Hunting Eden (Triple Trouble 1)

Chapter Eighteen

Clarty: adjective, dirty, filthy. Pronounced: Clar-tay.

* * *

Eden

“Holy shit, man; how are you, Fraser?” Hunter moves toward him, holding his arm out for a handshake.

This may be a little awkward. I keep my head slightly bowed. I haven't seen Fraser in forever.

“I’m great, fantastic, in fact. What about you? I saw you were staying here on your Instagram; have you’ve been here for over a month now? Are you staying at the retreat? It’s a phenomenal facility. I know the family well. How’s your back? Christ, I have so many questions; we really need to catch up.”

Fraser seems to have caught a bit of a transatlantic accent while living in the States, I note. I think my mum told me he married an American girl. You can hardly detect his Scottish accent anymore. It dives in now and again, but not much.

Hunter laughs. “We really do. Eh, I think you know Eden?”

Oh heck.

I stop busying myself and lift my head fully, coming eye to eye with Fraser’s crystal-blue eyes.

“Eden? How the hell are you?” Fraser rushes in to give me a hug.

I wasn’t expecting that. Not knowing where to put my hands, it ends up being an awkward hug from me. “Yeah, I’m good, thanks. You? I haven’t seen you in years,” I stutter.

Even Fraser had the decency to come to Chloe’s funeral, and we both know that was the last time we saw one another.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” He half smiles.

I’m not convinced by his reply.

“Is this your son?” I motion toward the boy playing around Fraser’s ankles in the sand.

“Yeah, this is Ethan.” He points to a very dark-brown-haired little boy who looks about seven or eight years old.

“It’s great being back. I have missed Castleview so much.”

Silence runs between us.

“So are you two together then?” Fraser asks, pointing to us both.

Both at the same time, we reply.

“Yes.”

“No.”

Hunter turns his head to me.

Crap, I should have said yes.

“Well, it’s new,” Hunter says, grinning, but I detect a minor annoyance.

“Ah.” Fraser smiles with a downturned mouth.

“How are you, Eden?”

I plant a smile on my face. “I’m good actually, yeah.” I don’t want to say anything else for fear of giving too much away about how crap the last few years have been or to stop me asking where Jamie is, not that I care, but a small part of me is curious if he still keeps in touch with his numbskull of a brother.

As Fraser stands before me, I can’t help but see how dissimilar they are now. Fraser’s got his shit together; he’s a family man and career-driven. Jamie is like the polar opposite of that; well, he was with me. I wonder what he’s like now after all this time.

“My mum was saying your dance school has really taken off and is super busy. How’s Eva and, eh, Ella? It’s been so long.”

“The school is really busy, yeah, and the girls are great. Ella, well, is Ella, as you know. She has a wee dog, Treacle. She bought a house, around from your mum and dad’s. The new ones in the Old Courtyard. Have you spoken to her since…” Fraser and Ella were boyfriend and girlfriend back in high school. He’s a little older by a couple of years. Eva always said she felt left out because we had a brother each.

Ella was so in love with Fraser, it broke her heart when he was awarded a full golf scholarship over in the States. When he left, it devastated her. They vowed they would keep in touch, they lasted five years doing the long-distance relationship thing, but Fraser got really busy with his training and tournaments. On our twenty-first birthday, he called and ended it with Ella. I don’t think she’s ever really gotten over him; in fact, I know she hasn’t.

I reckon that's why she’s never had a boyfriend since, and the reason she’s turning her life into a zoo. She’s trying to fill a gap, and I don't think she even realizes she’s doing it. Us Wallace girls are as bad as each other.

Fraser shakes his head. “No, we haven’t, not even at the funeral, Eden. I wish she would talk to me. There’s so much I needed to explain, but she couldn’t even look at me. I lost my best friend too. The whole Ella and me thing was a mess. Maybe you can put in a friendly word for me, tell her I would like to have a chat perhaps? I’m here now until The Cup,” he says with a tentative smile.

