by Jill Shannon
When Hunter had everything he needed, he started moving toward the lanai. "Let's move out by the pool so I can grill these."
Willow got off the seat and padded behind him outside, her curiosity getting the better of her she asked him, "So, what did your parents do? I know you were in the military, but that salary can't afford all this." She waved her hand around at everything she saw.
As the sizzle from the burgers hitting the grill sounded, Hunter told her, "My dad was career military, my mom, well, she's rumored to be related to Irish mafia." Closing the cover of the grill, he rested his elbows on the bar in front of her. "Truth is her father was the head of the Irish mafia. It was rumored at one time that he had dealings with James 'Whitey' Bulger from Boston, Massachusetts. He was the head of the Winter Hill gang, a branch of the Irish American mafia. But when Mom got married to my dad, her dad bought her this house. He wanted to make sure she still lived in the same style she had grown up with, especially when my dad was on tour. It has one of the best security systems installed." He grinned at her.
Willow's blue eyes got huge. "Where are your parents now?"
"My dad was killed in Afghanistan, and Mom went back home to Ireland not long after. Her family was there." His attention was brought back to the burgers. When he finished, he came back over to her, fingering the white gold linked chain on his neck. "She gave this to me before she left, told me if I was ever missing her to rub it, and she would be with me."
Willow fingered the half-inch long links seeing that each one held a different design. "It's beautiful. Is she still living there?"
"Yes, she has a companion named Patrick; they met about two years ago. I've never met him in person, though." His focus turned back to the burgers cooking. "These are almost ready; do you want cheese on yours?"
"Yes, please. Are you sure I can't help with anything?" she asked, feeling guilty that he was doing all the work.
"Nope, you relax. I got this covered." He finished the burgers, adding one to the bun on a plate he had set up earlier with some salads, and he handed it to her. "Bon appetite." Opening the mini fridge, he grabbed two more beers, placing them on the counter. Picking up the other plate, he came around and sat in the chair next to her.
They ate in comfortable silence, listening to the music that echoed around the lanai area, each glancing at the other. Willow didn't think her nipples could get any harder from the seductive glances Hunter was throwing at her.
Hunter didn't think he could take one more bite and control his body any longer. Watching Willow eat had to be the most erotic sight he'd seen in a while. Wiping his mouth with his napkin, he announced, "I'm finished. I'm going to take a swim in the pool. Would you care to join me?"
Willow looked down at the plates and smiled, saying to Hunter, "Should we clean these first? You wouldn't want to get a cramp." She gave him a sly smile.
He placed his hand on her arm, halting her progress. "Leave them, Mrs. McNeil will be happy to have something to take care of. Come swim with me."
Willow looked up at Hunter. Knowing he was nothing like Raymond didn't alleviate the ghost. She also knew she needed to tell him about the experience; at least that's what the therapist had recommended. Since she was always calmer in the water, she figured that would be the best place to tell him what had happened to her. "Yes, I need to talk with you about something if that's okay?"
"We can talk about anything you would like, princess. I'm an open book to you." Hunter dove into the pool. When he surfaced, he shook the water from his face. He watched as she removed her shorts, exposing her Brazilian bikini bottoms. Hunter had never been more grateful to be in the water as his long, hard cock came to life at the sight before him. It became even harder when she turned around and he saw how high up it hugged on her hips. She had a beautiful body; he took notice of the jewel that hung from her naval as she approached the stairs into the pool.
The surprise showed on her face when her toe touched the water. It was warm and felt softer than chlorinated water. She walked down the steps and submerged herself under the water. "Saltwater?" she questioned when she rose above the surface.
"Yes," Hunter answered then dove under the water, surfacing right in front of her. "I had the filter system changed last year." He floated on his back then began swimming backward toward the other side of the pool. He watched her face; he could tell she didn't know where to begin. "There's no judgment here, princess, you can tell me anything. Everything! I want to know all about you."
