Page 53 of Suck My Puck

“It fits her perfectly, right?”

I chuckle. “It does.”

Bella kisses her head once more. “You’re all clean, Maizie. Don’t you feel better?”

Maizie yawns, which makes me yawn. I check the time.

“Damn. It’s almost two in the morning.”

Bella frowns. “Shoot. We should get to bed.”

She scoops up the dog and walks out of the bathroom but stops in the hallway and turns back to me. “Wait, who should she stay with tonight?”

I grin when I see the way Maizie has fallen asleep in Bella’s arms. “Definitely you. Look at how comfortable she is with you already.”

A giddy smile pulls at Bella’s lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

We walk down the hallway and to the front door and wait as Bella slips her sneakers back on.

For a few seconds, she lingers at the door. “Thanks for everything you did tonight,” she says. “It started out pretty sucky when I saw my ex at Spanky’s, but it ended up being a pretty great night because of you.”

A giddy feeling swoops through me. “It was my pleasure. And, um, thanks for being so kind when I vented about my dad.”

Warmth flashes in her eyes. “Of course.”

A quiet moment passes between us, and I wonder if I should bring up the kiss that almost happened.

I tug a hand through my hair and quietly talk myself out of it. Now’s not the time. It’s been a long night and we have a dog to take care of now.

I clear my throat. “So, um, have a good night,” I say.

She lets out a flustered laugh. “Yeah, youtoo.”

I open the door for her and let her out, then close it. I let out a breath. What a night.

I walk to my bedroom, stripping off my soaking wet shirt along the way. Before I make it to my room, there’s a knock at my door.

I jog back over to the door. When I open it, Bella is glancing down at Maizie as she sleeps in her arms.

“I forgot to grab her food in case she gets…” Bella trails off when she looks up at my bare chest.

Those doe eyes go wide as she stares at my torso.

I can’t help the smug grin that tugs at my lips. “See something you like, pretty girl?”

She shakes her head but then starts to nod after a moment. Her cheeks are fire engine red, and she’s looking at me like I’m a porterhouse steak.

My ego swells. Fuck, it feels good to have her look at me like this.

She starts to stammer and almost drops Maizie. I scoop the sleeping pup in one arm and gently grip Bella’s chin in my free hand, tilting her face up to me.

“You don’t have to just look, Bella.”

My voice is low and husky. I can’t help it. I fucking love that she can’t take her eyes off me.

I lean closer and hover my mouth over hers. “If you wanna do more than just look, all you have to do is say the word, pretty girl. I’m yours.”

Chapter 18

---