Mine

“Is there anything else I can do?” I blinked. “Anything I can tell you?”

“I’ll see, but for now, just focus on us.”

“That’s easy, but should I—”

“No. Just focus on us.” Hunter’s voice broke through the wall of terror.

“Okay.”

Hunter gripped my shoulders with his strong hands. “I’ve got this. Don’t ever doubt me.”

“I won’t.” I drew a breath that was spiced with the scent of the man promising to protect me.

Before he’d come, I’d been losing control—control of my life, my dreams. Control of my emotions. I’d been drowning in tears and vulnerability. Since he’d returned, I felt more anchored, more sheltered from the storm.

“This will be over soon,” he whispered.

I made myself believe those words. “You’re right.”

“And when I get him…” His voice trailed off. A cold silence took its place and filled the room with a huge physical presence, electrifying the air with violent energy. I trembled. Before my eyes, he transformed from a sweet and comforting Hunter to the killer I believed he’d become.

“Well,” he shook his head, “there’s no need to talk about what I’m going to do with him.”

I wrapped myself into Hunter’s muscular body, pulling those huge arms over me and resting my head against his chest.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“Starving.”

“Are you still an amazing cook, Zuzu?”

“I try. Do you still have that massive appetite?”

“Yes, but that’s just because I’m still a growing boy.”

“Anyway.” I laughed. “Let’s cook something together. Should we go to the grocery store and—”

“No way. I ordered a full shopping list.”

“From the hotel?”

“There’s a full kitchen in the suite. The hotel offers a grocery bill package.”

I bet they did. The place looks like it will offer anything.

He let go of me and rose from the bed. “Come on. Let’s see what’s in there.”

I followed, realized I was still naked, and grabbed his shirt from the carpet. It must’ve been pretty expensive. The smooth fabric slipped over my body as I buttoned it up. It was like a big tent on me. The bottom came close to touching my knees.

Hunter shook his head. “You’re just going to revert back to old habits and take my shirts again?”

“Yes. There’s nothing like wearing a man’s shirt, especially when he loves you. It’s like I’m putting you on me.”

Smirking, he shook his head. “I’m interested to see how this will go with us. We’ve never cooked together.”

I bit my lip. “We never had sex together either, but that went…well.”

He raised his eyebrows as he walked to the fridge. “Just well?”

I opened the fridge door. “It’s in my top five.”

He moved me away from the fridge, closed the door, and stared at me. “Top five?”

I laughed. “I’m just playing.”

He blocked me from getting into the fridge.

I playfully hit his chest. “Hunter, let me in there. You know damn well know you are the best I’ve ever had. I feel like you made a point of proving that all night.”

Lust blazed in his eyes. “And how many men have you been with?”

“What?” I widened my eyes.

“How many men?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Hunter, we were having a moment, and you strayed off to somewhere else.”

He remained planted in front of the fridge. “I didn’t. You talked about a Top Five. I simply want to know their first and last names.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Maybe even home addresses and social security numbers?”

“Yes. This is for bodyguard purposes, of course.”

“Of course. And since you’re my guard, I should know about all your past sexual relationships too.” I gestured to the sitting area. “Go ahead and grab a notebook so we can write down and discuss everyone you’ve slept with.”

He frowned and moved away. “You’ve won this time.”

“I thought so.” I rolled my eyes. “With what you did last night, I’m certain you’re not a virgin. You’ve definitely had some experience.”

“There were others, but you’re the only person in my top five. Top anything. That’s the difference.”

“Same for me.”

“I’ll take that for now. Until then…” He smacked my ass. “Make my eggs, woman.”

I tried to hit him back, but he was already on the other side of the kitchen, grabbing coffee cups and rummaging through cabinets.

You’re too damn fast for your own good, Hunter.

In the fridge, I found eggs, butter, and bread. All the great core items of putting together a yummy breakfast. Further exploration gave me spinach, cheese, as well as fresh mangos and papaya.

“Oh wow.” I found thick slabs of bacon further in the back, yanked it out, and raised it above my head. “Yes! Look.”

“Bacon?” Hunter fisted the air. “We will feast this morning!”

Back in the day, Mom always hid the bacon. Even Hunter went wild when it was in the house, and he almost always respected the rules. Three kids could totally eat a single mother out of a reasonable grocery budget. When the bacon was around, we went crazy, making huge BLT sandwiches that we couldn’t finish. Wrapping the slabs around hotdogs, then roasting the covered links in the oven and dropping them in buns with ketchup, mustard, and onions.