Willow made her way back over to the steps and sat on the bottom one, her body still under the water, but her head held above. She knew she was taking a big step talking to Hunter about what had happened with Raymond, but she felt he deserved to know about it. She began telling him her story, "A few years ago, I had a terrible ordeal with the biggest asshole I've ever met."
He had joined her on the steps. She started to bow her head in embarrassment, but Hunter used his fingers to pick up her chin. "I will not look at you any differently than I am right now."
Willow could see his desire for her in his rare grey eyes, but she also saw compassion. She began telling him what had happened with Raymond, filling in the blanks Luca had left out. "The day started out really nice; we were going out on his boat…" By the time she was finished, she was sobbing in Hunter's arms on the steps. "I'm so sorry. I've never broken down like that before." She went to move off of his lap, but he held her in place.
"Let me just hold you," Hunter told her, resting her head against his chest, cradling her body across his lap and letting her get it all out. "You had every right to defend yourself, and it's not like you left him there to die. You sent the Coast Guard back to pick him up. Princess, you have nothing to feel guilty for." Hunter had felt a wave of anger flow through his body as she told him again what he already knew. Yet, hearing it from her enflamed his protective nature. "Willow, I'll tell you a secret." She tilted her head back, giving him her full attention. "Given the opportunity, I would kill the son of a bitch who hurt you. However, I can promise you, if it's within my power, you will never be hurt again." Hunter made his vow to her.
She looked up into his incredible grey eyes and smiled, wrapping her arm around his neck. She pulled his head down, sealing his vow in a kiss, opening her mouth when his tongue probed her lips. Willow relaxed and surrendered herself to Hunter's care.
His free hand traveled down her body, closing around her left breast, squeezing his fingers down to her hard nipple. Making her moan in his mouth, his hand continued down to her flat stomach, fingering the ring attached to her navel. Hunter's tongue licked along her lips as his hand moved further down, brushing along her bathing suit. His lips feathering kisses along her cheek to her ear, he whispered, "You are in total control, princess, I will stop anytime you want me to."
Willow looked Hunter in the eyes. "I don't want you to stop."
Once Hunter had Willow's consent, he shifted her body on his lap. Pulling the string first on her back, then the one around her neck, releasing her top, he gathered it in his hand and tossed it out of the pool. Making her stand, he lowered her bottoms, throwing them over his head and out of the pool. Her breast in perfect alignment with his mouth, he took full advantage, sucking first one nipple into his mouth then the other, savoring her taste. His hands crept around her waist, pulling her to him. Holding her between his legs, he supported her body as she leaned back, so her head was resting on the water, and his tongue trailed a path down to her navel ring.
Sucking it into his mouth sent a pulse straight to Willow's clit. She was trying to relieve the sensation she was feeling between her legs. Then Hunter shifted her body again, spreading her legs across his lap. Willow had no idea when he had removed his shorts, but she was grateful he had. Reaching her hand down, she wrapped it around his long, thick cock. Hearing his groan told her she had done the right thing. Willow began stroking it up and down, gliding her nails over his balls when she reached his base each time. Hunter spread her legs wider, h
is fingers thrusting into her entrance, making her grip him tighter.
She was small, and the last thing Hunter wanted to do was hurt her. Adding another finger, he opened her wider. Her juices coated his fingers, even in the water. She was so responsive to him, he didn't think he would be able to hold off much longer. Removing his fingers, he shifted her body over his cock and began to lower her onto it. He knew she would be tight, but her velvet walls opened for him, forming around him, creating a perfect fit. Lowering her until she was seated on his cock was the hardest thing Hunter had ever done. "Are you okay?" When she shook her head yes, he commanded her, "I need to hear the words, Willow."
"Yes, Hunter. Please move," she begged him.
Hearing her plea, Hunter began to move. Short, fast strokes started thrusting into Willow's body, moving her up and down until Hunter grabbed onto her hips, holding her in place. Her hands rested on his shoulders for balance as she leaned down, taking his lips in a hungry kiss, her sensitive nubs rubbing against his chest. Willow couldn't put into words the pleasure she was feeling. She was hoping it was her first real orgasm. Although Willow had been with other men, she had never truly experienced an orgasm with any of them; she had faked them all. Yet the intimacy she felt from Hunter made this moment different, unique. "Oh, my God, Hunter. I think I'm coming!"
