Holding On (Love In Montana Book 3)

It was dinnertime and yet Hunter hadn't arrived hone. Gemma had called him once in the evening and he told her that he might come in late but how late exactly, he didn't specify. Gemma served Robbie his dinner. His fever had subsided and he was feeling much better but mostly relieved to have his mommy with him.

"You also have your dinner, Anna, " said Gemma.

"No, you both eat. I'll eat with Hunter when he comes home," she told her. Gemma didn't argue. She ate and completed her work. Rihanna tucked Robbie in his bed and he fell asleep soon after. Gemma joined him later.

Rihanna sat in the living room, watching some random movie on TV to keep her awake. It was already ten and Hunter hadn't come yet. She couldn't keep her eyes open and dozed off on the sofa with the TV on.

At the birthing center, one of his mares had given birth and Hunter had to stay as the mare was critical. It was Black Fury's foal and as such Hunter was especially interested to  see the baby. The moment he was born, Hunter fell in love with it. He called it Blackstone because of it's smooth black coat. By the time he was free, it was already eleven. He drove his truck to the ranch house thinking about why Gemma had called him. He was tired of Robbie's everyday tantrums and was slowly losing his sanity. He decided that if Robbie was better, he would take him to his grandparents once and for all.

He parked his truck and unlocked the main door and walked in, closing it slowly after him. It seemed Gemma was watching TV. He walked into the living room but froze seeing Rihanna fast asleep on the sofa with the TV on in the background. He switched it off and walked towards the sofa. What was she doing here? He had sent her home, hadn't he? He hadn't expected her here at all. After that earlier encounter at his office, he had thought that he had lost her completely. He had been very upset the whole day as she was on his mind all the time.

Seeing her sleeping at his home made his heart beat with hope. Why hadn't she gone home? He knelt beside her lifting his fingers to caress her cheek, her hair. "So beautiful, " he murmured in a daze. She stirred and smiled in her sleep.

"I love you, Hunter," she breathed with her eyes closed as a faint smile tugged at her lips. She looked so happy. Was she dreaming about him? Her arm wound around his neck and she pulled him to her chest. "Hunter," she whispered, as she stroked his soft, silky hair. Hunter closed his eyes as he lay his head on her chest, feeling her heart beating for him. He felt his throat constrict with unshed tears. No one ever had loved him this way. He was a fool to think that he could let her leave. He could stop eating, he could stop drinking, he could stop breathing, he could even stop living but he couldn't stop himself from wanting Rihanna. She had entered his soul and every cell of his body. Rihanna released him and again went back to sleep. Hunter slowly stood up with a sigh and picking her up in his arms, bridal style, he walked towards his bedroom.

Suddenly Rihanna's eyes flew open and she gaped at him with shock. Hunter was amused but didn't look at her as he carried her to his room.

"Hunter, I was waiting for you. You're so late. I didn't have dinner because of you," she rambled on nervously thinking about her dream of Hunter. Was it a dream or was it real? There was no way she could find out. Hunter didn't say a single word but walked into his room and placed her down gently but didn't release his hold of her. He looked deep into her eyes, a lot of questions going on in his mind. He wanted answers.

"What are you doing here, Rihanna?" He asked in a hopeful tone.

"I was waiting for you," she told him calmly, looking him in the eye.

"Why?" He asked, watching her like a hawk.

"To have dinner, " she told him.

"Why didn't you go home?" He asked her, his patience wearing out.

"This is home for me, Hunter. I'm staying here, forever," she told him. His eyes widened and he simply watched her, too dumbfounded to speak.

"No, you can't. Go home Rihanna, " he told her, leaving his hold of her.

"Why can't I? You and Robbie need me and I'm staying, " she told him stubbornly.

"Robbie doesn't need you. Tomorrow I'm taking him to his grandparents' house," he told her, turning his back to her.

"In that case, I'll stay because of you," she told him. He whirled around to face her as if he'd been wanting to hear these exact words.

"Why do you want to stay because of me?" He asked in a tortured voice. Rihanna closed the distance between them and hugged his torso. Hunter stood still with his breath caught in his throat, eagerly waiting for her answer.

"Because I love you and I'll love you till I die. I think that's enough reason for me to marry you," she told him, tightening her hold on him.

"It's too late Rihanna. I don't need your pity. I've made up my mind," said Hunter, releasing a staggering breath.

"I'm not pitying you. Why should I? It's just that I can't live without you, don't throw me out of your life, Hunter, " she said as tears fell from her eyes. She released him and turned her back to him, wiping her tears as they kept falling from her eyes. Hunter just whirled her around and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't cry darlin. I just meant for your own good. You know that I can't offer you anything in return. I can't love you back. I'm a broken man Rihanna. You deserve someone better," he said, crushing her to his chest as if he didn't want to let her go.

"I'll heal you, Hunter with my love. Please let me be with you. I don't need anything else, only you," she said, looking up at him hopefully.

Hunter looked relaxed and almost happy and hopeful at her words. "Let's eat. It's getting late. Wait here, I'll get our food," he said, walking off looking a little relaxed. After five minutes he came back with a plate heaped with food, enough for both of them. He placed it on the coffee table in his room and sat on the loveseat in the corner.

"Come here, Rihanna, " he said when she was about to pull a stool and sit. She went towards him to sit next to him but he simply caught her and placed her on his lap. Rihanna blushed crimson.

"What are you doing, Hunter?" She asked shyly.

"Feed me," he ordered, his eyes dark with a barely contained desire that looked like it would go out of control any minute. Rihanna picked up a forkful of spaghetti bolognese and fed it to him. He picked up a piece of a herb-crusted pork cutlet and fed it to her. They continued to feed one another till the whole plate was wiped clean. They hadn't realized how hungry they both are.

"That was the second most delicious meal of my life," he told her, his arm tightening around her waist.

"Second? How?" She asked looking puzzled.

"This was the second time you fed me," he whispered into her ear, his mouth kissing her neck, sucking it passionately. Rihanna's breath hitched. It was like a silent communication between them. Rihanna knew that Hunter had accepted her decision to stay and now they were together for life, never to be parted again.

"Hunter, I'll just clear the dishes," she told him after releasing a staggering breath. His mouth had already started sucking at another spot, marking her as his. "Hunter?" she called out to him softly. He raised his head and placed her down reluctantly.

"No, I'll clear the dishes. You'll take ages," he told her, picking up the plate and cutlery and walking away. Rihanna freshened up and laid down on the bed to sleep,  her heartbeats accelerating at the thought of what Hunter might do. Would he want to make love to her tonight? Hunter came back and locked his door.

"I'll just take a quick shower," he told her, walking to the en-suite. Rihanna smiled and closed her eyes but her heart was beating so fast, she couldn't sleep. The door of the en-suite opened in five minutes and Hunter appeared in a towel, his damp body, glistening in the lights of the table lamp. He approached her slowly, his piercing gaze hooked upon her. Rihanna's breath hitched, she knew that he had lost control. She wanted him to lose control and take her. She was his already for life.