Love in Paris (The Art Models Club Book 4) (13 page)

“I'm an asshole,” he repeated.

Amber sat up, sniffling.

“Only sometimes,” she said. “You've never done anything to make me afraid of you. Please don't think that. This is . . .well, this is something I apparently still need to work through from my past.”

Hunter looked horror stricken.

“No, that's a good thing,” Amber said, her voice getting stronger. “The better you make me feel about myself, the more I realize how much I've repressed from my past.”

Hunter was shaking his head.

“Baby, the only thing I want to confront is whatever bastard that hurt you. Tell me who it is and I'll beat the shit out of him.”

Amber smiled.

“As much as I'm tempted, I don't think that's necessary, Hunter.”

She took his fist, which was clenched, and kissed it.

“I think talking about it with somebody is probably a little more productive.”

Hunter looked at his fist and slowly relaxed.

“I'd feel better beating up somebody.”

“
And what if he was bigger than you?” Amber asked, grinning.

“
I'd bring Caleb with me. He's a much better fighter anyway.”

Amber shook her head.

“Don't you think you guys are getting a little old to handle things that way?”

Hunter narrowed his eyes.

“Sometimes it's the only thing some men can understand.”

He sighed and kissed her.

“What happened?” he asked softly.

Amber bit her lip, not believing she was going to talk about this after so much time had passed. She had convinced herself that all these feelings were behind her. Maybe the fact that she couldn't talk about them made it clear that she was not fully healed.

“One of my mother's numerous boyfriends got wasted and came after me one night while she went to the store. When I refused his advances, he . . .um . . .he started hitting me. I was fourteen and kind of small. But Hannah's dad had started teaching us some self defense. I was able to get away from him and run to the kitchen.”

Hunter didn't seem to be breathing. His eyes were wide with shock and anger.

“And then?” he whispered as though not sure he wanted her to continue.

“
I stabbed the bastard in the arm and leg with a steak knife.”

Amber smiled grimly. “I heard later that he had to get thirty stitches.”

Hunter's whole body was clenched and he was breathing fast.

“
Shit! Oh, baby, I had no idea!”

He cradled her, kissing her face gently and then lifting up her chin to gaze into her eyes.

“I'm not surprised that you defended yourself like that. You're one amazing woman.”

Amber looked at Hunter thoughtfully.

“You know it's weird but I had forgotten that I did mess him up a bit. I suppose I was pretty tough.”

“
I never want you to ever go through anything like that again,” Hunter said, wrapping his arms around her protectively and pulling her close. His voice was a little muffled because his mouth was covered by her hair.

He gently pushed her back and looked into her eyes.

“I still want to beat the shit out of him, though.”

“
I know you do, and I appreciate it,” she said. “But I really wouldn't want to go through the trouble of finding him after all this time. I suspect he's probably in jail anyway. Or dead. He was pretty messed up with drugs.”

“
I won't ever let you live like that again,” Hunter vowed.

Amber kissed him.

“I know. That's one of the reasons why I love you so much.”

“
You still love me? Even though I can be such an asshole?”

Amber traced his face with her finger.

“
Well, you are a pretty damn sexy asshole.”

Hunter grinned. “Can I try to redeem myself tonight?”

“Hmm . . .You know I could really go for a nice back massage after dinner. Do you have any recommendations?”

Hunter's eyes twinkled. “Oh, I know someone with an artist's hands. Do you pay well?”

“The pay is lousy,” Amber admitted. “But for above and beyond service, there would be a very generous tip. Would the masseuse be available this evening?”

“
I'm afraid he's not available after dinner. However, he does have an immediate opening in the next few minutes.”

“
Excellent!”

A few minutes later the car stopped and Amber realized that they were already back at the hotel. Hunter held the door open for her. Cinching her coat tightly, she exited the car quickly as the blustery wind whipped her hair. She grabbed Hunter's hand and they hurried inside.

“Just a minute, I need to speak with the concierge a moment.”

Amber tried to eavesdrop but, as usual, the rapid speech was simply too much for her to comprehend. But the concierge seemed to be agreeing to do something and was already on his phone. Hmm . . .Maybe Hunter was making dinner reservations?

“What was that about?” she asked curiously.

But Hunter purposely pretended not to hear her. Instead, he started rambling about one of the paintings in the lobby. Amber wanted to be angry. But she also wanted a massage. With Hunter's mercurial mood today, she decided to let it drop. She was going to ask for some formal French lessons, though. She felt ridiculous not knowing the language.

“Why don't you go and get comfortable?” Hunter suggested when they got back to the room.

“
I need to make a quick phone call to let Dad know what's going on.”

“
Does the masseuse have any suggestions for preparations?”

Hunter grinned. “I believe he usually recommends his clients simply wrap a towel around themselves. Underthings don't allow full range of . . .um . . .technique.”

Amber laughed and entered the bedroom. She pulled the covers down on the bed and undressed, hanging up her slacks neatly. She caught herself just as she shut the closet door. Damn! She was starting to pick up some of Hunter's neat habits. Just to be contrary, she threw her blouse on the floor.

Then she sighed. It looked so out of place in such a beautiful room. Stooping, she picked it up and put it in the neat pile of dirty clothes Hunter was amassing in the corner of the closet. She shook her head. There was something really wrong about having a neat pile of dirty clothes.

