Love in Paris (The Art Models Club Book 4) (7 page)

He pulled her closer. “Why don't you punch me or slap me? I do deserve it.”

Amber tried to hang onto her anger. She tried to look away from his eyes. But they were pinning her in place. She swallowed as he took one finger and traced it down her throat.

“
I know you can fight better than that,” he said tenderly. “I bet it's this pesky pajama top holding you back. I bet it's restricting your shoulder rotation.”

Still locking eyes with her, Hunter unbuttoned her top and slid one hand forward to cup her breast.

“No,” she whispered. “You're not going to win this bet.”

Hunter immediately backed off and removed his hands.

“Is it okay if I change the channel then,” he asked innocently.

“
What? Hell no!”

Suddenly Amber was furious again.

“How dare you?” she snarled as she started to pelt him with punches.

Again, Hunter let her hit him. But this time she noticed that he was breathing heavily. What was she doing? Was this what he had wanted?

“Then I'll just watch you, baby,” Hunter said, moving his hand down to start stroking himself.

Amber froze, suddenly aware that she was getting wet between her legs. Damn!

“You're not playing fair,” she said, unable to take her eyes off of him pleasuring himself.

She was aware of how close Hunter was. Of his taut stomach. She yanked her eyes upward and she felt herself becoming helpless against the pull of his eyes. It was as though he was staring inside her, transmitting his transparent desire.

“Please,” he whispered. “I want you so much, Amber. I need to touch you. Taste you. Smell you.”

Amber felt herself melting. Her brain was oozing like jelly. Why was he doing this? Oh, yes, the bet. The stupid, idiotic bet.

Those lips were so tantalizing. She groaned. Just one little taste or she would go crazy. She knelt and took his bottom lip between her teeth. And then Hunter moaned beneath her and that was her undoing. She fell against him, needing for her skin to be touching his skin. She shrugged out of her pajamas and panties.

For a moment, Hunter simply stared at her. Then he gently started kissing her face, moving to her ears, her cheeks, and lips.

“Only you,” he whispered. “All I need is you.”

He moved his hands down, cupping, pinching, rubbing and teasing. And then he followed his hands with his mouth, circling and sucking until she moaned.

She reached for him, running her hands along his smooth back, running up and down his chest and then down to wear he squirmed beneath her.

Hunter retaliated by sliding his hand between her legs, causing her to gasp as his finger paused to caress her even there.

“Hunter,” she whispered. “Please, yes, please.”

And then he was propping himself up on his elbows above her.

She couldn't help herself. Her legs were thrashing on the bed beneath him, her body wanting him inside her.

“
I want to make love to you, Amber Holloway,” Hunter said. “Only you.”

“
Yes,” Amber said, guiding him between her legs. “I want you. I need you.”

“
Don't close your eyes, Amber,” Hunter whispered. “Please.”

Amber stared into the depths of Hunter's eyes. The green was like a dark roiling sea. His face was flushed and he was already breathing heavily. He stared at her as he finally entered her, his mouth opening with a gasp as their bodies finally connected.

He moved slowly but Amber was already beyond control. She felt herself bucking beneath him, her back arching. She could feel the moans growing and escaping her as the pressure built in her core. She was having a hard time keeping her head still. But Hunter sensed she wasn't there yet and he kept up his rhythm.

The pressure was so intense now. She lost control of her head and it moved from side to side as she moved frantically. It was as though she was approaching a cliff and about to fall off. And then, unexpectedly she felt her body jerk forward violently as a huge wave tumbled over her. The sensation didn't stop there though because Hunter continued to rock against her until sweat began to pool beneath their stomachs sliding together.

Hunter was clenching her buttocks, lifting her so that he could plunge deeper. And then he was yelling hoarsely above her, finding his own release as she spiraled back to earth. Keeping himself in her, he fell sideways, clasping her body to him tightly.

“I love you, Amber,” he whispered at last, showering her with kisses.

Amber felt languid, her body amazingly relaxed. For the moment at least, she didn't give a damn about losing the bet.

“I love you, Hunter,” she said sleepily.

Hunter stroked her back and ran his fingers through her hair. And that was how they stayed until they both drifted to sleep.

When Amber woke again, Hunter was missing from the bed but at least it was fully day now. She glanced over at the clock and saw that it was almost eight o'clock. She stretched and then finally flopped her legs over the side of the bed. Ah, this carpet felt so good between her toes. She found a clean pair of jeans neatly folded in the dresser. Her tee shirts, she was amused to find, were all hanging neatly in the closet. She chose one, slipped it on and then padded to the window. Opening the curtains, she saw that the windows were splattered with rain. The clouds were thick and dark. Well, at least she wouldn't miss being out and about in this weather. She closed the curtains and made her way to the living room.

Hunter was busy typing something on his laptop. Amber waited until he was finished and had noticed her before she gave him a good morning kiss.

“Have you been up long?”

“
About an hour,” Hunter said, pausing only to give her a quick smile and kiss. “Sorry, baby, but I've got some things to get done this morning.”

“
No problem.”