Oh, yikes. I’ll need to tread carefully with this. Better to speak to her than text. He has a family now too; I’m not sure how that will go down.

Ella cried for weeks when he left, and then months when he ended it between them. Ella never did understand what happened. She still doesn’t. Ella and Fraser spent every waking hour together. Ella even attended his golf lessons with him too. She adored him, and he mellowed her out. I always thought they’d get married; I was so positive.

“I’ll try,” I reply to Fraser’s appeal. I don’t think she’ll listen to me on this one, but it’s worth a shot. Fraser’s a lovely guy too. He was perfect for our Ella. It was such a shame it never worked out.

“You and Ella, huh?” Hunter jokes.

Fraser bobs his head back and forth. “Yeah, man, she was my world at one point, until she wasn’t,” he says, his voice now laden with emotion.

Out of the blue, it strikes me. It’s like a carbon copy of Hunter and me. Long distance doesn’t work. That's a fact. The evidence is standing in front of me.

A gentle tug of pain shoots through my chest.

“And Eva?” Fraser asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Eva married Ewan and they have two wee ones now.”

“And you, Eden? You’re good, yeah?”

I give him a more relaxed and confident nod this time.

You know what? I am feeling good; I’m great, in fact.

“Yeah, Fraser,” I reply. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been, actually.” My mouth curves a massive smile as I look directly at Hunter. He does, he makes me happy. Why am I not showing this?

Oh yeah, I know why. Because my time with Hunter is like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. We have an expiration date; that’s why. Like the sands of time slipping through our relationship hourglass.

And it’s only a little fun for a few weeks, right?

Screw it, in the spur of the moment, I walk across the sand toward Hunter and circle my arms around his waist. If we’re only together a few weeks, then I’m claiming him as mine for now.

The yo-yo of emotions bouncing about in my heart and head are quite confusing to me today.

If Hunter could bang his chest in a Tarzan style, I think he would as his beautiful face is beaming stronger than a lighthouse. He kisses the top of my head and bundles me into him, taking sheer pleasure from my actions in front of Fraser.

“You guys look great together. You look great, Eden, seriously. Man, I’m so glad I bumped into you guys. We should catch up soon. Before the competition. Can we try to do that? Can I DM you?” Fraser shakes his head in revelation.

“Yeah, you’re on, man.” Hunter squeezes my waist.

“Okay, well, look, I had better go before the rain starts, and we still have bath time to tackle. I’m sure there’s sand in places I don’t want to even think about. Ethan is clarty?”

Ethan cutely giggles.

I wonder if Jamie knows how adorable his nephew is, or if he’s ever seen him.

“Well, you two take care, see you soon, and that’s a promise. Can you remember to speak to Ella for me?”

“Yeah, I’ll will Fraser.”

Hunter shakes Fraser’s hand as we say our goodbyes and we watch as Fraser dips his hand into his pocket, takes his phone out, and starts tapping on it madly as his son runs behind him… Maybe he’s DMing Hunter already?

Hunter whispers, “You okay? That didn’t freak you out or anything? He didn’t mention his brother, you know; I was hoping he wouldn’t. I don’t want you to be upset.”

“I’m perfectly fine,” I whisper back.

As soon as Fraser's out of earshot, Hunter turns me in his embrace with a playful scowl on his face.

“Good, cuz now I can give you an ass whooping. No? You said no to us being together?” he says seriously but starts tickling my ribs.

“Stop tickling me. I need a wee.” He stops. “I’m so sorry; we haven’t talked about what we are. What am I? Are we dating for the next few weeks, or do I say I’m your girlfriend or should I refer to myself as your fuckbunny?”

“My what?” he exclaims. “You are not my fuckbunny. You’re the one ordering bloody rabbit vibrators; you’re the one with the fuckbunny.” He stands back with his hands on his hips.

I love how he flips between being funny and serious in seconds. You just never quite know what’s going to happen next with Hunter.

“From now on, you tell people we are dating for the next few weeks. Okay? Me and you.” He points to us both. “We are dating. We are exclusive. We’ve talked about it. That’s it settled. Got it?”