She didn't know how long Hunter would be so she turned on the television and found a music station, landing on one that was playing an Ella Fitzgerald song. That should set the mood, she thought, slipping off her bra and panties and leaving those in the bathroom. She wrapped a thick towel around her middle and stretched out on her stomach on the bed. If Hunter didn't get here soon she might doze off.

She didn't have long to wait though. She thought she heard the doorbell ring and then Hunter entered the room a few minutes later. She turned her head to watch him slip into the bathroom with a small shopping bag. She pushed herself up on her elbows.

“What's that?” she called out.

“
Sorry, can't hear you because the water's running!”

Hunter turned on the water after he finished speaking.

Fine, I get the point, Amber thought. She closed her eyes. A minute later she heard the sound of a match lighting and her eyes flicked open. Hunter was lighting several votive candles. Oh! He was really taking this seriously!

Hunter hummed as he placed a few of the candles on the bedside tables and dresser. He kept a couple in the bathroom and then flipped off all the lights. Amber peeked at him and saw that he was wearing soft pajama pants and nothing else. He brought over a few towels and spread them out beside her.

“Do you mind moving over here?” he asked softly. “I don't want to get oil on the bed.”

Amber smiled and moved as requested.

He placed another towel on the bedside table and she watched, amused, as he put the ice bucket on top. But the bucket was steaming and when she raised herself up she saw that a bottle of massage oil was floating inside. Clever, she thought.

“
Ready, mademoiselle?”

“
Ready, monsieur,” she murmured.

She noticed that Hunter's pajama pants were low on his hips. She had to resist reaching over and tugging them down further.

Hunter dipped his fingers in the water, shook the bottle of oil and tested a few drops on his own wrist. The temperature must have been acceptable because he dried off the bottle and carried it to the bed. He climbed up beside her.

“
Shall I help mademoiselle remove the towel?”

Smiling, Amber raised herself up so that Hunter could help her pull the towel away. She was somewhat surprised when he placed it back over her, leaving only her head and one arm uncovered.

A few seconds later, she felt warm oil drizzle down the one exposed arm and hand. After first gently stoking the entire exposed area, he concentrated on her hand, gently tugging and pulling each individual finger before moving on to her palm and wrist. Amber felt herself relaxing into the bed. By the time he finished her one side, she was already in a drowsy bliss. Hunter moved the towel over her relaxed arm and exposed the other one which he gave equal attention. Hunter was taking his task seriously, not rushing at all. Amber had never had a professional massage. However, she suspected that Hunter was following the standard protocol exactly. She had to admit that this was another instance of when having a control freak boyfriend was a good thing. If there was one thing about Hunter, he didn't do anything half way.

Once arms and hands were completed, she felt Hunter shift again. The towel was pulled lower so that it now covered her buttocks and lower legs. Seconds later, more warm oil dribbled down her skin, trickling down onto her sides and neck.

“Mm . . .That feels nice,” Amber murmured appreciatively as Hunter began to gently rub his hands across her skin, starting with her neck and gently kneading her skin as he moved downward, stopping just above where the towel covered her rear end. 

“
Wow, you have a lot of tension in your back,” Hunter murmured. “Do you want me to apply a little more pressure or would that be too much?”

“
A little harder is fine,” Amber replied.

Hunter's hands were more firm now, almost painful but just short of her having to stop him. At last he gave her back a few gentle caresses and then scooted lower on the bed. This time the towel floated upward and rested across her top half and butt cheeks. She felt Hunter moving even lower until he was at her feet.

When he first touched her toes, she jerked her foot back because it tickled. But then his firm hands were squeezing and massaging her foot, making her flash back to the first foot massage she had gotten from Hunter. She remembered being surprised at how erotic his touch had been. If Hunter was remembering it, he didn't give any indication. Once he finished professionally massaging her feet, he moved up her calves and thighs.

Once he start kneading her thighs, she felt herself starting to become aroused. She tried not to give herself away and twitch on the bed. Hunter was playing the role of professional masseuse to the extreme. But then he got to the towel.

“Would mademoiselle like me to continue beyond the towel?” he whispered.

Amber smiled.

“Mademoiselle would very much like monsieur to continue beyond the towel,” she murmured, turning to look at him.

He had a soft sheen of sweat on his skin. The thin pajama pants were doing a lousy job of hiding his pleasure. She put her head back down to avoid staring at him. A few seconds later, the towel was completely removed. She shivered when she felt the warm oil drizzle over her ass and even down between her legs.

She wasn't going to remain chaste very long at this rate. She moaned as Hunter's slippery fingers massaged her butt cheeks and then started wandering elsewhere.

“
Roll over,” she finally heard Hunter order, his voice hoarse.

She slid onto her back and he poured even more oil over her breasts and belly. He paused for a second and quickly removed his pajama bottoms. Moving to one side, he knelt to kiss her and then his hands were everywhere at once. The slippery feel of the oil and his hot skin were driving her crazy. Finally she couldn't take it and grabbed the oil bottle.

“On your back,” she commanded.

Hunter complied and she drizzled the oil down his front. Then she used her own hands to touch and stroke. Finally, she positioned herself beside him so that they could both use their hands freely. Only their faces were free of body oil.

Hunter captured her lips with his teeth and nipped gently. His fingers were now sliding down her belly and between her legs. She groaned and grabbed his hips.

“
I don't think I can handle any more foreplay,” Hunter said, his eyes burning with desire.