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CELIA

I woke alone, and turned over, reaching out to feel hoarone The bed was cold, so I knew he must have left soon after we had sex

I didn't knohat to think of things at that htly sick orry and at the sa between us felt likeHunter's needs

I didn’t want to be et off I wanted to be the one he turned to because he wanted and needed me

Me…

His shell was tough, though, and it was hard to read hi and taking body blows, and then his tih to be a Marine and to go into Special Operations Forces, no matter what branch of the military you were in

Those soldiers were the elite of the elite, tough in mind and body

Hunter was tough, but was he hard to the core?

That's what I didn’t know

It felt as if he was softening towards ested that he felt more for me than he let on I was more than just a fuck toy, like he said I was It seemed personal to him because he cared about me as more than just a convenient receptacle for his dick

I didn't want to hope too much That way lay disappointment and heartbreak

So, instead of hoping too ed, and now actually felt so o back to sleep Of course, that was a hopeless venture Now,how Spencer was and whatSpencer's lights out

I wished I could have witnessed Hunter punching Spencer It would have felt like payback and like justice for all those times Spencer had hit me or Graham I didn't really want Hunter to becoht, but he was trained as a fighter and a soldier I had to accept that part of hi as I saw the other part, the tender part that touched e that I had been hurt, I could accept it

Even though it was only six, I got up instead of lying in bed for another hour with my eyes wide open, and went to the bathrooet ready for the day When I was done, I dressed and tried to make myself somewhat presentable Then I went to the kitchen where I found a pot of fresh coffee and a note fros in the fridge

I ss, toast, and orange juice to go along withover a copy of thewhere Hunter was this early in the , and why he hadn’t stayed with me