Chapter 22

Their plates were cleared, and dessert arrived—a delicate lemon tart with a perfectly golden crust, thin and crisp, that broke under the edge of her fork with a satisfying crack. The custard was light and smooth, its zesty lemon flavor balanced with a hint of sweetness and a dusting of powdered sugar. A sprig of mint rested on top, its fresh aroma mingling with the citrus. Emily took a small bite, savoring the burst of flavor that seemed to melt in her mouth, leaving a soft satisfaction in its wake.

As they relaxed over their empty plates, neither seemed inclined to call the night to an end. Hunter's gaze fell on her as she finished the last bite, her expression one of quiet delight from the delicious smoked duck with fig and now the refreshing tart.

"Come," he said, his voice breaking the silence. She looked up, meeting his gaze. He did his best to ignore the effect she had on him whenever he looked into her incredible blue eyes. "I have yet another surprise for you."

Curious, she slipped her hand into his, letting him guide her through a side corridor and into a room tucked away from the main area of the house. He opened the door, and her breath caught at what lay within.

 He could still remember the way her face fell when he told her he didn't want her—or anyone—for a wife. The truth was, marriage hadn't fit into his plans, but that didn't mean he hadn't cherished every moment of their time together. The masterful kiss and experiencing the power of her desires as They had sex. He'd thought about how little they knew each other and he couldn't think about a single thing they had incommon. At the church Emily had been different her kiss inexperienced, then shy, her month on his, soft and everybit as perfect as he didn't remember her lips molded to his and when her mouth parted on a soft sigh , hunters heart took off like a racecar, something he didn't feel when he first kiss her or when they had sex together. He couldn't have stopped himself from deepening the kiss if his life deepened on it. Tracing her lips with his tongue, he slipped inside to reacquaint himself with her silky inner recesses. Every one of his senses sharpened and his lower body came to full arousal faster then he thought was humanly possible. Her taste and tiny moan that she couldn't quite stifle caused him to groan. His libido screaming take her. There was something different about "Emily" but he can't place it. Although he tries to dismiss his doubts,he finds himself drawn to her in unexpected ways.

A delicious little shiver slid up his spine when he remembered how it had felt, when he turned and saw her only in her robe and when She realized then that her robe had slipped slightly, revealing more of her shoulder. She pulled it back up, hoping he hadn't noticed, and his eyes had darkened. He wandered what it would be like to see her naked breast, heaving with longing, tipped with coral nipples that responded to the merest breath of stimulation. He'd imagine touching them as he continued kissing her. Stroke them. Tease them. Then he'd lower his head and take them into his mouth sucking them gently. Then he would push the fabric completely down his hands moving lower in their rotation until reaching the fullness of her hips , he would pull her up against him. The hard, male ridge of his arousal pressed against the sensitive junction between her legs and a pure sexual hunger would shot through her.

Then he would began to kiss and nibble the delicate contours of her neck and shoulders. He'd move his hands to her breast again, kneading the firmness, making the swell under his touch, his mouth returning to hers in a deep kiss. But that was not the plan he thought, He had promised himself he wouldn't rush her, they'd been apart for long,he wanted to go slow get to know the Emily he'd lost, that was more reason he hadn't swept her up her feet and made love to her.

In the center of the room stood a sleek, state-of-the-art telescope. The device was impressive, with its polished metallic frame and beautiful control panels. Soft, ambient lights illuminated the space around it, casting a warm glow over the elegant leather-bound books on astronomy and star charts that lined the shelves. Hunter led her closer, his hand still in hers, and the telescope gleamed in the low light, a portal into the mysteries of the cosmos.

"You've always wanted to see the stars up close," he said softly, letting go of her hand as he adjusted the telescope's angle, his movements precise and practiced.

She swallowed, feeling a surge of excitement as she stepped forward. "I used to dream about it," she murmured, her eyes locked on the polished glass lenses that seemed to promise a glimpse into the heavens. "I've always wondered if they'd look as beautiful as they do from afar."

"Go ahead," he said, standing beside her as she took her place by the telescope.

Della leaned in, her hands carefully adjusting the eyepiece until the image sharpened, revealing a breathtaking cluster of stars, each one twinkling against the vast canvas of the night sky. They were brighter, closer, and far more alive than she could have imagined. Her heart fluttered as she looked through the lens, and for a moment, it felt as though she could reach out and touch them. Emily had always loved the stars, that was something she could still remember.

"It's… beautiful," she whispered, almost afraid to break the spell of the moment.

Hunter watched her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I knew you'd like it." He stepped closer, his gaze flickering between her and the stars. "There's something humbling about it, isn't there? How small everything else seems in comparison."

She nodded, her voice soft. "It makes everything else feel so far away, like we're in our own little world here." She glanced up at him, her eyes shining with wonder. "Thank you, Hunter. This is… more than I could have ever imagined."

His gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable. "You deserve it," he said quietly. "And I wanted to give you something that might last, something that would remind you of this night."

She felt as warmth settle over her, beneath the watchful eyes of the stars, everything else faded away, leaving only the two of them and the vast, endless sky.