by Layla Hagen
Wow. Why was he so attentive? So sweet? Could I keep him? Shit, no, I didn’t want to even allow myself to consider that. If I started to think about the day I wouldn’t have him every time he charmed me (which was often), I would end up miserable.
Since I was a documentary freak, we settled to watch one about ancient Egypt, sharing tacos and chatting about everything except my meeting with the case worker today.
I sighed. Things were changing fast, weren’t they?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. “No reason. Just admiring this sexy man.”
He bit my shoulder lightly. “Liar. You have something more on your mind. But I’ll make you tell me all about it later.”
“Your persuasion skills are pretty impressive,” I admitted. When he moved on to kiss my neck, I shuddered, playfully shoving him away.
“Hey. Don’t distract me from my pharaohs.”
To my surprise, he actually did stop nibbling at my skin.
“You’re just giving up?” I asked suspiciously.
“Told you, tonight we’ll do whatever you want.”
So many things crossed my mind. Where to begin?
“You’ve got that secretive look on your face again,” he said playfully. I grinned.
“I’ll let you lure out all my secrets later tonight, mister. Every single one of them.”
I wiggled my ass, turning on one side, and almost knocked over the guacamole.
“Shoot. That was close. Did you ever think about getting a leather couch? They’re so much easier to clean.”
“We can get one if you want to. Or if there’s anything else you want to change, just go ahead.”
I frowned, placing the bowl of guacamole on the coffee table. “Hunter, you don’t have to change anything for me. You’ll just have to redecorate again after I move out.”
And I’d already gone overboard with the nook. I didn’t want to get even more attached to this house than I already was. I had withdrawals already at the mere thought of leaving this behind, and my time with Hunter.
He’d gone quiet. His gaze was lethally calm. Then he gripped both of my ankles, pulling me so close that I almost smacked into him.
“You want another couch, you buy it. You hear me? I told you I want you to feel at home here. I mean it.” He almost growled those last few words.
“O-okay,” I stammered. My heart was suddenly working in overdrive.
When he slanted his mouth over mine, he kissed me possessively, as if he wanted to mark me. And I wanted nothing more than to let him. I wanted to belong to this man every way there was.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hunter
The first gala event of the season took place a few evenings later.
“How do I look? Is this okay?” Josie asked, twirling in front of me as we were getting ready. She was wearing the white-and-silver dress we’d bought on that shopping spree. The one that had driven me crazy with lust even back then.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Your voice sounds a bit growly. Is this too revealing for you, husband?” She twirled again, giving me a view of her exposed back, all that soft skin on display. The dress was long enough that it reached the floor, but the plunging back was just killing me.
“Are you teasing me?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“You look too fucking beautiful. But... it’s... if we go to the event with you wearing that, I’ll have to fight off men for you. You’re not wearing it.”
“Then why the hell did we buy it?”
“Because you look absolutely gorgeous in it.”
“See? I have to put it to good use.”
“I have an idea. You can wear it just for me. In here.”
She narrowed her eyes. “That’s a waste of a dress. Right... when I asked your opinion, I just meant if it’s appropriate for the caliber of the event. It’s the first Ballroom Gala of the season. But I won’t change it because you’re jealous.” She tapped her ring. “This will keep men at bay. Also, you’re the host of the event. Everyone will know I’m your wife.”
“How? You’re not sharing my last name.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “If I had a penny every time you said that. Now, come on. Or we’ll be late. I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be.”
“This is a huge thing. How did you get the idea?” she asked once we were in the back of a car. We were arranging transport for all the guests.
“Had been reading about Bill Gates, and how he convinced various high earners to donate to causes he’d donated to himself. It’s much easier if you have skin in the game. Plus, if you gather everyone in the room, the social pressure to make generous donations is higher.”
“You’re devious.”
“But it works.”
“Smart man.”
“Besides, it was an opportunity to have a joint project with my cousins. It’s a lot of fun.”
“I can tell.”
I started organizing these the same year the company made the Forbes 500 list. It was a way of giving back, of supporting those who hadn’t had my opportunities and my luck.
I’d known what it was to fall from the top. To have everything and then almost nothing. Those hard years had changed my view of the world.
“Everything okay? You’ve been quieter than usual,” Josie said.
“Just... thinking about my speech.”
That wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. My dad’s birthday was today, always a day when I could barely keep all my emotions in check. She clasped her fingers with mine. My heart rate sped up. It was a small gesture, but it was as if she knew it would calm me down. As if she felt I needed it. All my cousins were at the venue, at the organizers’ table.
“Come on, the raffle will begin right after your speech,” Tess said.
Instead of simply inviting one to dance, you had to buy a ticket for the person you wanted to dance with. There was a raffle for every dance—only men bought tickets for the first few rounds, and only ladies for the next ones. All the money went to charity, of course, though this wasn’t the main donation, just provided an element of surprise and kept everyone laughing and guessing.
