Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
* * *
I spend the rest of the morning fretting - about what to wear, what I’m going to say to Hunter, and how I’m going to pretend everything is normal. By the time there’s the sound of a car pulling up outside, my heart does a flip-flop. I’m sitting in the kitchen, my hands in my lap, when my mom goes to answer the door, making nice with the others before inviting them inside.
“Frankie, honey,” she says, poking her head into the kitchen room, “George and Hunter are here. Come say hi.”
I force a smile onto my face and stand up, greeting the two of them politely in the foyer. Hunter is just as tall and handsome as ever. His black head practically grazes the ceiling, and his shoulders are so broad they seem to take up all the space inside.
“It’s good to see you both again,” I manage, my eyes lingering on his huge frame for perhaps a moment too long.
“It’s good to see you, too, Frankie,” Hunter says, a gleam in his blue eyes.
“Well,” Mom says, clapping her hands together, “there’s wine and cheese. George, honey, would you care to join me?”
“I sure would,” George replies, taking her hand. He gives Hunter a questioning look.
“I think I’ll stay out here for a little bit and talk to Frankie,” Hunter says, giving his dad a winning smile. We watch in silence as our parents disappear around the corner into the living room, already laughing and talking like there’s nothing amiss. Then the two of us make our way to the kitchen and sit in silence for what feels like forever. I’m staring at the table, fidgeting, doing anything to not have to look at Hunter, but the whole time, I can feel his eyes on me.
“So,” he says at last, his voice low enough that the others won’t hear him, “did you miss me as much as I missed you?”
I snap my head up to look at him, eyes wide.
“What are you talking about?”
“Come on, Frankie,” he says, smirking. “Are we just going to pretend nothing happened between us? How long are we going to keep acting like strangers?”
“We are strangers,” I hiss back, shooting a worried glance towards the living room. The low hum of voices trickle in; Mom is laughing at something George said. “What are we going to do? I had sex with you, Hunter!”
“I know,” he says, raising an eyebrow. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”
“Me neither,” I confess, blushing a little. Jenny’s advice comes back to me then, and I sit up straighter in my chair. “Look,” I say, “I don’t know how we’re going to deal with all this, but if we’re going to be step-siblings, then maybe we should get to know each other better. What do you say?”
Hunter nods, looking thoughtful.
“That sounds good to me. So tell me something else about yourself, then. You said you were a history major back at the party, right?”
“Yes,” I say, taken aback. “I’m surprised you remembered.”
“Of course I did,” Hunter replies with that smug grin again. “You’re special, Frankie. I’d be an idiot to forget what we talked about that night… or what we did.” He winks, and it’s enough to nearly make me come undone at the seams. Shit. I’m in deep.
“I feel the same way,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. “But Hunter, we can’t.”
“Why not?” he asks, shifting so he’s closer to me. Within touching distance, or kissing distance to be more precise. “I want you, Frankie, and I’m not afraid to admit it. And if I’m not mistaken, you want me too.” He raises his hand to touch my cheek, his icy blue eyes holding mine. The feeling of his hand on my skin sends sparks all throughout my body, and between his touch and my adrenaline, I feel like I’m about to explode. “What’s stopping you, sweetheart?”
I inhale deeply, looking into those cobalt eyes.
“Well first, our parents are one room away,” I breathe, but I can’t seem to pull my eyes away from his. “If they come in here, then it’s over.”
“Mm.” There’s a lusty rumble in his chest. “I’ll risk it,” he murmurs, and suddenly, Hunter’s kissing me at the kitchen table.
I know I should pull away. I know I should run. Mom could walk in at any minute and see me kissing my future ste brother, his tongue snaking into my mouth as he pulls me flush against him. But I can’t. My fingers are coming up to wind in his hair, a low moan emerging from me as I feel his hands exploring my curves again. It feels wrong, but it also feels right, and in spite of my confusion, I find myself getting lost in the feeling of him.
I can feel moisture building up between my legs, and before I know what’s happening, Hunter is reaching his hand between us the way he did outside the restaurant, and pulling down the zipper of my jeans. I gasp when I feel his other hand moving under the hem of my shirt, under my bra, to cup my breast. His fingers are cool and deft against my skin, and I hiss in a breath through my nose when his thumb grazes my nipple.