Page 98 of Training His Pet

“You want me to come back?”

“I tried not to, I did everything you’re supposed to do to forget a guy, but none of it worked.”

“You tried everything?” His voice dipped.

Her cheeks heated and she took a small step back when he finally moved up to the porch. “Well, not that... I couldn’t even have a rebound fling.”

He captured her chin in his hand, tilting her head back and hovering over her lips. “If we give this another go, we have to communicate better.”

“Yes. We do,” she agreed, placing her hands flat on his chest. Feeling him beneath her fingertips, the strength and firmness of his body, centered her. Her world had been flying in tornado winds for two months, but a simple touch, an easy smile from him and everything settled.

His lips brushed lightly over hers. Enough to stoke her hunger, not satisfy.

“I meant what I said that night. I do love you, Erika.” He kissed her cheek. “I shouldn’t have given up so easily. I should have dragged you into your bedroom, ripped off that robe, and spanked you after you gave your explanation.”

His hand snaked around her neck, fisting her hair. The burn, now familiar and sweet, pulled her attention to his eyes. Stern and unyielding, how she remembered, how she loved.

“I couldn’t stop loving you, Dax, if I tried—and I did.” She grinned up at him. “Do you want to do what you didn’t then?”

His eyes widened. “You want me to spank you now for what happened?”

“No, I want you to drag me into the bedroom and tear off my clothes. I want you to remind me what it’s like being beneath your strength, protected by your stubbornness, and loved by your heart.” A tear fell down her cheek. “I want all of you, Dax. I want to forget the last few months happened at all.”

He let go of her hair and cradled her face in his hands. Her fear of stepping too fast vanished the moment his lips pressed against hers.

His hands held her firm, his tongue demanded entrance and she melted into him, into all of him. His unrelenting authority, his worry, his love, his passion; she took it all and gave back the same.

When he broke the kiss, his eyes searched hers. “If I take you to my bed, you won’t be leaving it again,” he vowed.

“I don’t think I said anything about leaving.”

His lips spread into a wide grin and he scooped her up, depositing her over his shoulder, and headed down the steps.

“Dax! My stuff is in my cabin!” she tried to point out, but between her laughing and her relief, she wasn’t sure she sounded coherent.

He smacked her upturned ass. “We’ll get it later. Right now, it’s time for a refresher in your training, pet.”

She sighed and relaxed over his shoulder. She had driven several hours to get there, and she owned nothing but the clothes in her suitcase, but she’d found her home.

In his arms.

Beneath his command.

She was home.

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