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  I take a step back, forcing my dick to fall from her mouth. As she loses contact, her mouth makes a pop sounds and she slurps, wiping away the spit dripping down her chin.

  “Lean back, baby.” My penis was just in her mouth, and yet she blushes as I kneel in front of her, my face now level with her glistening pussy.

  I kiss my way up her parted thighs, and her sweet aroma overtakes my senses. She’s so damn tempting fully bared and on display just for me. Her landing strip directs me to the sweet spot at her apex so I comply, kissing it gently. Teasing her.

  Her fingers find my hair, tangling in the strands and tugging. I’ve barely started, and yet she’s already so responsive, bucking her hips and begging for more.

  I chuckle at her enthusiasm. “Hang on, baby.” And I devour her.

  Chapter 13

  Mackenzie

  Mind-blowing. That’s the only word I describe this moment with Hunter. Or maybe earth-shattering. Or even — holy fuck I’m coming.

  My past sexual experiences have been mediocre at best. I thought it meant something with Spencer, but he proved otherwise. Then, after the accident, I was depressed and in a dark headspace. I would drink —a lot— to the point I’d often black out and wake up the next morning in a stranger’s bed, never remembering the events of the night prior.

  But this. Nothing —no one— could live up to this. I’ve been building this moment up in my head for years and those fantasies still fell short.

  Hunter’s body is somehow even more impressive than I imagined. He’s a wall of freaking muscle. I’ve seen him shirtless countless times, but the view of his chest hovering over me, the thick muscles and veins trailing down his arms as he supports his weight is unreal. And then there’s the v. I never witnessed one firsthand before, and I want to trace it with my tongue.

  When his cock was in my mouth and I allowed my hands to wander over his thighs and butt, there was no soft flesh I could dig my fingers into. It was all hard, glorious muscle. That man really takes care of himself. Thank God for football.

  I want to watch him eat me. My left leg still sits on the floor while my right leg is propped up over his shoulder. My fingers pull on his hair as he sucks and nibbles on my clit. It’s too much. It’s unbearable. I need more.

  He reads my mind and complies. Or maybe it’s the fact I kept chanting “more.” I’m a sated limp noodle, barely conscious or unable to move by the time he pulls away from me. He wipes his mouth, but my juices still linger on his lips as he kisses me. I could get used to tasting myself on him.

  He climbs up onto the bed with me, and I scoot toward the pillows to give him more room. Finding a home between my legs, he kisses me fervently. I can feel the hot heat of his erection resting on my leg heavily.

  As he kisses down my neck goosebumps pebble my skin. My nipples are tight peaks hard enough to cut glass. He answers their silent begging, taking one into his mouth and pulling on the peak of the other with his insanely adept fingers.

  “You sure about this?” he asks while continuing to kiss his way back up my chest and neck. As if I could make a coherent thought or come up with any reason to say no now.

  He lifts himself up, looking me in the eye when I don’t respond. I glance down to see his massive cock lying on my stomach, a drop of pre-cum on the tip.

  “I know what I called you yesterday, but there is nothing micro about you. I want you, but it’s been awhile. Please go slow.” I drag my hands lazily up and down his arms. I see his eyes go black with only a thin ring of blue around the edges.

  He reaches into his nightstand — and comes up empty. “Shit. I need to go grab a condom. Don’t move.” He runs downstairs and thirty seconds later he returns to the room with a condom in hand.

  He kisses me as he sheaths himself and then returns to my favorite position — the one where he’s between my legs. He slowly inserts a finger into my dripping wet core.

  We moan in sync. He removes his finger, and I briefly feel empty. Luckily, he replaces his finger with his cock, easing into me gently. His thigh shakes against mine as he attempts to control his movements and not slam into me. I know I asked him to go slow, but an even larger part of me is dying to watch him lose control.

  “Fuck, Kenz.” My name is a curse on his lips. His head hangs low — he’s watching himself push into me.

  “Hunter.” My voice is as wispy as a cloud on a sunny day. If he made the smallest noise himself he wouldn’t have even heard me.

