Page 26 of Conquered

Curiosity fled her mind in a snap. Everything that happened during and after the shower was exactly how she expected it to be.

Lying spent in his arms; he suddenly asked: "Would you like a tour of the house?"

It was the last activity Noelle was interested in doing, unless he planned to make love to her in every room. She knew there had to be nearly a dozen. She repeated the thought to him.

"You'll be the death of me, woman," Hunter replied in mock anger.

She giggled then remembered. “I have nothing to wear except your shirt.”

“I think I have that covered,” Hunter replied leaving suddenly.

He reappeared with shopping bags in his hands.

Noelle looked at him in wonder.

"Thomas." He said simply. "I gave him a call and asked him to do some shopping."

“Is he still here?” Noelle asked eager to thank the personal shopper.

“I highly doubt that. Here try these on.”

To Noelle’s delight, Thomas Gaye not only got her size right, he had good taste too. There were ladies shorts, pants, and tops. He even had the foresight to include a pair of undies and a brassiere.

Hunter’s home was not only magnificent, it was sprawling too.

“Exactly how rich areyou again?” Noelle asked sassily, having lost track of the number of rooms in the house.

She only came to realize that he even had his own private chef when they returned to a lunch spread out in the patio. No wonder he didn’t know how to cook. He didn’t have to.

Time went by so fast that Noelle hardly noticed. When she looked out the window, the sky was a dazzling shade of purple and pink against an orange sun descending slowly in the horizon.

Hunter was standing by the window looking out into the sea. Noelle thought he was acting strangely again, often with an introspective look on his face, giving her glances when he thought she wasn't looking. She attributed it to being tired after all the sex they had.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She approached and asked softly. She stood behind him and crossed her arms against around his waist.

He shook his head and turned to face her. He pulled her close and whispered, "Would you like to take a walk with me by the beach? The sunsets here are really spectacular."

Noelle nodded with enthusiasm. Nothing could be more romantic than to cap her day with a stroll down the shore. She was elated when he removed his shoes and intended to walk barefoot in the sand. She did the same.

She was pensive. She had to leave him soon. This was a day she would never forget but she didn’t have a clue what would happen after. Hunter too seemed to be lost in his own world. The wind was gentle and the light waves that swirled around their toes erased the footprints they left behind.

They ended right back at the beachfront of his house where Noelle noticed a white blanket spread out on the sand. There was a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver ice bucket and two flutes beside it. A dainty napkin covered a tray of Hors d’Oeuvres.

Noelle was curious about the people he employed. They had to be the most discreet team or were really just ghosts. She hadn’t seen a soul since she arrived.

Hunter sat on the sand with Noelle beside him. He still had that strange look on his face like he was anxious or about to tell her some bad news. It struck her that he was worried about telling her to go.

Even if the idea of leaving tonight made her sad, Noelle wanted to reassure him. She was fine with everything that happened between them. She had no expectations. She would even settle with being friends if that was all he could offer.

She looked at him earnestly and said, “Hunter, there’s nothing to worry about. Everything that happened between us today…I’m okay with it. It doesn’t have to happen again or we don’t ever have to talk about it.”

An expression like she just wounded him crossed his face.

“Noelle, everything that happened between us meant something to me…” his voice trailed off.

Noelle was elated. So the feeling was mutual. But why did he look so anxious? Hunter seemed to be struggling with something. Then he gazed at her and took her hand.

"Remember I said I wanted no secrets between us?"