Page 223 of The Owner's Temptation

I grab my lounge pants and slide them on quickly before half-jogging from the room.

She watches me go, confused and grinning. Flustered and naked in my bed. Right where I fucking love her.

When I return, it’s with a wriggling, brown-and-black shepherd pup in my arms. Big paws. Floppy ears. Tail wagging like it’s powered by joy alone.

Her eyes light up. “Oh my God. What?—”

I watch happiness swell within her as she takes him in, and I can’t stop smiling knowing she loves him. I knew she would.

“If you’re not ready to move in yet, that’s fine,” I tell her, placing the little beast on the bed. “But I still want you protected when you’re not here. He’ll be trained. Fully. He’ll guard you with his life.”

The pup whimpers, scrambles toward her like he already knows she’s his favorite person. She scoops him up, scratches behind his ears, and he immediately starts drooling on the sheets.

“I love him.”

“What are you going to name him?”

She smirks. “Maple.”

I blink. “Maple?”

“It’s perfect,” she insists, beaming.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

I groan. “This dog is going to be a killer, and you’re naming himMaple?”

“Yes. And my baby isnotgoing to be a killer.”

Oh my god, this fucking woman.

The pup makes a move to jump off the bed. She gently sets him down and watches him wobble like his legs are still learning how to work.

She pulls me down, her legs wrapping around my waist in an instant. “Thank you. He’s perfect.” Her tongue sweeps across my mouth and I gladly part for her. Groaning as I taste the two of us on her lips.God I fucking need more of her.

“Name him whatever you want,” I murmur into her hair. “Just say yes.”

She rubs her soft hands down my hard chest, tracing the lines of my tattoos with her gentle touch. “To what?”

“To all of it… but first…” I know I’m begging but I don’t give a shit. I want my woman. “The Ledger. Partner.”

She nods, smiling. “Partner.”

She kisses me like she means it—like she finally believes this is real.

And I break the kiss just enough to whisper, “Live with me.”

Her hand snakes beneath the waistband of my pants. I’m hard.Stillhard. Of course, I am.

I can’t not be when she’s got me like this. Her sinful grip wraps around my cock and I groan, rolling my hips into her touch.

“Not in front of our child.” I grunt into her neck when she squeezes me.

“Our child?” She grins, moving to the head of my cock and driving me wild.

“We’re co-parenting now. Visitation rights. Shared custody. Weekend trips to the park.”

I groan louder when she sneaks her other hand into my pants, both her talented hands stroking me in tandem. I can’t fucking think like this so I pin her wrists against the mattress just because Ican. She lets out a laugh, throwing her head back.

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