The lure of a man who cared about feeding a woman couldn’t be denied. The fact that he brought his friend as a buffer left me at ease and off-balance at the same time.
This would have been the perfect way to seduce me, but that hadn’t been his intention. Instead, I was just touched that he thought about making me a meal.
And more importantly, I’d been the focus.
There’s been no talk of work, of shows, of anything other than cooking exploits between the two men as Hunter went from useless to apprentice.
We sat in the living room and chatted until dark. Dessert had been consumed, and my head grew muzzy thanks to decadent food and a Jamison laced café au lait.
I must have dozed off because suddenly I was being lifted. I startled awake, looking around the room. Tristan was in the kitchen packing, and Sammy was sound asleep in his favorite chair.
“Hunter…”
“Shh.” He gathered me up against his chest. “I’m just putting you to bed.”
“I can do it.”
“I know you can, Kenny. I know you can do most things alone; doesn’t mean you have to.”
I tucked my face into his neck. The lingering hint of coffee and caramel infused his skin and clothes. He carried me into my room and set me on the side of my bed.
He traced the back of his knuckles against my shoulder and neck, then around to my zipper. He tugged it down slowly, his misty gray eyes heated as my dress fell forward in the front.
I was helpless against his touch. I’d been starving for it for days.
He drew the straps of my slip down as well. The lace snagged on my nipples before whispering into a pool at my waist.
I didn’t care that Tristan was down the hall. I didn’t care that he shouldn’t be here. I didn’t care about being strong. I just wanted him.
He drew me off the bed and the silk and cotton drifted down my hips to the floor, leaving me in a scrap of white cotton. “Jesus.”
I didn’t cover myself. He’d seen everything, tasted all of me. It felt like a million years ago, and yesterday all at the same time.
“God, I missed you,” he whispered.
I wanted to say it back to him. Everything inside of me wanted to lean into him and let him back in. That little niggling doubt wouldn’t let me.
He sighed and reached for the nightshirt on the chair beside my bed. He dropped it over my head, helping me slide my arms into the sleeves. In fact, he didn’t touch me until the shirt covered me to the tops of my thighs.
He cupped my cheeks, his thumb brushing my lower lip. “I’m not giving up on us.”
I closed my eyes. I couldn’t face the certainty in his eyes. Not after I’d managed to hold out against the want. “Hunter…”
He kissed my forehead, then my eyes, and finally my lips. It was soft and sweet and he was already straightening up before I could react. When I opened my eyes, he was gone.
I dropped back down on my bed, my body and my heart conflicted enough that I slid under my sheets and let myself find oblivion.
I woke to a familiar tongue bath from Sammy. The only good thing about Hunter putting me to bed was that I’d slept the whole night through for the first time in days.
I got up, let Sammy out, showered, and dressed for the day. My front door opened at ten. Carter shoved his arm in waving a pen with a white paper napkin like a flag.
“Get in here,” I said.
“Is it safe?”
“Yes.”
Carter pushed open the door. “Are you sure?” He frowned as he closed the door behind him. “Did you let them cook for you?”
“Yes.”
He looked around, then went to the fridge. “You didn’t leave me any?”
“Hell no.”
He grabbed a Hint water and shut the door. “Mean.”
“You’re the one who let the enemy in my house.”
“He’s not really the enemy.”
I sighed. “No. I wish he was. It would be a lot easier.”
“That’s because you’re jonesing for that sweet-sweet rock star lurve.”
“You’re an ass.”
The fact that he was correct pissed me off. He’d had every opening to take me to bed last night, but instead he’d done what was best for me. Even beyond me knowing what was best for me.
How was I supposed to hold up against that?
“By the way, I got a call from Love & Paws. They want you to do the Fourth of July adoption push again. You in?”
“Of course.”
“I figured. Already told them you were available.”
“Is that the only thing pressing?”
He nodded. “The usual client whining, but nothing that requires you handling it personally.”
“Exactly what I like to hear.” My doorbell rang. I frowned at Carter. “What did you do now?”