  His blue eyes meet my green ones. He kisses me, latching onto my mouth with bruising fervor. I’m free-falling though I’m simultaneously higher than I’d ever been.

  The gentle, careful way he’s caressing me takes me to the brink of a cliff, but I don’t quite teeter over the edge. It’s when he shifts positions, leaning back on his heels and lifting my legs higher that makes me soar. It’s the hunger, the desperate need I see in his eyes that has me toppling over the ledge, gripping the sheets, and calling out his name.

  I’m coming harder than I ever had before. The groans escaping deep from Hunter’s throat nearly have me coming all over again. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.

  He picks up speed and my scream pouring from between my lips is at a decibel high enough to shatter glass. My nails have to be leaving puncture wounds in his biceps.

  He kisses me roughly, probably to stop the piercing shriek I’m emitting. He moans into my mouth and it vibrates through me. I almost beg him to stop. The pleasure, the sensation — it’s too much. But then he stills. My hands rub gently over the crescent shapes I’ve left on his arms. Our foreheads meet, but I can’t meet his gaze. There’s too much emotion behind his eyes, and I can’t bear it.

  “You’re gonna be the death of me.” His post-orgasm voice is raw and scratchy like sandpaper — like he’s already using it to wear down the walls I feel myself building involuntarily. I’m scared. Nothing should be this good. It’s too good to be true.

  He disposes of the condom in his bathroom before curling up next to me. He rolls over, pulling me with him. I fall asleep with my head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic thump of his heart, and his scent filling my senses.

  ***

  I wake to an empty bed. I have no idea what time it is, but looking out the windows proves it’s still nighttime. Hunter doesn’t have a clock in his room, and I left my phone downstairs earlier.

  I tiptoe across the bedroom floor and throw on his t-shirt to go find him. Once I get to the top of the stairs, I can hear his voice, the sound carrying from somewhere down below. His hushed whisper is controlled, likely trying to prevent disturbing me. He’s probably just telling Hailey I’m spending the night. My cheeks heat at the thought.

  I want to sneak up on him — maybe we can christen his new couch. I creep down the stairs but stay in the shadows so I can shamelessly admire his body. He’s pacing around the living room, his right arm bent and holding his phone to his ear.

  He’s gloriously shirtless and his running shorts are hanging low on his waist. If he just turned slightly more to face me I’d be able to see the delicious V dipping below his hips.

  Whoever is on the other end of his call must be long-winded as hell because he hasn’t responded in the minutes I’ve been standing here ogling him.

  He runs his left hand through his hair, and his cheeks puff out from a heavy sigh. “Alison, I can’t do this right now … let’s discuss this later.” His whisper knocks the wind out of me.

  I freeze. My stomach recoils, and I cover my mouth to stop myself from spewing vomit all over the floor. Despite his words, he sits down on the couch, his back to me and the phone still glued to his ear. He switches ears as he leans back into the sofa.

  My feet finally decide to start working again, and I take the opportunity to bolt upstairs. Why was he talking to her? Are they getting back together? Was I so bad I pushed him right back to her because he realized what he was missing?

  I want to tell Hailey she needs to come get me, but I nev
er got the chance to grab my phone, and I still don’t know how late — or early — it is.

  Shit. I can’t even get dressed because my clothes are still in their neatly folded pile in the downstairs bathroom. Right as I turn to run back downstairs to grab them, Hunter be damned, he appears in the doorway. I catch a glimpse of a lazy smile which immediately disappears at the sight of me. How fucking reassuring is that?

  “Hey, what are you doing?” His voice is soft, sliding over me like his cotton sheets did earlier when we were tangled up in them.

  “I — uh, I’m not feeling too well. I’m gonna go.” I don’t meet his eyes because I don’t want him to figure out I’m lying.

  “What’s wrong? Can I get you anything?” The concern in his voice nearly breaks me.

  “No, I just really need to be in my own bed tonight.” I’m tempted to say I’m sorry, though he should be the one to apologize.

  “Okay, I’ll drive you home.” He reaches for me, but I take a step back.

