Page 39 of Sweet and Salty

Fuck me, I about drop to my knees at that admission alone.

Instead, I somehow remain standing, easily hefting her up until her ankles lock behind my back. I walk us toward the patio table, perching her sweet ass on the edge.

“Then let’s play,” I say, spreading her thighs to step between them, losing myself in her kiss, her body, and the desperate way she says my name when I make her come.

CHAPTER 14

Zoe

“Owen,” I say, my voice cracking the second I look down at the pavement. I’m standing with Gregory’s dishes in my hand, frozen.

“Shit.” He gently pushes me back into the building, glacial eyes scanning the parking lot and woods beyond before he crouches to pick up the letter laying at his feet.

I hurry to set down the dishes, rushing back to Owen’s side as he unfolds the letter. I read it, even though I know I really shouldn’t.

You take better care of this stupid cat than you do your patients. Now you get to feel what it’s like to have something you love taken away from you. If you hurry, he might still be in the woods where I left him.

“No,” I gasp, pushing past Owen and hurrying toward the woods.

A strong arm hooks around my waist. “You can’t,” Owen says, shifting me to look up at him. “He could be out there waiting. This could be a lie, a ploy to get you out there.”

“What if it isn’t, Owen?” Tears line my eyes, rage-driven and fearful. “What if he hurt Gregory?”

Owen furrows his brow, remorse and anger swirling over his features. He groans. “If I tell you to stay here, will you?”

I shake my head.

“Didn’t think so.” His muscles tense. “I’m going to draw my gun,” he warns me before slowly retrieving the gun he always wears holstered at his lower back. His T-shirts always cover it up, but I’ve always known it’s there. “You stay behind me. You understand? Even if we see the cat, I need your word you won’t step in front of me.”

I nod, my fingers shaking.

He hesitates another moment, regret flashing in his eyes before he moves toward the tree line.

I do as I’m told, stepping where he steps, barely able to control my racing heart as we clear the first portion of the trees?—

A soft mewing sounds, and every single muscle in my body tenses at the sound.

“There he is,” Owen whispers, but holds his free arm in front of me in case I’m about to break my word and run toward Gregory, who is struggling against something tied to his back paw.

I don’t move despite every instinct urging me to run.

Owen scans the wooded area, looking every inch the terrifying bodyguard my father hired. After a few excruciating minutes, he nods and moves toward Gregory.

“Son of a bitch.”

CHAPTER 15

Owen

Igrowl as we make it to the cat and give the area another quick scan. There’s no sign of Spencer, so I holster my weapon and crouch. “He tied him up and left him here.”

“Is he hurt?” Zoe asks, tears coating her tone as she continues to obey my demand, staying behind me as I crouch before the cat.

I look him over. He’s tugging against a string tied to his back paw, securing him to the tree. Mewing instead of hissing, which is a good sign. “I don’t think so,” I say, gently reaching for him. “I’m going to help you,” I say to the cat, eying him in the hopes he won’t take this out on me.

He stills, as if he can understand me, and I get to work on the tie, noting as the cat shifts that there’s another fucking letter underneath him.

“Almost,” I say, working the string. Zoe is kneeling next to me, petting his head, the cat leaning into her touch. “Got it.” The tie comes loose, and I lean back, expecting Gregory to run for it like he usually does after he gets what he needs from us.

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