“Olivia,” Hunter whispered in my ear. He sucked in my earlobe as he dove into me.
Heat, then a slow burn, took over me. I wanted to admit I loved him. That I needed him.
I bit down on my lip. I held it in. Just in case. He knew, but he hadn’t heard it straight from my lips.
Instead, I arched up, taking more of him. “Oh, Hunter. Oh God—I’m going to come.” It hit me. Blistering pleasure exploded and then wrapped around me, so tight it cut off my breath. Colors blasted behind my eyes. I trembled beneath him, feeling him shaking over me.
His lips found mine again, deep and sensual. His movements slowed way down. “It just keeps getting better with you,” he said softly, reaching up and undoing my blindfold. His handsome face and soft eyes came into view. Moonlight sprinkled across his shoulders.
He kissed me again as he let me out of the handcuffs.
“This bed was chosen specifically, wasn’t it?” I asked with a tired smile, turning to my side. He pulled the covers over us and snuggled in behind me. “You wanted something you could use handcuffs with.”
“Aren’t you glad I did?”
I sighed in contentment as his arms came around me. “Yes. I liked that.”
He kissed my neck. “So did I.”
* * *
The next day I poked my head into the spare bedroom Hunter used as an office. He sat hunched over the desk with his hands clasped and his arms flexed.
“You okay?” I asked softly, only my head visible. He’d had an outburst a moment before, something he only did when dealing with the contract with Blaire.
He looked up and unclasped his hands. A smile adorned his face. “That waiver will hold up in court if my father takes it that far. Blaire’s father had already backed out, and the small print was written with Blaire having absolutely no power of her own. It’s resolved. I’m free of it.”
Delight bubbled up through me. I stepped further into the room. “Are you relieved?”
“Very.” He sighed. “It’s amazing. It’s like a weight has been lifted. I had no idea it had affected me this much. I have you to thank.”
“Meh.” I waved him away, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms. “Just call me private eye.”
“For that, too, but I meant…for helping me see that there was more to life than a shallow contract and a stressful domestic setting.”
“Stressful domestic setting? I don’t think that does what you’ve been dealing with justice. I mean, finding strange, naked men on your coffee table must have traumatized you.”
“Come here.” He held out a hand. I took it and let him pull me onto his lap. He put his arms around my waist. “Nothing really traumatized me, no. But it was a constant nuisance. I didn’t like going home.”
“Again. Don’t blame you. She’s very pretty, but insane.”
He gave me a squeeze. “My dad knows you drugged him. He says he’s going to fight that waiver.”
I froze in Hunter’s arms. He gave me another squeeze. “He’s not going to get proof for his suspicions. You have nothing to worry about.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “But you said the waiver would hold up—how else would he fight it?”
“I told him you had a recording, both video and audio, of your dealings with him. He said a lot of things he wouldn’t want anyone to hear last night. With that document in excellent shape, and his signature legit, he’s got nothing. He can’t even hold over me that he was with you—I told him about the lotion.”
“Wait…” I turned so I could see Hunter’s face. “How do you know what was said?”
“I watched the transmission. It’s saved on your computer.”
My mouth dropped open. It hadn’t been edited. Rodge had signed the paper because I said I loved Hunter. Which, yes, was redundant to the other video, but this time I’d said it. It’d come out of my own mouth.
“I don’t think it’s healthy to sleep as much as you do.” He winked and stood me up.
“But…” I blinked down at him. “You’re not mad? Or weirded out about things…that were said…”
His eyes softened. “I’m not sure. And I’m battling some things that still haunt me from the past, but no. I won’t fire you for breaking that rule.”
The love rule, he meant. He was okay with me loving him.
The warmth that had been growing these past weeks flooded me. I’d dropped the L-bomb prematurely before. It hadn’t worked out well.
I smiled like an idiot. I didn’t even care that he had no plans to say it back yet. He was okay with it. The rest would come. “Okay, then.”