Holding On (Love In Montana Book 3)

Rihanna was struck by the longing in his tone. "I didn't say that, " she said with a blush, looking everywhere but at him.

"But it's evident," He said, looking so lovesick that Rihanna wanted to grab him and hold him in her arms and kiss the daylights out of him. How dare he disappear on her for a week!

"I do care about many others," she said in her defense.

"Like? Apart from your family of course," he said watching her expectantly.

"Like Gemma, " she said with a giggle. Hunter looked at her with disbelief and rolled his eyes.

"Okay, I've got the idea," he groaned. Rihanna saw that he brought Black Fury along with him. Was he expecting her to ride back with him?

"You didn't tell him what happened? Is Robbie sick?" She asked looking a little worried.

"No," he said, kicking a pebble, looking a little uncomfortable.

"Oh then why didn't he come to school?" She asked now very puzzled by his strange behavior.

"He was angry with me so we went for a camping trip," he told her. Rihanna nodded but fumed inwardly. They went out to enjoy themselves while here she was fretting over them and missing them. How fair was it? She turned her back towards him not wanting him to read her thoughts.

"I'm sure you both have enjoyed yourselves. What do you need from me?" She asked, ready to walk away. He caught her hand to stop her.

"You," he told her. She whirled around but he was too quick for her. He picked her up in his arms and walked towards his horse. Rihanna gaped at him, too shocked, too frozen to actually think straight. He hoisted her onto his horse as if she weighed like a feather and mounted too, sitting behind her, his body flush against her back. Heat pooled in her core at the warm touch. His arms went around her and his thick, muscular thighs brushed against her slender, creamy shorts clad ones.

"Whoa, Black Fury, go boy!" He ordered, holding onto the reigns as Black Fury started a steady gallop all the way towards his ranch. Rihanna looked at her pink top and shorts and slippers with dismay. He could have at least let her change. What was the hurry? Thankfully her mobile phone was in her pocket and she could inform her mom where she was. She was sure her whole family had seen the scene through the windows. She blushed crimson at the thought. She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed where Hunter had brought her.

Suddenly the horse stopped and Rihanna looked around. It was the same creek where they had lost themselves last Saturday. Her eyes widened at the implication. Hunter got down and tied Black Fury in the same way as before. He helped her down but released her the moment he set her down as if stung. He went to sit on a boulder beside the creek avoiding to look at her. Now what happened? She quietly sat beside him.

"I'm sorry, Hunter. I didn't mean what I said to you, " she told him. He turned to look at him, his eyes glittering with a strange emotion.

"Then why did you say it?" He asked her in a hoarse voice his eyes scanning her face as if committing it to his memory.

"I was scared that someone would see us," she told him.

"No one comes here, it's my special place. I've come here regularly for the last three years and have never seen a soul come here," said Hunter, looking around. Rihanna nodded. So this was his special place.

"This place looks special," she said, looking around.

"You didn't answer my question, " he pointed out.

"What question?" She asked him.

"Do you only care about Robbie and Gemma?" He asked, playing with a stone with his feet. He looked so vulnerable that Rihanna couldn't deny him anymore. Of course she cared about him and not Gemma.

"I don't care much about Gemma. I was just kidding," she told him.

"Oh," he sighed, and looked up at her, his eyes were dark, as if a storm was going through in his head.

"Isn't it obvious that I care about you?" She said softly.

His eyes turned wild as if he was having difficulty restraining himself. Time stood still as they both were lost in one another, not able to look away, both hypnotized by each other. The air was charged with an underlying tension as they stood lost. Rihanna wanted him to kiss her, she didn't want him to restrain himself. Yet he didn't. He battled with his inner demons and won. His mobile phone vibrated with an incoming call from Robbie. Hunter sighed and the moment was lost. He accepted the call.

"Uncle Hunt are you bringing Miss Anna or not?" He asked in a bored tone.

"Yes, we're on our way," he answered.

"How long will you take. I'm tired of waiting," he whined.

"We'll be there in ten minutes, " he promised.

"Don't eat ice-cream without me. I'm waiting here," reminded Robbie impatiently.

"We won't have ice-cream, don't worry," promised Hunter with a grin. He disconnected the call and caught her hand and pulled her with him to his horse. "C'mon, Robbie's waiting for us with ice-cream," said Hunter with a chuckle. Rihanna laughed.

"I can't wait to enjoy it then," she said licking her lips in anticipation as Hunter's gaze fell upon her plump, wet lips. Rihanna knew where his eyes were hooked onto. She wanted him to kiss her but instead he just mounted on his horse and pulled her up. They rode towards his ranch, at a faster pace than before. It was sheer torture as with every step of the way the tension between them escalated till breakpoint.

They reached his home and Hunter dismounted. He was just helping her down when Robbie ran out of the house to check. "Miss Anna, I was waiting for you," he shouted as he came to cling onto Rihanna. "I won't let you go home now. You have to stay with me," he said, hopefully.

"I will," said Rihanna. She noticed a faint smile tugging at Hunter's lips as he walked into the house.

"Where's the ice-cream you promised, Robbie?" He asked over his shoulder.

"You have your bad water. You said you don't like ice-cream, " glared Robbie. It seemed like he was still angry with Hunter. Hunter chuckled and went inside.

"Are you still mad at him?" Asked Rihanna with curiosity.

"Obviously. The whole week he had only bad water at night. Gemma had to stay over because of him. Even she's mad at him," said Robbie. Rihanna knew bad water meant alcohol. Robbie didn't mix much with other children and henever saw anyone else other than Hunter so maybe he didn't know much about alcohol which other children of his age did.

"Oh, that's bad," said Rihanna. She felt guilty that she had forced him to find solace in alcohol. Tonight she wouldn't let him drink. She would let him sleep with her if he wanted. A strange excitement ran down her body at the thought. Would he touch her again and make love to her tonight?

Robbie led her inside and their eyes popped out seeing Hunter scoop ice-creams of different flavor into three bowls. He sprinkled chocolate chips and chopped nuts and pecans and poured chocolate syrup and glaze, topping the whole thing with wafers and chopped fruits. "Look at him! He's creating sundaes today!" Exclaimed Gemma with an eyeroll.

Hunter grinned and continued with his creation. "You need a break Gemma. You haven't been able to go home the whole week because of me. You can go home now that Rihanna's here," said Hunter. Gemma gaped at him with surprise.

"Are you sure?" She asked. Hunter nodded.

"Yes. Go home Gemma. Come back on Sunday," he told her. Gemma bristled about completing her work for the day. She explained a few things to Rihanna and left happy to be going home at last. Rihanna's was still reeling from what Hunter told Gemma. So he expected her to stay till Sunday morning? That meant she would be spending two nights with him? Excitement coursed through her body at what these two nights might have in store for her.

"What are you thinking, Rihanna? Don't you like what I made?" He asked, hesitantly. Rihanna grinned.

"Of course I do. I was just thinking of calling up at home and informing them," she told him.

"You can call after enjoying the ice-cream. C'mon, " said Hunter. Rihanna sat down beside Robbie to eat her ice-cream. Hunter brought his and sat right next to her.

"Mmm, this is so delicious. You make the best ice-cream," said Rihanna. Hunter stared at her lips and nodded. She noticed that he was a little absent-minded and disoriented while eating his treat, staring at her mouth every now and then. Robbie needed to go to the washroom to poop, so he dashed off.

The moment he left, Hunter's fingers shot up and his thumb wiped the chocolate off her lips. He stared at them as if mesmerized. "I can't stay away from you, Rihanna, " he whispered. "Kill me if you don't want me to kiss you."