Page 32 of Luck Be Mine (The Defenders #3)

Hunt shoved his phone in his pocket and bolted to his truck. This date was a birthday celebration, and he needed to make a stop. Plus, he wanted to get to the hospital in time to go in and make himself visible.

He never announced he was a warrior elite. He didn’t want that common knowledge. Still, he didn’t want to leave his wife out there with few people understanding who he was in her life. One never knew when that would matter.

§§§§§§§§§§

? Date Night – Building Memories ?

“You’re thinking too hard.” Cait purposefully let her warm breath tickle Hunt’s ear and teased the arch with her lips. He eased his hand under her red dress and casually caressed her knee. Sighing, she let the love shiver through her.

Her husband, the cool and calm officer in charge, finally relaxed. The dark theater was full, more so than she thought it would be when she brought the movie to his attention. Of course, it was a week to Halloween.

Still, they had the back row to themselves, and he was enjoying this one. Probably because he had an eye on the ghostbuster’s weapons. This relaxed Hunt was better than the nervous Hunt she’d sat across from at a dinner she could have cooked better at home.

“You’re not paying attention,” he whispered, returning a light nip on her ear.

“I know how it ends.” She grinned to herself, but he caught the sass and squeezed her knee.

“You don’t like this movie?” His mouth, her neck, a teasing kiss.

“I do like this movie, but I’m wishing we’d streamed it.” She gripped her drink and took a sip to settle the heat moving from breast to core.

He took her free hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “Not bad for a first date.”

A minute went by before she could look at him without a swell of emotion in her eyes. His solid presence beside her was everything she’d been missing. The feel of him sank deep and soothed sore places.

The big finale, the music swelled, and she twisted in her seat to give her husband a quick, thorough kiss.

“What was that for?”

“Taking advantage of the dark before the lights come on.”

Hunt eyed her, head to toe. “Have you ever made out in a movie theater?”

“No, and I’m not starting now. These seats are worse than the red sofa.”

Hunt silently chuckled. “Just checking.”

Two couples ahead of them stood to leave. Hunt followed their cue and rose.

She took her drink to throw in the trash, grasp his hand, and led them out of the row. “What now?”

“How about we go someplace special. Let’s check out the stars.” He searched in his pocket for his keys.

The harsh light in the hallway made her squint, and she hurried to get outside into the dark.

He swung an arm around her and pulled her close. “What’s the rush?”

“Hate these theater lights after sitting in the dark. Outside is better.”

He grinned. “Won’t argue with that.”

She rolled her eyes and giggled. “Frogman humor.” He kept her close through the parking lot, a protection she appreciated.

Could she take care of herself? Yes.

Did she like letting him do it? Yes.

He opened the door and helped her into her seat. His strong, warm hands guided, and her brain misfired and went right to where this whole night promised to go. First date territory with a we’ve-been-married-a-while anticipation chaser.

He could have kissed her, but he didn’t. He shut the door and walked around to his side. He didn’t get in. He slid his phone out of his pocket and answered. She hadn’t heard it ring. Disappointment crashed. He was going to have to leave. She’d be in an Uber home. Man, there were times.

She watched like a hawk but couldn’t read anything from his expression. Screw adjusting her face to be supportive. It was what she always did. The habit wasn’t real and didn’t keep the promise they’d made about coping with what they were and not pretending.

She missed him disconnecting. The door opened, and he slid into his seat, putting the phone in the console.

“They need you?” Her voice wavered and she cursed herself.

“No, not yet, but let’s head home. I have a surprise.”

She raised a brow. “Which is?”

“A surprise. You’ll see.”

“I want to know.” Yes, she pouted.

“Well, I contemplated a starry night hike, an ocean swim, ice cream. I chose someplace else.”

Cait gazed around. This route was familiar. “A quiet place.”

“Yes. At this time of night, it has the benefit of privacy, no interruptions, comfort, and a nice, sweet spot.”

“A sweet spot?”

“Yep.”

She kicked off her shoes and tucked her legs to the side, smoothing her dress to cover her bare legs.

Hunt kept focused on his driving. When he pulled in the driveway, she stifled a groan.

This wasn’t what she’d expected.

He turned off the truck. “Come with me.”

Disappointed but intrigued, she got out and joined him in their driveway. He took her hand, a small smile on his lips. Except he didn’t go to the front sidewalk or the porch. He went to the gate on the side by Frank’s house and let them in the backyard.

