10. Hunter

Chapter 10

Hunter

Cara parts her lips, and my gut pulls tight in anticipation of whatever she’s going to say, but at that exact moment, my dumb-ass brother falls off a ladder with a loud clattering thud, and this time the shrieks are urgent.

A tap on the window is next, as Heath alerts me that he needs a hand helping Wyatt inside.

“I’m fine,” my brother protests as he hops between us, his arms slung over our shoulders.

I’m this close to banning the word fine from Christmas Eve.

“Stand on your left foot then, you idiot,” I snap.

“I mean, I will be fine.” He sighs. “I might need to sleep on the couch, though.”

“We can make that happen.”

“I’ll sleep down there with you,” Emily says, hurrying along beside us.

“But then who will keep Heath warm?” Wyatt worries.

“All three of you can sleep downstairs,” Hannah suggests. “But remember, there’s no door.”

“Hannah,” I bark.

“What?”

“Stop it. They’re grownups.”

“But I’m not,” she pouts. “And I don’t?—”

“You are a grownup, actually,” Wyatt points out. “You can vote and everything.”

“Not everything. I can’t drink yet.”

“Your spiked hot chocolate suggests otherwise.” I gesture at the front door. “Now open?—”

But it swings wide just as I say that, Cara apparently at the ready .

“I brought a chair to the foyer in case he wants to sit for a minute,” she says sweetly.

“Oh, bless you.” Wyatt sinks into it and exhales dramatically.

Danes are nothing if not dramatic at every turn.

“What would help?” Emily frets, worried about her man.

He catches her hand and pulls her close. “A kiss. And some trifle.”

“He’s going to be fine,” I say. “Everybody inside. Let’s go.”

Hannah goes ahead to the living room and cues up Home Alone , the first Christmas movie of the evening.

Cara and I follow, leaving the threesome alone in the foyer for a few minutes. Cara sits next to Hannah, and I take the opposite couch, but I ache to have her curl up next to me.

Also, I feel like my thoughts are written all over my face, and it’s fucking uncomfortable.

When Wyatt hobbles into view, it’s a relief. “Told you I’m fine,” he says cheerfully. “And I put up the mistletoe again, Hunter. Don’t be such a Scrooge. Is it trifle time?”

He carefully makes it to the couch, then Emily brings the trifle into the living room. “Who wants some?”

Heath does.

Hannah does.

But when Emily asks Cara, her gaze slides over to me. “I might just want some vanilla ice cream,” she says softly, hazel eyes glittering. “If that offer still stands?”

It stands forever and ever, amen.

“I’ve got a few options for you,” I manage to say calmly, off-limits desire surging. “They’re in the freezer in the garage. It might be better if I showed you?”

We both stand, and nobody is watching us as I lead her from the room—they’re all focused on the trifle—but I still feel like there’s a spotlight on us.

The college coed and her lab partner’s dad.

Heart pounding, I cross the foyer and hold the door to the garage open for her. She steps through, brushing right past me. She smells so good it makes my mouth water, and if she really only wants ice cream, I’m going to have to crawl into the deep freeze myself.

“You’ve got your choice of—” I start to say as the door swings shut.

But the second it’s closed, she takes my hand, pulling me right up against her, and thank Christ .

I wrap my free arm around her waist, savouring the soft press of her curves against me. Holding her tight, because she’s mine. Mine mine mine.

My secret need.

She tips her face up to meet mine as I curve over her. “You owe me a really good kiss for Christmas,” she whispers. “You ruined the first one by ghosting me. And you just led me under the mistletoe without kissing me there, too.”

“I’m so fucking sorry.” I slant my mouth across hers, eager to make this right. She moans as I find her tongue, soft lips opening wide. She presses up into our embrace, surging to me, making my head spin. Her need is just as strong as mine, and she twines her arms around my neck, arching her back. Pushing her soft, full tits into my chest.

I want to squeeze and grope and explore every last inch of her, but?—

The door squeaks open.

Cara spins away from me so fast I’m basically making out with mid air when Heath steps into the garage.

He takes one look at me, then a quick glance at Cara, then clears his throat. “Can you bring in chocolate ice cream?”

“Yep,” Cara says brightly.

I can’t form words. There’s no blood in my brain, it’s all below my belt.

He steps back into the house, the door swinging shut.

Cara presses her lips together and gives me a helpless look. “Oops,” she whispers.

I’m not sure how to read her reaction. Heart pounding, I pull her back against me. Even with the risk of being caught, it feels better to have her in my arms than not. “Are you okay with them knowing? Because Heath and Wyatt and Emily don’t have any secrets from each other. Their relationship is so honest it’s frankly awkward for anyone else around them.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here.” Cara grimaces and pats my chest, her fingertips curling instinctively like she wants to sink her claws into me. I wonder if she knows she’s doing that. “Hannah thought it would be less awkward if there was someone else for balance here. Little did she know, she invited someone who had kissed her dad.”

“Technically, her dad kissed you,” I say. I don’t want my active part in this to be minimized. I kissed her behind the library. I kissed her here in the garage. I’m going to kiss her a lot of places, and my daughter just needs to deal with it.

“Probably isn’t going to make her Christmas better if you put it that way.” Cara shakes her head. Her eyes sparkle as she slowly backs away from me, heading for the garage door.

“Hang on.” I wave at the freezer. “We can’t forget the ice cream.”

Her cheeks flame. “Right.”

I cross to her and kiss her again, then murmur, “Stop blushing. I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off you.”

She sucks in an eager little breath. “I don’t want you to.”

God damn it. I cup her cheek and brush my thumb over her sweet lower lip. “Can you be a good girl for me tonight and stay up?”

She exhales, her breath warm against my thumb, and electricity arcs between us. “Yes,” she whispers, her glittering gaze turning to pure fire. “I’ll wait up for you, Daddy.”