Page 80 of Taming Her

She turned to him, wooden batter-coated spoon midair over a bowl of mixture. “Ah, there you are.” She smiled. A streak of flour coated her right cheek. “I’m making blueberry pancakes. I figured you’d be hungry.”

He wanted to punch the air in celebration, let out a whoop. But he didn’t, instead he strode over to her and from behind wrapped his arms around her waist. “Sounds great.” He breathed deep, inhaling the smell of strawberry shampoo, then kissed her cheek. “And yes, I’m hungry.”

“So go shower, Officer.” She giggled and rubbed her ass against his groin. “And be quick, or they’ll burn.”

For a moment he wondered about discarding the pancake idea altogether, hauling her over his shoulder, and taking her to bed for a celebratory fuck, but he figured she’d put effort in to greet him home and he really should respect that.

And boy, was he glad she was here.

It was where she was meant to be.

Forever.

He kissed her cheek again, then gave her ass a quick swipe.

“Oh!” Her eyes widened.

He grinned. “I’ll be quick, they smell great, and you look great too, here in my kitchen, cooking.”

“Well, I’m trying, the first one turned out a bit black, so be glad you don’t have to have that one, I’ll make you fresh.”

“Perfect.”

Griff showered, dragged on boxers and sweats then wandered downstairs.

They ate pancakes and drank tea with the doors to the newly pruned patio area wide open.

“So what did you do last night?” he asked, going for nonchalance.

“Stayed up later than planned.” She rolled her eyes.

His heart sank. “What do you mean?” Had she been out? Had she found some wine?

“I got involved in a study module on ponds, fascinating how you can plant them so the plants literally clean the water. You don’t have to do anything. But if you have some sort of agitation, like a waterfall over some small rocks, or a fountain, it helps aerate. And did you know, if it’s big enough, and ducks come, they’ll bring fish eggs on their feet, and there you have it, fish in your pond.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Fascinating.”

“It is.” She waved her fork at the garden. “You have more than enough space for a pond, we really should think about it.”

“Would you like one in the garden?”

“Yes, but… would you? It’s your garden, Griff.” She took a sip of tea, her eyelids half-mast.

He took her hand. “I want it to feel like your garden too, Ava. Itisyours too.”

“What… what are you saying?” She looked at him steadily.

He swallowed and wished his heart hadn’t suddenly started to pound. “Move in with me permanently, officially.” He paused. “I love you, I want you here with me.”

He held her eye contact. Damn, had he been premature? Should he have left it a while longer? Had he spooked her again?

He didn’t know. What he did know was he wanted the beautiful woman he’d been in love with for as long as he could remember in his home and bed.

“It’s a big cottage,” he said. “I hate rattling around on my own.”

“Ah, so I’m just to fill in the gaps?” She cocked her head.

“No.” He frowned. “You make the cottage a home. You make me happy.”

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