CHAPTER ELEVEN
Three days later, John is officially indicted on multiple charges including kidnapping, extortion, and conspiracy to commit murder. With Dimitri and Alexander’s testimony, the DA is confident they can put him away for life.
Hunter takes me and Luke to a beach cottage he owns about four hours away to celebrate and decompress.
“I didn’t even know you had a beach house,” I say as we pull up to a stunning modern cottage right on the water.
“I have a lot of properties,” Hunter says with a shrug. “Most of them I never use. But I thought we could all use some time away from everyone.”
Luke immediately heads inside to claim a bedroom, leaving Hunter and me alone on the deck overlooking the ocean.
“It’s beautiful here,” I say, leaning against the railing.
Hunter comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
“You’re beautiful,” he says, kissing my neck.
“And you’re a smooth talker,” I tease.
“I mean it,” he says, turning me around to face him. “These past few days, I’ve been thinking about everything that’s happened. How quickly everything changed. How close I came to losing you.”
“But you didn’t,” I say softly.
“But I could have,” he says. “And it made me realize something.”
“What?” I ask.
“That I don’t want to waste any more time,” he says. “Life’s too short. Things can change in an instant. And I want to spend every moment I have with you.”
My heart swells. “Hunter—”
“I know we said we’d take things slow, figure things out as we go,” he continues. “But I don’t want slow. I want you. All of you. For as long as you’ll have me.”
“That might be a very long time,” I say with a smile.
“Good,” he says, kissing me. “Because I’m not planning on letting you go.”
We stand there for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, watching the waves.
“There is one thing we need to discuss, though,” Hunter says eventually.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Your behavior over the past week,” he says, his voice taking on that commanding tone that makes my stomach flip.
“My behavior?” I ask innocuously.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Lorelai,” he says. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. The eavesdropping, the sneaking out, the deliberate disobedience.”
“I was trying to help,” I protest.
“I know,” he says. “And while I appreciate your bravery, you still deliberately ignored my instructions multiple times. And you know what happens when you disobey me.”
A thrill runs through me. “What happens?”
“You get punished,” he says simply. “And not just a quick spanking. A real punishment. One that will make sure you think twice before pulling another stunt like that.”
“When?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
“Tonight,” he says. “After dinner. Luke’s going out to explore the town, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”
“Okay,” I say.
“Okay?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Okay, sir,” I correct myself.
“Better,” he says with a satisfied smile.