For the next few weeks.

He’s so serious that I can’t help but laugh. “Okay.” I then can’t stop laughing. I think I’m hysterical; he said we are dating and we’re exclusive. Holy crap.

“You had better stop laughing at me, little girl, or I’ll take you as my fuckbunny tonight.”

I bend over with shocked, hysterical laughter.

I bruised his ego but now he’s claimed me as his and his word is final. That’s it and I have absolutely no problems with any of it. Not at all.

As my laughter subsides and Hunter finishes gathering up our stuff, I’m not prepared when he scoops me up like a caveman over his shoulder unexpectedly.

“Argh, put me down,” I squeal. “You’ll hurt your back. Although I don’t mind this view—you have a fine ass, Mr. King. King of the Fine Ass, that’s what your nickname should be.”

“It’s only ten steps to the car. Be quiet, you naughty girl. If you don’t, I’m gonna have to spank you.”

“Oh good, anything else you have in mind?” I tease.

“You’ll see when we get home.”

“Does it involve handcuffs?”

“What? Do you want it to involve handcuffs? Where the hell am I getting them at this time of night? I’m so unprepared for you, Eden Wallace.”

The pair of us giggle as Hunter stomps up the sand back to the car.

“Take me home, Hunter,” I purr as he slides me to the ground.

“I’m doing just that. I have plans for you tonight. Now get in the car,” he says through gritted teeth, smiling and bulging his eyes.

* * *

Driving in silence into the retreat, with the crunch of the gravel beneath the tires, Hunter pulls into my private drive and swings his large black Range Rover around directly outside my front door.

In a low, joking voice, Hunter turns and says, “You had better run; you are in so much trouble after today. No? You said no?” He shakes his head in disbelief.

Laughing again, I say, “Hunter, please don’t hurt me. I know I’ve been a bad girl. I promise I won’t do it again.” He’s right. Where did quiet Eden go?

“Get out of the car.”

We jump out the car. I literally have to, it’s so bloody high.

Carrying on this playful charade, I say, “What are you going to do to punish me, Hunter?” I unlock my front door.

“I’m going to fuck all the nos out of you.”

Yes, please. Do it now.

I start running through the door and up the stairs through my darkened house.

I hear a clatter behind me. “Aw, shit, that’s gonna bruise. I don’t even know where your bedroom is.” I hear him groan.

“Alexa lights on,” I command. Instantly he spots me on the stairs. As the lights illuminate the barn, he runs toward me with his trademark grin again.

Holy shit, this is exciting and I squeal. Never has sex or being with a man been so adventurous and fun. The difference is, I want to be. If I’m doing this with Hunter, then I am really doing this over the next few weeks. I’m kicking the backside out of these wonderful feelings he’s sparked.

My doors are wide open, so to speak. I want to experience all this newness with him.

As I try to close my bedroom door, a firm hand pushes it back open. In an instant Hunter grabs me and tackles me to my king-sized bed, roughly smacking his lips to mine.

“Gotcha,” he growls.

We start furiously tearing each other’s clothes off. Both our shirts are removed in an instant. Then yanking my jeans down, he whips them off my legs.

“How much do you like these panties?” he mumbles against my inner thigh. “Not that there’s any point wearing them, fuck me, it’s like two pieces of string and a postage stamp.”

“Not that much.” I laugh. As the words leave my mouth, I feel the fabric pull against my skin and hear a ripping noise as Hunter tears them from my body. Balling them into his fist, he bunches them into his pocket. “These are mine now.” Hot damn.

Hunter buries his face in between my legs and dips his tongue straight onto my now pulsating clit. Inserting a finger, he slides it in and out with a little speed.

“Fucking soaking.”

Compared to last night, this is more carnal. Like we’re done taking things slow and just want to fuck each other’s brains out. Crikey, listen to me.

Standing back, he unbuttons his jeans. I pull up to my knees and kneel on the edge of the bed, helping him with his buttons. “No boxers,” I say, spotting the top of his dripping wet cock on the waistline of his jeans.

