“What? Why?”
“Because I would feel better if I knew you guys were safe. That's why.” He turns so that he faces me now.
“But I’m not your responsibility, Hunter. Neither of us are. I can take care of us just fine.” I take a step back, but he grabs me by the shoulders to keep me in place.
“I have no doubt that you can take care of yourself.” He cups my cheek. “But you don’t have to right now. Not with me around.”
As much as I want to believe him, there is no way that I can. It is not his job to take care of me. I have to learn to take care of us myself, or I will never survive without Craig in our lives. I lean into his palm and give him a small smile. “I understand you want to take care of us, Hunter. But I need to deal with this on my own. When you guys leave, me and Charlie will leave, too.”
His hand goes to the back of my head and he grips my hair. “No,” he says firmly and then softens his tone. “Please, don’t. Just wait for me to get back.” His eyes search mine for the answer he wants, and it’s hard for me to not just give it to him.
I want to tell him, “Okay, fine,” but I can’t continue being a burden on him and this house. I bite my lip and look up at him. “I don’t know. Are you sure? I mean, I know that you aren’t obligated to take care of us, so if we need to leave so that we are no longer in the way—”
I’m interrupted when Hunter presses his lips to mine, holding me in place by my hair.
At first, I’m shocked into silence with my mouth on his and my eyes still open, but then I slowly close my eyes and relish in his touch. I open my mouth and let him explore me with his tongue. His kiss is devouring and soon I find myself being walked backward until I am pressed against the house.
He breaks only to lean back and look at me through dark eyes. “You will stay here while I’m gone; that is final.”
Before I can argue, he slams his lips against mine again, and I am left breathless.
How am I supposed to say no to this kiss?
Chapter 37
Hunter
Her lips taste like honey and I could kiss them all day long. “Eww,” Charlie yells from behind me, and we pull ourselves apart from one another to look at her.
“What’s so gross?” I ask with a smirk.
“You.” She rolls her eyes.
“That is not very nice, Charlie.” Blake comes to my defense, but I stick my hand out to stop her.
“No, no. The lady is allowed her opinion.” I laugh. “That just means I’m going to have to chase her down and tickle her until she changes her mind.”
Charlie gasps and takes off running. I chase her until she trips over her own feet and goes tumbling to the grass. I close the distance between us and slide up next to her, grabbing her in my arms and tickling her relentlessly. She giggles and squirms and kicks to get free. “You will never escape me!” I growl and tickle her more.
She begs and pleads and even pulls my beard. “Stop it!” she screams.
“Not until you take it back!”
She laughs. “Never!”
After a little while longer, Blake comes to the rescue. “Just tell him he’s not gross and you can be free.”
Charlie sits up on her elbow and squints her eyes at me. She studies my features and then looks at my beard. “Nope, he is still gross, Mommy.”
I gasp and feign hurt by placing my hand on my chest and falling onto my back. This causes Charlie to laugh and jump on top of me, attempting to tickle me back.
I play pretend for as long as possible, making groaning sounds and laughing as she tickles each known spot. Then Blake grabs her off of me and saves me from the torture of little hands. I layon my back and spread out my limbs like I am dead. “Oh, thank God. You saved me.” I gasp.
Charlie laughs in her mother’s arms, and Blake laughs, too. It’s good to see a little bit of happiness on her face. She deserves it.
Sam walks out the front door and spots me on the ground. She smirks and gives me a questioning look. “What in the world are you doing down there?”
I shrug and get off the ground. “I was attacked by the tickle monster.” I point toward Charlie who giggles.
