-HUNTER-


    The house was quiet when I returned home that evening, most of the staff having finished their duties for the day.


    I’d spent the afternoon in meetings, trying to focus on business deals and investor presentations, but my mind kept drifting back to that glimpse of Celine and Caesar on their day out.


    The way she’d looked so carefree, so beautiful in that simple sundress. The pure joy on Caesar’s face as he walked beside her.


    It had stirred something deep in my chest that I couldn’t quite name.


    I loosened my tie as I climbed the stairs to my study, intending to review some contracts before dinner. But as I passed the servants‘ quarters wing, I heard something that made me stop.


    Soft singing, barely audible through the walls.


    Without thinking, I found myself walking toward the sound, my footsteps silent on the carpeted


    The voice was Celine’s, gentle and melodic as she sang what sounded <i>like </i>a luby.


    I shouldn’t be here. I knew that. But I couldn’t make myself walk away.


    The singing stopped, and I heard Caesar’s sleepy voice asking for water. Light footsteps moved toward the door, and I quickly stepped back into the shadows of an alcove, my heart pounding like a teenager sneaking around.


    The door opened quietly, and Celine slipped out, closing it carefully behind her.


    She was wearing a simple nightgown, her hair loose around her shoulders, and she moved with quiet grace toward the small


    kitchen at the end of the hall.


    I should have left then. Should have gone back to my study and pretended I’d never been there.


    Instead, I followed her.


    She was at the sink, filling a small cup with water, when she sensed my presence. Her body went rigid, and she turned slowly, her eyes wide in the dim light.


    “Hunter,” she breathed, the cup trembling in her hands. “What are you doing here?”


    “I heard singing,” I said quietly, stepping closer. “You have a beautiful voice.”


    Her cheeks flushed pink. “I was just putting Caesar to bed. He had a good day today.”


    “I know,” I said, and her eyes widened further<i>. </i>“I saw you. Downtown, near the restaurant where I had a meeting.”


    “You were watching us?” Her voice was barely a whisper.


    “I couldn’t look away,” I admitted, moving closer still. We were in a narrow hallway, and there wasn’t much space between <b>us</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>You </b>looked happy. Both of you.”


    She swallowed hard, her grip tightening on the cup. “We were. It was a good day.”


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    “Until you saw my car,” I said, and she flinched slightly. “Caesar wanted toe say hello, didn’t he?”


    “How did you…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I need to get this water to him.”


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    She tried to move past me, but I stepped into her path. Not blocking her exactly, but close enough that she’d have to brush against me to get by.


    “Celine,” I said softly, and she looked up at me, her dark eyes reflecting the dim hallway light. “We need to talk about this morning.”


    “There’s nothing to talk about,” she said, but her voicecked conviction. “It was a mistake. We both know that.”


    “Was it?” I reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away, and touched her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm, and she leaned into my touch despite herself. <fndf00> Readplete version only at fin?novel</fndf00>


    “Because I’ve been thinking about it all day. About you.”


    Her breath caught. “Hunter, we can’t…”


    “Can’t what?” I stepped closer, and <i>now </i>there were only inches between us. “Can’t want each other? Because I think it’s toote for that.”


    The cup slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a soft clink, water sshing across the tiles. But neither of us moved to clean it up.


    “Tell me you haven’t been thinking about this morning,” I said, my voice low and rough. “Tell me you haven’t been thinking about my hands on you, and I’ll walk away right now.”


    She stared up at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I could see the war ying out in her eyes…duty against desire, fear against need.


    “I can’t,” she whispered finally. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”


    That was all the permission I needed. I cupped her face in both hands and kissed her, soft and slow at first, then deeper when she melted against me.


    She tasted like vani ice cream and something uniquely her, and I couldn’t get enough.


    Her hands came up to grip my shirt, pulling me closer, and a soft moan escaped her lips. The sound sent fire racing through my veins.


    “Not here,” she gasped against my mouth, ncing toward Caesar’s door. “He might wake up.”


    I didn’t hesitate.


    I swept her up in my arms, and she wrapped her legs around my waist, her nightgown riding up her thighs.


    I carried her down the hall to a small unused storage room, kicking the door shut behind us.


    <b>It </b>was dark inside, cramped and filled with linens and cleaning supplies, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was having her in my arms again.


    I pressed her back against the door, my body caging her in, and kissed her neck. She arched against me, her head <b>falling </b><b>back</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>could feel her pulse racing under my lips.


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    “Hunter,” she whispered, her fingers tangling in my hair. “This is crazy.”


    “I know,” I murmured against her throat, my hands sliding up her thighs. “I don’t care.”


    She should have protested more. Should have pushed me away and reminded me of all the reasons this was wrong.


    Instead, she pulled my face back to hers and kissed me with a desperation that matched my own.


    We were ying with fire, both of us knew it. But in that moment, with her body pressed against mine and her soft sounds of pleasure filling the dark space around us, nothing else mattered.


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    Nothing except the way she said my name like a prayer, and the way her touch made me feel more alive than I’d ever been before.