CHAPTER 30 #3
He directed us towards a coffee shop in the food court, where he proceeded to buy me a hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles.
The barista eyed Hunter flirtatiously and I burned with jealousy.
It was unlike me. I’d never felt territorial over my ex-boyfriends or flings. But Hunter was different.
He was beginning to feel like my forever.
And the energy inside of me bordered on unhinged. I wanted to mark him as mine in a way that was visible to the entire world. So every onlooker knew to keep their interest to themselves.
Would he consider getting a tattoo for me—something that said ‘I belong to Gabriela’? I sipped my hot chocolate almost furiously on the bench as I pondered, Hunter sitting beside me. Or maybe I should go Josh’s route and make Hunter wear a ring with my name on it?
No, stop it, Gabriela. Your crazy possessiveness might spook him.
Or…he might love it.
“What are you thinking about?” Hunter teased as if watching my thoughts play out on my face in real time. I practically chugged down half of my drink to avoid telling him. “You really are addicted to chocolate, huh?”
“And you’re addicted to me,” I countered in a singsong tone.
“I can’t help it.” He kissed me and sucked the whipped cream from my top lip. “You smell good, look good, and taste good. I just want to take a bite out of you.”
“You’re insatiable.” But secretly, I loved his answer. It tamed the green-eyed monster inside of me. “Didn’t you have enough last night?”
Earlier, Hunter’s hair came undone from his low bun and since I liked him with his hair open, I’d stolen his hair tie and worn it around my wrist. Now when he leaned into my space, those tousled strands brushed my neck and I shivered, right before he confessed in my ear, “I’ll never have enough of you, Gabby. ”
I wouldn’t have enough of him either. “Good answer.”
He chuckled and the deep sound poured through my skin and bones until I was certain Hunter would always be ingrained inside of me.
Drink finished, he ushered us to our next destination without telling me where we were headed. But realization dawned on me as my favourite lingerie store neared.
Noting my inquisitive stare, he offered, “We’re going to replace all the things that creep Maverick stole from you and get you anything else you want, all right?”
My jaw slackened. “Are you serious?”
He tugged me into the store. “I never joke when it comes to you.”
He didn’t need to buy me new lingerie, but I didn’t protest. While I could take care of myself, a part of me understood that Hunter liked taking care of me. Craved it, even.
Plus, when we entered the store and a salesgirl handed Hunter a pink basket for my shopping, I was hit with a bigger realization: I was just like my mamma. She liked being spoiled and spending Papà’s money…and I liked being spoiled and spending Hunter’s.
And if my pretty, rich boy’s kink was dropping a couple thousand on me, then who was I to deny him?
Like a good sport, Hunter walked beside me with a confident gait, taking in the half-naked mannequins with racy lingerie, the racks with silky gowns, and the displays of colourful soutien-gorges.
I needed to stock up on a combination of things.
Maverick, the asshole, not only stole my thongs, but my favourite teddy and babydoll from my armoire.
“You should get that.” Hunter chin-jerked at a red lace nightie that left nothing to the imagination.
I cast him a cunning glance over my shoulder as I placed it in the basket. “Done.”
He watched me heatedly. I continued filling the basket with more lingerie. His expression said he’d like nothing more than to see me in every piece. Before he ripped it off my body with his teeth like the animal I knew him to be.
“You planning on buying the entire store?” he quipped after twenty minutes of me picking up one item after another. His tone was far from reprimanding.
Oh, Hunter, I have a knack for shopping and you have a black card with no limit. That’s a lethal combination.
“Would you oppose?” I shot back.
“I’m not in the business of saying no to you, sweetheart.”
He’d let me have anything, wouldn’t he? Including every bit of his heart if I demanded it.
“Careful.” I walked backwards while facing him. “That’s a lot of power you’re giving me.”
“You’ve always had it.” His eyes glittered with an unnamed emotion. “There’s no doubt there, Gabriela.”
Hunter had so much power over me too.
If he saw inside my mind, he’d know just how much space he occupied. More than I’d ever allowed another. And as vulnerable as it left me, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
On our way to purchase my items, we passed by a BDSM-inspired accessories stand, housing furry handcuffs, small leather crops, flogs, and so on.
Blue eyes trained on me, Hunter’s gloved hand passed over a blindfold, reminding me of our future date, before sliding it into the basket with a wink in my direction.
