"Let's go." He takes my hand and I feel it go limp. I can't grasp onto his but I allow him to lead me to the car. I feel numb. I'm so humiliated by what I've done. Why did I show him the most vu
lnerable parts of me? Why did I expose myself to him when I know he's only interested in one thing?
I slide into the car and wait for him to take his seat. "Hunter." I gaze down at my hands as I clasp them together. "I need to say something."
"We can talk at my place." He starts the car's engine. "It's private. We'll be more comfortable there."
I gaze out the window as I watch my parent's home fade into the distance.
***
"Do you want anything?" He pushes his suit coat from his shoulders and pulls off his tie. "I have wine, water, some juice I think."
"I'm fine." I watch as he unbuttons the top button of the navy blue dress shirt he's wearing. I'll never get over how handsome he is. I know I'll never meet another man who measures up to him in any way.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to call after..." His voice fades as he sits next to me. "I wasn't sure you wanted to talk to me again."
I pull my gaze up with a breathy sigh. "I'm sorry." I search for the right words. They were on the tip of my tongue all day. I knew exactly what I wanted to say to him and now that he's sitting next to me, I can't think straight.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." He gently reaches for my hand.
I don't pull back. "I shouldn't have said the things I said. What you do or don't do in Denver or anywhere else is none of my business."
"Sunshine." He inches closer to me on the couch. I feel my heart jump at the sound of his nickname for me. "When I'm working I'm typically holed up in a hotel that is opening a new restaurant. My whole focus has to be on that. I run into so many logistical problems that I can't even remember what day of the week it is, let alone what the weather is like."
I search his face for some semblance of the truth but he's stone faced. Maybe he was actually in Denver and I just jumped to the wrong conclusion. I shake the subject out of my mind.
"I wanted to tell you about the scar, about my heart." I pull in a breath trying to hold back my billowing emotions. "It's so hard. People treat me differently when they know."
"You're so special." He leans his forehead against my hair. "That makes you even more special."
I don't want to cry but the softness in his voice and the tenderness in his words are pulling everything I've felt for the past few weeks to the surface.
"The scar makes you more beautiful to me." He moves his hand from mine to my chest. I flinch slightly at his touch. "It means you're a true gift."
I try to process his words. "It's ugly." I spit out.
"Never say that." He reaches to cradle my chin in his hand. "It's amazing. You're so amazing."
I want to kiss him. I want to fall back into that place of pure pleasure with him. I can't. I won't. I don't want to be hurt by him.
I close my eyes when I feel his lips brush against mine. Every fiber of my body is calling at me to pull back but I can't. I wrap my fingers through his hair as I let him glide his lips across mine. I'm so hungry for his touch. I've wanted him so much. I don't care if I'm one of many. I don't care if it's only until September. I need this. I deserve it. I want it.
He pushes the strap of my dress down as his lips kiss a trail to my neck. "You're so beautiful," he whispers into my skin.
I don't resist when he moves to the other strap and the dress starts to fall. I look down. My nipples are so hard. My breasts heaving under the heavy breaths from my body. The scar is there. It's on display.
He leans down and takes one of my nipples into his mouth. I moan at the sensation. His tongue traces an outline, pulling the hard bud between his teeth. It's a mix of pure pleasure and pain. I groan at the sensation. I whimper when I feel the cold air attack my nipple as he moves his mouth to the other. He claims it with his hand before pushing the tender flesh into his mouth. I claw at his shirt, wanting desperately to feel his skin against mine.
"You want this," he growls. "You want me, don't you?"
"So much," I say through a moan.
He scoops me up in one movement into his arms. His lips fall hard into mine as he walks down the hallway. "I'm going to show you how much I want you." His voice is low and rough.
He sets me down on the floor in a dimly lit bedroom. I sense my dress being pulled down. I don't move. I want to soak in every moment of this. I want to know what it's like to be taken by a man like this. Even if it's just for tonight. Even if all I get of him is this one moment.
I watch as he quickly undresses himself. My eyes run slowly down his body, taking in the muscles of his arms, his chest and his abdomen. I settle on his cock. It's thick, strong and hard. He wants me just as much as I want him.