Manaconda 2: The Second Coming(7)

He smelled so good and was so warm. And I’d had just enough wine. Did I mention I missed his skin? No one had ever touched me like Hunter. Gentle in ways I didn’t really understand, or know how to react to.

Greed and want always superseded the soft and sweet where he was concerned. I couldn’t just enjoy, I was always racing to feel more.

His fingers traced my sides and ribcage in little circles as he made his way forward. I groaned as he teased the heavy curve of my breasts, dragging the backs of his knuckles over my nipples. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“For what?”

He brushed his thumb over my nipple. “For whatever it was I did.”

I pushed him away. My skin was alive, but no match for the crackle of anger that resurfaced. “That was not the right answer.”

He reached for me again. “I was a jerk. I started shit with Bats again.”

“Yes, you did. But do you realize why I’m pissed?”

He raked his fingers through his hair. “Tell me and I can fix it.”

“And that’s why I’m pissed.” How could he not know just what a jackass he was?

“You don’t make any sense.”

“And why did you have to hit Reed?”

“Because he’s going to ruin everything.”

“Ruin what?” I didn’t understand why he was so off the deep end about Vic. There had to be something more there. He had to feel something more for her. And I wouldn’t come in second to anyone. Ever.

I watched my mother do that for years. Come second.

Every single time.

Sammy whined and crawled his way across the hardwood floor to Hunter. He crouched down and rubbed his ears. “It’s okay, boy. We’re not really fighting.”

“Yes, we are.” I snapped my fingers at Sammy and he immediately came to my side. He practically vibrated beside me because he wanted to go back to Hunter, but he stayed right where he was supposed to.

At least one man in my life followed directions.

“It’s not about you, or about us.” He rubbed his hands down his thighs before standing up once more. “It wasn’t one of my finer moments, but I’m worried about Bats. Vic is bad news. She’s a user, and a master manipulator. I don’t want to see him go down the same road I did.”

I clutched my fingers together under the cuffs of my sweatshirt. “Or is it that you don’t want him to be with her?”

“Of course, I don’t want him with her.”

I pressed my lips together. Of course he didn’t. Because he really wanted her. It was obvious to everyone—and Victoria was playing it up. And I looked like a jerk.

He stepped toward me and I put my hands up. “No way.”

“Would you go out with your best friend’s ex?”

“No, of course not.” I tucked each arm into the other sleeve until they were banded across my midriff.

“Then you see my point.”

“Obviously you have some unresolved issues with Victoria.”

His eyebrows snapped together. “No, she’s a gold-digging, fame-starved, cheating bitch.”

“That’s his problem, not yours.”

“What?” His brows snapped down.

I lifted my chin. “From where I’m standing, it sounds more like you’re jealous.”

“Are you nuts?”

I hugged myself tighter. “Obviously.” I swallowed down the lump in my throat.

“Kenny, I didn’t mean that.” He stepped forward.

“No.”

Sammy whined, but there was an underlying growl to it.

Hunter laced his fingers behind his head, his shoulders huge and so stiff. “I’m not interested in anyone except you. Period. You gotta believe that.”

“How am I supposed to believe that when every time that woman is involved you act like a lunatic?” He opened his mouth and I shook my head. “No. I don’t want to be with someone like that.”

His gray eyes were so lost.

Did he really not see it?

“It’s okay, Hunter. I get it. You have history with her. You almost married her. It’s just obvious you either still want her, or you’re not over her.”

“How can you say that after this week?”

I was pretty sure everything inside me was going to break apart. And that was just a week with him. There was no way I could survive if I got in any deeper. I swallowed down the tears that wanted to come.

Damn wine. It made everything so much bigger. Hunter made everything feel so big. Too big.

“It was just chemistry. Forced proximity.” I was grasping, I knew I was. Because I did want to reach out and let him hold me. I knew it was more. I knew it could be everything.

“No. I know what chemistry is. That’s not all that’s between us.”