Holding On (Love In Montana Book 3)

It was true that his nearness was causing her to give in to him but she was adamant. She would only marry him if he loved her like she loved him. Unrequited love wasn't healthy and it would create a lot of complications and heartache when her expectations would keep mounting. Robbie would outgrow his need for her in a few days and her life would be a nightmare if Hunter never loved her. All her expectations out of marriage would remain unfulfilled. She couldn't do this to herself. She couldn't shatter her own dreams like this. So her decision was final. The day Hunter realized that he too loved her and got down on his knees and sincerely asked her, she would surrender to his wishes.

Hunter helped Rihanna dismount right in front of his home and went to the stables. Rihanna walked in through the front door to see a pouting and an upset Robbie lying on the sofa and watch his favorite cartoons. She sat beside him and he looked up at her, his eyes looking upset.

"What's up, sweetie?" She asked him with concern, stroking his hair.

"My tummy's paining mommy and Gemma's giving me yucky food," he complained.

"But it's better than landing up at the hospital and having yucky medicine pushed down your throat, isn't it?" She pointed out. Robbie's eyes widened at the realization still he shook his little head.

"But please can you make it a little less yucky? I feel like vomiting seeing it, " pleaded Robbie. Rihanna smiled and nodded.

"Let's see what I can make for you," she said. Robbie clung to her like a lost puppy.

"Can you stay with me tonight, Mommy? I miss you," he said with a sad look on his face.

"I'll stay only if you're a good boy and eat well," she conditioned. Robbie nodded. He could do anything for his mommy.

"I will, I promise," he said looking happier.

"Robbie, you shouldn't force Rihanna to stay with us," scolded Hunter as he came inside the house.

"It's okay, Hunter. He hasn't forced me. I'm staying back 'coz I want to, " said Rihanna. Hunter gave her a look as if to ask why this bl**dy partiality. Rihanna smiled and walked away towards the kitchen. A tired Gemma looked up from her task.

"He hasn't eaten anything since yesterday night. I'm at my wits end. He has picked up a stomach bug and has been passing loose stools ever since," said Gemma.

"What had you given him last night?" Asked Rihanna.

"I made oats porridge but he hated it. Today morning, I tried bananas with the porridge but he hated that too. How will he regain his strength?" Asked Gemma, looking like she would lose her mind.

"What about medicines? Have you given anything?" Asked Rihanna.

"I couldn't administer any on an empty stomach," said Gemma.

"I'll make an ORS first," said Rihanna. She quickly made a delicious looking ORS and handed it to Robbie. "Drink up sweetie, it's a special juice to make you strong like superman," she smiled. Robbie looked at the liquid and took a sip. Thankfully, he liked it and drank it all, emptying  the entire glass. Rihanna went back to the kitchen to see Gemma struggling. She decided to cook for everyone and give Gemma a break.

"It's okay, Gemma, you go and finish your other work. I'll handle the cooking today," she told her. Gemma looked relieved.

"Thank you Anna. You cannot imagine how difficult it is to handle a child who's lost his parents. Hunter's growing aloof day by day. I think he's getting depressed. He needs counseling from the look of it," said Gemma, shaking her head and massaging her temples. Rihanna went about making a light chicken soup and toast for Robbie and sandwiches for themselves. So early in the morning even she had to skip breakfast to come here.

Robbie was happy to see the food and ate it up hungrily. Hunter too enjoyed the soup and the sandwiches. "Mommy, I'm better already. Can we go out today?" Pleaded Robbie.

"No sweetie. You need to get a little more stronger, " said Rihanna. Hunter went to work and she and Robbie spent the whole morning studying, playing and reading story books. Robbie was much better by lunch time. Rihanna made roasted baby potato halves, carrot and dill stir-fried rice with yogurt for Robbie who kept kissing every potato halve before eating it up. Hunter rolled his eyes.

"From where do you get these food ideas?" He said, looking amazed. Rihanna smiled knowing that she had learnt them from her granny and her aunts, having seen them make it whenever anyone was sick. She was glad that Robbie looked much better. Rihanna had kept him hydrated well the whole day and he hadn't passed loose stools since she had arrived.

Gemma looked relieved and well rested too but the only person who didn't look very happy in the situation was Hunter. He waited for an opportunity to get Rihanna all to himself. He wanted to kiss her and prove to her that the magic between them was still as strong as it was before. He wanted her to agree to marry him so that he could ask her dad for her hand and then proceed to formally get engaged to her. Then their wedding plans would have to be taken care of, he was excited to just think about it. Two more weeks and everything would fall in place. Rihanna would be his finally! He went back to work with the hope that at night, he would be able to talk to her.

In the evening, Robbie was much better. Rihanna fed him with an early dinner and he went to bed. Gemma stayed back with him in his room in case he fell sick and needed help at night. After tucking Robbie in, Rihanna went to Hunter's room, her heart thumping loudly in her chest with apprehension. She had been trying to divert her mind all day by keeping herself busy. She knew that Hunter wouldn't let her go tonight. He would try to convince her to marry him. Just as she entered his room, he locked the door and pulled her into his arms, crashing his warm mouth to hers. This was the moment he had been waiting for all day and he didn't want to waste a single minute taking what was his.

"Hunter," she moaned his name already surrendering herself. There was nothing else to do, she loved him after all. The kiss was warm, passionate and full of longing that came from deep within his soul. His tongue lingeringly tasted her as if it had missed her taste for a long long time. His hand cupped her hips and pulled her close, grinding into her. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. This was heaven. This was exactly what she wanted.

His mouth suddenly released hers while his hands picked her up, wrapping her legs around his torso and he carried her to his bed. He laid her down gently and followed her to the bed, hovering over her. His hot mouth reclaimed her lips and the kiss turned passionate and lingeringly hot, igniting their bodies with a burning desire to devour each other. She kissed him back with equal passion, her hands fisting gently into his soft hair, tugging at it, eliciting moans out of him too. He pulled back and trailed his lips down her neck, sucking the sweet spot on her neck. Rihanna's hands explored his hard chest and shoulders, stroking him lovingly. "I missed you," he breathed into her neck, making her whole body come alive with an intense need to be his.

When his mouth finally left her, both tried to catch their breath. It was true that the magic between them was still strong just as it was before.

"Can you feel the magic between us, Rihanna?" He asked, earnestly trying to prove that they were meant for one another.

"It's only the magic of desire, Hunter. Once we make love, it would reduce and finally fade away," said Rihanna. Hunter gazed at her. What was she trying to say? Would she still harp upon that love thing?

"You're wrong, Rihanna. You don't share this attraction with everyone but only with someone special. So I don't think this will reduce once we make love and never ever fade away," said Hunter. Rihanna sighed. "Once you agree, I'll go to your house and ask your dad for your hand in marriage. Then we'll get engaged and finally we'll plan our wedding," said Hunter.

"Hold on, Hunter. I can't get married to you," she told him, hesitantly. Hunter stared at her, not understanding what she meant.

"Why? What's stopping you?" He asked her with a hurtful look on his face

"Unrequited love doesn't work, Hunter. It only hurts," she told him as his mouth hung open. "I'm in love with you but you don't love me back. For me desire isn't reason enough to get married. I'll have expectations from you but you would only have physical needs for me. It will only hurt me more, Hunter. I know you need  me but I just can't take this plunge. I'm sorry," said Rihanna, feeling extremely heart broken seeing the devastated look on his face.