Page 46 of Lucky Charm

She folded herself into his body, desperate to get closer than clothing would allow, and kissed him back. Everything she’d liked about him kissing her during their one night together flooded back, but this time it wasn’t about decadence and sexual arousal, it was about blistering need.

He pulled back immediately, his gloved hands moving to her face. “Did he hurt you?” He tipped her head back, surveying her features.

She shook her head, forcing air in through her nose to stop the tears. “No.”

“LT, we need to move,” Carter called in a pseudo-whisper. “He couldn’t have been alone.”

Hunt stood, keeping her in his arms.

“I killed him,” she whispered.

“Nope, honey. I did. That’s what my report will say.”

“You don’t have to do that for me.”

“Yes, I do. My fault he got to you in the first place.” His mouth settled in a hard line, and she couldn’t help but trace her finger over those lips.

“We did it together,” she offered. It was important to her that he not take on the responsibility for one more death.

He paused in stepping over a rock. “Together,” he finally uttered.

Then his face closed tight, in an action she was now familiar with.

He was back in battle mode.

Only this time he was pissed.

∞∞∞∞∞

Hunt lifted Cait into his arms and pushed carefully through the despicable terrain. How had the man run across this uneven, snowy, and rocky area? Thankfully, it had slowed the fucker. Hunt ruthlessly controlled the tremble in his muscles. She was safe. That’s all that mattered.

Carter followed behind, protecting his back. The radio remained silent, the rest of the team in place waiting for them to get to the rendezvous point.

Cait lifted her head, looking behind them, and then sighed. “Hunt?”

“I know, honey. Don’t look back. We can’t change things. We need to move out of it.” He didn’t have to look to know another section of the mountain was getting left behind with footprints and blood.

She kept silent then, her head on his shoulder, until they reached Quaid. “Is he alive?”

Carter shifted ahead of them, handing her the glove she dropped as he passed. He checked the man’s vitals. “He’s groggy, but okay.”

“Why didn’t he kill us both? It would have been more expedient.” Cait patted Hunt’s chest so he would put her down.

He hefted her higher. “Unknown. And we don’t have time to be asking those questions.”

Hunt signaled to Carter to pick up the injured man. “Let’s go.”

Quaid groaned but remained limp while Carter worked him into place over his shoulder.

“Do you want me on your back instead?”

She seemed steadier and Hunt debated whether he was ready for that. Nope. “I don’t want to let go yet,” he whispered.

She didn’t answer at first, then she put her arm around his neck and leaned in, hugging him. “Me, too.”

Carter cleared his throat. “Ready when you are.”

Whether he heard them or not, Hunt didn’t give a damn.