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“What did you tell them?”
He took a step closer to her, invading her space. “What would you want me to tell them?”
She tried to focus, but all she could see was Hunter’s lips. She wanted to kiss him.
Without warning, Hunter pressed his lips to hers.
For a second she was stunned, and then … she put her hands around his neck and pulled him closer. His hands were on her hips and then she was free falling, making out with this man all over again. Exactly like the night of Trent’s funeral.
Time stood still, and she knew … she didn’t want him to go. She didn’t want him to be in the Navy anymore.
Abruptly, he pulled back.
Cheryse’s eyes blinked open. She pushed at his chest. “Why? Why would you do that?”
He grabbed her shoulders and yanked her against him. “You kissed me back. You kissed me back and you know it.”
“Let go.” She needed to think. She needed to process.
“No.” He was too strong for her to break free. “I want you to tell me you don’t have feelings for me. I want you to tell me you truly love Roger.”
“Let. Me. Go.” Memories from her first marriage filled her. Joe used to hold her so she couldn’t move.
Hunter released her.
Before she could think about it, she struck him across the cheek. “How dare you!”
Hunter’s head didn’t jerk to the side from the impact. A red splotch blossomed on his cheek where she’d hit him.
Cheryse retreated, shaking her head. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Hunter grunted. “It’s fine.”
“I …” She was shaking. “I had this reaction to you not letting me go. You know I was married to a man who thought he could just grab me and do anything he wanted to me.”
“I know.”
Cheryse knew that he knew. She also knew that this was a completely different situation, but she was having her own version of PTSD. “I can’t believe I struck you.”
He stumbled and then moved to the door. He turned the doorknob, but he paused at the threshold to say, “I’m sorry, Reese.”
“Hunter.”
He turned back. “I’m re-upping. I’m … leaving tomorrow.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“Bye, Reese.”
Chapter 9
One year later
“Hunter.” Trey’s voice called to him from someplace. “Hunter.”
Pain filled Hunter’s right eye, and he tried to open the left one. The effort felt monstrous.
“I think he’s waking up,” said someone else.
