Page 103 of Now and Then

“I want you now,” she says. “Lift up.”

I slow the truck down, more than happy to oblige, and lift up. She lowers my jeans and briefs as far as she’s able.

“You okay over there?” I ask.

She mumbles something to herself.

“What’d you say, baby girl?”

She studies me for a long moment. “I think I made a mistake.”

At her words, my heart plummets. “It’s okay. We can stop.”

“I don’t want to stop. I knew you were big from that time on the couch, but now, seeing it up close?” She shakes her head slowly. “This suddenly feels like a wildly optimistic life choice.”

My rapidly beating heart slows a fraction, and I burst out laughing. Soon, she’s doubled over, snort-laughing with me.

She reaches down and strokes me from base to tip, pulling a low, deep growl from me. I grip the steering wheel. “We’re going to need more room.”

Our house finally comes into view. Rain falls steadily again. I’m not even fully in the driveway when I throw the truck in park, fling open my door, and jump out. My jeans are haphazard, so I’m fully aware my bare ass is hanging out for all to see, but I couldn’t care less.

I pull her to the edge of the bench seat, and she hooks her ankles together behind my back like she has no intention of letting me go. Her hands slide into my hair. I palm her ass and lift her out of the truck.

“Shit,” I say when my boots sink into the soft mud and I almost drop her.

“Here,” she wiggles, “put me down. I can walk.”

I ignore her completely and waddle our way to the front porch. She licks and sucks at my neck. I’m sure Chief will love it when I walk in with several hickies.

The front door is already unlocked when I turn the handle and push. It thuds against the interior wall.

But before I step into the house, Sutton exclaims, “Hunter Michaels! Don’t you dare walk on these brand-new floors with muddy-ass cowboy boots!”

I toe off one boot, kicking it behind me, but can’t get a good grip on the other. “You sure we can’t mop ’em later?”

“No.” She purses her lips and unwraps her legs, placing her feet on the deck. “Here, let me help.”

I don’t even have time to pull my pants back up before she’s impatiently gesturing for me to lift my foot. When she gets my boot wrangled off, she unceremoniously tosses it to the side and stands, facing me. I pull my jeans back to my hips. We’re both panting, neither of us making a move toward the other.

Thunder rumbles in the distance, startling us both. Rain drums against the metal roof. The storm builds again as a broad smile spreads across her face. My shoulders drop. I know exactly what she’s got planned.

I take one step toward her.

She takes one step back.

“Sutton.” I take another step.

She takes another back. “Hunter.”

Sure as shit, she runs down the stairs into the yard. I whirl around, button my pants, and step out into the storm with her. Mud and water seep through my socks.

With her head tilted to the sky and eyes closed, Sutton holds her arms out and spins in a circle. For the briefest moment, she’s once again the teenage girl with wild red curls, a face full of freckles, dancing in the rain in nothing but her pajamas and purple rain boots. My heart stutters hard enough that I press a hand over my chest to steady it.

Sutton opens her eyes and catches my gaze. She smiles and laughs so loud it rivals the storm. “Dance with me, cowboy.”

I step into her space and wrap my arm low on her back. She presses her body to my bare chest and wraps her arms around my shoulders. I pull her closer, lifting her from the ground, our clothes practically soaked through.

“All you need is your purple rain boots.” I press a kiss to the apple of her cheek.