He spun me again, and we stepped apart while we both danced. It felt like we were the only two people on the floor, and I totally let my guard down.
I turned and caught a glimpse of Bree, who stared at me with her mouth open. Then she smiled and yelled, “Get it, Bella!”
Laughing, I was about to turn again when I felt Hunter come up behind me. He drew me against him, and I nearly moaned in delight at the feel of his hard body pressed against me. I dropped my head back onto his chest, and his hand came up around me and held me tight. I closed my eyes and simply enjoyed the feeling of letting go, of being in Hunter’s arms. Of moving my hips and not feeling guilty for being a bit naughty with the man I loved.
Hunter’s hot breath blew across my neck, and I opened my eyes and turned around. He smiled as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I put mine around his neck and laced my fingers through his hair.
“You’re so damn beautiful.” He pressed his mouth to mine as we kept moving together.
I should have been concerned about a bar full of people watching us, but in that moment, all I cared about was how Hunter looked at me just before he’d kissed me. The desire in his eyes filled me with a lust so strong, I was barely holding myself together.
The song changed to a slower one, and we swayed gently. Hunter put his hand on my lower back and drew me even closer. If I were able to crawl inside of him, I would have.
Hunter broke our kiss and rested his forehead on mine while we danced. It was then that I started to listen to the words of the song. It was “Love Me Like You Do,” and the lyrics couldn’t have been more perfect.
Drawing back, I looked up at Hunter. I let my hands fall to his chest and nearly lost my breath when I felt how fast his heart was beating under my touch. Tears pricked at the back of my eyes when I realized how much time I’d wasted for both of us.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I said, our eyes still locked together.
Hunter placed his hand on the side of my face and gently ran his thumb back and forth over my cheek. “I’ve missed you, too, sweetheart.”
I pressed my lower lip between my teeth and ran my fingers through his thick brown hair. He wore it shorter now than he did back when we were younger. “Hunter?”
“Yes, Bella?”
I lifted my eyes from his mouth to his darkened gaze. “Will you take me back to your house now? I want to feel your hands on my body…and not when we’re in front of other people.”
I watched him work to swallow before he finally nodded. “O-okay. If you want to leave, we can leave.”
Smiling, I replied, “I would very much like to leave. Now.”
Before I could say another word, Hunter had my hand in his and we were walking back to the table. Bree and Kyle had already returned, so all eyes were on us as we approached. I felt my cheeks heat when I looked around the group. Abby, Greer, Willa, Candace, and Bree all had goofy smiles on their faces. Candace winked at me, then mouthed that was hot as hell.
Hunter pulled out his wallet and took out a twenty, tossing it on the table as he reached for my small handbag. Clearing his throat, he said, “We’re leaving.”
Kyle and Bishop both started to laugh.
“Good thing, I was about to yell get a room,” Aiden said with a wide grin.
Abby jumped up and made her way over to us. She hugged me and placed her mouth to my ear. “Don’t be afraid.”
I pulled back and gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m not.”
She let out a breath and said, “Good. Enjoy your evening, Bells.”
Abby hadn’t called me that childhood nickname in years. I decided to be a little wicked, so I winked at her and replied, “Oh, I intend to enjoy myself, multiple times.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at me with a stunned expression. Then she laughed and pulled me in for another hug. “I’ve missed you so much!”
“I don’t mean to break this up,” Hunter said with a smile, “but we need to go.”
My face grew hot as Hunter pulled me along after him, and I waved goodbye to our friends.
“Have fun, you guys!” I called out, our friends disappearing from view while Hunter quickly led us through the bar and outside.
I should have been cold as we made our way over to his truck, but my body was still heated from dancing with Hunter and knowing we were finally going to be together. I was positive he still believed I didn’t want him to touch me, but the longer he kept his hands off of me, the more I needed him. I needed to put the past behind me, and I refused to let that monster have any control over my life or happiness any longer.