Page 32 of Betrayal

“I moved out of home before I turned sixteen, couch-surfed between my uncle’s place and Casildo’s.Rented a room in a boarding house at eighteen.”

Sharing a not-sweet memory was a truer sign he wanted something more from her than a hard, fast fuck.Anna simply liked him.Liked his home, his smell, his caution in sharing pieces of himself, the way he made her feel special by telling her that he and Casildo became blood brothers after a bike accident.

“Damn,” Hunter muttered when his phone launched into the theme music fromThor, shattering the intimacy of the moment.“The blood brother’s early.”

“I’ll stay to say hello.”She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, the trace of chilli on his providing an extra lick of heat.“Then you can see me out.”

“Bet on it.”

He disappeared down the stairs again.More muffled voices, but this time Casildo appeared in the doorway first.

“Hi, Anna.”Casildo stepped forward with a smile.“How are you?”

“On my way out.”Anna smiled in return.“I have to be somewhere.”

“Don’t leave on my account.”

“I really have to be somewhere.”She glanced at Hunter hovering at Casildo’s shoulder.“I’ll just call a ride share.”

“Sure,” Hunter said easily.“I’ll wait with you downstairs.”

“Don’t mind me.”Casildo picked up the last slice of pizza and stared at the ceiling.“Pretend I’m not here.”

“You were supposed to bring beer and pizza.”Hunter frowned at him.

“I’ll call in a while.”Casildo waved the remaining slice of pizza in their direction, before sauntering back toward the lounge area and the remote.

“You don’t need to wait with me,” Anna said.“The car won’t take long.”

“Let’s see what we can achieve in a short time.”He preceded her down the stairs, stopping when he hit the bottom step and turning toward her.“Did I do enough to win a kiss?”

“You know what?”Her face was level with his.“I like you.”

“Against your better judgement?”

Anna moved closer, placed her hand on his cheek and touched her forehead to his.“I like you.No conditions.Deal with it.”

“I want to kiss you.”

“That’s a modest goal.”

He laughed.“Okay.I want you in my bed until we’re both exhausted by the loving.”

“Loving?Good choice of verb.Sam-I-am might get his wish.”She leaned back, keeping her hand on his cheek.

His mouth widened into a smile—warm, open—holding nothing back.Private and intimate.He cupped her cheeks with his hands, the calloused fingertips unexpectedly tender against her skin.His scent, muted at this end of the day, held the earthiness of sage with a hint of smokiness, its mysteriousness a match for the man.Endless seconds before his lips touched hers, the anticipation killing, the reality a coming home.

That shouldn’t be possible.

That was her last coherent thought before he gathered her in, one kiss easing into another.Hearing a moan, she realised it was hers because he’d drawn back infinitesimally.But she wasn’t done yet, so she wrapped her hand around his neck.“More.”

He kissed with a focus that wiped her mind clear, kissed as if there was nowhere he’d rather be, nothing he’d rather do.She’d thought—hoped—assumed her uncharacteristic gooey befuddlement after his kisses at the beach had been the result of a balmy evening, a shared ice cream, and her excitement in taking him out of his comfort zone.He’d been unfazed, in command even as she’d melted into a puddle at his feet.

“I want to kiss every square inch of your body,” he said, slipping the top button of her shirt.

“That might be my ride.”Reluctantly, she pushed back in his arms, resenting the arrival of her lift.

“How does anyone resist you?”he murmured, confusion in his gaze.

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