When we were brainstorming ways to keep the balls entertaining and unique, Tess came up with the idea, citing Gone with The Wind as inspiration. I had no idea what the movie was about, but Tess talked our ears off, and before we knew it, we’d all agreed to it. It proved to be a success.
“I’m thinking we should also participate in the raffle,” Ryker said. As organizers, we’d stayed out of it because we had plenty to do.
Skye laughed, but Cole nodded in appreciation. “I’m with you, brother.”
“I’m sure I’d bring in the most tickets,” Ryker continued.
Cole cocked a brow. “When I’m competing against you? Ha! No chance.”
Josie looked between the two of them. “Well, well. The Flirt vs. the Charmer. I’d pay money just to watch that.”
Tess clapped her hands. “We don’t have time for brainstorming now. Hunter, your speech. And by the way, your pretty wife could totally join the raffle. Josie, what do you say?”
“For a good cause? Of course.”
“No,” I said firmly. The whole group turned to look at me. The corners of Josie’s mouth twitched. Ryker and Cole shook their heads. Tess and Skye were radiant.
“We need to make the rounds for this ball,” I said. “I want to introduce you to everyone as my wife. You won’t have much time for dancing.”
No one seemed to buy my explanation, not even Josie—the corners of her lips twitched again. I was a territorial bastard. I just didn’t want to share her.
“I’m going to the restroom to freshen up before you start introducing me, husband.”
The second she was out of earshot, my cousins pounced on me.
“So, is it just me, or did he sound jealous?” Cole asked.
“Not just you,” Skye co
nfirmed. She was grinning from ear to ear. If possible, Tess’s grin was even bigger.
“Did you tell her how you feel?” Tess asked.
“Not... explicitly,” I admitted.
“What are you waiting for?” Skye asked.
“What if it ruins everything? What if she doesn’t feel the same?”
Tess tilted her head. “You always take chances, Hunter. You’re going to hold back now?”
“What exactly do you feel?” Skye went on.
Cole cleared his throat. “Let’s not corner him before the speech.”
Ryker sighed dramatically. “Yup, let the man focus on his speech. He’s a goner for Josie anyway. Even I’m not that clueless.”
I didn’t get another word in, because the evening’s moderator called me into the main room. Showtime.
Getting up on a stage and giving a speech wasn’t one of my favorite activities, but over time, I’d learned to view this as an opportunity rather than something to dread. The better my speech, the easier donors would part with their money.
At the end of it, I pulled out a check, reading the sum out loud before handing it over to our treasurer. I always set the bar high, donating six figures. People tended to follow suit.
Josie watched me from right next to the stage for the entire duration of my speech. Tess and Skye were right, of course: I had to tell her, but having the guts to do it was another story.
Josie was the star of the night, and not because she was my wife. Well, partly because of that. Several regulars weren’t shy about expressing their surprise that I’d married.
But Josie stole the show with her clever input and her charm. I was proud to be her husband.
“You know, everyone here is a potential client for you,” I whispered to her while we danced.
“I’m not here for that tonight. I’m here for you.”
She threaded her fingers through my hair, looking at me with happy eyes, as if sensing that I needed all that warmth and sweetness she had to give.
No one had ever cared about what I needed, looked at me as if I was her sole focus, as if nothing else mattered—not the opportunities to strike business contacts or to advance her own career. I almost didn’t dare think it, let alone hope it, but... was it possible I was so important to her?
***
When we arrived home, I was restless. I couldn’t avoid my own thoughts, sinking into that melancholy I did every year on the anniversary.
“Coming to bed?” Josie asked.
“You go ahead. I want to finalize a few emails.”
I was beating around the bush. I doubted I could concentrate on emails. I just didn’t think I could lie next to her and not lay every thought bare. I didn’t want her to see this weak side of me.
“Hunter, you know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
“Go to sleep, babe. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She fidgeted in her spot, frowning before finally turning away.
I simply couldn’t sit, or even stand still. Forget emails. I headed to the guest room where I kept the treadmill. I quickly discarded my tux, changing into the running gear I kept there, then hopped on the machine.
Our bedroom was on the other side of the house, so it wouldn’t wake up Josie.
I’d intended to only run fast enough to be able to block my thoughts. That usually happened at level ten. It wasn’t enough this time. Memories poked around in my brain, the deep sadness twisting in my chest. I kept increasing the speed and the inclination of the slope, until I had to concentrate on the treadmill only, or I risked falling off.
One foot in front of the other. One in front of the other. Faster. Faster. That was it. The effort drowned out the memories, how much I missed him. How much I hoped he looked down and was proud of everything I’d achieved, of restoring the dream he’d worked on for his entire life.
My lungs were protesting. My chest ached with every breath. The deeper I tried to breathe in, the worse the ache became.
The muscles in my legs started burning. My buttocks were in pain. I glanced at the screen. I’d run for over an hour at this speed? Fuck. I wouldn’t be able to walk tomorrow.
I pressed the End Program button, and the speed decreased gradually. The slower I went, the weaker my thighs felt. I didn’t think I was able to walk right now either.