  “No, you don’t have to. I’ll just call Hailey.” Right now I’m desperately wishing I had my own car.

  “Kenz, it’s two a.m. She’s probably sleeping. Just stay here. Please. I can —”

  “I really can’t stay here.” I push past him, running down the stairs to find my phone. The whole time, Hunter follows closely behind me, finally asking me what’s really wrong.

  I call Hailey and thank God she actually answers. The worry in her voice is my breaking point.

  My voice is thick with emotion, the tears slowly building in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “Hailey? Please, come get me.”

  Chapter 14

  Mackenzie

  I wait outside on Hunter’s front porch for Hailey to show up. He keeps begging me to come in before I get sick like he’s my freaking father or something. He brought me out a blanket since I wouldn’t budge, but I’m too stubborn to use it.

  It’s times like these I really miss my mom. I wish she were here to talk this out with me and cry with me. Or at least have her and my dad threaten to beat Hunter’s ass.

  At twenty-two years old I’ve done a lot of stupid shit. Sitting outside at two a.m. during the end of November in Pennsylvania — very stupid. Sleeping with Hunter Blake? A massive error in judgment. And that’s just tonight.

  Thankfully, the coldest thirty minutes of my life are over as I see headlights pulling up the driveway and Hailey’s car comes into view. Thank God.

  I get up to jump in the car so we can hightail it away from this man and this night. But before I’m halfway to the car, Hailey jumps out, car still running and leaving her door wide open. She storms toward the house, fury rolling off her in waves.

  “Hailey —”

  “Don’t, Kenz. I’ll be right out.” I hesitate, spinning to watch but refrain from following her. Jolie’s tail thumps excitedly with the new arrival. Hunter backs into the house, eyes wide with fear from the anger radiating off his sister’s face. Then Hailey yells.

  “What the hell did you do to her?” She left the front door open in her fit of wrath, and I hear Hunter’s confused response. He really has no idea what a raging moron he is.

  Fuck this. I storm the rest of the way to Hailey’s car to sit in the warmth and wait to be taken home.

  ***

  “Jesus fucking Christ.” I wake up and nearly have a heart attack.

  “Mornin’ sunshine.” Hailey is sitting on the edge of my bed. Her only saving grace is the second mug of steaming hot coffee she’s holding in her hand.

  “Gimme.” She finds my dry tone hilarious and smiles at my irritated leer. “Why are you up so early? You always sleep in.” My voice is scratchy from sleep and crying. I’m half-tempted to physically kick her out of the room and throw my pillow over my eyes to ignore her. But — coffee. My nose gets one whiff of the delectable roast scent and there’s no going back to sleep.

  “As a matter of fact, I did sleep in. Until 10:32 to be exact. And I gave you an extra forty-five minutes longer to wake your own ass up, but I got impatient. I know last night was rough so I let it slide, but I need all the deets. If I’m gonna kick my own brother’s ass, I at least deserve to know why.” She holds her coffee mug in both hands, taking a careful sip of the steaming liquid. Her expression is split between curiosity and determination.

  “I don’t want to come between you and your brother.” I’m already feeling guilty for putting her in the middle of everything. I pull my legs up to my chest under my covers, a feeble attempt to hide my embarrassment.

  “Oh, screw Hunter. You’re my best friend by choice. I’m stuck with him no matter what. Now spill.” She scoots closer to me on the bed, sitting Indian-style and eyeing me expectantly.

  Here goes nothing. I tell her everything — minus the mind-blowing sex — and she remains eerily quiet the entire time. I think I broke her.

  As I keep talking, I notice a glower becoming prominent on her face. Her jaw tightens, repeatedly clenching and relaxing. Finally, she lets out a loud puff and her eyes snap to mine. “That son of a bitch. What a goddamn idiot. If he goes back to her, I’m freaking disowning him. I don’t give a shit about their history or what happened between them, but it’s not okay for him to treat you like this. I know for a fact he was raised better than that. God, I really do have to kick his ass.” She tisks and shakes her head in disbelief.