“So what do you have in mind, sailor?”

“Little bit of this and a little bit of that.”

The lawn in the back yard rolled across the large space in uninterrupted green, and tall calla lilies covered the flower beds under the family room and the bedroom.

The small patio held their barbecue, black wicker furniture, and a door to the family room.

Tall trees and shrubs ran along the back fence.

They blocked the view of the street running in back of their house and muffled the noise.

Both neighbors had single story homes like theirs.

Frank and the elderly Carvers rarely used their backyards.

In the midst of the lawn, there was a full-size bed with the red, triangle-patterned comforter from the family room stretched across the top.

To the side was a small table with a hibachi.

Hunt used his keys to open the back door. He punched in the security code and removed a large grocery bag.

Cait inhaled the fragrant night air and shook off the confusion. Whatever he planned, privacy was guaranteed.

“You are very quiet.”

“I am very curious.”

“Good.” He took a lighter from his pocket and leaned over to light the hibachi. The rest of the items remained in the bag. He was killing her.

“You’re going to have to work a little harder to get me naked.” She knew what this dress did for her body, and she wasn’t above using it.

He looked.

She smiled.

“Naked isn’t my goal, yet. Your birthday is.”

“What are you making?”

He dumped the contents of the bag. Graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows.

Cait clapped her hands, delighted. “We’re making s’mores.”

“We haven’t made these in this house. Seems like an oversight.”

“Oh, indeed.” He’d planned carefully. The skewers were there to roast the marshmallows, and he threaded one onto the tip and gave it to her. Can you handle this part?”

Cait snorted. “I may not go camping with you, but I can roast a marshmallow.”

He shook his head, his sexy smile igniting all her tingly places. “You are never going to let me live down that mission, are you?”

“Nope.” She set her mind to roasting a perfect marshmallow. “This bed, however, has promise. Although, I’m not sure it beats your body as a mattress.”

He laid chocolate on graham cracker squares. “My body is yours to claim for whatever you need, Mrs. Hunter.” He leaned in and dropped a firm kiss on her mouth.

“What else you got there?”

He leaned over to a cooler she’d missed and took out a plastic bottle. Root beer. “As I recall, the last time I brought you root beer, I didn’t get to drink mine.”

She moved close and kissed his neck. “I drank it for you.”

He adjusted her skewer. “There’s only one bottle. You go first.”

She waved off the drink. “Nope, you first. I insist you get some of it this time.”

He took several long swallows and watched her. She had never flirted with him really. The spark took care of things to the point it had been all or nothing every time.

She pulled her skewer away from the fire and smashed the melted marshmallow on the prepped cracker. “Are you going to toast yours?”

His bemused expression left her without words. She lifted the s’more to his lips. “Have a bite.”

“Happy birthday, honey.” He leaned in and took a healthy chunk, licking his lips to snag the marshmallow. He took the messy treat from her, fed her the rest, and sucked the chocolate off her fingers.

She pushed him back onto the mattress and crawled on top of him. Her birthday party, after all.

He stayed in step and slipped her straps off her arms.

“Yes!” His mouth took hers. In her favorite spot on top of him, she followed his lead to wild and crazy.

She shifted out of the top, exposing her breasts to the night air.

His hands cupped the soft mounds. She would never tire of him touching her.

She cupped his neck while stroking his hair, his warmth a draw that never changed.

Diving deeper, she tangled her mouth with his, tasting the root beer and the chocolate.

He caressed the back of her thighs, making every part south of Dixie dance.

A slight tear and her sexy underwear was gone.

She leaned away and went for his belt.

“No more s’mores?” Hunt’s soft rumble stayed between the two of them.

Cait didn’t even pause. “Later.” She unbuttoned his shirt so she could feel his skin while he unfastened his slacks to release his erect length. She moved from his chest to stroke him, testing the hardness—the thrill erupted from toe to breast in a deep moan.

She dropped her hands and grabbed his shoulders when he eased her into position.

With a shift of her dress, Hunt entered her in one swift thrust, stealing her breath and making him moan, too. He found her mouth and kissed her with thorough abandon, his fingers tweaking her nipples.

Their world shrank to the bed.

The small fire from the hibachi gave off an orange glow, enhancing the mood. The silent night fed the urgent fire between them. Locked in his embrace, he used his strength to deliver the give and take she needed.