“Two can play at that game, baby.”

His beautiful cock springs free from his jeans. I may not be very experienced sex-wise, but I’m amazing at giving head. If you've been paying attention, then you’ll remember Jamie was a one-sided lover. Hence the reason I’m great at this. It was all he really wanted.

Softly wrapping my hand around his thick length, I lean in and kiss his glistening crown.

“Holy shit,” Hunter gasps.

Gripping his hard shaft a little more firmly, I wet my tongue, open my mouth, and flatten it to the underside of his cock. Licking up and down with care, I curve my tongue upward to a point. I do this repeatedly, up and down.

Slowly I wrap my wet mouth around the head of his cock, taking him in lick by lick, swirling my tongue around, at the same time moving my hand up and down his shaft.

I gaze up from his thick cock to his eyes, taking in this glorious man. “You feel so good in my mouth,” I say around his length.

Digging my nails into his ass, I take more of him into my mouth. I continue to suck, lick, swirl, and begin to moan myself, as I really start to enjoy it. He’s big, really big, but I’m getting so turned on at the reaction on his face and the sounds he’s making. I’m lost in the moment, and a rush of wetness floods between my legs.

“Aw, fuck. Where did you learn to do that? Fuck it, don’t answer.” He flings his head back and grabs the back of my head.

“Internet porn.” I mumble against his cock.

“Good answer.” He moans loudly.

Feathering my hands around, I lightly massage his balls. Hunter grips my hair, urging me to go deeper.

I hum against his cock and pull back a little as I flick the tip of my tongue around his more sensitive areas and sheath my mouth over him again and suck hard.

“Baby, you’re gonna have to stop cuz I’ll come if you don’t.”

Doing the same again, he moans. “Oh, oh, oh. You do have to stop,” he says, pulling back with a whimpered laugh.

His cock leaves my mouth with a pop and I look upward to meet his eyes, now blazing with desire. “You’re so good at that, baby.”

“I know,” I purr.

Whisking off his jeans, Hunter settles back on the bed, pulling me on top of him.

“Get on my cock, baby.”

He doesn’t have to ask me twice.

Jumping on top, I straddle him and slide the head of his cock back and forth along my wet folds, teasing his head at my entrance a few times before sliding down his throbbing shaft. Ooooh, that feels phenomenal. I’m still a little sore from last night, but I want this so badly.

I swing my hips back and forth, snaking and circling, taking his cock deep into my core. Hunter pulls me down for an angsty kiss and he continues to piston his hips, thrusting hard.

“Now tell me again, what’s the word you’re not to use anymore?”

“No?” I gasp.

“Are you questioning the no now?”

“No,” I pant, clenching and tightening my pussy as his cock teases my G-spot.

“You’re a bad girl; you’re not allowed to use that word anymore.” He slaps my ass.

Oh, that was unexpected, but I quite liked it as a shiver of goosebumps tidal wave across my body and sparks of tingles spread warmth to my sex.

“Ah, do that again, Hunter.”

His hand connects with my ample ass with a loud slap, and I cry out in pleasure.

“Get up on your feet and squat, now,” Hunter commands.

Placing my feet flat against the mattress, I move into position and start squatting up and down on his thick hot cock. Ah, I won’t last long like this; I’m already teetering on the edge of an orgasm.

Hunter grabs handfuls of my ass as he moves me up and down, ramming in and out of me with hungry intensity. “Now what’s the word you should have used?”

“Yes,” I shout out.

“Again.”

“Yes,” I whimper as I feel my impending orgasm. “Yes, yes, yes, yes. Don’t stop.” I pant out in time with every fast thrust up and down his hard cock.

“Come, Eden, come,” Hunter begs, unable to hold back his own impending orgasm. Grabbing my hips, he thrusts himself deeper.

