CHAPTER 46
Ti Amo
Gabriela
The sentence tore out of me like a bullet, ricocheting loudly in the stillness of the room.
I wouldn’t take it back, though. I meant it and I had a good reason too.
At first, Hunter appeared confused. Dazed even. As though he was running the words back in his mind and couldn’t make sense of them.
Then his eyes flared in understanding, his hands fell from my face, and he staggered back a step like I daggered him straight into the chest.
“What did you just say?” Heartbreak exploded over his face and the agony in his voice drove into me like a wrecking ball. “Gabriela?”
“Listen to me, please.” I reached to grab his hands—to feel his warmth because without him, I was nothing but a cold shell.
He let me braid our fingers together, but it did little to dissipate the pure shock on his features.
“If the culprit isn’t caught by this weekend, I…
I think we should take a break until the situation is resolved. ”
A tremble rushed through his body. “I don’t understand. Why would you suggest this?”
“Hunter,” I pleaded. There was a frantic quality in his eyes as they searched mine for answers. “That knife was aimed at me. You’re hurt because of me. Your life is being upended because of me.” I shook my head. “I can’t risk you. If you’re not in my vicinity, then you’re safe.”
His chest bowed with his uneven breathing. “And your solution is to break up so I’m not in the crossfire?”
“No!” I said quickly, horrified. But he let go of my hands and stepped back. “Not break up. Just…lie low and wait for the situation to blow over.”
He chuckled humourlessly. “Absolutely not. I won’t be parted from you.”
He was half illuminated by the night lights seeping through the floor-to-ceiling windows and half shadowed by the darkness of the room.
Even so, he looked larger than life. My god of the sky.
A figure worth idolatry. The epitome of all my love and desire.
I watched him in rapture and yearning. His corded neck worked with a difficult swallow when he raised his hand to shove his fingers into his black hair, pushing it back from his face and allowing me to see the full-fledged pain my words had caused him.
And when I noticed the way his thick muscles strained against the white fabric of his dress shirt, namely the bloody stain on his bicep…
I knew deep in my heart this was the right decision.
He was the most precious thing to me. I needed to ensure his safety above all else. Above mine too.
“Hunter, I could have lost you tonight,” I said in a vain attempt to get him to understand my side. “Do you understand the magnitude of that? It would have killed me.”
He crowded me in two steps, clutching my face with despair. “And don’t you understand that I would gladly take a hundred knife slashes if it meant you’re alive and well?”
My eyes stung with new tears and I got choked up, grabbing his hands on my face with my own.
The air around us simmered with emotions and the things we left unsaid. I had planned an entire romantic evening for us and though this wasn’t how I envisioned things going, I couldn’t hold back anymore from telling him my truth.
“Hunter, I’m in love with you.” A newfound sensation of peace settled into my chest after the confession left my mouth.
“I wish I could pinpoint the exact moment it occurred, but I realized now that I’d slowly been falling for you from the start.
No one has ever treated me the way you have—no one has even made me feel like I was worthy of the kind of love you’ve given me.
Hell, I didn’t even know this kind of love could exist until you.
From the minute we met again on that moonlit terrace, you’ve raised all my standards until you became the living embodiment of them.
” A lone tear trickled down my cheek as I stared up at him with all the humility and love residing within me.
“I love you so much that I always want your face to be the last thing I see before bed, just so I can dream of you for the few hours that I’m not awake.
I love you so much that I don’t think I could go on a minute if you weren’t here.
And I love you so much that I would jump in front of a grenade if it meant saving you, Hunter. ”
Even on my deathbed, I would never forget the look on his face.
Pure awe mixed with disbelief.
“Don’t,” Hunter began vehemently, blue eyes shining with a sheen of moisture. “Don’t talk like that. I don’t want to exist in a world where you’re not there, Gabriela.”
“It’s the truth. If something happens to you, I wouldn’t make it to nightfall. That’s why I need you to take a step back from me and heal if the culprit isn’t caught soon. Tonight was a close call and it scared me more than I can ever convey in words, amore mio.”
Hunter backed me against the window and laid his forehead to mine.
“How can you say all of that and still think I’d be okay with taking a break—even a short one?
