Page 89 of The Spider Queen
“And I can’t be mad at you for keeping things to yourself. Especially when I’ve done the same.”
He sighed and rubbed the back his neck “Yeah. But that might all change. After we talk.”
Turning my back on him, I removed the shirt Hunter had brought me and tossed it aside. I never wanted to see it again. It reminded me that I’d been at the mercy of those that deemed me mentally unfit.
The door closed with a soft click and I was left alone. I showered, washed everything twice, but still didn’t feel clean. I swore I could smell the starch of the hospital gown on my skin. Sighing, I dried off using a huge, white terrycloth towel. I wrapped up my hair and threw on the bathrobe, realizing I didn’t have any clothes. Maybe Hunter had another set for me in the backpack. I brushed my teeth with the complimentary toothbrush and toothpaste and then gargled with mouthwash.
I had a long way to go before I felt like myself.
When I came out of the bathroom, I saw Hunter crouched at the mini-bar, pulling out tiny bottles of liquor. He gathered them in his hands and lined them up on the cherry wood desk.
I crawled up onto the bed to watch him. “I’ve heard mini bottles are expensive in hotels,” I said, striving for levity when I knew it would all disappear soon.
“About fifteen bucks a pop,” he admitted.
“Jeez.”
“Don’t worry about it. Pick your poison,” he said, turning to me. The low light of the bedroom caught the blue of his eyes.
I stared into them for a long moment, taking them in, pretending we were a normal boyfriend and girlfriend away for a romantic weekend.
“I love you, Hunter,” I whispered.
A flash of pain crossed his face. “Poppy—”
“You don’t have to say it back,” I blurted. “I just needed you to know. Before all this goes down. I love you. I wanted to tell you the night before you left for North Carolina. But I was scared and stupid, and now I’m afraid of what will happen if you don’t know. I love you. You’re so…” I shook my head, unable to put into words what I felt for him.
My protector, my friend, my lover.
“You came for me. And I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.”
He took a seat next to me and pulled me into his arms. Plowing his fingers through my hair, he gently grasped the back of my head, forcing me to look up at him.
Hunter gazed into my eyes. “I love you, too.”
Chapter 33
His mouth took mine in a consuming kiss. I tried to get closer to him, but the bulk of the bathrobe prevented it.
“Off,” he commanded, tugging at the sleeves of the bathrobe.
Our hands were everywhere, ridding each other of our clothing. We were in a frenzy. We weren’t tender or gentle.
I fell back onto the bed and Hunter climbed over me. We fused our mouths and our feverish bodies. His hands grasped the sides of my head.
“Open your eyes,” he rasped. “See me.”
He eased into me, refusing to let me go.
“Poppy,” he whispered, sounding broken.
I clasped him to me, held on with everything I had, and rode out our storm.
Crying out, my eyes snapped shut of their own volition. The pleasure was too much, and I came like a force. My body rippled and contracted, bowed and went slack.
“Again,” he commanded, ruthlessly driving into me like he wanted to bind us together.
“I can’t,” I panted.
