Protecting Her - Alexis Noelle Page 0,34
are worth it.” He pauses and I feel like he wants to say it.
“I love you, Hunter Stone.”
His eyes widen at my admission and his body once again stills. I hope my confession wasn’t a mistake, that I won’t regret what I just said to him. I break our eye contact, hoping to mask the hurt that is lingering beneath the surface. He lowers himself to me, kissing me with such intensity that it takes my breath away. When he pushes inside of me, I gasp. He moves slowly in and out of me. His eyes focus on mine and seem to say everything that he can’t. I can see the love in his eyes. I can feel it in the way that he is with me right now.
Hunter may not be ready to tell me he loves me.
Right now, he is showing me.
I wake up in the morning and for a minute, panic at my unfamiliar surroundings. When I remember coming to Hunter’s house I relax. He isn’t next to me anymore. After we made love last night, he held me in his arms until I fell asleep. He hadn’t said a word after I told him I loved him. I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt, and that I wasn’t disappointed. His actions showed me how he felt but I wanted to hear it. Sometimes I think that maybe we just have a physical connection, maybe there is nothing more to it. That’s when I remember all the times he has been there for me without the promise of sex. The way he has comforted my fears and insecurities.
I grab one of his shirts from his drawer and slip it on, then go in search of him. I find him in the kitchen making a fresh cup of coffee and doing something on the computer. “Hey.” That’s all I could come up with. I don’t know how his demeanor will be. If last night changed things.
He looks up at me and smiles before walking around the counter. His arms wrap around me and I lean against him, enjoying this simple moment in my chaotic life. Then the doorbell rings. It was nice while it lasted.
“I’ll go get it,” he says before walking out of the kitchen. “Sam, it was Joe and he said you have a meeting in an hour.” I groan, not wanting to deal with life today. The meeting is with my entire team and I’m sure the stalker and Hunter will be the main topics of discussion.
“Okay. I’ll go get ready.”
We make our way to the meeting and I’m nervous. I really don’t feel like defending my relationship or rehashing the craziness that my life has turned into. Hunter’s hand is in mine and I feel like he can sense my uneasiness. We pull up to the building and take the elevator up to my label’s floor. Sitting around the meeting table are my mother, my publicist, my producers, and my record label rep. Every eye is trained on Hunter and me as we sit down. I feel like a damn zoo exhibit.
The meeting starts off with the normal plan of action for the next few months, highlighting big appearances and commitments. I have an award show to attend, which should be fun. I requested a week off when my tour ends to wind down, but hearing the rep rattle off places to be, it doesn’t seem like that is in the plans. This is ridiculous. I work hard and if I want a few days to myself, then that shouldn’t be a damn problem.
“Excuse me, can I interrupt for a moment? After the last show, I am taking a few days off. I see that there are a couple of things scheduled but I won’t be able to fulfill those obligations.”
Everyone’s heads snap up. “Samantha, don’t be silly.” My mother would be the first to chime in. “The best thing for you right now is to stay in the media. You need to have people writing about you, talking about you. If you take time off, they will likely forget you even mattered.” Ouch. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom.
“I don’t want a month or anything long. Just a few days. I’m sure my image would survive that.” I say it with a tone that lets them know I am not discussing it any further. I would have never had the nerve to do this before Hunter came along. I