Amber noticed for the first time an electric tea kettle on one of the counters. That would certainly come in handy. She picked it up, filled it with fresh water, and then turned it on. Fifteen minutes later, she was snuggled up on the sofa tackling her French study guide. She only stopped when Hunter asked if she minded room service and they ordered sandwiches. Later that afternoon, Mrs. Webb called to ask Amber if she would consider coming in to the office the following afternoon to fill out employment paperwork and to have an informal meeting. She assured Amber that she could wear jeans if she wanted as it would not be an actual work day.

The rest of the afternoon passed much as the morning had. Amber was glad that she had studying to do.

“
Sorry, I can't spend time with you today,” Hunter said, finishing up his sandwich and reaching for the bowl of sliced fruit.

“
You could take a cab to a museum if you want,” he offered.

“
No thanks,” Amber replied, eying one of the pastries that had come with lunch.

She didn't want to admit it, but she was still nervous about walking around with her extremely limited knowledge of French. Even negotiating a taxi driver seemed daunting.

“I really want to use this time to learn as much French as I can.”

“
That's my girl,” Hunter said. “I'm glad you're approaching this with so much enthusiasm. But remember that as long as you are courteous, most people you would encounter know at least a little English.”

“
So it's a myth about the rude Parisian?” Amber asked playfully.

“
Oh, some of us can be rude,” Hunter said, chuckling. “But usually only when provoked. For me it happens when certain people don't take my advice.”

Amber laughed. “Some people are just too bossy for their own good.”

Hunter reached over for a pastry.

“
By the way, I was thinking that next weekend might be a good time for you to make good on your promise.”

“
What promise?” Amber asked, trying to play innocent.

“
Oh, there was this little bet that a certain someone lost.”

Hunter sliced the pastry in half and offered Amber half but she shook her head.

“So, if I remember correctly, my prize is getting to tell you exactly what to do for two full days.”

Amber groaned. Of course he wasn't going to let her off the hook.

“I thought that maybe winning the bet was reward enough all by itself,” she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes at him.

Hunter swallowed a bit of his pastry and licked his lips. Then he grinned wickedly.

“Oh, winning was definitely fun. But I'm not missing my one and only opportunity to have complete control over you even if it is short lived.”

“
Um . . .maybe we should have some rules or guidelines in place,” Amber said, suddenly worried about what Hunter might ask her to do.

“
Ah, like an official agreement a submissive would make to her dominant?”

Amber blushed.

“I wasn't thinking of that exactly. I just don't want to go beyond my comfort level. I mean . . .Not necessarily sex but . . .”

She broke off, getting embarrassed. Damn! What was he thinking about her?

“How do you know so much anyway?” she asked suddenly.

“
Oh, baby, the moment I heard you talking about control I went online and did a little bit of research. Some pretty interesting stuff people do.”

He winked at her.

“Of course I don't have any of the . . . um . . .equipment because this is all new to me. Should I order something?”

“
What? No! This was never about the sex!” she shrieked, her face flaming.

Hunter chuckled.

“Sorry, I can't help myself. It just cracks me up that you are the one that put the whole idea in my head.”

He waved away Amber's objections.

“I know you were thinking more in line of retaliating against me being a control freak. But the thought of you being submissive to me is definitely a turn on.”

Amber clenched her fists.

“This is a one time prize bet, Hunter Webb,” she snarled. “Don't go getting any ideas.”

Hunter studied her seriously for a moment.

“Getting you angry, baby, turns me on for some reason. I wonder why that is?”

“
Ugh! You are so exasperating!”

Amber got up abruptly and returned to her French study guide.

“So that's a no on quick afternoon sex?” Hunter called out after her.

Amber glared at him and gave him her middle finger.

Hunter started laughing again.

Damn! She had to stop letting him get under her skin like this. She sighed as she glanced at him furtively. He was looking so hot today in a white button down shirt and low riding jeans. Afternoon sex would have been fun but there was no way in hell she was giving in now. She forced her attention back to her book.

It was after six o'clock when Amber finally closed her book for good. She felt as though French phrases were swimming in her head. She was also famished, having only munched on candy and fruit since lunch.

Hunter had gone downstairs to the business center a little earlier to print out some documents so she flipped on the television while she waited, hoping for something mindless to entertain her. She was in the middle of a show about couples buying houses internationally when Hunter came back, whistling cheerfully.

“Ready for dinner?” he asked. “Still early for Parisians so we won't have a long wait if we go now.”

“
Starving! Are we eating downstairs or out somewhere?”

“
Let's go out,” Hunter said. “We've been cooped up indoors too much today.”

An hour later they were seated at a casual pizza place filled with students.

“Is this okay?” Hunter asked, raising his voice to be heard above the thump of music in the background.

“
Awesome!” Amber said, giving him a thumbs up.

The fancy restaurants were fun in their own way but it was nice not having to worry about what fork to use or if she was making a mistake in etiquette. Using her fingers as the only tools for eating was also a bonus, she thought, picking up her slice of pizza.

When they returned home, Hunter surprised her by flipping a switch and revealing that the fireplace in the living room worked.

“
I thought it was just for show!”

“
Sorry, I should have shown you before,” Hunter said. “I was afraid it might make you sleepy while you were studying though. A nice fire does that to me.”

“
This is so nice,” Amber murmured. “Who needs a television when you can just sit and watch a fire together.”

Hunter pulled out several sheets of paper and Amber looked over curiously.