Misplaced Princess (Foreign Affairs, Book One) (9 page)

Only when her climax subsided did he soften his thrusts. Slowly, he dragged his fingers out. Annie didn’t move for several moments, giving Hunter time to study her pretty face. When she’d first arrived, she’d been pale, with dark circles under her eyes. He’d blamed travel for that tiredness, but after hearing about her life in New York, he suspected perhaps that was her natural state. As the days passed, he’d watched the tension around her eyes and mouth lessen. Her skin had darkened with the sun, a few cute freckles appearing on her nose and cheeks.

Right now, as she lay boneless, replete, she looked healthy, relaxed. Beautiful.

Finally Annie’s eyes opened, her gaze finding his. Neither of them spoke as she rolled to face him. He was reminded of lying with her like this in his bed as she stroked his cock. It was a new position for him, but it was suddenly his favorite. Lying close to her, watching her expressive blue eyes, sharing her air, knowing he could reach out and touch her anywhere, at anytime. It was as close to heaven as he’d ever come.

“Thank you,” she whispered after several silent moments.

His mouth twisted into a crooked grin and he wiggled his eyebrows. “For what?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Well, for that,” she gestured to her lower body, “but also for the last few days. I’d sort of hit a wall at home. Hit a point where I just couldn’t take one more step. I feel stronger now.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m glad.”

“Did you know yesterday was Thanksgiving? Or, well…
today
. God. The stupid time difference is so confusing.”

He shook his head. “That’s one of your American holidays, right?”

She nodded. “Yep. Usually families get together for a big meal and to take a moment to say what they’re thankful for.”

He frowned. “Shouldn’t you be home with them?”

She sighed and closed her eyes. “I love my family, Hunter. I truly do. My sisters sort of drive me nuts, but they’re funny and harmless most of the time. They’re twins too. Did I tell you that?”

“No. I didn’t know that.”

“I’m older by four years.”

Hunter did the math. Annie, at seven, would have remembered their mother leaving, however, her younger sisters had only been three. They’d never known what it was like having a mother in the house. Annie did.

“My father’s wealth increased as we got older and with that money came more and more exposure.”

“I thought you said your father sort of promoted that.”

Annie’s lips tightened. She’d been so relaxed just a few minutes ago. Hunter hated to see that easiness go away. “He did. Apparently there’s a gene in my family that makes them crave attention. It’s dominant in my dad and sisters, recessive in me and my mom.”

Suddenly things were making more sense. The one person who’d grounded Annie, made her feel secure in her family, in her own skin, had left her alone to deal with those differences.

“Is that why she left? The attention?” he asked.

Annie nodded slowly. “Yeah. I think so.” She paused. “I know so. The tabloids drove her nuts. Do you know where she is now?”

Hunter shook his head.

“In a little villa in Tuscany. The place is completely isolated except for a few neighboring villagers.”

“Does she still live with her younger man?”

“Yeah. They’ve been married for nearly twenty years. He works in a vineyard and she putters in the garden and writes poetry. They don’t travel often because my mom says she’s never found anywhere as beautiful as Italy, anywhere that brings her that same peaceful feeling. I’ve visited her a few times. It’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t get that same sense of home there that she does.”

Hunter could appreciate that idea. He’d never left Australia and had only traveled to Sydney and Adelaide a handful of times. While it had been cool to see the lights of the bigger cities, he’d missed home. Farpoint held his heart and always would. It seemed Annie was still searching for her place in the world.

“Are you happy in New York, Annie?”

Her response came instantly. “No. Not really.”

“Then why are you there?”

This time her answer took longer. He could see her formulating her response, searching for the right words. “Honestly? I have no idea. I think I settled there after college because that’s where my family was, because that’s where the jobs were. Before I knew it, one day had become a month and a month had become a year, then six years had passed. I kept going because it was easier than uprooting, moving somewhere else.”

“Why did you come to Australia?”

“Because I’m tired of playing it safe. Tired of accepting the status quo. I want my home, Hunter. It’s out there. And I’m going to find it.”

It was on the edge of his lips to tell her to stay longer, to try Farpoint on for size. Ridiculous as it seemed given her short stay, Hunter suspected Annie belonged here. Unfortunately, he couldn’t extend that offer. Not until he cleared things with Dylan.

