“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he pants, the words tumbling out as his breathing turns ragged. “You’re fucking incredible.”
My fingers move faster, slick sounds muffled by the water as my thumb finds my clit and presses just right.
Our eyes collide, his gaze burning into me, and all I can feel is his hands on me. All I see is my hand wrapped around his cock. My pulse quickens, heart crashing against my ribs.
“Hunter,” I whisper, his name a plea.
“Fuck, baby. Gonna. Come. Need?—”
His jaw snaps shut. His body coiling tight, legs stiffening as he jerks once, twice, spilling over himself. The sight of his stomach covered in white ropes of cum drives me right over the edge, and I curl my fingers deeper, hitting that delicious spot. Pleasure shoots down my spine, stealing the breath from my lungs. My mouth falls open as my body clamps around my fingers, hips lifting, chasing it, riding the wave as my orgasm tears through me.
When my heartbeat finally slows and feeling seeps back into my toes, I ease my fingers free, the water rippling around me.
“Fuck.” He blows out a breath. “That was so hot. I’m sorry I couldn’t last longer.”
I giggle. “I was right there with you.”
My leg starts to protest where it’s been propped awkwardly, the water cooling against my skin now that the heat has faded. I shift, wincing a little.
“Time to get out?” he asks, a lazy smirk tugging at his mouth.
“Please,” I say, smiling back.
He reaches for the hand towel and cleans himself up. When his shorts are back in place, he offers me his hand and helps me out of the bath. Cool air kisses my skin, and I shiver, goosebumps rising as Hunter wraps a towel around my shoulders.
Exhaustion settles into my bones, heavy and sweet. My body feels looser than it has in weeks.
“Best bath ever,” I murmur, watching him lean over and blow out the candles one by one.
The smile he gives me melts something inside me.
He gets me settled into bed, the dark sheets cool and crisp beneath me, and presses a gentle kiss to my cheekbefore turning away. Moonlight spills through the window, casting a glow across the room. He crosses to the dresser, opens the drawer, and pulls out the stack of letters. My breath stutters. The room seems to tilt as my heart drops, sinking straight to my feet. He holds them up for me to see, then slides them back into the drawer, closing it shut.
Confusion sweeps through me, and I pause, letting my chest rise and fall as I wait, giving him the space to find the words he’s been holding back.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you about them since you woke up,” he says. “I just… didn’t want to cause any more pain while you were healing.”
He settles next to me, the mattress dipping under his weight. His fingers find mine and hold on tight.
I squeeze his hand in return, a silent answer.I’m here. I’m listening.
“That day… They were in my bag. I was going to give them to Halle. To be done with it all.” He lets out a shaky breath. “Then I got caught up in Xavier touching you, and I just needed you. Needed you to know I was all in. One hundred percent.”
His thumb strokes my hand. Eyes meeting mine.
“And then you fell.” His words crack. “I thought I lost you. I’ve never been so scared in my life. That night…” He swallows. “It was the worst night of my life. Baby, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper into the darkness, though my chest aches with the weight of it.
“I read them,” he adds. “All of them. I gave Halle hers, too.”
“You did?” The words come out quiet but stunned.
“Of course. I told you I was going to prove that you’re it for me. I don’t want anything standing between us.”
“How did Halle take them?” I ask, even as my thoughts scatter, trying to keep up.
He tells me everything that happened between them, how it unfolded, the hard parts, the honesty of it, and my heart pinches. Pride swells in me. They’ve come so far together. From misunderstanding to clarity. From all that pain to peace.
