Since he has forcibly bulldozed the barrier I had up, I tell him, “I am yours completely.”
His lips tug up, but he doesn’t look entirely satisfied.
Maybe his lack of satisfaction is rooted in knowing that our relationship has an expiration date. How can he believe I’m completely his when he knows there’s a chance I’ll leave him as soon as I’m allowed to?
I know he’s hoping that by the time that day comes, my doubts will have passed. I hope for that, too, I’m just not as sure as he is that we’ll get there.
Since we’re near enough to this subject, I risk raising it even though I know it could go badly. “Can I ask you something?”
He looks down at me. “Of course.”
“I need you to be completely truthful, no matter what you think I want to hear.”
His brow furrows a bit, but he nods his agreement.
“Do you have any lingering feelings for Valerie? I don’t just mean romantic feelings. I mean any fondness whatsoever.”
“No,” he says, without hesitation.
“Did your Gatsby paper have anything to do with her?”
His frown deepens. His confusion does more to ease my mind than anything—he doesn’t have a single clue what I’m talking about. “My Gatsby paper?”
“You said you’re her Daisy, and you made such a passionate argument about Gatsby pulling his head out of his ass and finding someone else to love. I know it’s… maybe a little mean, but honestly, after the way she has treated me, I don’t care. If you’re going to be mine, I have to know… Do you think about her happiness? Do you want her to move on from you so she’ll leave you alone, or because you want better for her than unrequited interest in you?”
Hunter stares at me so hard for so long, my nerves begin to strangle me. I almost wish I hadn’t asked this question. For all that Hunter can be a jerk sometimes, he can also be deeply caring. If he cares about Valerie even a little bit… that’s too much for me.
“Riley… let me explain something to you.”
My heart thuds with dread. Is he really going to drag this out? I’m dying here. I just want him to answer my question so I know one way or the other.
He lifts my hand and settles it in his, then he locks our fingers together and looks into my eyes. “Imagine Valerie Johnson is on fire. Literally being consumed by flames. She’s screaming in torment, her cries for help hurt your ears. You’re standing right next to her in perfect health, but feeling mildly thirsty. I happen to be in possession of the only glass of water in the world.” He gives me a look as if to say, are you following me? “I walk right past her to give you the water, because I care more about quenching your thirst than saving her life.”
My eyes widen in horrified delight.
He lifts my hand and kisses it, still holding my gaze. “I don’t give a single fuck about Valerie Johnson. I only care about you.”
That might be the most twisted thing that has ever turned a person on, but my heart fills to bursting, and all I want to do is get as close to him as humanly possible.
Hunter looks mildly surprised as I mount him, leaning in to kiss him and reaching down to rub his dick.
“Whoa,” he murmurs against my lips, but his surprise doesn’t inhibit his enthusiasm. He locks a muscular arm around me, grabbing my hips and positioning me where he wants me. Amusement lightens his tone as he asks, “I take it that was the right answer?”
Eyes closed, I sigh against his mouth. “Above and beyond the right answer. Get your cock inside me now, please.”
“Well, since you said please,” he teases against my lips, reaching down to guide himself between my thighs.
Sighing with pleasure as he sinks inside me, I lock my arms around his strong shoulders like I’ll never let go.
And maybe, just maybe…
I never will.
Chapter Sixty Two
Riley
Standing beside me in the juice aisle at the grocery store, Mom eyes me suspiciously. “Why are you buying cranberry juice?”
I grab a big container of it off the shelf and put it in our shopping cart. “If I say it’s because I wanna try a vodka cranberry, will you believe me?”
“I would prefer to believe that than the alternative.” She looks over at me, cocking an eyebrow. “You know the last time I bought cranberry juice?”
“I remember. You had just started dating Ray. So if you’re about to say something dirty…”
Mom sighs, wrinkling up her nose. “You’re trying to ward off a UTI. You and Hunter must have had some Friday night.”
“Yes, we had lots and lots of sex. There. Are you happy?” I shake my head, stopping to grab a case full of bottled waters. “Why can’t you be normal?” I ask as I lug the water over and shove it under the cart.