On The Rocks

Looking up at me in surprise, he stares blankly, pushing away from the bar. “No time like the present. Let’s go to my office.”


Oh shit. My heart starts hammering because I wasn’t ready to talk right this very moment. These things take time to figure out. There’s a certain bit of finesse I need to employ, and that takes preparation.

I have no choice though, and I follow Hunter back to his office like I’m marching off to face a death squad. My mind is spinning, trying desperately to think of what I’m going to say. Should I apologize? Should I explain my fears? Should I treat this as a joke?

I have no fucking clue.

Hunter precedes me into his office and I follow behind, turning to close the door behind me. When I turn back around, Hunter is there in front of me. I’m completely startled when his hands come up to my face to hold me tight, and he kisses me.

I stiffen for just a moment, more from the shock, but then my senses give in to the feeling of his mouth moving over mine… and I give in. My arms snake around his neck and his drop to my waist, as we both pull each other in as close as possible.

The kiss is warm and languid. There’s no frenzy… no urgency. It’s as if we do this a hundred times a day, although the feeling is beyond extraordinary. His tongue is warm and commanding, his body hard against mine. It’s a feeling I could get used to. It’s a feeling I could become dependent on.

Before I can make another observation on the rush of thoughts that are circulating through my mind, Hunter pulls his lips from mine.

“What was that for?” I ask, my breathing coming out in sharp bursts.

His hands fall away, and he steps back from me. Frustration washes over his face, and he slides his fingers through his hair to punctuate it.

“Hell if I know,” he says with a tinge of anger. “I couldn’t fucking help myself.”

My hands come together in nervousness, ringing against one another. I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. I have no clue how to even begin a conversation with him. All seemed right in my world just moments ago when we were kissing, but now everything seems wrong.

Hunter watches me warily, waiting.

When nothing seems to be forthcoming, he sighs. “What is it you wanted, Gabby?”

“I—I—” I have no idea what to say. The only thing that is coming to mind is, “Please kiss me again,” but that just doesn’t seem appropriate.

When it’s apparent that nothing intelligent seems to want to make an appearance from my lips, Hunter shrugs his shoulders and starts for the door. “When you figure it out, let me know.”

When he walks by me, a sense of urgency hits and I reach out to grab his arm. “Wait.”

He turns to look at me, his face unreadable and impatient. “What do you want?”

It’s a simple question. At this very moment—what is it I really want? There’s only one answer, although I’m not sure exactly what it means.

“I want you,” I tell him quietly.

He narrows his gaze at me, suspicious of my motivation. I can’t say as I blame him. Stepping in toward me closer, he asks, “In what way?”

“I don’t know,” I practically whine. “I’m confused.”

His features smooth out at my pathetic nature, and sympathy filters into his eyes. He reaches his hands out and frames my face again, leaning in closer. “Me too. So let’s figure this out.”

I take in a deep breath and let it out gratefully, some of the tension leaving my body. It helps to know he’s confused as well. I don’t feel quite so alone right now.

“I don’t know what this is,” I admit. “I don’t know where this is going.”

Giving me a small smile, Hunter leans in and gives me a kiss. When he pulls away, he says, “No one knows where anything is going… not for sure. Who’s to say we need to know what waits for us? Maybe all we need to know is that we don’t want to stay where we are.”

He makes it sound so simple. It’s so Que Sera Sera.

Great, now that song is freakin’ stuck in my head.