This is my first time flying private, and to say that it’s nothing I could have imagined would be putting it mildly. It’s insane.
The seats are the softest leather I’ve ever felt and the bathrooms? Who knew they had full bathrooms in these things? Not to mention there’s a bedroom. The bedroom where Hunter has been holed up the last fifteen minutes.
He got a call and the look on his face as he moved to the back of the jet wasn’t very comforting.
Just as I’m about to go knock on the door and see what’s going on, it swings open, my broody man walking through it with a look that speaks of trepidation. Oh god. I brace myself for whatever is about to come out of his mouth.
“Baby doll…”
“Just give it to me. I can handle it.”
Hunter sits next to me on the bench seating, his hand automatically going to my bouncing knee. “They’ve gotten a hold of Mila.”
“That’s great news!” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I’m about to fling myself at him when I see the look on his face. “Oh no. There’s more isn’t there?”
He nods, his eyes squinting before they’re glossing over. “Jace has been shot. We’re not sure he’s gonna make it.”
My breathing stutters and a strangled noise is all I can muster. But how?
“Things got hairy in the retrieval. Jace didn’t want to wait and went in without backup. Eventually his team caught up, but it was too late. McComb had taken him down.”
“As in John McComb? Isn’t that Mila’s dad?”
Hunter gives me a pained smile. “About that, he isn’t really her dad.”
My mouth drops open. “What in the world?”
“And there’s more than that, but I’ll let Mila fill you in on it when she’s ready.”
This has my head cocking back “Wait… how long have you known this?” Hunter doesn’t answer and that’s all the response I need. “Wow, so you had this info on Mila’s family all this time and you didn’t care to fill her in?”
“Wasn’t my place, baby doll.”
“No. Don’t you try to sweet talk your way out of this.” I stand up and pace the center of the jet. “This is exactly what I meant about you being honest. You can’t keep this shit from me.”
Hunter’s brows raise, the look of surprise one I don’t understand.
“Look, Mel. When I found this out, we weren’t exactly on talking terms besides a grunt of acknowledgement here and there.”
“And after? What was your excuse then?” I cock my hip, my hand landing on my waist.
“After? Everything happened so fast I didn’t have a chance to tell you.” Hunter stands, his feet stopping right in front of mine. “But I’m telling you now.” He places a kiss on my forehead. “And what’s more, I promise to tell you everything I can, as long as it doesn’t compromise your safety.” Full lips press to the bridge of my nose. “I’ll be your favorite news source. Heard it here first.”
And with that, Hunter presses a lingering kiss to my lips, his words mixed with the tenderness of this moment making me melt on the spot. I can’t help it. I swoon, my foot kicking up and arms wrapping around my man. Because that’s what he is, mine.
“Mr. Crown?” The stewardess calls. “We’re beginning our descent. Is there anything else I could get you?”
And as my man swoops down for another kiss, he says the words that seal my heart, making it forever his. “No, ma’am. Got everything I need right here.”
“Holy shit. Is this where Mila’s been the whole time? The whole time I was in a literal hole underground, my best friend’s been living it up in the lap of luxury?” I’m staring at the ocean from Jason’s beachfront property as I hear Hunter chuckle from behind.
“No. Technically, she was in a penthouse.”
This has me whirling around, my mouth falling open as my eyes practically bulge out. “Oh, hell no. I’m not high maintenance by any means but you owe me. Big time. If it were up to me, I would’ve been down here with my bestie, soaking up the vitamin D.”
“The only vitamin D you’ll be getting is from me. I’m locking you up in a bedroom and we aren’t leaving for days.” Hunter grabs me by the waist and pulls my body into his.
“Ha!” I’m pursing my lips to the side, biting back a smile. If ever I had to do a lockdown again, that’s exactly how I’d want to spend it. But I’m not telling him that. “So, what now?”
“We wait for the helicopter to land. Thankfully, Jason is stable. He lost a lot of blood, but the doc thinks he should be waking up soon.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that my best friend would be losing her shit if her man left this earthly plane. “How much longer till they get here?”
Just as Hunter goes to answer, there’s a thudding sound from above, and looking up I see a helicopter descending on what must be a rooftop helipad—because who doesn’t have one of those?
“Not much longer at all,” Hunter answers, his hand dropping to mine as he pulls me inside. “Look, things might get a little messy and I might be gone for a while. Just giving you a heads up, there’s some family business that needs to be handled and the next couple of hours are going to dictate how they go.”
“What family business, and what can I do to help?” My brows push together as Hunter whirls me around, my body fitting so nicely into his as he cradles my face.
“God, have I told you how much I love you?” His expression is serious, his eyes so intense I don’t know how to answer. I’m not used to this version of Hunter. Hell, I’m not used to this version of anyone. The only person who’s ever told me they loved me is Mila.
