Page 127 of Conquering Oz

Oz grasped her jaw, pressing his lips against hers. Elodie wrapped her arms around his waist and moved in closer, deepening the kiss.

“It comes with stipulations,” he muttered against her lips, and she froze.

“Of course, it does.” She sighed heavily. “Let’s hear them.”

Oz resisted the urge to smile. His woman knew him well and how he operated.

“You’re going to cut back your hours.”

“Well yes, when the baby comes, I’ll…”

Oz shook his head before she finished speaking. “You’ll start now.”

“Fine.” She grasped the counter and hopped up. She grabbed his waist, pulling him closer as she spread her legs. “I have a few stipulations of my own.”

“Really?”

She smirked and nodded. “I need a small loan.”

Oz balked at the term. A loan? He wouldn’t be loaning her anything. If Elodie wanted something it was hers, including money. Though he was curious as to what she needed it for.

“Alright.”

“If Charley’s going to take the position as manager, I want her paid accordingly.”

It was fair.

“Anything else?”

“Nothing changes with the original loan. I will pay you back.”

He arched his brow. “No.”

“Yes,” she blurted.

“No.” He growled digging his fingers into her waist.

“Non-negotiable, Oz.”

“Why?” he snapped.

“Because it’s important to me. I appreciate the help, but in the end, I need to know that I did this.” She waved her hands around the store. “Through all the struggles and failures,Imade it happen in the end.”

As much as he wasn’t fully on board with it, no one understood it better than Oz. He’d lived in Sal’s shadow for a very long time, spending years proving himself worthy of holding the position of ruler of the Underground. It wasn’t handed to him, because Oz had earned it. He reluctantly nodded, knowing he wouldn’t be keeping tabs on payment, but he wouldn’t stand in the way of what she needed.

“And…” The corner of her mouth curled, her hands slid around his back, and her lips pressed against his throat. “You and me, naked in our bed in thirty minutes.”

Oz battened down his growl and tightened his hold on her waist. There was nothing more he wanted, but a meeting was going to delay her last stipulation. He angled his head, pressing his lips against hers. Kissing his woman would never grow old. He slipped his tongue between her lips, muffling her soft moan.

If he didn’t stop this now, he’d have her slung over his shoulder and carrying her upstairs to the bed in her old apartment. She’d moved all her things into his house, but most of the furniture had remained. Initially, Elodie had mentioned renting out the apartment, but Oz had put his foot down, forbidding it. There was no way he’d allow a stranger to live upstairs.

“I’ll be home in a few hours.”

She pouted, but he caught the small smile playing on her lips. “I can’t entice you?”

He grasped her jaw. “I have a meeting.”

“Where?”

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