?WINGLESS AND BEAUTIFUL?
?EPISODE 92?
We parked in front of the beautiful white house. I couldsee that the lights inside were on.
“Does somebody stay here?”
Hunter rounded the car to open the door for me. “No,”he replied. “But I have help coming here to keep it tidy.
Today, I asked them to prepare the house.” He pulled me forchaste kiss on the lips. “I have an important guest coming.”
I couldn’t help the butterflies in my stomach from goingwild. I turned away from Hunter to take deep breathswithout him noticing.
He took our bags from the backseat of his Escalade. Then he took my hand in his and pulled me towards thehouse.
Although the house was lit, it was empty. I realizedthat we were completely alone.
“Your house is beautiful,” I breathed as I looked at the interior. It has changed a lot since the last time I was here.
It seemed Hunter spent some time decorating it.
“Well, the last time, I didn’t get it fixed yet.
I didn’t feellike fixing anything. My heart was a whack.
Decoratingdidn’t come at the top of my priorities then.”
But now, I noticed that he had a new chandelier.
There were paintings on the wall, and his couch and coffee tablealso looked brand new.
“Come. I’ll show you the rooms,” he said.
He took my hand in his and pulled me up towards theglass stairs. Hunter led me to the room at the end of thecorridor.
I remember before, Denise said she’d seen all therooms in the house except for one—Hunter’s bedroom.Hunter opened the door that led to a massive bedroom.
The main furniture there was a king size four-poster canopybed with white curtains around it. It has a fireplace in thecenter, with a white rug in front of it.
Above the fireplace was a painting of a girl. She haddark hair tied in a fishtail braid. Her face was turned sideways, showing a faint scar on her cheek.
I had to blinkback because the girl in the painting looked like me.I turned back to Hunter, raising a brow at him, but mytongue felt frozen.
He smiled at me sheepishly. He pulled me to him,snaking his arm around my waist, then spinning me aroundso we were both facing the painting.
“I painted that after my first day at Leighton High,” heexplained. “Do you like it?”
“Hunter… this is beautiful. I mean, your painting isbeautiful. You have some skill.”
“I’m okay,” he said. “It’s a hobby.”
“Are you kidding me? You could make a living out ofthis.” I turned around to face him. “I mean… if you’re notalready super rich and multi-talented.”
“Well, I’ll keep that for future reference,” he leanedforward and kissed me. I could feel a lot of emotions in that kiss.
He pulled me closer to him as he deepened the kiss.My heart was beating loudly inside my ribcage.Hunter and I have been kissing for a couple of monthsnow but every time his lips were on mine, my mind stillwent blank and I felt lost without any hope of being foundbut I didn’t care at all.
I loved being in Hunter’s arms, where I didn’t have to care where I was in the universe or in time. I felt safe… protected… loved.He leaned his forehead against mine. “I love you,angel,” he whispered.
“I love you, too.”
He kissed my forehead and then he pulled away. Hepointed towards the left corner of the room. “The bathroom’s there, if you want to change clothes. I’ll bedownstairs, preparing our dinner.”
“I’m… I’m staying here?”
He raised a brow at me, like I spoke a different language. Then he replied, “We’re staying here.”
I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.
Hunter took a step forward and pulled me into his arms.
Hestudied my face for a moment. I was afraid that my cheekswere crimson red, and he could see right through me.
“Angel…” he whispered. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
He titled my chin up so I could look at him. “Hey, this isme. You can tell me anything.”
“I know,” I sighed. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
“I’m okay.”
I gently pulled away from him and then walked towardsthe bathroom.
“Angel,” he called out and I turned back to him. “If it bothers you, I can sleep in the next room.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s fine.”
He walked towards me, giving me a reassuring smile. Hewrapped his arms around my waist, looked into my eyes and said, “I don’t want you to feel any pressure, angel. I didn’tbring you here so I could seduce you.”
My heart stopped beating altogether.
“I just want us to have some alone time before we headoff to college,” he continued. He pushed a lock of hair awayfrom my face. “I want to sleep in the same bed as youbecause… well, I want to watch you sleep and wake up next to you.
But that’s it. We don’t have to do anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with. You know I will wait as long asit takes.”
I smiled and then I hugged him. “I love you, Hunter.”
“I love you more, angel. Now, go change quickly. I’mchallenging you to a game of chess.”
“Seriously?” I pulled away from him.
“What? Did you really think I brought you here so youwould sleep with me? Of course not. Out of all the people Iknew, you were the only one who ever gave me a challengein a game of chess.”
I gave him a slight push. “Oh, really? Wait for medownstairs, I just might beat you this time!”
“Game on!” He gave me a wink. Then he turned towards the door. “I’ll be in the garden.”
I felt relieved that we talked. He was right. There wasnothing to be pressured about. Sx did not define our relationship. I knew we would eventually do it.
When thetime was right. It was always better to go with the flow, feelin the moment, rather than plan or expect. It would be a lotbetter that way.
When I came down to the garden, I was dressed in apair of white shorts, a yellow sleeveless blouse and theyellow slippers that Hunter gave me.
He was standing in the garden, in the center of a giant
chessboard with huge chess pieces reaching almost up to his waistline.
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