“Nope. But you can tell me right after you tell me what you need from me.” I raise a brow, wrapping both arms around him as my head cranes back. “Seriously, what’s going on?”
His eyes narrow as his tongue pokes at the inside of his cheek. This can’t be good. “I can’t tell you.”
Yup. It isn’t good.
“Are you kidding me?” I try to pull back from his hold, but he hangs on tight. “Let me go!”
“No. I swear I have a good reason and you’re just going to have to deal with it.”
“I don’t and I won’t. I already gave you my terms.” I give him one big shove and he finally releases me. “This is bullshit.”
“Mel—” Hunter goes to reach for me but a clicking on the marble floor has us looking toward the hallway. There’s an entourage of people surrounding a rolling bed, Jason Crown right smack dab in the middle with my best friend draped on top.
If ever there was a scene to snap me back down to reality, it’s this. Life is so fragile and this moment is a reminder of that.
As if in slow motion, Mila whispers into Jason’s ear, all while they’re wheeled into a room. “Come back to us, please. The baby and I, we need you.”
Like a magnet, my eyes are trained on Mila’s hand as she takes Jason’s and presses it to her abdomen before the stretcher comes to a complete stop—just like my heart.
My best friend is pregnant. Just like I would’ve been had I not lost our baby.
On instinct, my hand swings to the now empty womb, and the ache in my chest is one I just can’t bear. It’s a pain so deep it threatens to swallow me whole.
Right then, Hunter wraps his arms around me and presses his hands over mine. “Shhh, baby. It’ll be okay.”
This man, no matter how stubborn and difficult he might be, is always in sync with my pain. He always knows what pushes my buttons and brings to life the darkness I’ve long since battled.
But if that’s the case, then why? Why can’t he just give me what I need and be honest with me all the time? It isn’t much to ask for, is it?
A flash of frustration hits me, the unbearable sensation making me itch to get out of Hunter’s hold. He must sense it because he releases me, his eyes searching mine as soon as I’ve turned to face him.
“I think you need to leave me alone,” I spit out before I’ve had time to really think this request through, but once it’s out, I refuse to take it back.
“Like hell I will.” Hunter pulls me into another room, having the frame of mind to keep this conversation away from the newly arrived couple. “Where’s this coming from, Mel? Talk to me. Tell me why you’re pushing me away.”
I scoff. “I’m not pushing you away. I told you. If you want to be with me, then all I want is your honesty. Complete and brutal honesty at all times.”
“Baby doll, it isn’t that easy.” His brows drop as he takes a step toward me, but I back away.
“Well, nothing worth having comes easy, does it?” I glare at him, refusing to give in, because I know that if I do, I’m only going to get hurt once more. “I’m staying until Mila tells me she doesn’t need me. And until then, I need you to keep your distance. You can at least give me that, can’t you?”
A beat passes as Hunter begins to pace, the sight making my heart stutter as I realize that I’ll shatter if he actually does what I ask.
This is what I want, right? I’m keeping my heart safe. Safe from the man that’s broken it time and time again.
But if this is for the best, then why do I already feel so broken?
I’m not left much time to ponder because my man is shoving me up against a wall, the feral look in his eyes speaking of nothing but hunger and rage.
“Baby doll, I’ll never leave you alone. Ever. So don’t ask it of me because it will be a resounding no each and every time.” My mouth falls open, the veracity of his words visible in the rise and fall of his chest. And if my knees weren’t already weak enough, Hunter trails a hand down my dress, only stopping to pull up the hem and slide his fat digits underneath my lace covered heat.
“God,” I groan as he glides between my folds, feeling how undoubtedly turned on I am by his mere presence.
“Yes, doll. You can call me God because these fingers are the only thing you’ll worship.” He thrusts three inside, the sting of their fullness only dulled by his thumb pressing to my swollen clit. “And every time you try to push me away, I’ll just have to work harder to remind you.”
I’m mewling, liquid fire consuming my body as I writhe between the wall and his massive body. At this moment, I know it won’t take much. The combination of his words and the possessive look in his eyes are enough to bring me to climax, reminding me that my body is and forever will be his.
“I’ll do it as many times as it takes, baby, showing you that this tight little cunt belongs to me, and only me.” Hunter bites down on my neck as he simultaneously rolls his thumb, pressing the pads of his fingers against my inner wall.
Holyfuckingshit. My legs shake and vision goes, nothing but black surrounds me.
Just then, Hunter growls against my heated flesh. “Fuck, baby. You make the prettiest sounds for Daddy.”
He never slows his ministrations, dragging out my release for what feels like an eternity in this limbo of ecstasy. And as my body convulses in pleasure, I think this might just be the way I choose to go—in Hunter Crown’s embrace.