Haven’t I made it clear that it’ll take an army to pry me off of you?
” His lips hovered over mine, painting the words against my skin.
“Haven’t I made it clear through my actions that I’m so fucking in love with you that I’m never leaving your side, baby? ”
More tears gathered in my eyes. “You love me?”
These past few weeks, I felt it. In his body language. In his words. In his touch.
But it was a whole other thing to hear the confession aloud.
My heart felt like it would burst from happiness, knowing that all my love was reciprocated too.
“Yes,” he murmured in the small distance between our mouths.
I pressed a hand against his chest, feeling his heart hammering.
“I’m so goddamn in love with you that there’s no end to this.
You’re etched deeply in the fabric of my soul, doll.
And when I look at you, I feel grounded in the knowledge that you breathe and exist beside me, for you center my entire being.
I love waking up and going to bed next to you.
I love our drives where we listen to music and talk about anything and everything.
I love taking walks with our Luna and spending time with both of you at home, watching horror movies and eating home-cooked meals.
I don’t want to live this life if you’re not in it either, and I refuse to be parted from you when you’re the other half of me, Gabriela. ”
My heart pounded and another tear fell down my cheek. “Hunter.”
He wiped it away with his thumb, gaze never wavering from me.
In that moment, I felt like I could see his entire soul, reflecting all the truths from his utterance. Being chosen and loved by this magnificent man who treasured me beyond means healed the parts that my abusive ex broke.
Hunter Saint Warren beheld all the fissures inside of my armour, coated them with gold, gave me wings, and set me on a high pedestal, worshipping me like a goddess.
The universe knew exactly what I needed and delivered him right to me.
He was a gift and I would cherish him until we died.
Unable to string a coherent sentence together, I did the only thing I could.
I kissed him with all the passion and adoration coursing through my veins.
Hunter groaned, matching my fervour as always.
Sipping hungrily and almost angrily from my lips like he couldn’t have enough—would never have enough—of me.
Chasing his hands down my sides until he grasped handfuls of my ass and hoisted me up.
My legs wrapped around his waist and we stumbled back, clawing at each other like the only thing keeping us sane was this vivid connection that always sparked whenever we collided.
“Fuck,” he rasped. “I need to make love to you. Right now.”
“Y-yes,” I pleaded between kisses and he walked us further into his home, his clipped footsteps echoing in rhythm with my erratic pulse. “Hunt, I need you.”
Wordlessly, Hunter guided us into the living room. The lights were turned off, the curtains drawn, and the fireplace was on, casting a romantic, amber glow around the place.
He lowered us on a fur blanket before the warm fire. My back met softness. Hunter’s mouth skimmed my cheek and came to a stop at my ear. “Remember what I said I’d do to you once I win my championship?”
I shivered at the heated, growled words. “Yes.”
“Tell me.”
I whimpered when he nipped my jaw and dragged kisses down my neck. “That you would fuck me.”
“Exactly. So turn around and get on all fours.”
My core tightened at his heady request. Licking my lips, I obliged, glancing at him over my shoulder and rushing out, “B-but we have to be mindful of your injury—”
Slap.
He clapped my ass with a firm palm and I gasped.
“You let me worry about that, baby.” He ran his hands appreciatively over my derrière, fingering the big red bow gathered where my backless dress scooped down at the base of my spine. “Wrapped your tight little ass like a gift for me, hm?”
I let loose a half chuckle, half whimper when he swatted my ass again. “Yes, bello. You promised to fuck it, remember? I was just being a good girlfriend and giving you a gentle reminder in case you forgot.”
“How could I forget?” Impatiently, he pushed my dress up and removed it in one fell swoop. Then he actually ripped off my thong like an animal. “Fuck, you’re so wet.” Before slapping my pussy and causing me to jerk with a moan. “And so goddamn gorgeous.”
Hearing him appreciate my beauty never failed to boost my ego. “Love you.”
“I’ll never get used to hearing those words.”
“Guess I’ll have to tell you how much I love you until it sticks, huh?”
“Guess so, Gabby.” I heard rustling as he stood up and used his foot to kick my legs apart, widening my stance for him. “Stay like that for me.”