I was there, beneath Hunter, who was kissing me passionately. It was such an intense kiss that each of us craved more from the other. Hunter ran his hands over my body, pulling my hair, making me delirious with every touch. But, as life loves to surprise us, at the peak of our moment, Hunter's phone started ringing.
“You should answer that,” I said, turning my face to the side as Hunter tried to locate the phone, which was in his pants thrown beside the bed.
Hunter smiled, but something in his eyes betrayed reluctance to interrupt our moment. “It's nothing important. Just ignore it.”
“Are you sure?” I insisted, wanting him to face whatever was waiting on the other end of the line. “I bet it's Zora.”
He got up and grabbed the phone. “Hello?” he said, keeping his gaze fixed on me.
The voice on the other end was inaudible to me, but Hunter responded with monosyllables, indicating that the conversation was not particularly interesting. However, his expression changed when I correctly guessed the identity of the person on the other side.
“It's Zora, isn't it?” I commented with a smile.
Hunter cast an almost guilty glance before admitting, “Yes, it's her.”
I let out a laugh and gently pushed his shoulder. “Go ahead, answer. I don't want to be responsible for you ignoring her call.”
A bitter smile crossed my lips as he focused on the conversation with Zora. I grabbed my clothes and headed to the bathroom to get dressed, leaving Hunter and his private conversation.
“Yes, I'm with Fierce,” I heard Hunter say as he adjusted the collar of his shirt.
Zora spoke on the other end, but I tried to ignore it, focusing on packing my belongings. Hunter kept talking, and I could feel the excitement in his voice. I didn't need to hear all the details to understand that it was about me, about us.
I returned to the room, finding Hunter still immersed in the conversation. He seemed excited, and I could only imagine that Zora was curious about our whereabouts.
Hunter finally hung up the phone, putting it in his pocket with a curious look at me. “She wants to know when we'll be back.”
I smiled without enthusiasm. “When we find my kids, she knows that.”
He approached, placing his hands on my waist. “She cares, Fierce.”
“I know, Hunter. Everyone cares, but that doesn't change anything. It doesn't change the fact that my kids are out there.”
The amusement in his eyes dimmed, giving way to a more serious expression. “Fierce, I... we need to sort this out.”
I shook my head. “And what exactly does that mean?”
Hunter sighed. “It means you need to face the things that are haunting you alone. I'm here to help and listen, so if there's anything you want to talk to me about.”
My expression turned cold. “You don't need to do that. You don't need to pretend to care about me. And certainly not look at me with that pitying expression.”
Hunter held my face, forcing me to look into his eyes. “It's not pity, Fierce. Maybe, if you allow it, you can find support where you least expect it.”
I pushed him gently away, ignoring the pain in his words.
The last thing I wanted was to admit that I needed pity, especially from someone like Hunter. But as I looked into his concerned eyes, I wondered if perhaps, just perhaps, there was a path to healing that I hadn't considered yet.
I rolled my eyes, trying to disguise my discomfort. “I don't need your support. And just so you know, I'm not here as an escape valve, so never kiss me again. You have your Luna, the Luna you chose, so respect her.”
Hunter stepped back, giving me space. “You're right. I'm sorry.”
I decided to change the subject, trying to regain the lightness of the previous moment. “So, let's rest. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
Hunter agreed, and as he settled on the floor, I curled up under the blanket on the bed.
Silence returned, but this time it was heavier, laden with the tension of our unspoken feelings. Both of us wondered how this night would affect our journey to Seattle and the challenges we would still face together.
***
I lay in bed, watching the soft sunlight infiltrate the hotel room. The previous night had been tumultuous, and my thoughts revolved around the shared kiss with Hunter. If the phone hadn't interrupted that moment, how far would we have gone? This question echoed in my mind, but the reality of the new day was already unfolding.
The sound of Hunter's peaceful breathing on the floor indicated that he was still immersed in a deep sleep. I, on the other hand, had barely managed to close my eyes. The dawn brought with it a flood of thoughts, some of which I preferred to avoid.
I wasn't one to easily succumb to feelings, but there was something about Hunter that triggered a range of unknown emotions.
Hunter stirred and got up, interrupting my reverie. He asked for the time, and I ventured a guess, “It must be around six in the morning.”
He rose from the floor and nodded. “Then, we'd better hurry and get ready to continue the journey.”
I nodded, agreeing with the idea, but a suggestion arose before everything. “Before that, how about we grab some coffee? We need energy for the road.”
Hunter's expression brightened with a smile, agreeing. “Great idea. I'm not one to refuse a good cup of coffee.”
We got up and began to get ready, aware that the day ahead could be filled with challenges. The strange connection we shared, oscillating between tension and softer moments, made every interaction intriguing.
We descended to the hotel reception, where the lady from the previous night warmly greeted us. We sat at a table near the window while the coffee maker brewed the dark liquid we so desperately needed.
As we waited, Hunter broke the silence. “You know, I've never been a big fan of breakfast.”
My eyebrow involuntarily arched in surprise. “That's an unexpected revelation. Why don't you like breakfast?”
He laughed, a deep and pleasant sound. “Well, Zora and I are always in a hurry, and she usually leaves all the work to the coffee maker. And you know that coffee from a coffee maker isn't the best.”
I smiled, understanding the dynamics of a busy couple. “I see no problem in letting the coffee maker do the work. Even I, the owner of a café, resort to convenience.”
Hunter's smile indicated genuine curiosity. “So, you have a café? That's impressive.”
I nodded, sharing a bit of my world. “Yes, I own my own café. We serve coffee, of course, but also cakes, pies, pancakes, and all the recipes I learned while living with Constance.”
The conversation flowed naturally, alleviating the tension that hung over us.
Hunter seemed intrigued. “And what made you develop insomnia? The café or the kids?”
Surprised by the direct question, I remained silent for a moment before answering, “You noticed I didn't sleep all night, didn't you?”
He nodded, his eyes fixed on mine. “I noticed. You're worried about the boys.”
Feeling the warm touch of Hunter's hand on mine, a comforting gesture, I took a deep breath. “Yes, I'm worried. I don't know what might have happened to them.”
Hunter squeezed my hand gently. “I'll find them for you. Don't worry.”
Those words brought a ray of hope, something I was afraid to allow myself to feel.
While we ate, our glances met in fleeting moments, carrying a silent electricity that neither of us was willing to address. Silence permeated our conversation, but there was something comfortable in this shared silence, as if unnecessary words were set aside.
During breakfast, I glanced at Hunter. His demeanor was serious, as if focused on the mission ahead. However, his eyes held a trace of something deeper, something I couldn't fully decipher.
After finishing the meal, we paid the bill and returned to the car. The road stretched out ahead of us, an uncertain journey filled with challenges and unanswered questions. I was determined to find my children, but the nuances of feelings between me and Hunter lingered in the air, waiting to be explored.