“It’s not.” But he doesn’t elaborate.
“My first date wasn’t until I was seventeen,” I say. “It wasn’t great. He asked me out and I was excited. We went to a movie theater and then Subway after. He kissed me when he dropped me off, but he licked allaroundmy lips, notin.”
Hunter chuckles. “So it was terrible?”
“Not the whole thing, but when my dad opened the door … it got bad.” I hesitate.
He rubs down the back of my neck and kisses the corner of my jaw. “Valerie?”
“I told Lief, my dad was … unpleasant. A mean drunk. Unpredictable in terms of what would set him off. I tried to take Mom with me when I went, but she refused.”
“Did he hurt you?” There’s murder in Hunter’s eyes.
It should terrify me. Especially knowing what these men are capable of, but even the nervous shiver down my spine doesn’t change the fact that I somehow feel safer being with him while talking about this.
“It was a long time ago. I moved out and moved on to be better.” I hesitate, then run my fingers through Hunter’s hair.
He leans into my touch and sighs. “How did you do it? Just cut him off. Didn’t you regret leaving your mom?”
“I did. I want to help her, but until she’s ready for my help, I’d be barking up the wrong tree,” I say softly. “There are limitations, everyone has them.”
“I don’t.” He argues. I lay back on the bed and Hunter kisses my shoulder, my cheek, and lays with me on his side. “Silence is what I get?”
“You have plenty of limitations, hot stuff,” I say, facing him. “And that’s okay. It’s human. Last I checked, you’re human.”
“Maybe you should check again. I could be an android, powered by batteries.”
“Oh yeah, an energizer bunny for my pleasure?” I tease.
He pulls me close and chuckles. “Something like that.”
I kiss him softly, then again, and again because I’m hopeless. Something about him not pushing for sex, not pushing my buttons … it’s different enough that it makes me want more, makes me want him.
Hunter moans and slowly slips his fingers up my thigh. He stops just below the curve of my ass as I suck his tongue. I draw back and kiss his chin, then his neck, following down to where his pulse is a little faster than normal.
“Sweetheart, you’re tempting me.” His voice is all husky and low.
“Oh yeah, because you’re completely innocent.”
He rolls on top of me, pulling my leg over his hip. His mouth fits to mine and he gives me a replay of that hot and demanding kiss in the parking lot. I moan and thread my fingers through his hair. Why the hell can’t I let them go?
I should. It’s wrong to drag this out, to tell them no and then yes, to tease them with maybes and non-commitments even though I want them to be mine and mine alone. Which isn’t fair.
“Hunter.” I pant.
“Want me to burn another boundary?” He purrs against my lips. “I know you were as frustrated and horny as I was in your office yesterday.”
“I should say no,” I whimper. “You’re a whole mess.”
“A dangerous.” He kisses me, “lethal,” another kiss, “cocky mess.”
I groan and tug on his shirt, lifting it over his head so I can kiss across his chest. I feel a scar on his back and gently stroke it. He shivers. “But I’m your mess right now. What are you going to do with me?”
“Make you come.”
He groans and sits back. Before I can change my mind, I undo his pants and drag them down, getting on my elbows and knees to lick across the head of his hard cock. He jerks my dress over my ass so he can palm my ass.
“You and thongs are a good mix.” He pants, rolling his hips so I take more of his length down my throat.