Page 54 of Color of Love

“Absolutely fine, I’m looking forward to it already,” Justine smiled again and Rebelle stood and headed for the door with Justine close behind her.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you actually, how’s the fox doing, did you hear back from the vet?” Justine asked.

Rebelle regarded her quizzically. “What do you mean?”

“Was it able to be released back into the wild yet?”

“You’ve not spoken to Deputy Miller about the fox, have you?” Rebelle’s mouth quirked up on one side.

“No, why?”

Rebelle filled her in, and Justine was stunned. She said goodbye to Rebelle and went back into her office to grab her things. That man was such an enigma, the more she learned about him, the more confused she became. All she knew was, she couldn’t wait another night without seeing him. She left her office, hurrying to her car. She had to stop off at home first, there was something she needed to get.

*

She had stolen his address from his file. Just another ethical violation to add to my growing list, she thought as she knocked on Blake’s front door. There was a pause before it swung open and then there he was.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he smirked down at her, folding his arms over that powerful chest and leaning casually against the doorframe. He looked so smug, standing there in his hoodie and gray sweatpants that she took her time running her eyes over him, trying to unnerve him. Her slow, blatantly sexual perusal must have worked because the next thing she knew, she was being dragged inside.

“Get in here,” he growled. She giggled and entered the hallway, the door closing behind her with an ominous click. Then they were alone, on his turf, surrounded by his scent. That seductive scent that turned her into a silly, silly woman who abandoned all her principles for a night in his arms, in his bed.

She tore her eyes away from him and glanced around his house, eager to see where he lived. The walls were exposed red brick with varnished wooden floors running throughout. Minimalist décor was definitely his style, very industrial loft-themed. The place screamed masculinity and she loved it. She turned to face him and arched a haughty brow.

“I know about your other woman,” she said. He regarded her quizzically and began to open his mouth, but she interrupted.

“Don’t bother making excuses, I know your little secret.” His adorable secret that had sealed the deal for her. She followed the sound of the TV and headed into the living room. “Is she in here?”

He followed her and she watched as realization dawned on him and his cheeks darkened in the cutest way. Justine walked into the room, the exposed brick and wooden flooring continuing. There was a black leather couch and matching loveseat, a huge TV mounted to the wall was showing some kind of sport and an impressive-looking sound system took up the other wall. A black and glass coffee table held various remotes and a beer which was sitting on a coaster. If she hadn’t already planned on sleeping with him tonight, the beer on a coaster would have sealed the deal.

She spotted a red fleece blanket piled in a mound on the couch. She looked back and forth between the blanket and Blake until he sighed and nodded. With excitement, she carefully pulled back the fold of the fleece to reveal the cutest little face she had ever seen.

“Hello angel,” she cooed, and the fox’s tail started pounding under the fleece. Justine reached out a hand slowly, not wanting to startle her. The fox sniffed her gently, then licked her hand and started squirming in the blanket, chittering away happily.

“She, uh, wants you to rub her belly,” Blake said gruffly, rubbing the back of his neck, his pink cheeks darkening another shade.

“Oh, does she?” Justine cooed again before delving into the warm, bristly fur. The fox squirmed even more and chittered again, getting excited, and Justine giggled when it nipped her playfully.

“She’s adorable,” she said, looking back at Blake who was watching her with a strange look on his face. The fox jumped up and grabbed a small rubber ball with her mouth before trotting over to Blake and dumping it at his feet expectantly. Her tail was so thick and glorious and there was only a slight limp when she walked. Justine’s stomach twisted, even though it was an accident, the idea that she’d hurt the animal made her feel ill.

The fox shuffled impatiently on the spot and stared intensely at the ball. Blake pinched his nose, sighing and then kicked the ball out into the hallway. The fox charged after it, her claws scrabbling on the hardwood floors. Justine burst out laughing at the chagrined look on Blake’s face.

“She fetches?” Justine asked as the fox trotted back in with the ball and dropped it at Blake’s feet again. He kicked it away once more.

“It’s been really great for strengthening Penelope’s leg.” He shrugged like it was nothing, but it was too obvious the work he had put into rehabilitating her.

“Penelope?” she asked, a smile forming on her lips.

“Yeah, Penny for short,” he replied, picking invisible lint off his hoodie and avoiding eye contact. Justine sauntered over to Blake, not stopping until their torsos touched. She felt his pecs flex as they came up against each other and she peered up at him from under her lashes. His nostrils flared and his eyes heated, scorching her with their intensity.

“I see why you kept her a secret. You didn’t want me to know that under that motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing, musclebound warrior façade, you had a marshmallow heart. Well, I’ve got news for you, tough guy,” she paused, his closeness fogging her senses. His eyes dipped to her mouth, and he ran his tongue over his lips, slowly, like he could already taste her. “I already knew that,” she murmured. Before she could blink, his arm snapped out and snaked around her hips, pulling her flush against him. She gasped as she came up against his erection. His dark chuckle consumed her.

“I think I’m going to hear that gasp a lot this evening,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. He dipped his head, his lips a breath away and her eyelids fluttered closed in anticipation. His nose brushed against hers, her breathing deepened. He nuzzled across her cheek and down her neck, hovering there. She swallowed thickly as desire burned through her like wildfire, making her come alive. She had never felt like this with another, never burned for someone before. Would it be like this with any man or was it just her and Blake’s chemistry? She had a feeling she knew the answer.

“You do something to me. I don’t know if I like it,” he murmured against her skin. He placed a soft kiss to the hollow of her throat, and she sighed, sinking deeper into him. He trailed his lips up her neck and teased the corner of her mouth, driving her wild. Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, they were interrupted by a high-pitched bark.

Justine pulled back and looked down between their bodies and saw Penny sitting between Blake’s feet. Her gorgeous tail curled around her neatly, patiently waiting for her ball to be kicked again. Blake muttered about the little diva cock-blocking him, and he scooped her into his arms like she was a child and disappeared out of the room. The action did funny things to Justine’s insides.

He came back a few moments later. “I’ve given her some raw meat so that should keep her quiet for a little while.”

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