A Hunted Man (The Men of Halfway House) (12 page)

"Above table four."

Cam arched an eyebrow. Table four was directly in front of Hunter's usual corner. "How convenient."

"Funny, I thought the same thing. Now go," she said, shooing him away.

Cam grabbed the ladder from the storage closet and made his way to the front sitting area. Hunter's demeanor was different. He sat with his elbow on the table and his head in his hands. He looked upset, defeated—definitely not the way he normally looked. Seeing Hunter like this, Cam needed to distract him, anything to remove this out of character somberness.

As if sensing Cam's presence, Hunter lowered his hands from his face and looked up. He stared at Cameron as he walked toward the sitting area. His expression softened. His eyebrows changed from bunched to relaxed and his eyes were no longer squinted. Slowly, one side of his mouth began to form a smile. Cameron did a mental fist bump.

"Hi," Cam said, trying for casual. No sense in giving the guy a hard time today with the 'sir' thing since he already looked as if someone had kicked him in the balls.

"Hi," Hunter responded with a full smile.

"Don't mind me, I just need to change the bulb." Cam moved some of the tables out of the way and made space for the ladder.

Cam didn't need to look at Hunter to know he was being intently watched. He could feel Hunter's gaze ghosting over his skin with each of his movements. He reached over to unscrew the light fixture and heard a groan escape from Hunter's corner. Cam casually glanced over his shoulder and saw Hunter staring at his body. Cam smiled. If it took giving a little bit of a show for Hunter to come in for the kill of his prey, then so be it.

He was game.

* * * *

For God's sake, there was no way in hell he could control this raging hard-on in his pants. Hunter didn't have the strength to tear his eyes away from the sliver of skin peeking out from under Cam's shirt. With each additional stretch of his arm, his shirt would rise and fall—hiding then revealing just a tiny bit more. Hunter couldn't look away and risk missing even a millimeter of skin.

Hide, reveal, hide, reveal.

Fuck
.

He could tell Cam's abs were tight and sculpted, his waist narrower than the jeans he wore. One of those quick shifts revealed a slim line of hair traveling downward. God, he wanted to explore, lick, and taste every inch of him. Hunter groaned again.

Cam stepped down the ladder and smiled.

Is he smiling because he knows I was watching?
Hunter's face heated.

Cam walked over to Hunter's table. "I thought you weren't coming by today. It's later than your usual time."

Hunter cocked his head to the side. Cam looked different today, more relaxed, casual—and thankfully, had dropped the 'sir' when he spoke.

"Work sorta caught up with me."

"Just coffee today?"

"Yeah, I was too late for Lucy's cookies," he said with a shrug.

"You should eat something."

"I will if you join me." Hunter's throat tightened as he let the invitation escape. Better to throw it out there before he had a chance to think about what he was actually saying.

"Give me a minute." Cam walked into the back room. He exited within seconds, the ladder replaced, with a bag and two drinks. He walked toward the sandwich station where Bill was wiping down the bins.

He watched Cam wash and dry his hands then grab the items to start assembling a sandwich. Bill and Cam chatted while they worked, an occasional laugh escaping the conversation. Hunter closed his eyes and let the sound of Cam's laughter filter through his system. Everything this man did excited each of his senses. He pulled out the chair when he saw Cam amble over to the table with his hands full.

"Thanks," Cam said. He sat and set the bag and bottle of soda to one side, gave Hunter a bottled water, then split the sandwich in half. "Only water for you until you eat something," he said in a playfully chastising tone.

Hunter smiled when Cam handed him the half sandwich. "Thank you," he said before taking a bite. It was nice to have someone make sure he ate a meal.

Hunter was distracted, watching Cam, seeing how his throat worked with each pull of his drink. His took a deep breath, trying to dispel the visuals his mind conjured. Cam looked over at him from the corner of his eye as he tipped up his soda to take a drink.

"You like watching me," Cam said matter-of-factly as he put down the bottle.

"You're easy on the eyes."

Cam chuckled. "You need to get your eyes checked."

He looked at Cameron and couldn't resist reaching out to wipe away the little bit of sauce at the side of his mouth.

Cam jerked to the side and looked at Hunter's slightly smeared thumb. He looked back to Hunter, hesitated for a moment, then slowly licked the sauce off. He then pulled Hunter's thumb into his mouth with his tongue.

A tidal wave of lust traveled Hunter's body in an instant. His heart began to brutally pound against his chest and his almost hard-on was now in full force and painful as hell. He focused so intently on trying to control the rhythm of his breathing he couldn't remember to finish chewing the bit of sandwich in his mouth.

