Page 105 of The Spider Queen
“When you meet Thane, you might change your mind.”
“No.” I ran my fingers through his thick, blond hair and then gripped it, forcing his head back just a bit, so I could stare him in the eyes. “Besides, I’ve already met Thane. He’s an arrogant pain in the ass who thinks he can get whatever he wants, but it’s just not true.”
He smiled. “No?”
“I wantyou—and a life with you. So I’m going to free Thane and then we’re leaving Ireland. We’re going to go back to Charleston, we’re going to finish school, and take it from there. Okay?”
He laughed, sounding lighter than he had in days. “Okay.”
“Hunter?”
“Yeah?”
“What the hell is the Guardian of the Bridge?”
“Like Thane would tell me, Poppy.”
Sometime during the night, Guinness pints became Jameson shots. We made friends with some Irishmen at the bar. They were from a small town outside of Belfast, and we were a novelty to them.
It was exactly what Hunter and I needed; we laughed and drank, we were carefree.
We were young and in love, but all of that might change in the morning.
We stumbled toward The Temple Bar Hotel, shrieking like banshees when the sky opened up, dousing us in cold, early spring rain. Standing at the front desk, dripping on the expensive carpet, Hunter handed over his black Amex. They gave us the biggest room and turned a blind eye that we were acting like the American tourists we were.
“This is beautiful,” I murmured, taking in the room, the bed. Hunter went to the window and pulled open the red drapery, revealing the Dublin city lights.
I struggled out of my wet clothes and staggered toward the bathroom, wanting to wash off the clamminess. I stepped into the scalding shower and felt like some of the liquor had evaporated from my veins. The bathroom door opened and a moment later Hunter climbed into the shower behind me.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
His gaze heated as it dropped down my body. “I’m already doomed, Poppy. Might as well enjoy it—one last time.”
Nashville was supposed to have been the last time, but I was helpless to resist Hunter. Not when his hands skated up my wet skin. Not when his mouth found mine. Not when he had me pushed up against the shower wall and made me cry out in pleasure.
After, we stood together, arms wrapped around each other’s bodies while water rained down on us.
Eventually, we left the shower and dried off.
I slipped into a T-shirt and then crawled into bed. It felt cold and too big for one person.
Hunter stood by the window, shirtless, a towel wrapped around his waist. He stared out at the glittering city looking like he was searching for answers he’d never find.
“Come to bed,” I mumbled, my head already hitting the pillow.
He turned to me and smiled. “In a minute. I just…want to memorize this moment.”
“Hunter—”
“It’s okay, Poppy.”
“But it’s not,” I said, overwhelming sadness gripping me. But I didn’t dare cry for the changes in my life that I couldn’t control.
“Go to sleep.”
“Not until you’re next to me. I want to pretend, for just a little while longer that we—”
“Yeah, I know.” He walked to the side of the bed and dropped the towel. Taking me into his arms, he pressed his chest to my back and settled behind me.