He’d put off talking to his brother for days, uncertain what to say. Now he knew. He wanted Annie. Somehow he’d have to make Dylan understand.

A car door slamming outside the shed recalled them to their present state.

Hunter rose slowly, hooking his pants back up. “I suppose we should head to the house. The work day is about to start.”

Annie set herself to rights as well then took his proffered hand and they descended the hay bale staircase.

When they returned to the house, they ran into Hazel at the front door, carrying a small overnight bag.

“Running away from home?” Hunter teased.

“It’s my turn to stay with your Aunt Joyce. She had her hip replacement surgery. I told you about it a few days ago.”

Everything had been a whirlwind since Annie’s arrival. So much so, he’d forgotten his mother had promised to take a turn caring for his elderly great aunt. “Oh yeah. That’s today?”

Hazel nodded slowly. “And tonight. I’m sleeping there as well.” Her gaze traveled from his face to Annie’s. Damn observant woman.

Annie must have felt the penetrating look as well. “I think I might head upstairs for a quick shower,” she said.

Hunter didn’t want to let her go, but Hazel clearly had some piece to speak and he wasn’t going to be given an easy escape like Annie.

“Of course, dear.” Hazel gave her a motherly kiss on the cheek. Annie smiled at the gesture and, for a moment, Hunter thought he saw the sheen of tears. “You have a nice day and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

Annie said goodbye to his mum. Hunter watched her walk down the hallway, knowing he was in a whole world of trouble—and not with his mother.

He was falling in love with Annie Prince.

Hunter Sullivan, the world’s most practical man, was losing his heart to a woman who didn’t even live on the same continent, whose father had more money than God, who had come here because of her interest in Dylan. Fuck.

“Call Dylan.”

Hunter glanced at his mum, trying to ignore the elephant in the room. “You need a hand with your bag?”

Hazel narrowed her eyes. “No. I don’t.”

“How about I drive you over there?”

She shook her head. “Keith’s waiting in the truck. He’ll take me. Call your brother.”

“I will, Mum.”

His mother reached over and placed her hand on his shoulder. “If for no other reason, Hunter, than to tell him how you’re feeling.”

He nodded. His mother left and Hunter watched the retreating truck until the taillights disappeared into the darkness.

Then he walked over to the phone. It rang the moment he touched the receiver.

He answered with his usual. “G’day.”

“Hunter.”

A twin moment. It wasn’t the first time he and Dylan had reached out to find each other at exactly the same moment. His mother always laughed and it was she who’d dubbed them “twin moments”.

Hunter forced a casual tone to his voice. “Dylan. How you goin’?”

“I’m doin’ all right. Mum says you’ve been entertaining Annie there for me. Well done, mate.”

“Are you on your way home?”

It took a few seconds for Dylan to reply. “No.”

“You still missing your luggage?”

Dylan cleared his throat. “Uh, no. I got it back a couple hours ago. Just thinking I might stay here a little longer.”

“You’re going to stay in New York? I didn’t think you were interested in sightseeing. Thought you were just going to meet Annie.”

“Yeah. I was, but I met Annie’s friend, Monet. She’s been putting me up, showing me around. Is, uh, Annie planning on coming back soon?”

Dylan was still expecting to see Annie. “Didn’t Mum tell you? Annie’s staying here for a couple weeks. She’s writing an article about the cattle station for her magazine.”

“Oh yeah. Monet said she’d gotten an assignment. Didn’t think she’d do it with me here.”

Hunter heard music in the background, heard Dylan say something to someone else.

“Where are you?” Hunter asked.

“I’m at Monet’s. We’re about to start making Thanksgiving dinner. We just got home from a parade. Give me a minute, Monnie. I’m going to take this call in the other room.”

Hunter couldn’t miss the peculiar tone in Dylan’s voice. Something seemed odd, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. It was throwing Hunter off, making it harder for him to confess what he was feeling for Annie. If Dylan was having problems in New York, Hunter didn’t want to add to his misery.

“I’m alone now,” Dylan said after a few moments.

“Dylan, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just… Ah, fuck a bloody duck. I’m just going to say it. Call me a dickhead all you like, but I think I’ve fallen arse over tit for Monet. I feel like shit, given that Annie flew all the way to—”

“Jesus, Dylan,” Hunter interrupted, the breath flying out of him in a relieved swoosh.

