Hera didn’t miss how his eyes kept roaming all over the place, scanning every corner before joining her on the ground. 

“I think, I ate a lot,” Hera said, removing her flip-flops. As she crossed her ankles, Hunter’s eyes followed her legs from toes to her thighs on the green grass. Her skin looked as smooth as fresh cream. Leaning back, Hera placed her palms on her either side, arms and shoulders supporting all of her body weight. The sparkling skin under her neck captured Hunter’s interest, and he was having a hard time keeping his hands to himself. 

“Thank you for feeding me food. It was delicious, and I’m grateful,” said Hera, sighing with content. 

With much difficulty, Hunter averted his eyes from her skin. Dragging his legs up, he looped his arms over his knees. 

He thought of placing his jacket around her shoulders, as the evening air turned slightly chillier.. He knew that Hera doesn’t appreciate the chilly weather of London much, since she could never bear the cold for too long. And besides, Hunter needed her to reveal less skin for him to stay sane. He didn’t want to do something he would regret later. 

He was about to take off his Jacket when Hera turned to face him before she kicked him harshly on his legs, making him lose his balance, and he fell to his left side. He looked at her with his round, shocked eyes. Her actions caught him by surprise. 

“What was that for?” He asked incredulously, his voice laced with shock. Hera glared at him, “You arrogant Jerk when someone says thanks and shows gratitude, you are supposed to say welcome or at least say that it’s okay. You don’t just incline your head like a buffalo.” She snapped in anger, and a deep throaty chuckle greeted her angry outburst. 

She kicked him, again and again, scowling in disapproval as his chuckle turned into a burst of loud laughter. Within seconds she jumped on him, forcing him to lay on his back. Hunter’s laughter immediately died down as he realised their position. She was straddling him, and his heart stopped. 

His breathing turned heavy as he tried hard to ignore the growing torture in his pants that she’d unknowingly caused. He focused his concentration on the dull pain his gun inflicted on his back when she pushed him to the ground. Nothing was working in his favour, and he couldn’t feel any more helpless. 

With a grunt of frustration, he took both of her hands pulling her to his chest. Hera gasped at the sudden action, as she found herself flushed with his upper torso. He lifted his hip, pushing against hers, and her body went still feeling the hardness in his pants. 

‘Oh, my God! Why is his thing switched on?’ 

“Goddess, if you don’t want us doing the dirty, I suggest you get down before I change my mind and trust me, I’m a mere second away from losing my restraint,” he said in a husky tone. Hera avoided eye contact and got down in a flash. She cleared her throat, righted her dress, and sat back on the grass, exactly where she was before the awkward incident followed. 

Hunter stood up, facing away from her. Hera peeked a glance and saw him adjusting his pants and pulling his shirt down. Blushing crimson red, she looked away from him while he tried to calm his racing heart. She let her eyes wander and immediately regretted. The old couple from earlier was sitting on a wooden bench and had their eyes fixed on them. 

“Oh, bloody hell!” She cursed loudly, and Hunter followed her sight. The older man looked at him with a knowing smile. Hunter faked a smile in return and sat next to Hera. An awkward silence filled the air for a minute or two. He nudged Hera’s shoulder, demanding her attention. Pulling her lower lip between her teeth, she tilted her head to one side, peering at him through her lashes. 

“You wasted your time with all that makeup and stuff in vain. Especially with that artificial blush, you don’t need it, Love. Your cheeks naturally turn into an adorable shade of pink when you get angry or when you blush,” he said, winking at her. Hera scowled and kicked him again.

“What was I thinking? You know not a thing about being a gentleman!” She exclaimed, giving him a displeased scowl, and he glared at her. “What does that supposed to mean?” He asked, offended by her statement. “I was preaching you about responding to greetings and gratitude when I know you don’t have a decent bone in your body,” she said, and Hunter shifted in his place, changing his position, now he sat facing her directly. 

“Elaborate and explain,” he demanded, faking a harsh tone. 

Hera scoffed, making him frown. “Well, for instance, when couples who are in love take a walk around, they hold their hands, fingers intertwined. You don’t drag your girlfriend by her wrist like an uncivilised Caveman,” she spat everything in one go and stopped to take a deep breath before continuing with her angry outburst. “And the first thing any gentleman would do in this chilly weather is offering the lady his jacket,” Hera said suggestively and looked at him expectantly. 

Hunter bit back a smile. Wasn’t that what he wanted to do in the first place before she diverted his attention with her kick? But instead of offering his jacket to her, he thought of annoying her some more. 

“For the record, before accusing men of not being a gentleman, every woman should know that we men feel cold too. After all, we are also human. And don’t women demand equality? They do deserve it, don’t they? I think every respectable woman should open her own door, wear her own jacket, and pull her own chair by herself. I prefer my woman to be like that, strong and independent,” he ended by shrugging his shoulders, and his lips twitched into a smirk. 

“Oh, really? If I were Bianca, you would’ve wrapped your jacket around me, without even me mentioning it,” she spoke with utmost distaste, and he could sense jealousy dripping from her each word. “You don’t think about this equality shit you’re talking about when it comes to her. You always held the door open for her, and you always pulled a chair for her and,” she stopped mid-sentence. Hera realised too late where she’s going with that. 

Hunter’s face went blank, and he stared at her in stunned silence. 

Hera pursed her lips and cursed inwardly for her stupidity. 

“And for Evie,” she added, trying to conceal her mistake, “And Samantha.” She closed her eyes and bit her lip when he clenched his jaw in anger.

She heard the rustling as he removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulder. 

“You should’ve dressed more conservatively, knowing that you can’t bear cold for too long. So, instead of blaming me for not being a gentleman, you should’ve worn something else that revealed less skin. Don’t you think?” He asked in a teasing manner, trying to lighten up her mood, meanwhile struggling to suppress his anger. 

However, his words only heightened her anger. 

“Conservatively,” she said as though testing the sound of it. “Revealing less skin? Seriously, Hunter? Did you forget you bought this dress for me?” She asked, throwing the jacket on his face. 

With an angry exhalation, he caught the jacket and threw it on the ground.

“Didn’t you say that I should wear something pleasant? I thought you would like this dress since you bought it, and I wanted to look good for my first date, sue me now,” she lashed out and stood up, trying to walk away, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back. She glared at him, silently demanding to let her go. 

“I also said to wear something comfortable, which you are clearly not. I didn’t mean to offend you when I said less revealing, conservative dress. I only said that because you were shivering in the cold,” Hunter said, trying to justify. 

He grabbed the jacket and held it for her to wear it. “I’m sorry I was rude, and you look beautiful in this dress like a Goddess that you are. I really wished it revealed less skin though for my own sanity. I’m having a hard time keeping my hands to myself,” he admitted, smiling apologetically and zipped the jacket for her when she wore it. “Please let’s not fight anymore,” he requested in a softer tone. 

Hera knew what went wrong. It was Bianca. She’d always managed to find a way to barge in between them. She didn’t even need to be present there physically. 

‘Only her name is enough to ruin my best day. God, dammit, why am I so jealous of her?’ 

The silence stretched, and Hera welcomed it. She didn’t know how to undo the mess she created in her stupid jealousy.