I come fast as an orgasm the magnitude higher than the Richter scale explodes across my body from the tip of my toes to the top of my head. My sex pulses wildly, not stopping as wave upon multiple wave of explosions hit me one after the other, ramping up from one to the next, coming in quick succession.

It won’t stop; I can’t stop it.

Hunter groans loudly, coming furiously inside of me as my pulsating pussy clenches all around him over and over. My heart sprints like it’s reached the finish line and my breathing is off the charts.

Each time I have an orgasm, it gets stronger and lasts longer. I actually feel like I’m going to pass out and I’m having an out-of-body experience.

My inhibitions have well and truly gone out the window, allowing myself to experience pleasure with no doubts or fears.

“What the fuck was that?” Hunter pants as perspiration shines across his body.

“I think I may have just had one of the longest orgasms of my life. It wouldn’t stop,” I say, finally trying to catch my breath. Sliding my feet and legs back, I rest my head on Hunter’s rippled chest.

“Holy fuck. That felt epic. You clenched around my cock so tight I thought you were gonna strangle him. Never in my life have I ever felt anything like it.” He laughs, flinging his head on the bed.

“I think I’m dead,” I say with my eyes closed. I’m so tired suddenly.

Rolling me a little awkwardly onto my back, still connected, Hunter brushes my hair off my face. “You keep surprising me.”

“I keep surprising myself,” I coo.

I feel so relaxed and at ease.

“I think I’ve woken up all your brain cells; they're now firing on all cylinders and your body knows exactly what to do. Maybe it was me chasing you; that was fucking hot and exciting.”

“It was.” I chuckle softly. “Although I quite liked it when you spanked me; that was different.”

“Oh, reeealllllly.” He shakes his head in wonder. “What was the word you’re not allowed to say again?”

“Eh, I’m clueless. I think it’s fallen out of my head. You fucked those words all out of me. It worked.”

We both laugh.

“You’re an incredible woman.”

“An incredible woman that needs to go clean up. Wanna join me in the shower? Just for a shower though, I’m shattered,” I say.

“You can just stand and I’ll wash, no funny business, I promise, although I find it really hard keeping my hands off your sexy ass and these boobs.” He grabs my boobs and sucks my nipples into his mouth one after the other. “I’m a lucky man,” he says between teasing flicks and licks with his skillful tongue.

Feeling so turned on by his sensual touch and the friction of him still inside me, I begin to rock against him.

“Oooooooh, that’s nice. Keep doing that.”

“I thought you were tired?” he says, nipping my pebbled skin.

“I am.”

I moan as he pinches my nipple hard, then rubs them back and forth quickly with his fingertips.

He increases his speed, brushing, then pinching even harder each time.

Taking his tongue, he lashes at my nipple with urgency, and flattens it roughly, moving from one nipple to next, heightening all my senses.

Flicks of his stiff tongue pulsate back and forth.

“Ah, Hunter.” I push my hands into his hair and feel his rock hard cock inside me.

How is that possible? I think he’s superhuman.

Twisting my nipple hard, I feel him moving in and out of me in quick relentless pumps.

“We are filthy,” Hunter mumbles.

“I don’t care, keep doing that. Fuck me,” I breathe.

Sex with Hunter is so fucking hot; I want him all of the time.

Hunter gives my nipple a long pull, stretching it out between his teeth, teasing the other with his fingers.

Rolling his hot tongue over my hard nipples, he slams in and out of me, pistoning faster and faster, driving me insane. Over and over again.

I grip my hands in his hair, burying him into my tits before filling the air with ecstasy. “That feels incredible.”

Passion and fire rockets across my body as I release an almighty howl as I come again, and my skin screams in pleasure.

“Oh, baby, you’re so fucking beautiful.”

With intention now, Hunter flings his head up from my chest, slides his forearms quickly up under my back, and hinges his fingers to the top of my shoulders.

Palms to my back and shoulder, giving him the leverage he needs, he bows his head into my neck, impaling me with rapid-fire strokes.

“Come inside me, Hunter. Fuck me like you mean it,” I pant.

“I’m gonna,” he bellows.