"Mmm…that's the best part," Cam said once he released Hunter's thumb.

Cameron's eyes darkened and a wicked grin slowly spread across his face.

"Swallow," Cam commanded.

Shit, that brings on an entirely different visual.
Hunter had a hard time connecting thoughts with actions. Cam pointed at Hunter who still had a mouthful of turkey sandwich stuffed in one of his cheeks. Finally snapping back to reality, he quickly finished and carefully swallowed the food, trying to avoid choking. He chased it with several gulps of water, hoping to cool off the rising heat in his body. Hunter tried to regain control of himself as the desire thrummed through his veins. He looked at Cameron as he reached into the bag and pulled out a single chocolate chip cookie.

"I saved one for you when I noticed you were late."

"We share," Hunter said in a gravelly voice, trying to stave off the need coursing through his body.

Cam casually glanced over at the empty counter area where Bill had left only moments ago.

They were somewhat alone now and mildly sheltered from view in that corner. Well after the lunchtime rush, there were no other patrons in the diner and the exterior streets had only a handful of pedestrians racing to cross the street.

Cam broke off a tiny piece of cookie for himself and finished eating before he offered a much larger piece to Hunter.

Rather than take the piece from Cam's hand, Hunter slowly leaned over and took the offering into his mouth, never breaking eye contact. He swiped his tongue along Cam's finger, savoring the way his skin tasted. Cameron let out a moan as a slight shiver visibly traveled his body. Cam intently watched Hunter suck his fingers clean of any melted chocolate. Hunter withdrew and slowly chewed the piece of cookie, waiting for Cam's reaction.

Cam's chest heaved slightly. His bright blue eyes changed to a deeper shade and his pupils began to dilate. He continued to stare at Hunter's mouth, apparently captivated, until Hunter finished chewing then swallowed.

Cam seemed to be in a trance when he slowly inched closer to Hunter, parted his lips as if anticipating a kiss, then hesitated.

Hunter leaned forward and quickly grabbed Cam's face with both hands then closed the distance with contrasting gentleness, cautiously observing Cam's reaction. Cam reached up when Hunter was only inches away. Hunter instantly halted before closing in. The tips of Cam's fingers slowly outlined his features, down the side of his face, then along his jawline before Cam withdrew his hand and hesitantly looked at Hunter with a worried expression.

"Don't stop," Hunter whispered before he closed his eyes and tried to control the surge of desire Cam's gentle, tentative touch ignited within. Hunter patiently waited and held Cam's face, reluctant to let him retreat. He gasped when Cam's fingers returned to his face, ghosting over his cheek, his eyes, and the slope of his nose. His entire body shivered with the current generated from the barely there touch tracing his features then moving down his neck. Hunter parted his lips when Cam's touch circled his mouth. His breathing became labored in anticipation of the kiss. He opened his eyes and saw Cam's vision following the same path as his exploratory fingers. The subtle yet teasing touch drove him mad. He resisted the urge to pull Cam in and cease the exploration, worried Cam would withdraw completely.

Cam finally stopped the gentle torture and met Hunter's fierce gaze. The reverent look in those crystal blue eyes staring back at him caused a moan to escape Hunter. He cautiously pulled Cam closer, breathing him in slowly as if his inhale of breath were a rope pulling Cam closer.

Their lips finally met.

Hunter slowly ran his tongue along Cam's soft lips, unable to resist the opportunity to taste the man who invaded every waking thought since they'd met. He tasted chocolate and a hint of spice from the sauce mixed in with an enticing unique flavor that was obviously Cam. He slowed when he sensed Cameron's hesitation but refused to release him. Within seconds, Hunter felt the subtle tug behind his neck and the whisper of air across his face as Cam inhaled deeply before responding in kind. Hunter's heart slammed against his chest and a rush of desire coursed through his body when Cam became aggressive, pulling him closer, demanding more.

Every thought left Hunter's mind and only Cam existed, the taste of him, the scrape of his stubble against Hunter's flesh. Hunter became dizzy with desire and overwhelmed by the need for the heat of Cam's body pressed against his own. His hand followed the curve of Cameron's spine until it reached the small of his back. He greedily pulled Cam closer, yanking him roughly off his seat and onto Hunter's thigh. Hunter groaned into the kiss and his heart raced with excitement when Cameron's hardness pressed against him.