Hunter knew Willow was close; he could feel her walls starting to grip him in short pulses. Her nails latched into his shoulders as her body gave in to the rapture taking hold. She threw her head back as the sensation overtook her. Hunter pumped his throbbing cock into her, needing to join her, letting her pulsing walls milk the cum from his body.
Hunter gathered her close, her breast pressed up against his chest, her head resting in the crook of his neck. Still joined together, they both got their breathing under control. He kissed her temple then told her, "That was amazing; you are amazing."
Willow smiled at his high praise. "If this is what a Dominant-submissive relationship is like, sign me up." She kissed his cheek then licked her tongue against the bar pierced through one of his nipples. "Next time, I'm going to have fun with these," she said, sucking her tongue back in her mouth.
Hunter's cock jumped under the water as her tongue grazed over his nipple. "This is far from a Dominant-submissive relationship, but it is the beginning. Learning to trust each other is the most important thing needed. Everything else will fall into place after that." He shifted her off his lap. "However, right now we need to get cleaned up and back on the road if you are going to make your spa appointment." Willow walked in all her beautiful naked glory out of the pool, while Hunter admired the incredible vision before him. Leaning his head on his arm on the side of the pool, he watched her magnificent, graceful ass walk to the rack holding the towels.
Willow felt Hunter's eyes on her as she walked to get a towel. She made a show of drying her body off. Glancing at him after wrapping the towel around her body, she asked, "Are you getting out anytime soon? You said we had to get going." She began undoing the braid in her hair.
"Teasing is a punishable offense, princess; you might want to keep that in mind," Hunter commented as he got out of the pool, his dick hard again for her.
"And…" Willow began to ask as she seductively wrapped her hair in the towel and whipped her head up. "What would my punishment be?" The end of the towel snapped out, hitting Hunter in the chest as he approached her.
"Holy hell, woman, are you trying to kill me, or just wound me daily?" Hunter was holding his chest where the towel had snapped and left a red mark. Looking at his red, irritated, black and blue eyes, she reached to touch the spot she had just hurt, and Hunter pulled away from her.
Adjusting the towel on her head so it would stay, she watched as he flinched and understood why. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were still in the pool. I've never been this clumsy around a man in my life. You must bring it out in me." All too quickly, the playfulness was left on the side of the pool. "This isn't me, I'm not seductive or graceful or elegant. I'm just me, and right now, I'm going to go get changed. I'll be ready in a few minutes." Willow bowed her head and started to walk away, feeling horrible about the ways she had hurt him.
"Princess, I'm not mad. Moving away from your touch, it was my military training kicking in. I apologize." He gathered her in his arms before she could leave and kissed her forehead. "I will be on guard, though, for the next few days," he expressed then chuckled.
She smiled into his chest. "Thank you. Now, I know why they call you Saint." She kissed his chest and pulled away from him. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."
This time, Hunter let her go, rubbing the new mark on his chest. "I will have to be on my guard near her." He smiled then went about putting his own clothes on. Picking up her bikini, he wrung the water out and wrapped it in a small towel. Throwing his shorts over the back of a chair, he walked back inside, closing the lanai doors.
Fifteen minutes later, Willow came back down the stairs, ready to go. She had re-braided her hair and put her riding outfit back on. "Are you sure we shouldn't clean up before we leave?"
All Hunter did was hold up a note from Mrs. McNeil that said, 'Hunter, leave everything; it's about time I had something more to do than dust and vacuum.' He then asked, "Does this answer your question?"
"I wouldn't want to anger Mrs. McNeil." Willow smiled.
"Let's go. We should make it just in time." Hunter led her back out to the garage. Before she got on the bike, Hunter kissed her. "Let's get your pretty ass to the spa. I don't know how they are going to make you more beautiful, but they can try."