“I know, man. I fucked up. Big-time.”

“No,” Hunter said. “You didn’t. I think I’m already halfway in love with Annie.”

“You are?”

“And I’ve been feeling like a right prick for stealing your girl.”

Dylan’s laugh washed over him like rain on a hot summer day. Calmness descended on Hunter. He realized it was the first time since Annie arrived and turned his world on its ear that he didn’t have an ache in his chest.

“Didn’t expect
that
. Sorta figured you’d chew my arse off and tell me to get my shit together and hop on the next plane.”

Hell no.
“I think you should stay in New York. See what’s what with this new girl. Give it a chance. She could be your soul mate.”

Hunter could hear the shock in Dylan’s voice. “Is this the same brother who told me to get my head out of my arse? Told me flying to New York was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life?”

“One and the same. You can kick
my
arse for being a self-righteous prick when you get home.”

Dylan’s sigh of relief traveled all the way to Farpoint. “Deal.”

Hunter heard a female voice before Dylan said, “I need to go. Give Mum and Annie my love.”

“Will do.”

The phone clicked off before Hunter could say goodbye.

Dylan was staying in the States. He’d met another woman.

Hunter’s smile grew.

This changed everything.

Chapter Seven

Annie turned off the shower and sighed. After her heated interlude with Hunter in the shed, she’d felt the need for distance to gather her thoughts. It had taken every ounce of strength in her body not to insist that he fuck her right there in the hay. Unfortunately, he’d made it perfectly clear on several occasions that he wouldn’t let things go too far because of Dylan.

The truth was, months of emails and Skyping with Dylan had never left her feeling the way she’d felt as she lay next to Hunter just talking. It was becoming abundantly clear that even if she and Dylan hadn’t crossed wires, they would never have produced the same sparks or shared the undeniable chemistry she had with Hunter.

She’d thought taking a shower would clear her mind, but it hadn’t. The only problem it had alleviated was the itchiness. Hunter hadn’t lied. Hay was scratchy stuff.

She pulled back the shower curtain and grabbed a towel from the rack. As she did so, a huge spider dropped to the floor and scurried through the door to her bedroom.

Annie cringed then panicked. Quickly wrapping the towel around her, she darted from the bathroom to her bedroom door, keeping a very close watch on the floor.

Dashing out into the hallway, she ran straight into Hunter.

Her face must have betrayed her fear. “Annie. What’s wrong?”

“Spider. In there,” she gasped. “You have to kill it.”

She’d expected him to rush to her rescue, but instead, an amused grin covered his face. “What kind of spider?”

She scowled. “A fucking big-ass spider! Go find it and kill it.”

Hunter rubbed his face but the movement didn’t fool her. He was trying to hide the fact he was laughing.

“Hunter. I can’t sleep in there until I know that thing is dead. What if it crept under the sheets?” She shivered at the thought and realized regardless of the spider’s imminent death, she was facing a few rough nights, imagining bugs crawling all over her. She hated spiders.

Her complaint didn’t trigger the same disgust in Hunter. Instead, the twinkle in his eyes faded and morphed into something much more thrilling as his gaze drifted lower, studying her dripping hair and body. “I have a better idea.”

He didn’t bother to explain. He didn’t need to when he grasped her hand and led her to his bedroom. “I think you should start spending your nights—and even some of your days—in
my
bed.”

Her heart slammed into her throat. He couldn’t possibly be offering the invitation she was hoping for. Could he? “And where will you be?”

“Beside you. The only thing crawling over your body tonight is going to be me.”

“But I thought—”

“I spoke to Dylan on the phone. Explained things.”

Annie narrowed her eyes, confused. “I see. So why don’t you explain some of those
things
to me too.”

Hunter pulled her into his room and shut the door. He pressed her against it, his body so close, the chill she’d felt since leaving the shower disappeared completely.

“You may have come here for Dylan, Annie, but if you leave, it’ll be as
my
girl.”

Too many words resonated in her brain.

If you leave.

My girl.

She wasn’t sure how to respond, but it didn’t matter. Hunter clearly wasn’t expecting an answer.

He backed off, his gaze dropping to the towel she was still clutching around her. “You’re wet.”

She nodded stupidly, afraid to speak, to break the spell. Hunter wanted her. His reservations had disappeared, replaced by sheer, unadulterated lust…and need.