Snaking my legs around his waist, I lock my ankles, digging my heels into his rock-hard ass, holding him firm.

Continuing his onslaught, he buries himself deeper and deeper inside my body; I tense and clench my pussy muscles, urging him on.

Hunter mumbles filthy words into my shoulder. Uttering words of how my pussy feels, how it feels to be inside me, and how he loves how hard I make him come.

He drives himself wild.

Within moments he explodes inside me again, roaring my name into my neck. I feel his cock pulse and twitch as he gasps against my shoulder, then collapses his full weight on top of me.

“Holy shit,” he mumbles into my neck.

“I wasn’t expecting that.”

“That was amazing. Eden, you drive me fucking crazy.”

As our breathing levels out, I’m now aware of Hunter’s weight on top of me.

“You’re gonna have to get up though. Jesus, I can’t breathe.”

“Sorry, baby,” he says clumsily, lifting himself off and pulling himself out of me before rolling onto the mattress, then nuzzling into me.

It’s always so explosive with us. We are dynamite together.

“Let’s quickly clean up, cuz we are a pair of dirty buggers, order pizza, then we’ll have a shower,” I say, getting up from the bed.

Having cleaned up quickly, back on the bed, I’m draped over Hunter’s body, exhausted from our intense sex session.

“What happened just there, Eden?” Hunter drifts his fingers back and forth across my skin.

“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.

I lift my head to find Hunter's eyes staring back at me.

“Well, your entire body comes alive with me. I only have to touch you and you light up, and ditto for me. There’s this level of attraction, intimacy, and trust I can’t explain between us. I’ve felt it from the moment I met you. But it’s not just the sex; we click. Like we’re soul mates or something. It’s like we already know each other. Our bodies talk to one another. We get on so well and I’m not sure I can fight this thing we have or only do this for a few weeks. It fucking hurts already thinking about when I have to leave. Leave you.” He pushes the fingers of his free hand into his eyes and then drags his hand down his face roughly.

Oh God, he’s really upset. Dread slithers through my body.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“And I don't know what to do,” he says, sounding almost defeated.

Reaching out, he places a hand on my cheek and gently smooths his thumb across my face with his gentle touch.

Rolling his head away, his eyes gaze at the ceiling, deep in thought, as he draws in a frustrated breath.

It’s not often Hunter is serious, but when he is, he’s intense, passionate, and intentional with his words and actions.

I place a kiss on his bronzed shoulder.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, ignore me.” He sighs.

I whisper softly, “I feel the same too.”

Hunter rolls on to his side to face me and strokes my flushed cheeks.

“Hey, I don’t want to upset you. Not after what we just did. That was indescribable.”

We gaze at each other.

“You’re right though, Hunter. We keep going round in circles about how we feel and only having a few weeks together. We can talk about it all we want, but there's no simple solution; in fact, there isn’t one. I think we have to face the facts. If one of us catches deeper feelings, then one of us will get hurt, and that sucks big-time, but what else can we do?”

I gulp as he continues to gaze at me.

“I already have, Eden.”

All I can do is blink and breathe as my heart beats uncontrollably in my chest. I feel things for him, just like I said last night and confessed today, but I think Hunter means more than that. Is he talking about love?

I’m not sure if he’s waiting for me to say something back.

Hunter clears his throat. “Okay, I’m hungry,” he changes the subject as if the last few minutes never happened. “Let’s order that pizza.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.” I respect his wishes, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

“I’ll order,” he says, busying himself, trying to find his phone on the floor. “You go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute. Pepperoni?”

“Please with extra cheese.”

“Great.”

Bugger, this feels awkward.

Something changed in those last confession-filled moments, and I’m not sure if it’s good or bad.

Jumping in the shower, I mull over Hunter’s words and I let the hot water run over me. Cranking the heat up, my muscles relax and I loosen up.

I close my eyes and let the multiheaded shower rain down on me.

