Page 98 of Snow Bound

She tried a contrite smile. “Oops?”

“Oops is right.” His scowl remained, but his eyes were twinkling. “Tell you what. I’ll suspend the ten for the truck under one condition.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “What’s that?”

“That you tell me you love me again.”

“I love you, Grant.”

His smile widened, then he forced his mouth into a mock scowl. “Who?”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling. “I love you, Sir.”

“That’s better,” he growled and kissed her.

She sighed when he lifted his head. “Are you sure we need to do punishment first?”

“Yes.” His eyes were serious. “You have to talk to me, Anna. You can have time to yourself if you need it, but you can’t just cut and run. And you can’t keep secrets.”

She frowned. “I didn’t.”

“You didn’t tell me you loved me,” he reminded her with a quirk of his lips, then sobered. “But that’s not what I’m talking about.”

She shook her head, confused. “Then what?”

“Your mom,” he said gently.

Her heart plunged to her knees. “Oh.”

“That one’s not all on you,” he continued, lifting one hand to brush her cheek. “I knew something was bothering you, but I didn’t ask. I was only your temporary Dom, and I told myself it wasn’t my business.”

He turned his hand to cup her jaw. “But I’m not temporary anymore, am I?”

Her heart leapt to her throat. “No, Sir.”

“So we’ll talk about it. Later. And we’ll work through it together.”

“Okay.” Feeling almost painfully cherished, she laid her head on his chest. “I really love you.”

He stroked a hand down her hair. “I really love you, too.”

“After my punishment, can we have makeup sex?” she asked hopefully.

“That’s part two of my three part plan.”

Curious, she tipped her head back to look up at him. “What’s part three?”

He gave her his slow, sexy smile. “Living happily ever after.”

EPILOGUE

FIVE MONTHS LATER

Grant unlocked his apartment door and sighed with relief. He’d been in an airport or on a plane for the last thirteen hours, his eyes were gritty with fatigue, and his clothes felt like he’d slept in them. Which he had.

All he wanted was a shower, eight hours of sleep, and his woman, not necessarily in that order.

So the music and jeering laughter that greeted him as he shut the door was less than welcome.

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