He lightly pulled her hands away from the towel where she held it in place, then gripped the cotton and dragged it from her body.

She forgot to breathe as the soft material stroked her damp skin in its retreat. Then Hunter had the towel hanging loose in his grip as she stood naked before him. He’d seen her in various states of undress over the past few days, but never like this, never totally nude in a well-lit room, standing in front of him. Her nakedness was made more thrilling by the fact he was still fully dressed.

She was on fire. How could he make her feel this way so quickly?

“You’re stunning,” he whispered.

She felt the flush creep to her cheeks, but it wasn’t humiliation fueling the fire. It was nothing short of all-out, balls-to-the-wall need. “I want you. So badly.”

His gaze snapped to hers as she spoke. “Jesus, Annie. I want to do this right, but I think I could come just from looking at you.”

She smiled. “Seems to me like we have all day…and night.”

Hunter growled. An honest-to-God growl. Her body responded as if she were a bitch in heat. Her nipples pebbled and her pussy grew even wetter. “
Every
night. Every night you’re here, I want you in my bed.”

Once again his words reminded her that this visit was only temporary. She was setting herself up for the heartbreak of the century. Hunter lifted the towel and slowly used it to wipe away the drops of water on her overheated skin. Fuck it. She was tired of measuring each move, watching her step out of fear. She wanted Hunter. She’d deal with the rest later.

Each rub of the towel made her breath catch, her heart race, her pussy clench with desire.

She went lightheaded when he dropped to his knees, continuing his gentle caresses over her hips, down her legs, even paying attention to her feet. When he started back up, the towel stroking the inside of her legs, she parted them, willing him to come closer.

He stopped when he reached the juncture of her thighs. Looking down, she caught his wicked smile. He dropped the towel, his fingers lightly touching her opening. “You’re staying wet here. All day if I can manage it.”

She thrilled at his dirty talk. “All night too?” Her tone was infused with a dare, but also hope.

He chuckled. “I’ll do my best, love.” He leaned closer and slowly swiped his tongue along her slit. She shivered, her head falling against the door. Hunter pushed her legs farther apart, his tongue stroking her clit, the opening to her pussy. When he lifted one of her legs, placing her knee on his shoulder so he could reach even deeper, she closed her eyes and tried to fight off her orgasm.

Her palms flattened against the door as Hunter nipped at her clit, his teeth producing a sharp, pleasurable sting that he quickly soothed with a soft kiss. For several minutes, he teased her flesh with tiny pains and delicate strokes, every move he made driving her closer to that gorgeous crossroads of lust and insanity.

When he thrust his tongue inside her, she was a goner. She fisted her hands in his hair and cried out his name. Hunter responded—not with words, but actions. His tongue went deeper, faster. She loved it, but knew she wanted so much more. She wouldn’t rest until it was his cock driving her to madness.

Hunter gripped her ass, squeezing the globes tightly, using them as leverage to hold her pussy to his questing tongue. When his fingers slipped deeper into the crack, the tip of one digit grazing her anus, she exploded. Her body quivered as tiny electrical sparks flashed inside her. Holy mother. Everything he did felt so fucking good.

When Annie’s wits returned, she found herself on her back in the middle of Hunter’s bed. He stood watching her, slowly removing his clothes. She wanted to help, wanted to participate in baring his body, but her limbs wouldn’t cooperate. She felt as weak as a newborn kitten.

Hunter didn’t seem to mind. His dimples appeared at her soft intake of breath as he pulled off his shirt and his jeans. She’d discovered in the shed that her Aussie cowboy went commando. She’d touched his cock, held it in her mouth, but even after all that, the image of it as he stood before her now took her breath away. Her pussy clenched as she imagined him pushing all that thickness inside her.

Once he was naked and she’d looked her fill, she lifted her hand, inviting him to join her on the bed.

Hunter crawled onto the mattress, not stopping until he straddled her legs, hovering above her. She was a captured animal to his steely cage. She never wanted to be set free.

Hunter slowly lowered his body. While he supported most of his own weight with his arms, he made certain they were connected, skin to skin, from chest to toes.

Then he kissed her.

The way Hunter kissed could be declared a freaking Olympic event. He took the melding of lips and tongues and teeth and turned it into something truly inspirational.