I wait for Hunter, but he doesn’t appear. Realizing he’s not coming in, I wash quickly, grab my towel to dry myself, and head back into my bedroom to find Hunter sitting fully dressed on the edge of my bed, head in his hands bowed over, resting on his knees.

Oh, this can’t be good. “Eh, are you not having a shower?” I swipe my thumb over my shoulder.

He sighs, long and deep, then sits straight, running his hands down the thighs of his jeans.

Looking at his watch, he says, “I’ll get one back at my place. I think I should go.”

Okaaaay.

“Are you not staying then?”

He takes a deep breath.

“You’re gonna think I’m a dick, but I can’t do this.” His voice cracks.

The realization of what he’s saying stabs a pain through my racing, uneasy heart.

“I can’t be with you for just a few weeks without getting hurt, more than this hurts right now. I don't want to do that to you. Or me. It’s not fair to either of us. The feelings I already have for you are beyond what I have felt for anyone. It’s shocked me how quick it’s all happened with you. Spending more time with you is only going to make it worse. I can’t do it, Eden.”

My heart’s now battering against my ribs. At a loss of what to say, I stand motionless.

“Sharing your dreams with me on the beach earlier, I realize now, I don’t think I can give you any of it. You deserve someone who can. But I’m not that man. You are a true romantic at heart. You talk about all those romance books all the time. You really deserve a happily ever after, Eden, but with someone here in Castleview Cove. Get married in the church you so love and have your little family too. But with someone who has a less complicated career and who lives close by. Putting two and two together, I’m guessing Ella and Fraser split because of his golfing career. It’s so fucking obvious now. I don’t want that for us.”

He stands from the bed and walks toward me, then cups my face with his tender hands.

Please stop doing that.I suck in a deep breath.

“Truly believe magical things are going to happen to you, because they will if you believe, Eden. Imagine your happy ending is as if it’s already happening. I want to give that to you, but I can’t,” he says through his pained words.

I swear to God this man has been sent directly from the heavens above. Where has he been all this time? But he doesn’t want to be with me, and he’s leaving me already. I think secretly I imagined my happily ever after with him, but that’s never going to happen now.

“Everything is meant for a reason; everything is all about divine timing. Our time is not now, Eden. I should have listened to you on the pier and stopped this earlier. This is all my fault. It was wrong of me earlier to say we were exclusive.

“I want you to be ready for what’s coming, because when you find that special someone that’s made for you, I want you to be ready and I want you to be happy.”

At a loss for words, all I can do is stand there. I think he’s made for me already; I don’t want anyone else.

“Please know that this is so fucking hard for me to do. But I can’t figure out how we can be together. It keeps creeping back in, all the time in my head; it's a niggle I can’t ignore. I have to do this to protect my heart, especially yours, which is angelic, sweet, and kind. Please know that I’m not liking any of this either, not one bit. I’m so sorry, Eden,” he whispers.

Seeing all the disappointment and hurt I feel reflected in Hunter’s eyes, I say, “I understand.”

Removing his hands from my face, I step backward, wrapping my arms around my toweled chest. My universe pivots.

“I think you should go now. Thank you for a lovely couple of days. You really are a special guy. I hope you find what you’re looking for too,” I say, attempting to smile.

Oh, my heart aches so badly as I say those words. I don’t want him to find someone else. I want it to be me.

With a final look, he turns his anguished face away from me as he slouches out the door quietly. “Your pizza’s on its way,” he mumbles flatly.

“I’ve completely lost my appetite now,” I say inaudibly.

Turning my head away, I can’t bring myself to look at him as he takes his final steps out the bedroom door.

With a sinking heart, I hear my front door close, and I can’t quite believe how I woke up this morning feeling like a luminous supernova to have my day end on a damp squib.

Still encased in my towel, I pull back the covers of my bed in a daze, wrap myself around them, and roll into a tight ball.

I drift off, entombed in my sweet happiness turned sour. I ignore the loud knock at the door. I don’t want stupid pizza. I want him.

I hope that as the night enters a new day, it will take today with it and bring a better one for me tomorrow.