Awwww. Much of it was trivia, but she started piecing together his life from these shared bits of information.
"Not many people know this, but I was actually adopted. The man I call my father found me when I was an infant and took me in. My parents had abandoned me. My adoptive father raised me as his own, and when he was killed, something died in me, too. It's why I joined IPI, to find his killer." Hunter kept his eyes on the moon as he spoke, but then turned to look at Lucy. "I've never shared this with anyone else."
Her mind clicked. "The serial killer who killed your father.... He was a paranormal?"
Hunter nodded, but didn't speak.
She squeezed his hand and rested her head on his shoulder. "Did you ever find him?"
"Not yet, but I will someday."
The mood grew somber as they drifted toward a grassy shore. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Want to get off and stretch?"
"Sure."
Vines grew thick around them, creating a secret paradise.
They held hands as they walked into a grassy knoll, and then lay down to stare at the moon and the stars filling the night sky. Hunter rolled to his side and propped his head up with his hand. "What are you thinking about?"
"Just wondering what life will be like when we get out of this mess. Are you with me because I'm literally the only woman around?"
He kissed her. "Lucy, even if hundreds of naked women were walking around this place, I'd only have eyes for you. Granted, our circumstances probably brought us together faster than had we met in our real lives, but that doesn't make what we have any less real. And when we go back, we'll find a way to be together, if that's what you want."
She tried to imagine life with Hunter. Would she stay at the mansion in Washington, or go to Washington, D.C. with him? What would she do with her life? Where would she live? So many questions to sort through, but looking into his green eyes she knew that she wanted to be with him, no matter what.
"So, does this mean...?"
"It means I've fallen in love with you, Lucy. As crazy as that sounds, it's true. And if you'll have me, I want to see where this leads."
Her heart swelled with warmth. She'd never felt this way before, never known this kind of love before. That empty place inside her filled with something new, and a tear trickled out of her eye. "I love you too, Hunter."
When they kissed again, it had a new edge to it, something deeper and more meaningful. The walls around their feelings had crumbled under the declaration of love, and they willingly laid themselves bare to each other.
Hunter's hand moved under her shirt, and she welcomed the advance. She wanted to give herself entirely to him, wanted to know what it felt like to make love to someone for the first time. Curiosity had driven her previous sexual experiences, more so than passion or desire. With Hunter, the passion and desire took over, making her body a slave to his.
He paused long enough to look her in the eyes. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "I want to be with you, Hunter. I need you."
They lost themselves in each other's embrace. Skin on skin, flesh on flesh, they became one.
Chapter 97 – Sam
The wind blew icy raindrops into my window, as if tiny bullets assaulted the mansion. I considered going outside just so the rain could blend with my tears and hide the evidence of my mourning. At least the thunder camouflaged the sounds of my sobs. I had failed at everything.
First I'd failed to save Mary without destroying Drake, then failed at helping Tommy and saving his mother, and finally failed at keeping my own daughter safe. Somehow, my bastard of a father had gotten to her, and I couldn't figure out how or when, or even why. I knew he wanted her, but had no idea what he planned to do with her once he got her. What was his end game?
I fantasized that somehow, once the sun came out and the rain stopped its incessant hammering, Ana would reappear, and I could hold her in my arms and never let go. Another sob racked my body, one of her baby blankets pressed to my face to absorb the tears. Oh God, Ana. I'm so sorry, baby. If you can hear me, or feel me, I'm here. I'll find you, I swear it.
My sketchbook lay open in front of me, images of Ana everywhere. I flipped through the pages, and a new wave of tears formed as Luke's and Lucy's faces assaulted my heart. I couldn’t lose them all. I just couldn't. On the next page, Drake stared back at me with those sexy eyes and chiseled features. Even a black and white sketch made my stomach do flip-flops.
Well screw him. I tore out the page, crumbled it up and threw it across the room.