Page 24 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

God.She forced the image away and pressed her legs together tightly. She’d never get to sleep at this rate. After rising from her nap, Annie had enjoyed another relaxing meal with mother and son, then spent the rest of the evening with Hunter in the office. She’d set up her laptop on the opposite side of his large desk and worked on her Farpoint article while he’d attended to the cattle station’s ledgers. She’d enjoyed that quiet time with him almost as much as the tumultuous kisses in the rain.

Slowly it dawned on her it didn’t matter where they were or what they were doing. When she was with Hunter, she felt…comfortable in her own skin, at peace. It was a new experience for her.

She lay still, listening once more to the silence. Finally she couldn’t stand the ache in her pussy any longer. She tiptoed from the bed and rummaged through her luggage in the dark. Fortunately there was enough moonlight to help her find her vibrator. God willing, no one would hear the buzzing sound.

Returning to bed, she pulled off her t-shirt and panties. Lying down, she closed her eyes and softly stroked her clit, recalling the kiss Hunter had given her earlier.

He’d pushed her away out of respect for his brother and she admired him for his loyalty. Unfortunately, that kindness added one more tick to theOhmigod, this is why I want to fuck Hunterlist. In a few days, he’d racked up at least a dozen or more of those marks, which had all contributed to her current state. She rubbed herself harder and moaned softly.

Her pussy—already damp—turned molten as she imagined Hunter’s face. He was far too handsome for her peace of mind. While she stroked her clit with one hand, she picked up the vibrator with the other and rubbed it along the opening of her body. She was wetter than normal so the toy slid in easily.

She shuddered as her need grew stronger. Pushing the head of the vibrator inside, she opened her legs wide. Once the toy was completely lodged to the hilt, she turned it on.

“Ahh!” she cried, the sound too loud in the quiet room. She held her breath for a moment, but the house remained silent.

Sliding the vibrator out, she slowly began to fuck herself, pretending it was Hunter’s cock. She alternated between stroking her clit and toying with her nipples, wishing Hunter was with her, sucking on her breasts. She wanted him, wanted to feel him drive into her deep and hard. Her hips began to thrust as she pushed the vibrator in even more.

She groaned again, feeling her climax rise. It hovered at the edges. She was close. So damn close?—

There was a quiet knock at her door and it opened immediately.

“Annie? Are you okay?”

She froze mid-stroke as Hunter stood in the doorframe. His gaze saw far too much even before Annie burst into motion. Sitting up, she pulled the vibrator out and grasped the sheet that was pooled at the foot of the bed, dragging it over her naked body.

Hunter didn’t move and heat flooded her face. Jesus. He’d caught her red-handed, masturbating. Her humiliation grew when she realized her vibrator was still on, buzzing away on the mattress. She scrambled to find it and turn it off.

He broke the silence first. “I thought you were sick or having a bad dream.”

She winced, unable to look him in the face, falling back on the bed with a sigh. She pulled the covers higher, gripping them tightly under her chin. She really wanted to drag them over her head as well. “I’m sorry I woke you. I thought you were still in your office. I’ll be quieter. Um…good night.”

She expected him to return to his room, but instead he walked toward the bed. God, why couldn’t he leave her alone in her mortification? There was no way she could face him after this.

Hunter didn’t say anything. The mattress sank and her gaze flew to his face as he lay down beside her. For the first time since he’d come in the room, she actually looked at him. He was wearing nothing but boxer shorts and a bare six-pack that made her drool. He gripped her shoulder and pulled her toward him until they lay on their sides, facing each other. Annie kept the sheet pulled high, while Hunter lay on top of it.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” His mouth was tilted with that gorgeous crooked grin that had gotten her into this mess to begin with.

“What do you think you’re doing in my bed?”

“I was having trouble sleeping,” he said. “Looks like you were too. Thought maybe we could keep each other company.”

“Hunter, I’m not sure?—”

“I’m not here to fuck you, Annie. I think maybe we should have a little chat, try to talk our way around what’s obviously going to be pretty awkward come morning.”

He’d walked in and caught her fucking herself with a vibrator. Awkward didn’t begin to cover it.

She grimaced. “Was I that loud?”

Hunter glanced upward at the headboard. “My bed’s on the other side of that wall.”

Annie sighed. “I didn’t realize it was so close. Or that you were in it.”

He chuckled. “Obviously.”

“God. I’m starting to think that if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. I’m currently holding the world record for dating losers. I travel all the way to Australia to meet a man who’s now in New York—the freaking place I just left. My job is on the line thanks to articles I promised to write about the man who isinNew York. And now this.”

Hunter pushed a strand of hair away from her face. Her pussy clenched, her orgasm still hovering, not as close as it was before but not gone. Having Hunter lying next to her on the bed wasn’t helping her calm down.