“Please.” His eyes plead with me. “Please change the subject.”
“To get back to what we discussed earlier today—my answer is still the same,” I say. “If you’re willing to help me, that is.”
Hunter’s eyes darken. “You’re aware of the risks.”
“Yes.”
He picks up Theo and puts him directly on the couch cushion. Then, he leans closer and cups my cheek tenderly. “I’m honored you trust me enough. I’ll do my best to anticipate what you need, but I may need some guidance from you along the way. I’m sure, actually, that I’ll need guidance.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He takes my hand in his. “You want to start tonight?”
Another nod from me. “Yes.”
He stands up, tugs me behind him, and heads for his bedroom, flicking off the lights in the living room and hall as we go.
Once we’re in his room, he urges me onto his bed, and then he crawls up next to me. Propping his head up on his hand with his elbow on the mattress, he says, “Let’s talk first.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“I’m game for anything—and everything—that you are.” His gaze is molten with heat. “But I do want this to be exclusive. I know it will have an expiration date and that when you return to your real life, what’s between us will end.”
My real life.
I’m not sure I know what’s real and what’s not anymore.
“But while you’re here and we’re doing this, I don’t want anyone else in either of our beds.”
I sigh. “Obviously, with my issue, I won’t…”
“I mean once you heal,” he clarifies. “Because you will heal, Winter.”
“But once I heal…”
“You think we’ll stop?” He runs a finger down my cheek. “If that’s what you want, we will. But I already know I’ll want as much as you’ll give me, darling.”
A full-body shiver goes through me at his words. “Okay. Exclusive. But how do you know I’ll heal?”
“Because when have you ever not gotten something you set your mind to?”
I shrug. “This is my body, not my mind. I can’t just mind-over-matter it.”
Hunter reaches for my waist and, hooking his thumb into my belt loop, he tugs me up against him. “No, but you can trust again.” His mouth lands on mine, and my thighs clench. His kiss is firm and certain.
My hands go to the hem of his t-shirt, and I slide my hands underneath to his hot skin. I run my fingers over his ribs and up to his defined chest. Meanwhile, his tongue slides inside my mouth, and emotion unexpectedly fills my throat.
Hunter’s right. Icantrust again. Because I’m with him.
The realization breaks the dam inside of me.
For six months, I never cried about what happened. Not one time.
But right now, tears fall down my cheeks as Hunter kisses me. When he hesitates, I beg him to keep going.
“Are you sure?” His voice is uncertain.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything. This is exactly what I need,” I promise him. “You are exactly what I need, Hunter. Please don’t let me down.”
