Twice Rejected: The Luna Forged in Fire

Chapter 10

AVA

I can’t breathe. I sit on the living room sofa, the magazine trembling in my hands, the words blurring into nothing. I’m not reading. I’m watching them.

Sloane in that dress. Her hair down. She even put on a goddamn lipstick!

She was laughing softly while Hunter stands beside her like he’s forgotten I exist.

Every time she moves, his eyes follow.

Every. Single. Time.

My stomach twists so hard I feel sick.

I flip a page too fast and it rips straight down the middle. I freeze, staring at the torn paper like it personally betrayed me.

Sloane is doing this on purpose.

Hunter never looked at her like that before. Not even when they first got married. Fine, maybe once before they get married! But he used to look at me like thatand follow me around the kitchen.

Now he barely glances my way.

I swallowed hard, forcing my breathing to steady.

No.I’m not losing. I won’t lose.

Not to her. Not after everything.

I stand abruptly, the magazine falling to the floor. Neither of them looks up. Hunter is leaning closer to Sloane, murmuring something that makes her smile.

That smile.

It’s soft, pretty and warm.

But her eyes… Her eyes are cold.

She’s smiling at him, but she’s not smiling for him.

She’s smiling because she knows I’m watching.

My chest burns.

I turn and walked quickly down the hallway to the bedroom Hunter gave me to use when I first got here. I slam the door shut and lean against it, shaking.

I need to fix this. I need to remind him who he comes to. Who he chose.

I yank open the dresser drawers, tossing clothes aside until I find what I’m looking for — a cropped top I bought months ago but never wore. It’s tight, short, and shows a lot of skin to make a point. I didn't bother to wear a bra and let my t**s bounce. Hunter likes it like that.

I pair it with a a tight denim shorts — the shortest one I own, showing my butt cheeks and enough camel toe which will make Hunter drool.

I catch my reflection in the mirror.

It's not enough.

I grab my lipstick — a deeper shade than usual — and apply it carefully, pressing my lips together until the color looks bold, deliberate.

There.

If Sloane wants to play, I can play too.

When I walk back into the living room, Hunter is on the phone, pacing near the window. Work call. Good. That gives me a moment to deal with this b***h.

Sloane is frosting the cupcakes, her movements slow and graceful, like she’s posing for a camera.

I forced a bright smile and stepped into the kitchen.

“Do you need help?” I ask, my voice sugary sweet.

Sloane looks up.

Her smile is polite. But her eyes?

Dead.

“No, thank you,” she says softly. “I’ve got it.”

I laughed lightly, brushing off the sting. “Oh come on, like old times. I can help with the frosting.”

She pauses.

Just a second but long enough to show she doesn’t want me here.

Then she nods. “Sure.”

I move beside her, picking up a piping bag. My hands shake slightly, but I force them steady. I can do this.

“Your dress is cute,” I say casually.

She glances at me. “Thank you.”

No compliment back.

"How do you like my new top?" I asked her.

"It's... nice."

"Thank you. I got this last week and thought I would look good on it. I'm going to town later to have a drink with my new man."

Sloaned smiled. "That's good. You should spend time together and unwind."

I smiled sweetly at her. "I agree. When he is not busy with work, he always spends time with me."

"What's his name?"

"Hunt. Hunt Hart."

"Hunt? That's so close to Hunter's name," Sloane laughed. "We sure are best friends. Hunt could be your soulmate."

"You think so?" Sloane nodded.

"I think so. How long have you known him?"

"Oh, about a couple of months. Not long so I don't know yet."

"Oh, okay. Fairly new then," said Sloane.

Hunter ends his call and walks back into the kitchen — and stops dead when he sees me.

His eyes flick over my outfit.

But only for a second.

Then they go straight to Sloane.

He walks toward her like he’s pulled by a string.

My throat tightens.

I pipe frosting onto a cupcake, trying to look relaxed. “These look great, Sloane. You always made the best desserts.”

She smiles again — that same polite, empty smile. “Thanks.”

Hunter leans against the counter beside her, close enough to wrap his arm around her waist and kiss her temple.

He doesn’t even look at me.

I force a laugh. “Remember when we tried baking cookies and burned the whole tray?”

Sloane nods. “Yes. You almost set off the fire alarm.”

I laughed again, louder this time to make my breasts bounce and get Hunter's attention. “We were such a mess.”

She doesn’t laugh with me.

She just keeps frosting.

Hunter watches her hands like they’re the most interesting thing in the world.

My chest aches.

When the last cupcake is frosted, Sloane wipes her hands on a towel.

“I’m going to take a shower,” she says softly. “Can you two watch the cupcakes?”

Hunter nods immediately. “Of course.”

She walks past him, and he turns slightly, like he wants to follow her with his eyes but is trying not to be obvious.

She disappears upstairs.

The moment she’s gone, the kitchen feels colder.

Hunter exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “What?" he asked me.

I forced a smile. “We need to talk."

He doesn’t answer.

He’s still staring at the stairs.

I stepped closer to him, placing a hand lightly on his arm. “Do you want to get some air? It’s nice outside.”

He hesitates.

For a moment, I think he’ll say no.

But then he nods. “Sure. Just for a minute.”

I lead him out the back door, my heart pounding. The sunlight hits us, warm and bright. I turn to him, smiling softly.

“You’ve been quiet,” I say. “Everything okay?” I hugged him. No one can see us here.

He shrugs. “Just… thinking.” He didn't hug me back, but I didn't let him go.

I keep pressing my t**s on his chest hoping to get some reaction.

“About work?” I rubbed his thigh, closer and closer to the center where he's hard. That's my effect on him. I kissed his jaw but he turned away.

“No.” He sighed.

My stomach drops. I took his hand and placed it on my breast, then let out a moan. The tip instantly hardened against his palm.

"Hunter, I'm so wet for you." I whispered to his ear before kissing his neck.

He moaned while caressing my breast. He pinched my n****e before kissing my lips. He turned and pinned me against the wall. His kisses and touch were rough, just the way I like it when he's worried that we're going to get caught. It makes me feel like he wanted me so much and not Sloane.

Hunter cupped my center and while his other hand lifted my shirt to suck on my t**s one after the other. I tried not to be loud so Sloane won't hear us.

"Yes, right there honey."

His pulled my shorts to the side and slid two fingers inside only to pull it out immediately and let me go.

"What's wrong?" I was so upset that he stopped pleasuring me. He used to love sneaking out.

He looks at me — really looks — and for a moment, I see something familiar in his eyes.

But then it fades.

He glances toward the house.

“I should go back in soon,” he murmurs. “Sloane will be looking for me."

The words hit me like a slap.

I try to laugh it off. “She doesn't need you. She is probably buried with her doctor's work by now and forgotten about you." I tried to caress his arm. "How about we continue this later? You can take me out, and we'll spend the night at the hotel. Have a good time. What do you say?"

"I don't know. I'll talk to you later. I have to go."

He left in a hurry, and I was left fuming in anger. Sloane cannot take him away from me. Hunter is mine!