Hunter's pulse escalated further. His body craved more, to claim and possess. He lifted the back of Cam's T-shirt and splayed his hand along Cam's strong, narrow back, absorbing the fireball of heat emitted from Cam's body. Their tongues battled for dominance. The small flicker of passion ignited into an inferno of desire that consumed Hunter. The kiss became more heated and urgent, absent of any hesitation. He tightened his arm around Cam's back while the other firmly gripped the back of his head, forbidding Cam's escape. Cam wrapped both arms around Hunter and forcefully pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

Cam separated from the kiss with a gasp moments later, his chest heaving. His Adam's apple bobbed as he desperately sought some air. Hunter was bereft with the separation. He leaned in and kissed the base of Cam's neck and worked his way up, kissing, sucking, biting—trying to tame the desperation to own this man in his arms. Hunter rubbed his cheek against the side of Cam's face like an animal trying to mark his mate. The scrape of Cam's stubble left his skin growingly sensitive to each additional graze. A strangled growl escaped him as he fought to control this desperate need to possess. He touched, licked, and smelled every millimeter of skin he could reach. He heard a moan escape Cam's throat when he inhaled Cam's scent at the crook of his neck—the scent amplified by Cam's body heat invaded and drugged his senses, spurring him on just as much as the sounds Cam's made with each touch.

Hunter ran his tongue hesitantly up Cam's neck, tasting the salt from the beads of sweat bursting from every one of Cam's pores. Wanting more, he kissed and bit Cameron's jawline until Cam hissed. When their eyes met, Cam's pupils were so dilated there was no visible blue in his eyes. His lips were kiss-swollen and richer in color. His breathing labored and his cheeks were flushed. Cam looked debauched and incredibly alluring.

Cam's gaze traveled to Hunter's lips, and before Hunter could react, Cam plundered his mouth again and grabbed at his clothes with more fervor, his arms, anything he could grasp while Hunter did the same. Desperation surged in response to Cam's aggression. He gripped the back of Cam's head and held him in place as he feasted on him like the last meal of a death row inmate. Stubble scraped, fingers dug into skin, and both struggled to pull closer. Everything else was irrelevant—the age gap, anyone watching, or whatever anyone said. Every fiber of his being craved this man with pure need. Only Cam's heat, taste, and smell flowing through Hunter's senses could satisfy the desire coursing through his veins. He couldn't remember ever wanting anyone or anything more in his life.

The sound of the vibrating phone across the table broke into their haze of lust. They parted slowly. Their heavy breathing mingled as they each glanced toward the register area, thankfully, still absent of the owners. Looking at the surrounding glass exterior, only a handful of pedestrians raced by, oblivious to them and their closeness.

Hunter sighed and looked over to the insistent phone. Cam tried to free himself from the embrace but Hunter held him tight around the waist.

He wasn't ready to let go.

Cam hesitantly rested his forehead on Hunter's shoulder and took a few more deep breaths. Hunter reached for his phone with his other hand, looked at the display, then pressed the button to ignore the call. After returning the phone to the table, he wrapped his other arm around Cam and just held him close. Hunter relished Cam in his arms, the way Cam's body flawlessly fit against his own. He thought he heard Cam sigh before hesitantly resting his cheek against Hunter's shoulder. Hunter closed his eyes and pulled Cam closer—reveling in the warmth and weight of his body, and the intoxicating scent that soothed the desperation within.

It was shockingly perfect.

After a few moments, Cam raised his head to look at him. Hunter unwillingly released one hand from the embrace and softly brushed Cam's cheek with his knuckles. "You have no idea what you do to me," he whispered softly.

"Then you should have kissed me sooner." Cameron shyly smiled and bit his kiss
-
swollen lower lip.

Hunter moaned. He leaned in and delivered a soft, slow, tender kiss. Cam's tentative, shaky fingers combed through Hunter's hair. Hunter ran his hand down to Cam's lower back and traced random patterns on Cam's skin, hoping to soothe the new hesitation in Cam's touch. He brushed Cam's cheek with his other hand and slowly wrapped his fingers behind Cam's neck while his thumb continued to stroke Cam's skin. The raging hunger and desperation was replaced with a welcomed tenderness. The pace was slow, exploratory rather than demanding, but Hunter's heart still punched feverishly against his chest. Nothing existed in time and space but this man and this tender, leisurely discovery of taste and touch, the soft brush of lips and gentle graze of fingers against his skin. Hunter's body shuddered. He held back a strangled moan that threatened to escape with each subtle gesture. This was more than a lust-filled kiss or the passion of a new partner. It was rooted in something much deeper, more connected, purer. A shiver traveled his body at the thought. It was too right, too perfect.