Page 124 of Lucky Charm

“Hmmmm, sounds good.” Her head nestled against his neck and every sense he had rioted.

“Where is this gift?”

“Jackie put it by the bed.”

“I see how this is. You two, partners in trouble.”

She raised her head and eyed him. “Maybe, sometimes. But I think my trouble days are over.”

“To be determined.”

He carefully stood her on her feet by the bed. “Can you manage this to let me get your dress off?”She still wore her wedding dress and kept fingering it like it was a Cinderella dream.

“Yes, I think so. I still don’t want to take it off.”

“We’ll hang it where you can still look at it, and we’ll have a reception after you’re healed and we’re home. You can wear it again.”

Her eyes rounded. “That’s a great idea. How do you come up with these things?”

He laughed. “I read. I know things.”

She grinned at him. “Yeah, intelligence briefings and One Hundred One Ways to Blow Up Things.” She took off her bracelet and handed it to him.

He made a spot on the dresser for jewelry. “Make that Five Hundred Ways to Blow Up Things and How to Add One Plus One.”

He made slow work of the buttons and zipper on the back of the dress, and Cait was shaking by the time he gently extracted her arms from the dress and lowered it to the floor. His eyes popped at the gorgeous beige lace undergarments cupping her breasts and ass. “That’s a surprise I wasn’t expecting.” He stood back to take a quick look, then eased Cait to a sitting position on the bed.

She gave him a mischievous, coy smile even though her mouth was tight with pain. “Have to get my kicks somewhere.”

He slipped off her ballet slippers and ran a hand over her arches. It amazed him she had no scratches on her feet or legs, but from her hip up, she sported bruises and red surgical scars.

Cait twisted and took off one earring with a fumble. “I love these.” Hunt helped her with her left ear.

He lifted the dress from the floor and hung it right where she could see it like he promised. She watched every move with a sweet smile. He hung up his dress jacket which he’d put over the back of a chair in the corner. Then, he sat in the chair to take off his shoes. “Let’s do gifts.”

She pointed to the other side of the bed. “Hunt? I don’t know if I can…” Her voice trailed off.

He moved next to her and took her hand, kissing each finger. “We are not having sex tonight or tomorrow night or any time soon. You’re not healed enough, and I’m not doing anything to set that back.”

“But it’s our wedding night.” Her quiet words struck him sideways. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of it, but he dismissed it. But he didn’t talk to her about it.

“Yes, it is, and we’re going to have an extended one that starts with courting.” Where the idea came from, he had no idea. He hadn’t read How to Keep Your Wife Happy When You Can’t Use Sex.

“Courting?”

“Yeah, like old-fashioned courting.” He stopped and removed his dress pants and shirt, hanging both, then pulling his T-shirt over his head. Her eyes took a slow turn over his body. The burn was real. “I love kissing you. I haven’t done it enough. We’re going to start there tonight.” He went aroundthe bed and picked up the gifts. He sat again near Cait. “Any questions?”

“Do you have this all planned out in your head?”

Hunt snorted to himself. If she only knew.

“I’m a SEAL, honey. We adapt.” To start, he cupped her face and kissed her. What he’d intended to be a gentle, reverent kiss turned into a soul soothing moment when she slid her good hand behind his neck and pulled him closer. Warm lips touched his, and her tongue licked and tasted.

When he pulled away, he sifted fingers through her soft hair, enjoying the curls that remained from earlier. “Open gifts. Or wait?”

“Open gifts.” Her husky voice told him sleep wasn’t far off.

He didn’t want to let her go, but he didn’t get many gifts. The ones from Cait were always going to be special.