Page 17 of Baked

“Don’t you dare call me honeybun right now, Hunter Campbell.”

Why does she only use my full name when she’s pissed?

He tried again. “Baby, I’m—”

“That either! No terms of endearment that could be construed as you giving a damn.”

Now she was pissing him off. “Not only is that not fair, but it’s also not true, and you know it. Look, I get that you’re upset about last night—”

Wrong thing to say apparently because he was cut off again.

“Upset? Oh, I’m not upset.”

Sure, and this is a perfectly normal pitch to speak in.

She continued, “Why would I be? Just ’cause you don’t want me, Hunter Campbell, doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other men out there that do. In fact, don’t bother picking me up tonight, I’ll be going to the Tipsy Cow to find one of them.”

Okay. Stab risk be damned. Stalking around the counter, he spun her stool until they were eye to eye, only needing to dip his head slightly to get right in her face.

“Now, you listen here, honeybun, and you listen good. If you think for one second I’m gonna let another man lay a finger on you, you’re sorely fucking mistaken. You’re mine. You hear me? Mine.”

They both remained quiet. An electric stare down commenced, long enough to turn his blood to lava.

When she spoke again, the fire that had once been there was no more. And the look that replaced it twisted his insides. Vulnerable.

“But ...” Her voice was soft. Unsure. “After—after we ... you didn’t touch me. You refused to. And then you practically marched me to my bedroom and shut the door.”

He was such a dumbass. “I know, baby,” he soothed. “And I’m sorry. I really am. I fucked up. But I swear to Christ none of that has anything to do with me not wanting you. I burn for you. I want you so badly, I’m in fucking pain.”

He lost her eyes for a second as they dipped below his belt, her chest rising and falling harder as she got a look at his predicament. He’d been as hard as nails all night.

“I don’t want to be someone you’re settling for,” she blurted before bowing her head.

His knuckle was under her chin a second later, forcing her to look at him. “Settling for? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about nine months, Hunter. Why now? Why not nine months ago? Is it ’cause ...” She paused and bit down on her lip, so hard, he felt the need to use a single finger to pry it loose. “Is it ’cause you’re just not that into me?”

Seriously? That’s what she thinks?

He dropped his forehead onto hers, letting vanilla fill his lungs. “Honeybun, you have no idea just how fucking into you I am.”

“Yeah?” Her breath hit his lips and sent tingles down his spine.

“Yeah, baby.” Needing to get closer, he moved one thigh between her legs. “Me not making a move earlier has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. I promise you that.”

Feeling her melt into him was enough to make his pulse quicken. She was intoxicating. Like some kind of drug.

One more kiss.He needed another rush.

Capturing those plump lips with one swoop, he took his time pulling them apart, savoring every taste. His body shook more violently with every swipe of his tongue. As he took the kiss deeper, his hands found her hips and tugged her closer. He needed to feel those soft curves pressed up against him again.

Snaking her hands between them, he felt her fingers claw his chest, nails digging into every dip and valley. Injecting fire into his veins. Driving him to insanity. But it was the whimper that finished him off. That sexy sound vibrated down his throat, prising out his own groan.

The kiss grew more urgent the further she arched into him. His own hands, needing more, slid up her curves until they reached her chest. Brushing his thumbs inward, they sought out those tight little nubs and began teasing.

Fuck me. So damn responsive.

He lost her lips as her head fell back on a moan. But it didn’t matter, his mouth found a new home in the crook of her neck. Sucking hard, drawing out more noises from those wet lips.

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