She should have never come here. She needed to cut this off now. If she didn’t, she may never be able to.
Her body stiffened. His did the same.
“Please don’t,” he said.
Pushing away, she put two steps between them.
“I have to.”
She spun and snagged her purse off the counter.
“One kiss then and I’ll leave you alone,” he said.
More than anything right now, she wanted that, and she risked a glance at him. The amber hues in his irises pleaded for her to agree. She had to stop looking into his eyes or she’d cave, so she lowered her gaze. It landed on his mouth. That mouth that had delivered kisses she’d thought about every day. Would one simple kiss hurt? Her betraying heart tried to rationalize with her brain.
Her lack of verbal response answered his question. He stepped forward and cupped her cheeks with his palms, and then, about as slowly as anyone could, he leaned forward and lightly pressed his mouth to hers.
Though it wasn’t but a wisp of a feathery touch, her heart beat wildly. When he edged back, her lips protested, and she leaned toward him. The amber flecks in his eyes sparkled, and he pressed his lips to hers again.
Slow, soft kisses ensued. Unleashing the full force of the feelings she’d suppressed for him. She reached up and gripped his muscular shoulders, pulling him tightly to her. His hands slid down from her cheeks and hooked at the small of her back, holding her firmly to his body.
When she parted her lips, his warm tongue dipped into her mouth. The pleasant hint of merlot on his tongue seeped into hers. The kiss turned deeper and hotter. She welcomed the intensity of it, encouraged it even. The feel of him in her mouth and against her body was even more fulfilling than she’d remembered from years ago. She’d longed for him more times than she could count. Now, here he was. She’d never imagined she’d get to kiss him again, but fate brought them together, and she loved every second. Perhaps she should pinch herself to make sure it was truly happening.
They kissed and kissed and kissed. It was sensational. She wanted to do this forever. Stay lost in the moment, but that wasn’t realistic. None of this was realistic.
Hunter pulled back, but kept his arms loosely around her. The desperation in his dark gaze tugged at her heart.
“Are you sure we can’t figure out a way to be with each other?”
“I wish we could, but the risk...”
“Shouldn’t I get a say in that decision?” he asked.
She sighed.
“We don’t even know for sure what or if Sebastián will do anything when he gets out. Hell, we don’t even know if he had anything to do with...” he stopped mid-sentence.
“The murders,” she finished for him.
He was right. She’d often wondered if she was too hasty in her decision to go into hiding. Who knew for sure? When doubt overshadowed her, she convinced herself she only questioned her decision out of selfishness and her desire to be with the man standing before her. She had to stay strong.
“Trust me when I say I’d love to give up hiding and live my life without always looking over my shoulder, but the dread that is coiled deep in my gut tells me to stay on full alert.”
He dropped his arms to his sides and stepped back.
“I understand.”
Her chest squeezed. This was it. She swallowed hard. He was just going to accept this? Why did that upset her and make her sad? He only agreed to do what she’d asked.
She spun to leave.
“Just know one thing before you go.”
She stilled in her tracks but didn’t look back at him.
“I love you.”
Her heart hitched, and tears flooded her eyes. That was the last thing she wanted to hear from him, yet the thing she needed to hear most. He wasn’t playing fair.
