Wasn't Real

As Ryan stumbled over her own words, Hunter's brow furrowed. What was she really trying to say? He searched her eyes, trying to figure it out. For days, she'd been hinting that she liked him but... for her to think ahead and say she liked having him in her life... was it genuine? Hunter's pulse quickened. Countless red flags went up in the back of his mind. This wasn't real. She just felt for him because he'd helped her. It was a normal human reaction. It wasn't anything more than that. It...

He tilted his head into her hand, unable to help the tingle that ran down his spine. There was just something about her touch that made him melt and he didn't know how to fight that one. But did he have to? Maybe he...

His muddled thoughts were cut short as he suddenly realized her lips were on his. It was warm. Sweet. Irresistible.

As she pulled back, he blinked, just staring at her. He barely heard her speak, and it was almost painful, trying to concentrate on what she was saying. He hadn't expected such a show of affection, even if she had been flirting. This whole thing though... It had to just all be her emotions out of whack. He was her rescuer so she thought she liked him. That was it. Nothing more. He shouldn't think otherwise. He couldn't. He couldn't risk it.

Breaking eye contact, he turned back around. His gaze swept the horizon as his mind raced and his heart pounded in his chest.

Why did she have such an affect on him? Why did she have to make him feel this way? Why couldn't he just turn off his heart when he was around her?

Throwing caution to the wind, he turned again, and without warning, his hand slipped up behind her head to draw her back in. It was his kiss this time. His expression. His feelings he'd tried so hard not to feel. All thought was completely abandoned as he deepend the kiss, perhaps a test to see if she would return the same passion, or pull away.