While I came down, he kissed my inner thigh, my belly, tenderly. I released my death grip in his hair and ran my fingers over it.
He lifted his gaze to mine, still not saying a damn thing. He looked wild, on edge. Though it should be impossible, seeing him like that turned me on all over again.
“I . . . ah . . .” I didn’t know what to say. I’d never behaved like that before, had never been that desperate for another person in my life.
He stood. “So perfect. Nothings as sweet as you on my tongue. Watching you lose control, take what you want.”
I glanced down at the bulge behind his zipper and reached for him. He hissed when I cupped him through the damp denim.
“I want to take things slow with you, Lulu, but after that, I’m fucking dying here, babe. Blue balls really is a thing. I think I’m gonna get a clot or something. No shit.”
I chuckled. I couldn’t help it. It was the first joke he’d cracked since I’d seen him again. “Let me take care of it.” Popping the button, I slid down the zipper. He sprang free, long and thick and beautiful.
I squeezed him, sliding my hand from root to tip and he growled, eyes dark and hot and intense. God, so intense. I kissed his throat, his chest, about to carry on down, to take him into my mouth, but Hunter fisted my hair gently and guided me back, shaking his head.
“This time I want that mouth under mine when I come. You have no idea how many times I’ve dreamed about that mouth. How many times I’ve woken up positive you were kissing me, only to wake up alone, hard . . . fucking desperate for you.”
He tugged me closer and then his lips were on mine, mouth opening and tongue gliding in, hot and deep and needy. We devoured each other while I stroked his beautiful cock. Both moaning as I swallowed every groan and growl he fed me.
He held me tighter, his hips moving, thrusting into my hand. Then he gripped my hair tighter. I felt his body stiffen a second before he came, splashing hot come on my stomach. The sexy, rough sounds he made vibrating right through me.
Finally, he broke the kiss, pressing his forehead against mine, breathing rough. His eyes dropped to my belly. “I like that,” he said, reaching down, sliding his strong, sure fingertips over my skin, through his come, the growl in his voice making me shiver.
The act was wholly possessive; it was also sexy as hell. I got the feeling he’d been just as shaken as me tonight, when everything went pear-shaped. He hated that I’d been put at risk, but knew as well as I did that I might be the only way to find Pierce now he’d gone into hiding.
He kissed me again, and I kissed him back.
But here in this bathroom, in this moment, I wasn’t in the real world. The real world was just outside the door, and it was ugly and frightening. A place where men carried guns and innocent children got hurt by the people they should be able to trust the most. I clung to Hunter tighter.
I planned to avoid the real world, just for a little bit longer.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lulu
My mother ran her frail hand over Josh’s hair, unable to contain her joy at having another visit with her grandson. I’d brought him to meet her two days ago. At first, she’d been shocked, but I couldn’t think of a reason to keep him away, not now. Pierce already knew about him and so did Hunter. There was no point denying them the chance to spend time with each other.
When she asked who his father was, Hunter, who had been standing silently in the corner of the room watching us, the way he always watched us, intense and alert, had piped up in that deep, rough voice, “Josh is mine.” That’s all he said, all he had to say.
Mom accepted it.
We visited the day before as well. We still didn’t have any leads on Pierce, but Hunter was sure he was still in the city. I’d been racking my brain for where he could be. Pierce had taken me to a lot of places, but over the years they’d become one big blur. A nightmare I’d worked hard to forget. Several stuck out, though, but some I’d have to see to recognize.
It was frustrating. I wanted to help. I wanted Pierce locked up. I wanted Josh safe.
But this afternoon, I didn’t want to think about any of that, because for the first time since I’d seen her, my mother had color in her cheeks. Her eyes, that had been a dull gray instead of her usual bright blue, were sparkling like sapphires. And even though I knew the prognosis, I couldn’t stop the hope stirring inside me. Hope was stupid and a waste of energy. Miracles didn’t happen, despite what people said. But if the light shining from her today meant that I got a few more with her, I’d take them, and I’d treasure every second.
We’d been at the hospital for several hours. Though she looked bright and happy, I could see the fatigue creeping in. Josh had been chatting animatedly most of the time we’d been here, but I could see my son was getting tired as well. He’d been rubbing his eyes for the last hour. I was reluctant to leave. But he’d had enough and was ready for dinner and bed. And if I didn’t get him home soon, a meltdown of epic proportions wouldn’t be far away.