Chapter 54 — Date

Stepping out of the building I marched to him stopping a couple feet away. Hunter straightened up, and the crowd parted as he strode towards me, my breathing hitching at my throat. His suit which I had been considering as his second skin all this time was gone and replaced with a V neck white shirt topped with a dark leather jacket and denim jeans.

"I'm glad you came." He lifted my hand to his lips and placed a kiss on the back.

"I hope I don't regret it," I said as lights flashed around us and people whispered but nothing bothered me for the heart drumming against my chest sounded louder.

The corners of his rosy lips quirked up into a smile. Not a ghost of a smile nor an arrogant smirk but an actual genuine smile even though tiny which just made him a thousand times hotter than before. "I assure you won't. Come." He gently tugged me to his car and opened the door for me.

Dazed I got in, my heart and soul once again falling in love with him although I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. Was he real? Was it really happening? It was as if I was witnessing a whole new person in him, or the obsolete one he buried deep years ago. It was as if I was finally meeting the Hunter I had seen in the park smiling at his dogs.

Rounding the car he got in and came closer making my breathing follow the same rhythm my heartbeat picked up. He stared, his face inches away as his hand swiftly pulled the belt around me and fastened up.

"Y-You are you, right? I mean, you're not his long-lost twin brother, are you?" I blurted out to hide the drastic effect he stimulated in me.

Amusement took over his features. "Would you like him back?"

"N-No."

"Thought so." Moving back to his seat he fastened up his own seatbelt and revved the engine.

I inhaled deep not knowing I had been holding my breath. "Where are you taking me?"

"Like I said, on a date."

After a long drive via an isolated road through the woods he finally stopped, and I looked outside. My eyes widened in amazement as I hurried out of the car and took an elongated look at the surrounding. A huge duplex house entirely made out of glass stood proudly before me. Behind it the blue ocean sparked in the sunlight as bubbly waves crashed in the white sand.

Feeling a presence beside me I directed my glance at him.

"I used to come here with my grandfather," he spoke, his eyes distant.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

Gazing at me intensely he extended his hand.

Smiling, I put my hand on his and electricity sparked in the spot his skin touched as he led me inside the beach house. My mouth parsed in admiration while I observed the gorgeous interior. White leather sofas adorned the middle of the stupendous drawing room from where one could enjoy the excellent view of the sea and any activity in it like- Oh, my God, something just jumped in the air in the distance, a whale perhaps.

"Did you see that?!" I exclaimed and was about to run through the door before for a better view, but his hand stopped me. Turning around I sent him a questioning look.

"Mm-mm. Not like that." He pulled out a black piece of cloth from his back pocket.

"That's cliché!" I chuckled.

"Cliché is gold." He tied the blindfold around my eyes and began guiding me somewhere I was dying to see. "Wait. I may have to pick you up." As the words left his mouth his arms wrapped around the back of my thighs and shoulders hauling me up.

A gasp left my mouth.

"Relax," he whispered against my ear which instead of working backfired as my thoughts turned hocus-pocus.

Moments later he put me down. "Now you can open your eyes," he whispered in my ear once again.

A shudder went through my back, and I pulled the cloth off my vision. It was as if everything slowed down as I blinked and took in what laid before me. A gazebo of thatched roof resided in the middle of the water, a wooden bridge connecting it to the land, and colorful flowers embellishing the pure white structure.

Hunter stretched a bent hand. "Let me welcome the lady to my humble place."

A smile slipped out of my mouth, and I put my hand around his. It felt like a dream out of a Disney movie as he led me inside. My mouth widened at the small round table right in the middle and the varieties of food gracing it. A growling sound from the traitorous of my tummy reddened my cheeks.

A corner of his lips lifted once again, and I think I had another breath-hitching moment. If he kept doing that I was afraid my little heart would burst from adoration. Pulling out the chair he motioned me to sit, and I obliged.

"You look adorable when you're flustered," his deep voice murmured from behind turning my legs into jelly. Thank the heavens, I was sitting, or I'd sure as hell collapse. What evil plan was he plotting? Kill me with the electricity or drive the butterflies insane?

He sat across me and poured red wine in both our glasses. I immediately took a sip because my throat felt dry from all the mouth-hanging events. I had to restrain myself from salivating as he served the appetizer.

To hell with manners! I need food.

I grabbed a fork and dug right in, taking the first bite of the savory macaroni and cheese. The flavors invaded my tastebuds. I couldn't help but let out a moan. When I opened my eyes he was watching me intently like taking notes of every detail making me blush.

After the delicious starter he served the main course which looked like an expensive dish from an extravagant restaurant, and I dug in, a heavenly taste of spices and juicy meat exploded in my tongue bringing out several moans from me. Gosh, I wanted to kiss the chef's hands so bad.

"Who cooked the food?" I elicited with a mouthful. Like I said manners can be damned when it's about food.

"You are looking at him," he stated proudly.

I ceased my sloven process of eating. "Seriously?" I laughed.

"Yes," he replied calmly and calculatedly.

"You cooked all this? No, forget it. You can cook?" I asked in disbelief.

"One of my many talents I—” a frown appeared between his brows, "-entombed long ago, but somehow you draw them out."

He stared.

I stared as well.

Sound of waves lapping on the shore blessed the moment as the gentle breeze blowing didn't lessen a bit of warmth that spread throughout my heart. He, the man who let nothing past his work made time and exerted toil in every detail to perfect our first date.

The rest of the meal went just as delish. He even made a dessert consisting of ice cream hence being my favorite, and that was the sweetest thing ever.

After lunch we decided to take a walk along the beach just as the heat of the sun began decreasing to a gentle warmth. My eyes caught sight of a baby turtle pushing towards the water, and I ran to it.

"Oh God, it's so cute!" I exclaimed as more little ones appeared in the sand around us, all taking their first steps towards freedom and a new life. The smile on my face didn't budge as I watched them swimming away with the waves. With an urge to thank Hunter for all this I swirled around only to freeze.

There he was down on one knee, the wedding ring in his extended hand.

Wait. Where did he get that? It was with me. But then a memory of that night when I got drunk hit me. I had the ring in my clothes and left them in his penthouse. He kept it.

"Be mine again?" He started. "I-I know I messed up big time, and I...I'm not worthy of your trust, but I'm intending to mend whatever is left of it. I'm asking to start new. I'm asking even if you say no. I—”

I watched as Hunter William King, for the first time, was struggling with words and above that, being on one knee. The swirl of emotions dancing on his facial structure pulled at my heartstrings. He was trying hard and that showed honesty, the truth of his motives clearer than any other proof. He really wanted us back together.

"I think I-I...have fallen for you, Ember King."

Beaming I dashed and threw my hands around his neck tackling him to the ground. "Yes!"

For a moment he was frozen as I was literally squeezing the life out of him, but as reality hit him which seemed to be a bit late, he flipped us over and looked into my eyes earnestly as if figuring out if it was really happening.

"You know you almost murdered me." Without warning his lips crashed into mine like one of those waves cooling the heat that his touch generated everywhere they contacted. Our lips moved in sync sensually and with a pinch of solicitous. My fingers ran through the softness of his hair as he held my face in a delicate manner. It was as if I had fallen in the tranquility of the sea, soothing my overwhelmed nerves until the lungs protested. Breathless we both gasped for air, our foreheads touching.

"Come...back to me," he uttered between pants, and I nodded.

Lifting my hand he inserted the ring in my ring finger and placed gentle kisses on the knuckles. "You are mine. You're only mine."

"Yes. Yes I'm all yours." The words left my mouth without any effort, and I knew just how much my heart had been yearning for him.