Chapter <b>233 </b>
-CELINE’S POV-
:
89
(9)
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Hunter’s lips remained on mine, his hand syed over my waist as if anchoring me. The kiss was slow<i>, </i>not demanding, not rushed….just steady, persuading me to breathe again. I clutched at his shirt, tugging him closer, wanting the weight of him to press me down, to rece the hollow ache with something warm, something alive.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine. His voice was low, husky, full of patience I didn’t deserve.
“You don’t have to carry her anymore, Celine. Not in your head. Not in your heart.”
I let out a shakyugh, half–sob, half–sigh. “Then what do I fill the space
His eyes burned into me. “Me.”
The word was a vow, a demand, a plea. And it broke me wide open.
with?”
Before I could think, I kissed him again, harder this time. His mouth parted under mine, his tongue sliding against mine in a way that made the air between us vanish. My body burned, trembling, needing more.
Hunter shifted, his hands slipping beneath the hem of my shirt, tracing fire along my skin. I gasped, clinging to his shoulders, the heat of his palms grounding me even as they set me aze.
“Hunter….” I whispered, my voice breaking.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured against my lips. “Always.”
He stood suddenly, lifting me effortlessly into his arms. I let out a startled gasp, my legs wrapping around his waist, my fingers tangling in his hair as he carried me down the hallway. His mouth never left mine….kissing, biting, iming.
By the time he set me down on our bed, I was breathless, dizzy. He hovered over me, his chest heaving, his eyes dark with a hunger that made my pulse race.
“You’re sure?” he asked, his voice a low growl. “You’re not just… needing a distraction?”
I cupped his jaw, forcing him to see me. “I need you. Nothing else.”
That was all it took.
His mouth crashed onto mine again as his hands stripped away my clothes, each piece tossed carelessly to the floor. His kisses trailed down my throat, hot and wet, until he reached the hollow of my corbone. I arched beneath him, gasping his name, my body shivering at every scrape of his teeth, every stroke of his tongue.
He worshipped me like a man starved, his hands roaming, his lips iming every inch of skin they found. When he finally slid inside me, I cried out, clutching him tightly, the world outside disappearing.
<b>11:04 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b>5 …
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It wasn’t just sex….it was grief and love and fury and healing tangled together. Every thrust, every kiss, every whispered vow in my ear was Hunter telling me I wasn’t alone, that I never would be again.
“Mine,” he growled into my neck. “All of you, Celine. Mine.”
“Yes,” I gasped, tears spilling, my nails digging into his back. “Yours. Always yours.”
The heat built between us until it was unbearable, our movements desperate, frantic, bodies slick with sweat. When I shattered, it was with a sob, clinging to him as if he were the only thing keeping me alive.
Hunter followed a momentter, groaning my name like a prayer as he held me tight, as though afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
We copsed together, tangled, breathless. His arms wrapped around me, his lips pressing into my damp hair. Neither of us spoke for a long time. There was only the sound of our heartbeats slowly settling, the beat syncing like they always did.
Finally, I whispered, “Thank you.”
His lips brushed my temple. “For what?”
“For being here. For not letting me drown in it.”
He pulled me closer, his voice rough with sincerity. “I’ll never let you drown, Celine. Not while I’m breathing.” I closed my eyes, my cheek pressed against his chest, and for the first time since hearing the word dead, I felt at peace.
I woke up feeling warm. It wasn’t just the nket over me, but theforting warmth from Hunter’s arm around my waist, holding me close. I could feel his chest moving slowly against my back, as he slept peacefully.
For a while, I stayed still, with my eyes open but not moving, listening to the quiet sounds of the city outside our room. Sunlight came through the curtains in soft lines, making the room look golden. It felt… weird. Weird to wake up and not feel that heavy emptiness inside me. Weird to feel calm.
And thenst night reyed in my mind, every kiss, every word, every tear, and my throat tightened.
I shifted just slightly, and Hunter stirred behind me. His lips brushed the back of my neck,zy and unintentional at first, then firmer, deliberate.
“Mmm,” his voice was a rasp, still thick with sleep. “You’re awake.”
I smiled faintly. “So are you.”
“Not by choice,” he muttered, pulling me closer. His hand syed over my stomach, possessive and warm, and he buried his face into the crook of my neck like a sulking boy who didn’t want to face the day.
“Hunter, it’s morning,” I whispered, amusement threading through my voice.
“Don’t care.” His lips dragged along my skin, soft and maddening. “Stay here with me. Skip everything else.”
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Iughed softly, shaking my head. “You sound like Caesar when I tried to convince him school was exciting”
He groaned into my shoulder. “Don’tpare me to our son. He’s cuter than me?
I turned slightly, enough to catch his face, his hair mussed, his jaw shadowed, his eyes <b>still </b>heavy with sleep but glittering with that familiar sharpness. My chest swelled with affection. “Debatable.
He smirked, slow and dangerous. “Want me to prove it?”
“Hunter Reid,” I scolded lightly, though I was already blushing. “It’s too early for that.”
His thumb tracedzy circles against my hip. “Never too early.”
I rolled my eyes but kissed him anyway, soft and lingering. His smirk faded, his expression shifting into something gentler. When he pulled back, his gaze remained on me. “You slept better,” he said quietly.
I swallowed, nodding. “I did.”
“Good.” His voice was rough, raw<i>, </i>like the words were pudgier than they looked. “That’s all I want. You… okay.”
Something pinched in my chest at the way he said it, like okay was enough, like he didn’t dare expect more. I touched his cheek, tracing the line of stubble. “I’m getting there,” I admitted. “With you.”
For a moment, he just looked at me, unreadable. Then he pressed his forehead to mine and breathed, “That’s all I need.”
The quiet that came after was nice andfortable. Hunter wrapped his legs around mine and didn’t want to move, and I let him hold me for a bit longer.
Finally, I whispered, “You have work, don’t you?”
His eyes flickered with annoyance. “Don’t remind me.”
“Hunter…..”
He cut me off with a kiss, quick but firm. “I’ll go. Eventually. After I make sure my wife eats breakfast and
smiles at me.”
I couldn’t helpughing at the way he said it, like it was a contractual obligation. “You’re impossible.”
“And you married me.”
He finally rolled out of bed, stretching, the morning light cutting across his bare torso. I watched him move toward the dresser, pulling on sweatpants, and my lips curved without permission.
Hunter caught me staring and grinned, smug and unrepentant. “Like what you see, Mrs. Reid?”
“Not bad,” I teased, pretending to be unimpressed even as my cheeks heated.
“Not bad?” He arched a brow, crossing the room in two strides. He leaned down, bracing his arms on either side of me, caging me in. His voice dropped, wicked and low. “Want me to remind you how bad you begged
I gasped, swatting at him. “Hunter!”
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Heughed, a deep, rare sound that melted something inside me. He kissed me once more, softer this time, then straightened. “Get dressed. We’re having breakfast together before I head out.”
As he walked out toward the kitchen, muttering about coffee, I sank back into the pillows, my lips still tingling, my heart still full.
For the first time in days, maybe years, I didn’t feel haunted. I felt alive.
AD