Page 11 of Cherished
“Hunter—”
“Why?” he growls. His brow knits, and his eyes slide over me.
“I—I can’t be here,” I whisper.
“Because I kissed you?”
I blush. “Because I kissed you.”
He shakes his head. “That’s on me. I kissed you, Mia. Because I wanted to. Because I was weak. That’s on me, not you, and that’s no reason for you to leave here.”
I smile privately. Well, I guess that settles the who-kissed-who question my own memory can’t seem to answer.
“I’m not sure you know what you’re getting into with me,” I whisper. “I know you were just trying to be kind, and I’m so thankful for that, and for you stepping in with Brent.”
Hunter’s face darkens. His jaw clenches tight, and I tremble. His hand pushes the door shut with a heavy click, and my heart begins to beat faster. He’s so close to me, and I can feel the warmth of his body as he gazes down into my wide eyes.
“You deserve more than being scared and alone, Mia,” he growls. “That’s why I brought you here. And you’re stay—” His jaw ticks. “I want you to stay here.”
I almost want to ask, “and if I want to leave?” But I don’t. I thought his look before out in the garden was telling me something, and I was apparently wrong. But there’s no mistaking the look on his face now, with his hand against the door and his eyes piercing into mine.
That looks screams out loud that he just might notletme leave. And I’m not so sure I should feel as thrilled, excited, or turned on by that as I am.
6
Hunter
“Come, sit.”I’ve just dropped her bags back in her room, and now we’re back outside in the garden. I nod at the big fire pit and the large Adirondack style chairs around it. Mia smiles privately and walks towards one. I grin to myself.
Even as I was doing it, I worried that being so firm about not wanting her to leave would scare her. And if she truly tried to, would I have stopped her? I think I may have, even knowing that might have made it worse. But I’m not sure I would have been able to stop myself. I don’t know if I would have been able to hold back from throwing her over my shoulder and marching her back to her room.
It’s not that I’m a monster, it’s that she brings out a possessiveness inside of me that won’t be quelled. Mia makes me lose control of myself, and that severely worries me. After all, self-control and self-discipline are all that are keeping my company in my hands and keeping my design from killing countless innocents.
Mia shakes the very foundation of that control. It’s dangerous, but I can’t stop it, either. I know I should send her away. It wouldn’t even have to mean going back to her own place and running the risk of that little shit coming back. I could protect her from all the dangers and all the wolves of this city. I could give her her own castle in the sky—a penthouse of her own where she’d be safe from everything, and safe from me.
My grinding teeth tell me what I already know: there’s no fucking way that’s happening. Because above it all, what wins out is that I want her, and I want her here, with me.
Mia slides into one of the big chairs, and I stoop to light the fire pit. It’s gas, much to my chagrin. But it’s safer than burning actual wood hundreds of feet above the city that could send real sparks or burning debris into the streets below.
It’s only slightly cool outside, but I still grab a big throw blanket for Mia and drape it over her. I can’t stop myself from tucking it around her. The need to care for her, and to pamper and protect her is like an instinct I can’t and won’t ignore.
When she’s tucked in and cozy, and looking absolutely adorable, I somehow stop myself from kissing her again. I sink into my own chair next to her with my body trembling to control the urge to pull her into my lap.
I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything. But protecting her comes first. From her wide-eyed innocence, and from her hesitation against my lips, I almost wonder if she’s ever even been kissed before. My pulse quickens at the thought of it. The idea that I’ve been the first to taste those sweet, plump lips makes my cock stir and my possessiveness surge.
“It was wrong of me to kiss you, Mia,” I growl once I’ve finally gotten myself under control.
She turns to me, her brows knitted in a frown. “No, Hunter—”
“It was,” I say gently. “Mia, you’re nineteen. I’m thirty. I should know…” the growl rumbles in my chest. “I do know better.”
“Better than what?”
“To put you in that position. To make you feel as if you owed me something for bringing you here.”
She frowns. “Hunter, I don’t, and I liked—”
“Please stop,” I groan. My eyes squeeze shut. I can’t hear it. I can’t hear her utter the words I know she was about to utter out loud. Because if I hear them, I’ll break, and there’ll be no stopping me until I claim every single part of her. And I’ll have her right here on the fucking ground like a beast if need be.