Willow climbed onto the back of the bike, holding onto Hunter's waist they pulled out of the garage and rode back to town. When they arrived at the salon, Willow got off the back, but before she could move away, Hunter had snaked his arm around her waist. Pulling her to him, he gave her a goodbye kiss to hold her over until they saw each other later. When he pulled his head back, he told her, "I'll see you in a few hours. Try not to injure anyone." She smacked his arm, and he chuckled. "I'll see you soon, oh, and, Willow…" He squeezed her hand. "Happy birthday, princess." Then, he let go of her and drove away on his bike. He needed to go find the perfect present.
Chapter 4
Willow hadn't been able to wipe the grin from her face since Hunter had dropped her off at the spa. No man had ever had this effect on her, and she couldn't get him off her mind. She had told him about Raymond, and he hadn't dismissed her feelings or made her feel that it had been her fault. As much as Luca had tried to explain that to her, she hadn't understood, but she did now. Hunter had made her feel safe, protected, special, not to mention, satisfied and relaxed. Willow had begun to think she would never be with another man, but that had all changed today.
She had ridden to the Drunken Lass with her parents. Luca had taken their rental car to pick up his date for her party. Besides, it had been a while since she had spent any time alone with them. Fred Lawson had always been the breadwinner of the family, while Doris stayed home with her and her sisters. Everyone had thought her dad ran their house, but anyone who knew the family knew that it was their mom who had a heavy hand in the family. She made sure everything at home ran like a clock. They had chores and responsibilities, and she enforced them. She had made all of them into the strong women they were. Even when Dad had had his stroke, she had been their rock. The first year after his stroke had taken a toll on her mom, but she wouldn't let her dad crawl into a corner and wilt away. Doris had made sure he followed all the doctors' orders and added a few of her own. If she hadn't, he would be stuck in a wheelchair instead of walking with a cane today.
They had arrived a few minutes earlier then the party was to start, so it would give her dad time to get there and not feel rushed. Skylar had closed the first floor of the Drunken Lass to the public while they celebrated her birthday. However, the outside and second floor had remained open to the public. Willow had opted for an off the shoulder black mosaic crochet lace dress. Sleeves flared down to her
wrists, while the front hem landed in the middle of her thigh, and the back swooped down behind her knees. She wore a pair of four-inch wedge sandals on her newly manicured feet. Her hair, which had been styled in long, wavy curls, flowed over her shoulders and down her back. Her makeup had been carefully applied by the cosmetologist, enhancing her bright blue eyes.
Everywhere Willow looked, there were birthday decorations announcing her age to anyone. Hanging from the televisions were colorful thirties. The walls were covered as well as confetti resting on the tables. The bar looked very festive, but she wasn't ready to turn thirty. But the sands of time don't stop just because we want them too, she thought to herself, looking around the room. Walking up to the bar, she asked Skylar, "Did you leave any decorations for anyone else in the store?"
Skylar was drying a glass before putting it away. "I didn't care; my baby sister is turning thirty! I probably shouldn't announce it, considering I am your oldest sister. I wanted to make it a memorable night for you. Now, what can I get you to drink, and then I'm hanging up my apron and joining the party?"
"I think I'm going to need a shot of Jack; will you join me?"
"Hell, yeah! I'll join you. Once Reed gets here, I'll have to ease up." Skylar poured their shots. Picking up her glass, she said, "Happy Birthday, Willow. The best is yet to come." They touched glasses and drank the shot, both making a hissing noise as they placed the shot glasses back on the bar. "Beer?"
"Yes, please," Willow whined. "I can't do too many of them right now till I eat something." She smiled at her sister as she handed her the long neck bottle. "Can I have a glass, please?"
"Anything for you; you're the birthday girl tonight." Skylar reached and gave her one of the stemless wine glasses. "Now, you have a drink, go greet your guests."
Willow looked up at the people entering the bar and turned to look at her sister, asking quietly, "Do I know these people?" Willow did not recognize any of their faces.
