Chapter 9
Hunter soon excused himself from the dinner table to go check on Paige, over the past few weeks, he started to get to know her on a different level, and instead of his preconceived notion that she was a gold digger seeking the easy way out by marrying a rich man, he saw a refined woman, who despite her challenges in life, managed to not only get by, but raise a very clever young man.
As expected he found her in the study, paging through a book. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
“I’m fine,” she replied without turning around.
“Paige, you can tell me what’s on your mind,” he insisted.
After a moment she turned around, “I don’t fit into your world Hunter, neither does Joshua,” she said solemnly, wrapping her arms around her.
“What are you talking about, you fit in perfectly.”
“No I don’t, your friends look down on me, they expected you to be with a like-minded woman who fits into their world of glamor and riches, did you see the look on their faces when I told them I never completed my studies?” she asked him accusingly.
“They are not my friends and their expectations are of no relevance,” he said stepping closer to her, “and the sooner this deal is through, the sooner they will be out of our lives.”
Hunter could detect the inner conflict that looted her mind, and although he could hardly relate, he wanted her to feel more at ease, feel confident and undeterred by what others think.
She sighed and shook her head, “The thing is, I’m worried that Joshua will grow accustomed to this lifestyle, and the longer we stay, the more he slips into the hope that this is what he’ll have for the rest of his life, and it’s all a lie, Hunter,” she said pleadingly.
Hunter regarded her thoughtfully, realizing that she’s looking for an excuse to get out of this temporary arrangement, and although this deal meant everything to him, his priorities had started to shift ever so slightly.
“Why can’t this be the life for Joshua?” he asked.
“Because the day I walk away from here, all this will be nothing but a memory,” she said dejectedly.
The thought about her leaving did not sit well with him and although he refused to admit it to himself he was growing more and more accustomed to this small family circle even though it was all a sham.
Paige sighed softly and closed her eyes, she had this constant reminder like a dark cloud hanging overhead, that this was only a temporary arrangement, and what scared her most was that her little boy loved it here. Her motherly instincts were to protect him, but also to see him happy, and if being here made him this happy, then maybe was time she considered her options. There was always the option of shared custody, she thought, but first she was going to have to tell him that Hunter was his dad.
Lost in her own train of thought, she didn’t notice it when Hunter closed the study door, but the single click of the lock drew her attention and when she looked at him she felt a shiver of anticipation run through her.
“Paige,” he started towards her, “we can work this out.”
He stood so close to her she could feel the heat of his body radiate and incinerate her, and as his strong hands framed her face he looked into her eyes, and dropped his head, pressing his lips almost desperately against hers.
His lips were warm and she willingly parted hers, allowing him to explore her mouth, it was a hot devastating kiss that caused her to lose all common sense, and instead of fighting the obvious desire she felt deep within her, she returned his kiss with the longing that had been haunting her since the day she arrived realizing her mystery groom was her long lost love.
His mouth shifted and he deepened the kiss drawing her closer against him, his arousal evident and her need for him escalated. Against all odds, she still loved him, and if this was all she would take with her when she left, then so be it.
She untucked his shirt, and slid her hands inside, and with trembling fingers she mapped the planes of his stomach and slid her fingers further up his chest, as he sucked in a breath she smiled against his lips and then withdrew her hands only to move to the buttons, but as she started to unbutton his shirt, he caught her hands. But it was too late to stop now, and she simply swatted his hands away and undid his shirt.
“Paige, we have guests?” he objected breathlessly.
“And what of it, they can enjoy the dessert,” she countered and pressed her lips against his left pectoral, inhaling his scent.
Hunter’s body was fighting his logical thought process, he couldn’t remember when last he was so reckless but as Paige pressed her lips against his heated skin his control slipped. He bent his knees and tucked his hands under her thighs, and in one swift motion he lifted her and she wound her legs around his waist. He took two quick strides and plunged her down on the large sofa, nestling himself between her legs. He eagerly slid his one hand down from her knee to her bottom shifting her dress further up. She felt much softer than she did all those years ago, her curves were more accentuated and in place of the scrawny young girl he met six years ago, she was now a full bodied sensual woman that constricted the blood flow to his rational brain. As much as he would rather take his time exploring every inch of this new woman, time and patience was not on his side. His body had been burning like a simmering volcano waiting to erupt since that brief kiss a few weeks ago. Refusing waste another second he sat back on his knees, reaching for her panties then dragged them down over her legs. They hooked on the dainty buckle of her high heeled sandal, which he quickly freed and then tossed them on the floor.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said as he fumbled with his belt, not once taking his eyes off of her. Where she lay waiting, reminded him of the Venus of Urbino painting and although she was clothed, he knew exactly what was hidden beneath the layers of clothes.
Her only response was to smile and bite her lip, while she shyly reached to shove her dress between her legs, which drove Hunter even more insane. He leaned over her and pressed his lips against hers while he slid his hand under the dress to where her hands were clutched between her legs. He gently nudged them away and teasingly dragged his finger over her sex; her sudden intake of breath was just what he needed to know that she was not going to stop him now.
He could hear the commotion outside the study door, and let out a whispered curse, and as he met Paige’s eyes, expecting to see panic, he only saw desire and that familiar defiant streak, challenging him again. He smirked and bent down his head, capturing her lips, which was an attempt to silence her moans as much as it was one filled with passion and desire. And as she pulled her knees up invitingly, he ground his hips forward and thrusted deep into her hot molten core, drawing out a gasp of pure pleasure, which he breathed in.
He eased in and out of her in a slow rhythm which quickly escalated, and as he thrusted relentlessly into her, he felt his heart swell with emotion.
As he moved faster and deeper, he could feel her body respond to him, and when she dragged her nails along his shoulders, he felt her body tremble beneath him and as he felt her climax, his own impending release came crashing down on him.
A few minutes later, they stood at the locked door, Paige making sure his shirt is tucked in, and Hunter making sure she looked respectable. He brought her hand up to his lips and then unlocked the study door.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding,” Gregory said where he stood with his wife in the passage, “I was about to send out a search party.”
Hunter smiled and stepped forward extending his hand, “I apologize for leaving you earlier, but Paige was not feeling too well.”
Gregory smiled at him then at Paige and it was a knowing smile, before he handed his wife her coat and left the house.