Read Online The Calling by Cate Tiernan - Free Book Online Page A

wondered if that meant Hunter was alone in the living room but didn’t have the nerve to ask.
    â€œBree’s still in there,” Robbie reported, rolling his eyes at the bathroom door. “I think she’s washing every strand of hair on her head individually.”
    â€œThat’s okay—I’ll wait.” A daring idea suddenly occurred to me. “Robbie…how would you feel about switching places with me a little later tonight?”
    Robbie’s eyebrows rose. “Morganita, you sly dog!”
    â€œNot for the whole night or anything. Maybe for an hour or so.”
    â€œI dunno,” Robbie said. “That means you get an hour with Hunter, and I’ve got that same hour with Bree and Raven.”
    â€œWe’ll wait till one,” I said. “Everyone should be asleep. You can just slip in next to Bree. Raven will never know.”
    Robbie eyed me doubtfully. “What if Raven wakes up?”
    â€œThen just explain you were sleepwalking and stumbled into the wrong room.”
    â€œYeah, that’s believable.”
    â€œOh, come on, Robbie. Please.”
    â€œShhh,” he whispered. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
    My heart skipped a beat as Hunter walked toward us, toothbrush in hand. He was wearing a long-sleeved black T-shirt over gray sweats that just seemed to emphasize how long and lean he was.
    I felt his eyes on me, taking in the white nightgown and my hair brushed out and hanging loose, and I knew that Mary K. had been right. I could feel Hunter’s senses reaching out to me, wanting me, drawing me toward him.
    Robbie must have sensed the electricity between us. “I’m going to hang in the kitchen,” he said. “But if Bree ever gets out of the bathroom, I’m first.”
    Neither Hunter nor I said anything until he left. Then Hunter came close. “You look beautiful,” he said in a husky voice.
    â€œThanks. Um—you too,” I said in my eloquent way. My hands, ridiculously, trembled a little, and I folded my arms so he wouldn’t notice. I debated whether or not to tell him what Robbie and I had been planning. But before I’d worked up my nerve, he spoke in a rush.
    â€œDo you think I could possibly persuade you to change places with Robbie for a little while tonight?” he asked. I heard the anxiety in his voice, the fear that I might say no, and I loved him so, so much.
    â€œI already asked him,” I said, my heart hammering.
    Hunter blew out his breath and grinned. His eyes danced with emerald green light. “Great minds…” he said, and bent to kiss me. Just then the bathroom door swung open and a cloud of steam floated out.
    â€œWhoops,” Bree said.
    Hunter and I pulled apart. “Robbie,” I called, grateful for the steam that hid my red cheeks. “The bathroom’s yours.”
    An hour later we were all tucked in. I was too excited to even consider sleep. Periodically I extended my senses, identifying the patterns of the people in the apartment. Bree was sleeping, and so were Raven and Sky. Hunter and Robbie were both wide awake.
    Finally it was one A.M. Moving quietly so as not to wake Bree and Raven, I made my way out of the guest room. In the living room a single candle flickered. Hunter and Robbie were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, waiting for me.
    â€œBree,” Robbie whispered. “Is she—”
    â€œAsleep,” I told him. “Be careful you don’t startle her. Any sign of Mr. Warren?”
    Hunter shook his head. “Not yet.”
    I was keenly aware of his being just a few feet from me. My heart began to beat faster, and that funny anticipation feeling—that mix of pleasure with just a thread of uncertainty—began to hum through me. I waited till Robbie had gone, and then I sat beside Hunter.
    â€œI was afraid you wouldn’t come,” he said. He reached out and closed one hand over mine. “I thought