My heart races at the promise of that. I want to say yes. I want to marry him but I'm only twenty-two and I have years of school left in front of me. We haven't discussed how we envision our future yet and until we do, allowing my heart to believe that everything will fall into place is just not smart. I have to take care of it. Even though I now know it was once Coral's heart and she loved Hunter before I did, it's still my life. I want to be a doctor. I need to be. It's as much a part of who I am, as loving Hunter is.
"What do you need to ask me?" I doubt he'll tell me. Hunter isn’t the type of man who has important discussions over the phone.
"You'll have to wait until I'm back."
The bus lurches to a stop and I peer out the window. Several people rush up to the side waiting to board. I'm thankful that when I boarded a block from Hunter's place that the bus was almost empty.
"Are you on the bus?" The question comes out of left field. I can hear the distaste in his words.
"Yes," I answer back. I can't lie to him. He's heard enough background noise on the call to know that I'm not using one of his cars to get back and forth to school.
"I told you not to do that." There's frustration skirting his tone. "Sadie, I left keys to two cars there for you. Why didn't you take one?"
"I prefer the bus," I lie. The truth was that I didn't feel comfortable driving either car because they both were too expensive.
"Liar," he spits back with a chuckle. "I'm buying you a car when I get back."
"You're not." I try to sound determined. "I can study on the bus. This works well." It doesn't. I hate the bus. It's impossible to concentrate on anything because of all the sudden movements and people milling about.
"Then buy yourself a car." He rarely brings up my trust fund. I know he wouldn't be doing it now unless he was really concerned about my safety and comfort.
"The bus is fine." I want the conversation to be over. This is the first time I've heard his voice since he left and I don't want to mire our time talking about my mode of transportation.
There's such a prolonged silence on the other end of the line that I'm certain the call has dropped. "Sadie," he finally speaks. "We're finding a new place next week. As soon as Cory's birthday party is over, we're moving."
I don't try to disagree. It wouldn't matter if I did. He's determined and once Hunter wants something, nothing will stop him from getting it.
Chapter 5
"You're baking a cake?" He doesn't even try and mask the surprise in his voice.
I turn around to face him as I clap my hands together causing flour to float through the air. "Stop acting like I can't do it."
"It's not an act." He brushes the light dusting of powder from his black sweater. "You can't bake."
I try to stifle a laugh but I can't. "I want to make Cory's birthday cake myself." It's a genuine attempt. This is my third cake today. The other two hadn’t worked out but I'm focused and determined and maybe I'm getting a little discouraged.
"I can think of a much better use for your time." He runs his hand down my side until it's resting on my hip.
"What might that be?" My pulse is already racing at the promise of making love.
"This," he whispers the word softly across my cheek as he undoes the button fly on my jeans. "And this." He slides his hand into my panties and runs his fingers over my cleft. "I need this."
I drop the whisk I'm holding in my hand and reach back to steady myself against the kitchen counter. "Yes, please."
"Your choice, sunshine. You can bake a cake or I can touch you just like this until you come."
"We'll buy a cake," I mutter into his chest.
He scoops me into his arms and carries me to the bedroom. He doesn't waste any time pulling my jeans and panties off before he unbuttons my blouse. "No bra." I feel his smile against my skin as he takes one of my swollen nipples into his mouth.
I push my body back onto the bed as I moan. "I love when you bite them," I confess. I want to feel that sharp edge of pain mixed with pleasure. I want to let go and feel everything I can.
He pushes one hand into the bed above my head as he leans down to kneel on one knee. I stare up at him, he's fully dressed, his face awash with desire as he runs his fingers through my swollen folds.
"I'm going to make you come just like this, Sadie." His breath skirts across my nipple before he licks it and pulls it between his teeth.
"Yes," I moan as my hips circle the bed, trying to get his hand to bring me to the edge.