“You’re so good,” I pant. “Come inside me, baby.”
Hunter whimpers, thrusts turning frantic and sloppy until he buries himself fully. He comes with a broken cry, collapsing against my chest. His cock twitches and pulses inside me.
We’re both silent for a moment, holding each other and ignoring the mess between us. I breathe against Hunter’s warm, sticky skin and inhale his scent. He smells like sunscreen and strawberry shampoo.
I peck Hunter’s shoulder, then his neck, and trail up to meet his lips again. I kiss him slowly, fingers laced into his hair.
Hunter turns to break the kiss. “I should pull out,” he sighs.
He eases out of me, and I have to bite my lip to stop myself from whimpering at the sudden emptiness. He peels off the condom and tosses it into the bin next to the nightstand.
I loop my arms around Hunter’s waist and tug him back to bed, pulling him against my chest. He exhales and melts into me, his tension softening as I thread my fingers through his hair.
I press a kiss to his temple. “I meant what I said earlier—your intelligence? It’s one of my favorite things about you.”
His eyes flutter open, hazy with disbelief. “Really?”
“Yeah,” I murmur. “And I wasn’t lying when I said you being a nerd turns me on.”
He lets out a soft snort and nudges my ribs, and I can’t help laughing. The sound feels easy and warm, humming through the quiet of the room.
“But it’s more than that,” I add, my voice gentler now. “I love how you teach me things I never would’ve known otherwise. You make everything feel new.”
A faint blush colors his cheeks. “Thanks.”
I kiss the tip of his nose, and his lips twitch into a sleepy smile.
He yawns and snuggles closer, his hand resting over my heart. “Topping is exhausting. Don’t expect me to do it often.”
I chuckle quietly, smoothing a slow hand down his back. “Fair enough. Nap first, shower later.”
He hums in approval, already half-asleep against me. I stare at the ceiling for a moment, memorizing the weight of him, the steady rhythm of his breathing.
“Hey, Hunt?” I say, barely a whisper.
“Hm?” he replies, his eyes still closed.
I swallow hard. “I just want you to know… this summer was the happiest I’ve been in a long time,” I admit quietly.
Hunter stirs, his voice a sleepy whisper. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I breathe, pressing another kiss to his hair. “You make me forget how heavy life can be.”
His lips brush against my collarbone as his breathing slows. “Me too.”
His hand tightens slightly over my chest, and I feel him smile against my skin before he drifts off again—leaving me wide awake, holding him like I’m afraid to let go.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I wake up feeling like I’m on a boat, rocking in the waves. At first, I think I’m dreaming of being on Lake Michigan. It takes me a few seconds to process Hunter roughly shaking my shoulder, the mattress quaking beneath me.
“Jesus, you’re a heavy sleeper,” he grumbles, voice rough with sleep. “Your phone’s been going off nonstop.”
My heart lurches before I’m even fully awake. The sound of my phone ringing on the nightstand pierces my ears, loud and insistent.
Dread squeezes my chest—Maddie. Something’s wrong.
I fumble for my phone, pulse racing. The screen lights up with a string of missed calls, but it’s not Maddie. It’s Liz.
