“I can give the leather fashion show a miss,” James said.
“Sounds good to me.” Hunter smiled at James and Tyler. “I hope you have as nice a time as I believe we will.”
“I’m sure we will,” James said, smacking Tyler’s ass after Tyler slid out of the booth and stood up. Tyler let out a little whimper, his pretty face already growing flushed. “Good night, my darlings!” James called out as he exited the booth and slid his arm around Tyler’s shoulders. “I hope to see you back here soon.”
Payne waved as James sauntered away, Tyler in tow, then looked at Hunter. “Shall we?”
Hunter slid out of the booth. “And James calleduscute?”
“We’re very cute,” Payne said as he followed. “But so are they.”
“No one ever calls me cute,” Hunter growled, wrapping an arm around Payne’s shoulders and pulling him close.
“James thinks you’re cute,” Payne said, sliding one hand into the back pocket of Hunter’s black fatigue pants. “So do I.”
Hunter growled. “Well, if you do, I guess it’s okay.” He gave Payne a heated smile. “But I know who has the cutest ass, and it ain’t me.”
“I won’t argue,” Payne said with a little smirk. Hunter wasn’t the first person to compliment Payne’s ass, but his was the only opinion Payne cared about.
Once they were back in Hunter’s SUV and headed home, Payne rested his hand on Hunter’s thigh, debating how to bring up a subject he’d been thinking about for a while. In the end, he decided to be blunt rather than trying to ease into it gradually, since Hunter preferred direct communication.
“What do you think about talking to Herc soon?” he asked. “Do you think you’re ready to try a new mission?”
Hunter was quiet for a few moments. “I think so. I’m certainly willing to see what’s available. Were you thinking of working with me or sending me out on my own?”
“I prefer to work with you,” Payne said, squeezing Hunter’s thigh. “If you’d like to go out on your own or with a different partner, that’s fine, but I’d rather go with you.”
Hunter put one hand over Payne’s. “No, I would prefer to have you with me. I don’t want another partner, and… well, I think it’s best not to be on my own. Not yet. Maybe… well, maybe not ever, you know?”
“I get it,” Payne said, relieved to know Hunter wanted him to go along. He wouldn’t have been at all pleased if Hunter’s first mission had been a solo one, but he also didn’t want Hunter to feel like he was hovering or taking away Hunter’s options. “I’ll set up a meeting with Herc. He can find us something to do that’s low stakes, but it’ll help you get your head back in the game.”
“Sure.” Hunter drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know if I’ll freeze again or not. If I do… I guess I should retire.”
“Don’t fret about it,” Payne said, using his Dom voice, and he smacked Hunter’s thigh hard. “If you get on that hamster wheel, it’ll be tough to get off. Either you’ll freeze or you won’t. You have no way of knowing until you’re in the moment, so there’s no point in dwelling on it. Even if you do, it’s not the end of the world. You can work as a trainer. I’m sure Herc would be happy to put your skills to good use in his new training facility. Lawson and Greer might too.”
Hunter frowned. “Yeah. I know you’re right. It’s hard to think about not being in the field anymore. But then… it wouldn’t be the same without Stack anyway.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Payne said softly. “Whether you go back into the field or not, nothing is going to be the same.”
“I know.” Hunter cast a quick look at Payne. “I would imagine I might even be missed if I went back. Maybe.”
“No maybe about it.” Payne slid his hand down and fondled Hunter’s knee, slanting a lascivious smile at Hunter. “I’d send you naughty pictures and emails every day to entice you home quicker.”
Hunter chuckled. “That would probably do it,” he said, then sobered. “I’d miss you, too. To be honest, going back into the field doesn’t hold the same attraction it used to. I never thought I might be ready to settle down, but now…”
“Now you have an adorable badass who’s madly in love with you and who is ready — eager, even — to keep you so satisfied the only explosions you’ll think about are the ones that happen in our bed,” Payne said, grinning as he leaned over to nuzzle Hunter’s ear.
Knowing Hunter might be willing to give up the field for him — forthem— was an ego boost, but it was also a relief. Payne wouldn’t have tried to stop Hunter from returning to the field if it was what he wanted, but Payne would have dreaded the waiting game while Hunter was away.
Hunter leaned into the nuzzling. “Yeah, a total badass, who is willing to use those big blue eyes to lethal effect, I’m sure. But I admit the explosions in the bedroom are even more satisfying than the other type. Plus I feel like I have too much to lose. Now I know exactly why Stack was getting out. I just wish he’d done it as soon as Jake was born.”
“I know, but he had to be ready,” Payne said. “No one could make the decision for him, just like I can’t make the decision for you. I can only try to heavily influence it,” he added, biting down on Hunter’s earlobe.
“You’re definitely influencing it,” Hunter growled. “And if you keep that up, I’m going to pull over and ravish you right here in the car.”
Payne drew back, unable to keep from smiling smugly. “Patience,” he said. “At least wait until we get home so you can bend me over the back of the couch.”
“Sounds good to me,” Hunter said. “I’m tempted to risk a speeding ticket, but I’d probably slug the cop, and jail isn’t where I want to be right now.”
Payne settled back and peered out the window to distract himself from growing arousal. He didn’t know what kind of mission Herc would give them or how the mission would go, but he knew how tonight would go, and that was good enough for now.