I nearly twisted an ankle stepping off the treadmill. My legs almost couldn’t sustain my weight. Jesus, what I had been thinking? My throat was as dry as sandpaper. I was completely dehydrated.
A soft whoosh made me look toward the door. Josie was standing there in a white nightgown that barely covered anything, holding a bottle of water.
“Babe... did I make too much noise? I’m sorry.”
“No, I just woke up and you weren’t next to me, and I went looking for you.”
“How long have you been standing here?”
“Forty minutes, give or take. Noticed you didn’t have a bottle of water and brought you one.” She handed me the one she was holding.
“Thanks.”
I guzzled down half the bottle in a few swigs, then tried to gather my thoughts as I put the lid back on.
“I’m worried you’ll dehydrate, or that you’ll get sick. You were going so fast... Hunter, what’s wrong?” she asked softly.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. Don’t shut me out.”
“I said, I’m fine.”
“Right, that’s why you ran yourself into the ground. Forgive me for intruding in... whatever this is and worrying about you. Clearly, you have it under control and don’t need me.”
She spun around, leaving the room. I clasped the bottle so tightly that the plastic gave in.
Jesus, I was an idiot. She’d stood here for forty minutes, ready to hand me water, to listen to me, to just watch me in case I needed something—because she was worried for me. And I shut her out.
Josie deserved better than this, and I needed to find it in myself to give her exactly what she deserved. I just didn’t know how. I’d never been one to pour my heart out to anyone, or to voice my inner turmoil.
Ever since I was fifteen, I’d sucked it up and done what had to be done, rarely stopping for any introspection—the exception being Dad’s birthday—and never talking about it. It wasn’t that I wanted to forget about everything—I didn’t. I cherished Dad’s memory, and I understood that life sometimes handed you curveballs—I just chose not to linger too much on them.
Taking in a deep breath, I walked after her. She’d gone straight to the bedroom and had closed the door behind her.
She’d locked it. What the...? Did she not want me to come in tonight?
I knocked twice. “Josie, I’m sorry. I want to talk.”
“Why? To keep telling me you’re okay? I don’t feel like going around in circles.”
“Please open the door.”
I waited, holding my breath, only exhaling once I heard footsteps approaching.
She was eyeing me suspiciously when she opened the door. I walked inside, pacing the room before finally sitting at the edge of the bed, resting my forearms on my thighs, staring at the floor.
“I’m sorry for reacting like that. I.... You’re right, I’m not fine. I mean, there’s nothing wrong... it’s just an emotional day. It’s Dad’s birthday. That’s why I start the charity season on this date.”
“Oh!”
“So, it’s always a tough day for me.”
“I’m sorry, Hunter.”
She came closer. I snapped my gaze up when she stood right in front of me.
Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her middle, pressing my forehead against her stomach. The contact calmed me like nothing else.
I’d never felt a calm so deep, so natural, on his anniversary. Josie was everything I needed.
“It’s normal to miss him, Hunter,” she said softly.
“After so many years?”
“Yes. And missing him doesn’t mean you’re not strong. It mean
s that you care about him. I’m sure he’s proud of you. I’m proud of you. Not because of everything you’ve built and achieved, but because you’re an amazing man.”
I pulled her in my lap, cupping the back of her head, kissing her hard and deep. I was insatiable. I wanted to bury myself in this woman who not only accepted all parts of me but made me accept them too.
I didn’t want anyone else by my side, ever. I couldn’t even imagine it. I wanted Josie in my future with an intensity I’d never wanted anything else.
“Fuck, I want you. I need you, Josie. But I should shower first.”
She wrinkled her nose playfully. “Wouldn’t hurt. You are a bit stinky.”
“Am I now?”
She shifted further back on my legs, as if determined to put distance between us. I clasped both her wrists with one hand. She gasped, looking up at me. Hooking an arm around her waist, I flipped us, pinning her against the mattress, blocking her legs by straddling her thighs. Her nightgown hiked up to her waist. She wasn’t wearing panties.
I ran my fingers over her bare thighs, watching her skin become flushed and sensitized. Her breath turned ragged when I reached her waist, pushed the nightgown even higher, exposing her breasts. I touched the underside, then the upper part, drinking in the change in her body, the way her nipples turned hard.
She attempted to wiggle out, but she was grinning from ear to ear.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Haven’t decided yet.”
“Can I give you some suggestions?”
“Maybe.”
She lifted her head, feathering her lips against mine. I captured her mouth, kissing her until she squirmed underneath me. For the first time in my entire life, I was genuinely, completely happy.
Usually, at least part of my mind focused on the drive to be more, to prove to myself I was capable of making those around me proud. But Josie was proud of me for the man I was, not the one I wanted to become. I was enough for her just the way I was.
The second I relaxed my grip on her hands, she pushed me off her, wiggling out, darting straight toward the bathroom. I chased after her. My grin was just as wide as hers when I caught up with her. I turned on the water. She half laughed, half shrieked when I carried her under the warm spray without removing our clothes.
