The skull-trim makes him look dangerous. Combined with his looks, there’s a volatility about him that’ll always make him the craziest and scariest badass in the room. And I was sitting next to that, playing nurse.
Go, me.
The badass facade’s ripped away when he uses a hand to wipe down his face. Even after he’s done, his eyes stay closed, his breath coming out faster and harsher. My dumb feet bring me closer to the couch, and I sit on the edge of the seat, turning my body towards him.
I don’t know what to say. Sorry that you’re sick, and that you’ll never have a day off from it for the rest of your life? I end up just grabbing his hand in both of mine, giving them a squeeze, a small smile on my face.
I’m holding his hand! I’m actually holding his hand and he’s not pulling it away!
I turn to Matty since the intense look on Hunter’s face freaks me out. It could be the kind of a look a man gives a woman when he’s trying to ask something of her without saying the words. But no one has ever looked at me like that, and I’m sure I read too much into it.
“Can you watch him for a bit? Please? I want to take a shower.” Hunter says, rubbing his hand again over his face and that look is gone. Hunter has the ultimate poker-face. His blue eyes are steady on mine, until I catch them dip to my chest – reading my t-shirt, or checking out my boobs? A blush invades my cheeks with a burning sting - could I be any more obvious?
“Sure. I can do that.”
Hunter shakes his head, reaching for my wrist again. His big hand encircles the joint, burning me with his warmth. No guy has ever touched me like this. I flashback to when he kissed my knuckles and how much I loved that. What’s he gonna do now?
He looks like he’s having a hard time swallowing. “Thank you for taking care of me.” His eyes are hard like diamonds, and my heart plays hopscotch in my chest. “Let me make it up to you, Sera,” he says, and my mind wipes out all information, all thought as I stare at his mouth and wonder what’s coming out of it.
“Will you let me take you to breakfast tomorrow morning?”
I snort; his eyes go all slit-sized. Not the answer he was looking for. “We tried breakfast, remember? I say something ‘wrong’, you get all pissy, and then I walk home. What makes you think I’m going to let you ruin my favourite meal of the day?”
His eyes drop down to his lap, and he fidgets in his seat. Oh, snap – is he showing the tiniest bit of remorse?
“I’m sorry I’m an asshole.” I decide I like this Hunter. I could like like this Hunter.
“Daddy said a bad word! I get a quarter!” Matty jumps up and down between us. How in hell does Hunt make me forget about the kid? I’m losing it.
“Why do you get a quarter?” I ask.
“He loves those bubble gum balls from the dispensers. He won’t eat any other kind,” Hunter says, staring at me again, dipping down to my chest. I bristle, I mean, are my nipples showing or something? And how do I be discrete about checking in front of a little kid?
Whatever.
“So? Will you go to breakfast with me tomorrow morning?”
I frown. “I have work early. I have to be in at seven. I eat at sixish.” I say this to discourage him from his plan. I’m giving him an out, a way to say: ‘Well, shit. I guess there’s a next time, or maybe never.’
Again, Hunter doesn’t understand my language. “That’s fine. I’m up by then, anyway.” He grins at me – I must look crestfallen. That grin does funny things to me. “I’m gonna go take that shower now.” With that, he gently pushes his hips against my ass to move out of the way. I blush, hating my fair complexion.I nod, not really paying attention, liking too much the feeling of his body heat through my clothes. Jesus, I’ve gone sex-mad. It was bound to happen after twenty-five years.
Hunter’s shower lasts sixteen minutes (I can’t to sixty in my head sixteen times). So, I’m not really paying attention to what Matty’s turning channels to when the water stops, and I assume Hunt’s towelling off. I tried really hard not to think of what he’s doing in there naked. And being naked what part of his body he’s touching that I would love to get my hands on, and maybe lick and suck on. What the fraking hell Brain? Shut up!
Goddamn it. I watch the bathroom door open and Hunter step out of the room with steam billowing behind him, off his skin, like he’s actually smoking hot. Need pulses in my lower belly, and my breath comes quick and fast. I’ve never been affected like this, ever in my life. And it’s not fair that he can go parading around that skin, those muscles around for me to practically drool over.