Kasey Michaels - Maitland Maternity - Triplets, Quads and Quints

It was a little late to be asking that question, but Hunter had been a perfect gentleman from the beginning. She shook her head. “No husband.”

He looped his arms around her, pulling her closer to rest against his body. “I’m glad.”

“Any wife?”

“Nope, not even a girlfriend.” He put a finger under her chin, and, before she realized what was going on, he kissed her.

There were people waiting when the elevator door opened on her floor. Briana, who’d been enjoying the kiss as much as Hunter seemed to be, was grateful she didn’t know any of them.

“Uh, out, please.” She kept her eyes lowered. She didn’t want anyone, even strangers, to see the effect of Hunter’s kiss. Her lips still tingled and she felt a surprising desire to repeat their behavior.

Hunter followed her off the elevator.

“Your room is on this floor, too?” she asked in surprise and uneasiness. She needed distance to avoid doing something unwise.

“No, I’m escorting you to your room,” he assured her.

Always a gentleman.

“Look, Hunter, I know you must be exhausted. I certainly am. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

‘It’s kind of become a habit,” he said with a charming smile, “worrying about you.”

She dug her plastic key card out of her jeans pocket where she’d put it only a few hours ago, though it seemed like a lifetime. “This is my room,” she assured him as she stopped in front of a door and inserted the key card. The small light turned from red to green and she shoved the door open.

Hunter followed her in so that when she turned to thank him for his…whatever, he was there. And his arms were around her again. And he looked as if he was about to repeat the embrace they’d shared on the elevator.

It had been an incredible kiss, one she’d felt to her very toes. Unlike any she’d ever had before. But that was probably because they’d spent so much time together, really together.

She should stop him. But curiosity, wondering if it had really been that good a kiss, welcomed him. Her arms went around his neck, her body pressed against his. Her lips, when he touched them with his, leapt to mate with him.

Three or four kisses later, Hunter, breathing heavily, managed to say “Briana.”

She thought it was a good thing he could remember her name, because his kisses had scrambled her brain. All she could think about was him…and getting closer. It wasn’t like her to respond so completely to a man’s touch. But Hunter’s touch had a magical effect on her. “Hunter,” she murmured in response.

“Sweetheart,” he muttered, “I need you.”

Instead of bothering with words, she pulled him toward the bed. They fell on it with a sigh of relief and resumed kissing. He was the most incredible kisser.

Tuxedo studs went flying as Briana’s fingers went to work. It occurred to her that later she might regret such abandon, but it felt wonderful now. As more and more of his muscular chest, with blond hairs winding their way down it, came into view, the happier she became.

Each of them removed clothing piece by piece, exposing the other. But Briana never felt awkward or uncomfortable. She was too involved in what was going on. It seemed right that, after their night of togetherness, they should be completely together.

As a lover, Hunter was as gentlemanly and considerate as he’d been all night. But there was an edge of need that made her heart beat faster. He stroked and urged her closer, his mouth consuming hers. When he entered her, she felt completely loved and cradled, protected, until an urgency began that drove her even closer.

Then there was no conscious thought, just emotions, feelings, a consuming fire that left her exhausted yet sated. Hunter fell against her as he, too, reached the zenith of feelings. She held him close.

As she sank into a drifting state of sensations, he pushed up from the bed. “Did I hurt you, Bri? Are you all right?”

“I’m wonderful, Hunter, absolutely…wonderful.” She never opened her eyes. And that was the last she remembered.

HUNTER STARED DOWN at the beautiful face. It seemed most of the time he’d had with her, her eyes had been closed. But he remembered their hazel beauty. He remembered everything about her.

He’d never experienced such emotions, such sensations in making love before. It had never been so overpowering. Briana was clearly a special woman, but there’d been so little time. He truly hadn’t intended to make love to her when he’d followed her into the room. All he’d wanted was one more kiss. The kiss in the elevator had been so special, so…he couldn’t come up with another word to describe it.

His hand cupped her soft cheek as she slept. He didn’t want to leave her, but he needed a shower and clean clothes. If he changed now, while she slept, he’d be back before she even knew he was gone. Then he’d take her to breakfast.

They had a lot to discuss. He had no intention of letting her walk away with no plans for the future. She was his to protect, to love, to cherish. That much he knew. He thought she knew it, too.

They’d plan a future. They’d compromise. Somehow they’d find a way to be together. Because Briana…he suddenly realized he didn’t even know her last name. But he’d take care of that detail. Finally he’d found the one woman in the world who made his life complete. They’d find a way to be together.

After rubbing his lips over hers, he slid from the bed and searched for his clothing. He found everything but one of the studs for the tuxedo shirt. He smiled as he remembered Briana dispensing with them recklessly. He’d loved that about her. She was an enthusiastic lover, making him feel wanted, a great aphrodisiac.

Longingly, he stared once more at her sprawled under the sheet with which he’d covered her. As tired as he was, he wanted to make love to her all over again. And he suspected he’d feel that way the rest of his life.

He whispered, “I’ll be back soon, sweetheart.” Then he left her hotel room to climb the flight of stairs at the end of the corridor. He was on the next floor. Not far away. He hurried, unable to stand being away from her any longer than he had to.

THE BUZZING of an alarm awakened Briana from a deep sleep. She flailed at the noise and found the snooze button, she supposed, because the noise stopped. She drifted back to sleep.

Five minutes later, the noise repeated itself. This time she opened her eyes, barely, and noted the time. Eight-o-five. She sat up in bed. Her flight left La-Guardia Airport at nine-forty-five. She needed to catch a taxi by eight-thirty. She’d set the alarm last night before she ventured out of the hotel. She leapt from the bed and suddenly realized she was naked. A flood of memories held her frozen as the events of the night and, in particular, the morning hit her.

She’d made love to Hunter!

She looked around the room as if expecting him to pop out from behind the dresser. He’d left? Disappeared? Or had she dreamed the entire thing?

She really didn’t know. She was still exhausted and wasn’t thinking too clearly. She moved toward the bathroom, sure a shower would help, when she winced in pain and hopped on her left foot. Bending down, she discovered a stud for a tuxedo shirt in the carpet.

So, it hadn’t been a dream. Hunter had come in with her and they’d made love. Or maybe they’d just had sex. He certainly appeared to have made a fast exit. There was no note. Nothing.

Briana threw herself in the shower for a fast rinse-off. There was no time to wash her hair. She put on the sweater and jeans again, with fresh underwear, thrust the last few things in the bag and gathered her belongings.