I bit my lip, my heartbeat almost jackhammering.
Though we’d had plenty of foreplay, I couldn’t wait until we properly consummated our relationship. The truth was I wanted him to tie me up and fuck me like his groupie slut. In fact, it may be the only thing keeping me going at this point.
After checking out, Hunter clutched the handful of pink bags in one hand, placed his other one into mine, and led us out of the store.
My serotonin levels were at an all-time high. Perhaps this first date was a bit unconventional by some standards, but Hunter tailored it exactly to my wants—letting me shop to my heart’s content and spend the day with my favourite person—and that was all that mattered.
I brushed my fingers along his jaw, turning his head towards me. “Thank you, baby. For everything.”
Pleased at the term of endearment, but trying to play it stern, he said, “What did I say about the T-word?”
“How will I ever convey my appreciation then?”
“How about you give me a private show—model that red lace number—when we get back home,” he rasped, painting the words against my lips. “And I’ll call it even.”
My breath hitched and he smiled victoriously, kissing me.
But the only thing I could focus on was him saying home.
He probably didn’t mean to imply that his home was my home.
But that’s how I took it.
My heart filled with immense warmth.
The sun was beginning to set, the canvas of the sky marred with strips of blue, purple, orange, and pink as Hunter drove us back home.
Or I thought he was driving us home until he pulled into a deserted parking lot of an old plaza, past opening hours, so all the stores were closed and we were the only car in sight.
Confused, I said, “What are we doing here?”
Wordlessly, Hunter turned off the car, unfolded out of his seat, and rounded the front to come to my side. He pulled open my door and unclicked my seatbelt. “Hunter?”
He drew me out of the car gingerly. “I know we’ve had a long day, but there’s one more thing I want to do.”
I cupped his face with one hand. “What is it?”
He turned his head enough to kiss the inside of my palm before grabbing my wrist, bringing it between us, and…dropping his car keys inside my hand. “You’re going to drive.”
“E-excuse me?”
“You said you wanted to learn.” He caressed a knuckle softly down my cheek. “And I want to teach you, Gabby.”
No one ever had the patience to teach me how to drive.
I sat in the driver’s seat a total of two times.
First with Papà, but he freaked out when I accidentally ran a stop sign.
Second with Mamma, but she clutched her seatbelt with her eyes screwed shut, praying under her breath like I was going to drive us into a ditch.
Mind you, we’d only been driving around the residential streets of our neighbourhood.
Both times lasted a total of ten minutes.
I had my permit, yet I never moved on to the next phase after my parents’ reactions.
It deterred me. Killed my confidence before I even had the chance to give this new skill a decent shot.
And here was Hunter, wanting to help me overcome my fear. “Are you sure? You won’t be scared sitting next to me?”
He smiled like I was being silly. “Not at all.”
Before I knew it, I was in the driver’s side of his Jaguar.
Hunter helped me adjust all my mirrors, including bringing my seat forward because I had shorter legs.
Excitement mixed with dread bloomed within me.
I held the steering wheel with a death grip, the car still in park.
“Hunter, what if I do something wrong—what if I wreck your car?”
He clicked his seatbelt on and said smoothly, “That’s what insurance is for, baby.”
My pulse thudded faster at his reassurance.
Hunter placed a strong palm on my bare thigh, squeezing lightly. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
I nodded eagerly. “I promise I’ll be careful not to damage your car.”
He shook his head. “I don’t care about the car.
I care about you. I want you to try to be as vigilant as possible for your own safety, all right?
We’ll take it easy for our first lesson.
Do a couple turns, practice your stops, and check your blind spots.
Get you comfortably oriented in the driver’s seat. Sound good?”
It sounded amazing.
Hunter’s trust in me caused some of my fear to evaporate.
I started the car as he instructed before shifting gears and beginning to drive slowly.
We spent the first fifteen minutes going around the parking lot until I felt a bit more confident behind the wheel.
I couldn’t believe I was doing it—driving again without a scolding adult.
Hunter was patient and calm, praising me for the simplest of turns and stops. “You’re doing amazing, Gabby.”
My throat was dry. “Really?”
“Really. You’ve got this.” He pointed forward. “Now I want you to exit the parking lot.”