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“She’s a brain, huh?” He turned as they walked back to the van. “I got that vibe from her.”
“She’s had that vibe since she was born.” Though guilt and frustration nudged her at the thought of Callie, Aria couldn’t help smiling faintly. For her entire life, her sister had been so unwaveringly constant.
“My father called us Rock, Paper, and Scissors,” she said. “Callie, of course, was the rock. I was paper, which according to him meant light, flexible, always ready for a story or adventure. Rory was scissors, razor-sharp and with the ability to both shred things apart and shape them to fit perfectly.”
“Your father sounds like a wise man.”
“He was. We miss him a lot.”
The back of Hunter’s hand brushed against hers. A pleasurable tingle spread clear up her arm. She paused by the van and tilted her head to look up at him. Dusky shadows cut across his strong features, and the overhead street light shone on his hair.
“Destiny said you told her about our cat rescue encounter.” He edged closer, his eyes darkening. “She also said it wasno coincidencethat we both happened to be there at the same time.”
“She believes we’re meant to be wherever we end up.” Her heart began a low, heavy thumping in her blood.
“Then we’re meant to be right here.”
Tension threaded the air. She flicked her tongue out to lick her dry lips. The warning signal flashed in the back of her mind, but it was fainter now, almost distant. Despite his grumpiness when they’d first met, she’d sensed Hunter was a good guy the instant he helped her with her cat. She’d suppressed that instinctive knowledge after discovering he was with Imperial because it was easier to think of him as the enemy.
She didn’t want to think of him that way anymore. She’d made her decision about the contract. He knew it. Nothing he said or did would change her mind.
So there was really no need to keep quarreling about it.
She gave him a shaky smile. “Thanks again for your help with the cats.”
“Hmm.” He furrowed his brow. “Last time you thanked me, you prefaced it with a very hot kiss.”
Heat rushed to Aria’s cheeks. “Well, that was…er, you kissed me first.”
“Yes, I did.” A husky note infused his voice.
The distance between them had shrunk. Her back came up against the side of the van. He towered over her, his gaze trapping her, his body crowding her in. Shivers ran over her skin.
“And…” He planted one hand on the van behind her and slipped his gaze to her mouth. “I’m going to kiss you again.”
Her breath shortened, every nerve coming to life at his mention of their kiss.Kisses.She wanted it too—their lips and bodies pressing together, his hands cupping her neck, his heart beating against hers. A light had turned on inside her the night they’d met, and despite the obstacles between them, she didn’t want it to go out.
Not yet.
She gave him the slightest nod. His eyes filled with heat. He lowered his head. A thousand fireworks exploded inside her at the touch of his warm lips against hers. She lifted her hand to his muscular chest. His heartbeat pounded beneath her palm, a strong steady pulse that echoed in her blood.
He muttered a noise low in his throat, tilting her head back and increasing the pressure of the kiss. Pleasure twined through Aria’s body, intensifying her simmering arousal. Then their mouths were locked together, hot and deep, and her whole body arched toward him in surrender. She drove her hand into his hair as their tongues danced and lips caressed.
Hunter planted his other hand on the van behind her, caging her in the secure circle of his arms. A striking sense of safety descended over her, as if her instincts had known all along that while they were in opposition, she had nothing to fear from him. He would use his strength to protect, not to threaten or provoke fear.
She unclenched her fingers from his thick hair and slid her palm down to his neck, where his pulse beat heavily. He eased his lips from hers and trailed a kiss over her cheek to her ear. She closed her eyes. He grasped her hips, edging his knee between her legs.
When had she last felt like this? So hot and hungry, her body already alive with sensation from one kiss. His stubble scraped her neck deliciously as he pressed his lips to her collarbone. He was so warm, as if he’d absorbed the heat of the afternoon sun, his skin smelling like salt and the faint aroma of citrus soap. Aria let out a soft moan of pleasure, the growing ache in her core tempting her to writhe against his thigh in a search for release.
He tightened his hold on her hips and lifted his head. He tracked his smoldering gaze over her face, her lips and heated cheeks, down to the arch of her neck and lower. His eyes lingered on her breasts, which rose and fell with the force of her breath.
Aria was seized with the urge to unbutton her dress and feel his hot gaze on her naked skin. Then she wanted to take off his shirt and touch all the sculpted muscles of his body that—
Abruptly, Hunter pushed away from her. His hands fisted. Frustration extinguished the lust burning in his expression.
Aria pressed her palm to her racing heart and tried to collect her composure. If she didn’t know quite well thatfairnesswas not part of life, she’d have railed against the irony of being so attracted to a man she could never actually have.
“Aria.” He faced her, his voice rough. “I wasn’t supposed to be here.”
