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I startled a bit, not expecting it, but he persisted, his lips pressing against mine. He slipped one hand behind my head and held me there as if he thought I'd try to escape. In truth, a thrill went through me at his sudden show of desire and affection and his words about being weak towards me.
It was the opposite of how I thought he would act and feel.
If anything, it was always me who wanted him—me who couldn't resist him. Of course, he thought I had used him, discarding him when Greg came along…
"We should talk," I said, deciding to reveal the truth of what had happened five years earlier when I’d cut things off between us.
"We can talk later," he said with a sigh. "I’m hungry and tired and want a nice warm bath."
He raised his eyebrows at that, and I knew what my evening was going to be like. My body responded immediately at the prospect of sex with Hunter. I was so damn weak… But I also wanted to see Graham.
"I wanted to go see my brother after supper," I said, clearing my throat, which had suddenly choked up.
He frowned. "That isn't exactly in my plans for tonight."
"He's injured and all alone except for his co-worker. I stopped by this afternoon, but he was in physio, so…" I shrugged, trying to look like it was out of my control.
He inhaled and turned away, sitting at the island, taking a plate. Obviously, he didn't want his plans to be interrupted, but I had a life. Graham needed family.
We ate our meal together, and it took some time before Hunter warmed up again. As I watched, George brought him out, teasing him, reminiscing about their shared past. I could see by the way Hunter and George talked and joked with each other that there was a great deal of respect and mutual affection between them.
"You two knew each other in Afghanistan?" I asked, wanting to hear some stories and encourage Hunter to be in a better mood.
"We met when George here joined our Special Operations Forces unit on a rescue," Hunter said, smiling at George affectionately. "A convoy of supplies was attacked and two civilian contractors were abducted and kept in a compound in the tribal areas. We joined up with him and a few other mercs to take them back."
George nodded slowly, regarding Hunter with a critical eye. "That was first mission together," George said. "I didn't know what to think of pretty boy Marine lieutenant. All shiny and new. First operation. I give him hard time at first. He showed me he was good enough."
"Just good enough?" Hunter said with a mock tone of affront. He cuffed George playfully, reaching out across the island where we sat eating. "You sang my praises to high heaven that night in the bar back at our FOB."
"Vodka always makes things look better."
"I didn’t think you could drink while on deployment in the Persian Gulf," I said, frowning.
"General Order number 1A prohibits consumption of alcohol while in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait," Hunter said as if he'd memorized the regulation. "We still drank. Private contractors drank and we spent a lot of time with private contractors. Especially old Russian veterans. You can't separate Russians from their vodka and expect to win a war."
George laughed and nodded. "Is true." Then, he threw back another ounce of vodka. "To your health."
We replied and I took a shot. Later, the talk died down and the three of us sat staring at our empty glasses. George stood up and stretched.
"Well, I clean up and then I think I go downstairs," he said and grabbed his half-empty bottle of Stolichnaya.
"Don’t worry about cleaning up. James will take Celia to the hospital for a quick visit, and I'll take care of things while she's away, but then I'm staying for the night," Hunter said, his voice low. "You can go downstairs if you want."
"I will," George said and he laid his hand on Hunter's shoulder. "I be back tomorrow morning bright and early."
"Don't bother," Hunter said. "I'm sleeping in tomorrow. I'll call you when I need you back here."
George nodded, glancing over at me. "Have good night," he said. "Remember what I told you." Then he left us sitting at the island.
Before he was out the door, Hunter turned to me, frowning. "What did George tell you? Only good things, I hope…"
"Yes," I said, not knowing what else to say.
Hunter got on his cell and called James, asking him to pull the car around the back so I could go to the hospital. Then, he escorted me to the door, helping me on with my coat.
"Don't stay too long," he said as he stood behind me, adjusting my collar. He leaned closer, pressing his body against mine, his face in my hair. I heard him inhale deeply. "I'm an impatient man."
"I won't take too long," I replied, a thrill going through my body at the sound of desire in his voice.
