy I ever met.”
I nod. “Your family is... a lot. I’m still trying to remember everyone’s names.”
He grins. “Too much?”
“No. It's nice.”
His hand finds mine under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. The simple touch sends a current through me, awakening the memory of our kiss.
After dinner, I offer to help with dishes, but Josie shoos me away. “Go show Trinity the property,” she tells Hunter.
Outside, the mountain air is crisp, stars brilliant in the clear sky. Hunter leads me along a path that winds behind the house, past a large workshop and down toward a small pond glittering in the moonlight.
“I like your mom.” I say.
Hunter stops at the edge of the pond. “She likes you.”
“How can you tell?”
“She offered you the good wine and gave you seconds without asking. That's the Josie Blake seal of approval. She’ll be offering you some disgusting-tasting herbal remedies soon, you better watch out.”
I laugh. “You know, I haven't had a family dinner like that since my mom died.”
His expression softens. “How old were you?”
“Fourteen.”
“And your dad?”
“Alive, but checked out. Found comfort in a bottle instead of raising his daughter.” I kick at a small stone, sending it splashing into the pond. “By sixteen, I was the one paying our bills and keeping the lights on.”
Hunter's big hand finds mine, fingers intertwining with my own. “You deserved better than that.”
“Maybe. You were lucky to have this. A mom who held everyone together, brothers who had your back.”
“I know.” He tugs gently on my hand, pulling me closer.
“Trinity. About that kiss earlier…”
“What about it?” My heart pounds in my chest.
“I shouldn't have done it. You're vulnerable, you're staying in my home, and I'm too damn old for you.”
I turn to face him. “I'm twenty, Hunter. Not sixteen.”
“And I'm thirty-two. That's twelve years.”
“I stopped being young the day my mom died. And age is just a number.”
“You've been through a lot. The last thing you need is me complicating things.”
“Maybe I want complications.” I step closer. “Maybe I want you to kiss me again.”
Hunter's eyes darken, his gaze dropping to my lips.
For a heartbeat, he remains still. Then he groans, arms encircling me, pulling me against him as he crushes his lips down on mine.
It's even more intense than before. His tongue traces the seam of my lips, and I open for him eagerly. One of his hands tangles in my hair, the other at the small of my back, pressing me closer until I can feel every hard line of his body against mine.
I gasp when his teeth graze my bottom lip, and he uses the opportunity to deepen the kiss, tongue stroking against mine in a way that has heat pooling between my thighs. My hands slide up his chest to his shoulders, feeling the coiled strength beneath my fingertips.
When his lips leave mine to trail down my neck, I moan, head falling back to give him better access. The scrape of his stubble against my sensitive skin sends shivers racing through me. His hardness presses against my stomach and my breath comes in gasps.
“Hunter,” I breathe, not even sure what I'm asking for.
Hunter groans again, capturing my mouth in another searing kiss that leaves me breathless and aching. His hands slide up over my top to cup my breasts and I moan. When he finally pulls away, we're both panting.
“Not here. Not like this.” His eyes are dark.
Part of me wants to argue, to pull him back to me and finish what we started. But the rational side knows he's right. We're on his family's property, in full view of anyone who might come looking for us.
“Take me home, then,” I say.
The ride back is charged with electricity. Every curve in the road presses me tighter against Hunter, my arms wrapped around his waist, face pressed between his shoulder blades. By the time we reach his cabin, we're both wound tight with anticipation.
Hunter helps me off the bike, his hands lingering on my waist. In the moonlight, his eyes are almost black with desire.
“Trinity—”