My Husband Wanted a Divorce. The Comments Told Me Why Chapter 17

My Husband Wanted a Divorce. The Comments Told Me Why Chapter 17

Hunter took me to the Dunecrest Villa. It was situated on the best part of the bay, with incredible ocean views.

I remembered that the two-page list of assets he’d included in the divorce agreement had included this villa. There was only a housekeeper who cleaned and cooked.

There was no other woman. On the bathroom counter, I saw a tube of my lipstick.

I picked it up and touched up my lips in the mirror. “Why is my lipstick here?”

Hunter came up behind me and rested his chin on my head. I saw his ears turn pink in the mirror.

His voice was low. “When I miss you, I put your lipstick on my neck and pretend you’re kissing me.”

My cheeks flushed hot. “So that night when I called you, you were…”

“Yes.” He turned me to face him, his gaze full of undisguised desire. “Sorry. I also have your silk robe. And your lace camisole.”

[Oh my god. He is so down bad.]

[Now I’m picturing it. Hunter in the bathroom, putting Stella’s lipstick on his neck, touching himself, pretending it’s her.]

[And she called him at that exact moment. No wonder his voice was so rough.]

[He can look at his own wife but he can’t touch her. Who wouldn’t go insane?]

[Keeping her silk robe and underwear? This guy is obsessed.]

[Hunter, please don’t let this drive you insane.]

Seeing how hard he was trying to control himself made me swallow nervously. I leaned in and kissed him lightly.

That small kiss was like a match to dry kindling. Hunter’s eyes grew dark. He pulled me closer and deepened the kiss.

From that afternoon until the next morning, Hunter and I didn’t leave the bedroom. I learned for the first time that when you’re fulfilled emotionally, physical hunger fades.

Every window in the master suite had a stunning view of the ocean. The floor to ceiling windows looked out on water turned orange and red by the sunset.

From the desk in the study, I could watch the fishing boats returning to Cedar Bay Harbor. The double soaking tub in the bathroom had a view of the swaying Palm Grove Reserve.

I even started to wonder what sort of things Hunter had in his office suite. So maybe I’d be willing to find out.

Hunter thought my passion that weekend was because of the Thornvine still in my system. But I’d only been pricked once. The lingering effects were minimal.

Most of my reaction to him was real.

The next morning at breakfast, Julian called.

“Stella, are you coming in today? Let’s run the rest of the tests on the plants and try to finish the Thornvine cure.”

Hunter glanced at me and then quickly looked away. I knew he was trying to back off and let me make my own decision.

I said to Julian, “I’m spending the weekend with my husband. I’m not coming in.”

Julian nodded. “Okay. I’ll work on my own then.”

When Hunter heard me say, “spending the weekend with my husband,” he couldn’t hide the smile spreading across his face.

After I hung up, I turned off my phone. Hunter took me out on his yacht. We spent the night on the water.

In the middle of the night, wind and waves rocked the boat gently. The sound of the ocean was the perfect lullaby.

I was the one who reached for him. I whispered, “husband,” and something inside him broke. He couldn’t hold back his love any longer.

When it was over, I passed out. I felt like I had seen the Northern Lights. It was a different kind of experience.

When I woke up, Hunter was apologizing. “I’m so sorry. I lost control.”

I smiled lazily. “Don’t worry about it. That was… amazing.”

His eyes turned hot again.

We had breakfast on the yacht. The ocean wind blew through my hair. My skin was covered with marks.

We enjoyed the peacefulness. I never knew that setting aside work for a weekend and just being with someone could feel so good.

I used to keep myself wound up so tight, spinning like a wheel, working nonstop on my research. I’d missed out on so much warmth and beauty in life.

In the future, I would still focus on my work… but I would also make time for my family. And for myself. And for Hunter.

Partners are supposed to make compromises. It’s okay to slow down once in a while. You might take a longer path, but you’ll still reach the top of the mountain.