Unable to resist, Annie ran her fingers through his dark honey-blond hair. Hunter cupped her cheek with one hand and she swooned a bit. She loved the way his large hand cradled her face, making her feel cherished, special.

Soon, kissing gave way to more touching as she lightly scratched Hunter’s muscular back, letting him feel the sting of her nails. He fielded her hit and lobbed one of his own, bending his head to suck one of her nipples into his mouth, increasing the pressure until she squealed.

He offered no reprieve. Instead, he turned his head and issued the same sweet torture to her other breast.

She lifted her legs and locked them tightly around his waist. His cock nestled near the opening to her body, pressed lengthwise along her slit. He was hot and hard and she was so, so ready.

Hunter continued to play with her breasts, alternating sucks, licks and bites until she was squirming mindlessly beneath him.

“Please,” she whispered.

Hunter didn’t respond, didn’t appear to have heard.

She repeated her plea louder, then louder again. Hunter ignored her. She threw her head against the pillow in frustration. “God, Hunter!
Please
,” she yelled.

He lifted his head and waited until she looked at him. “You can beg all you want, love, but I promised you all day. I don’t make promises lightly.”

“But it hurts!”

Hunter frowned, concern covering his handsome features. How was it fair to women everywhere to have this perfectly formed man walking around loose? “Bad hurt?” he asked.

“Horny hurt.”

Hunter chuckled. It was the wrong response, given her state. She punched his shoulder, his arm. Striking against her stockman was as effective as trying to knock down a skyscraper with a pillow.

“Want to play rough?” She heard the teasing note in his voice—just before he tickled her.

She was extremely ticklish. She wiggled, trying desperately to escape his wicked fingers as she laughed uncontrollably. “Stop!” Her request came between giggles that simply dared Hunter to up his game. She twisted to her stomach, trying to crawl away from him.

“Hey,” he protested, covering her back with his chest, using his weight to pin her beneath him. His breath was hot against her ear, his lips touching the back of her neck. “No escape.” If he meant his words as a threat, he’d missed the mark. Once again he’d trapped her and she didn’t give a shit.

“You remind me of a brumby we owned once.”

“What’s a brumby?” she asked.

“A horse. Willful, untamed. Glorious. Like you. It took a bit of doing, but I finally managed to control her.”

She looked over her shoulder. “How?”

Hunter’s gaze darkened with unsuppressed lust. “I tied her up.”

Annie shivered and Hunter cursed.

“Fuck, Annie. It’s our first time together. I want to make love to you. Treat you sweet, like you deserve. Now you’ve got me thinking about stuff…”

“What stuff?”

He shook his head. Hunter was a gentleman. Of that, she had no doubt. She also recognized the wilder side hidden beneath the surface. She’d spent years in a vanilla world, accepting missionary position as her fate, never finding a man who’d earned her trust the way Hunter had.

But there was a difference between acceptance and defeat. Deep within, she’d never let go of the hope she’d find a man who would let her explore her sexual boundaries. Her heart told her Hunter was that man.

“Would you tie me up?”

Hunter closed his eyes, but his stuttered breathing prompted her to keep pushing.

“Would you take me over your knee and spank me?”

“Bloody hell. Don’t do this, love. I’m barely holding on as it is.”

She pushed her ass against his thick cock, shoving it deeper within the crack. “What if I asked for those things? Would you give them to me?”

Silence was her answer. Annie counted ten heartbeats and then Hunter’s patience broke. He rose from the bed and panic besieged her. Had she read him completely wrong? Disgusted him with her secret wants?

She started to lift up, but Hunter halted her. “Don’t.” His voice was deep, strong. “Don’t move a muscle.”

While he didn’t add a threat to his command, his tone certainly implied there would be a punishment. Annie sank onto her stomach and looked over her shoulder in time to see Hunter returning to the bed with a tie.

“Didn’t picture you as the dress-up type.” Was that sultry voice really coming from her?

Hunter didn’t respond. Instead, he knelt next to her on the mattress. “Put your hands above your head.”

Annie complied as Hunter quickly and efficiently tied her wrists together before binding them to the headboard. Oh yeah. There were definite advantages to hooking up with a cowboy. She didn’t have more than a second to test the bondage and realize she was well and truly stuck before he issued his next command.