  “They have a lot of history, Hails. If he wants to be with her I can’t stop him.” It sucks I already feel attached to Hunter. I’ve wanted him for so long, and he slipped through my fingers before I even had a fair grip.

  She slaps me on the side of my leg hard enough to elicit a yelp even with my legs under a comforter. She throws the blankets off me, and I instantly miss my warm, cozy cocoon.

  “You have two options. Either fight like hell for what you want or give up and let that twat waffle win. But either way, you’re getting your ass outta bed. I won’t let you wallow in self-pity. Go shower and get dressed. We have plans today.”

  Did I ever mention how much I love my best friend?

  ***

  Did I ever mention how much I sometimes hate my best friend? She dragged me Christmas shopping. Of all things.

  I used to love Christmas. All kids who celebrate do, right? My family used to drive around for hours looking at all the lights people put up. We’d bake cookies and watch cheesy Christmas movies — along with the classics, of course — for two months straight. My family was never affluent by any means, but I always got what I wanted and more.

  When that got taken away from me, the holidays have only since made me sad — especially Christmas. I didn’t have a family to shop for any more or anyone to participate with in the traditions. I became Ebenezer Scrooge without the happy ending.

  It’s not even Thanksgiving yet and Hailey expects me to be excited for Christmas. She’s as delusional as her brother. I know she is simply trying to help, so I try not to bring her down. I buy presents for her family since they’ve done so much for me over the years. When we walk past a store with Voodoo dolls in the window, I’m tempted to buy one and name it Hunter.

  What really pisses me off is when I see a football signed by a bunch of the great Eagles players in a collector’s store he would love. I mention it to Hailey and let her buy it for him. Even if I had the money to afford it, he doesn’t deserve it.

  My mood is not being helped by the fact my phone has been ringing nonstop with texts and calls from Hunter. They started with generic “I’m sorry” or “talk to me” and “what did I do?” I’ve stopped opening them altogether.

  I’m not paying attention as we head toward a chocolate store. My mind is solely focused on the sweet melted goodness I’ve smelled halfway down the mall.

  I shoulder-check somebody and immediately turn to apologize. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I — Oh. Hi, Spencer.” My fucking luck.

  “Mackenzie. Hailey. Good to see you both.” He blatantly checks us both out from head to toe. I bite my cheek to keep from laughing at hi
s ogling.

  I want this encounter to be as quick and painless as possible. I start to come up with an excuse. “We were just —”

  “You never responded to my messages.” He scrutinizes me, studying my face for any indication of regret, but he won’t find it here. His head is lifted so high in the air I can see up his nostrils.

  I roll my eyes as a reflex. “It’s a hard no, Spencer. Now, if you’ll excuse us.” We brush past him and this time when I bump into his shoulder I don’t apologize. What a pretentious piece of shit.

  As we’re walking away, Hailey gasps, her eyes as round as saucers and a laugh chortles out of her. “Oh, my God, do you know who would be perfect for Spencer?” My brows furrow as I scour my brain for what she’s come up with. “Alison.”

  I burst out laughing. She has a good point.

  I just want to get through the rest of this week without any more drama. When my phone starts going off again, I power it down. Thanksgiving is in three days. I need as much distance from Hunter as possible — starting now.

  Chapter 15

  Hunter

  I shoot off a quick message to Hailey, asking her to call me because I need her help. Desperately. It’s been a full twenty-four hours since Mackenzie left my house in tears. She won’t take my calls or answer any of my messages. I don’t even know what the hell I did to upset her. My sister is my last-ditch effort to make this right since I can’t seem to do it on my own.

  I’m staring at my phone silently begging it to ring and have Kenzie or Hailey on the other end. All I hear in my head is my mother’s voice saying “a watched pot never boils” in a sing-song tone.

  I lean back on my couch at the same time the phone vibrates against my coffee table. I lurch off the couch and clumsily knock it off the table as I reach for it. When I retrieve it off the hardwood floor I eagerly flip it over. Luckily the screen didn’t crack but my relief is short-lived as the message is from Alison. I want to smash my phone against the floor in frustration as soon as I read her name, but that would be counterproductive.