Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 31927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 160(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 160(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
God. My cock pulses just watching her. The way her hair falls in her face, the way she giggles when Beans tries to climb in her lap like a goddamn lapdog. I want that laugh. I want to hear it every goddamn day for the rest of my life.
“Careful,” I warn, voice rougher than I mean. “He’ll sucker you into giving him treats. He’s got no shame.”
She glances up at me, grinning. “Beans and I are kindred spirits then. I’ll do anything for a snack.”
Fuck. My brain short-circuits, because all I can picture is feeding her strawberries in bed and watching that pink tongue flick over her lips. I want to see her in nothing but my shirt, curled up next to me with her hair wild from my hands.
Goddamn. I am so far gone for this woman.
Before I can embarrass myself by staring any longer, Beans lets out a whimpered grunt that’s supposed to sound pathetic. Elsie giggles, completely enchanted by his bullshit. She scratches his round belly, murmuring, “You’re so dramatic.”
I snort. “Don’t let the act fool you. Beans lives like a king. Had scrambled eggs twice last week just because he pouted.”
She beams up at me, hair falling in her face. “He runs the house, huh?”
I drag a hand over my jaw, feeling heat crawl up my neck. “He and Pork call the shots. I just pretend I’m in charge.”
Pork finally decides to participate in the action. He thuds to his feet, waddles over, and sniffs her. Then he rolls over and presents his belly for rubs. Traitorous dog.
Elsie obliges. “Aww, Pork. You’re so sweet.” She gives his belly a gentle scratch. The little bastard closes his eyes in ecstasy, tongue lolling out. If a dog could look smug, this is it.
Watching them, I try to remember how to use words.
“You, uh—want a drink? Water, soda, wine?” Fuck. I sound like a babbling idiot.
She stands and hands me the bottle of wine. “I come bearing gifts. This is my favorite, and I thought it might go good with pizza?” She’s watching for my reaction, a little unsure, but mostly just radiant.
Wine and pizza. She gets me.
“Perfect combo.” I take the bottle and my hand brushes hers, and for a nanosecond, the heat is so intense I almost drop the wine.
Get it together, Hot.
Beans is still doing circles, tail a blur, absolutely devoted to Elsie now. She laughs and finally manages to wiggle out of his orbit, giving him a little pat on the back. “He’s got so much personality. I just love him.” The words go right to my chest and twist, tight and hot, making me want to haul her up against me and never let go. This is bad. I’m in deep. I can’t even pretend otherwise.
“He’s a show-off,” I manage, but all I can think about is the way Elsie looks at me over Beans’s round belly, her eyes alive and her cheeks glowing. If I don’t kiss her soon, I’m going to fucking explode.
Before I can do something stupid, the doorbell rings. Beans nearly launches out of his own skin, snorting and spinning, and Elsie jumps like she just remembered she’s not alone with me in the universe.
I scrub a hand over my face and try to act normal. “That’ll be the pizza.” Like an idiot, I blurt, “Hope you’re hungry. Mario’s doesn’t fuck around.”
Elsie grins. “I could eat a whole pizza myself after the day I’ve had.” She flashes this wild, hungry grin, and my cock punches hard against my zipper. Jesus. This woman already owns me lock, stock, and barrel.
I stalk to the door and yank it open. The pizza guy stares at me, eyes wide, and shoves the boxes at my chest like he’s facing down a feral wolf. I grunt, slap several bills in his hand, and kick the door shut.
Elsie’s already clearing a spot at the table, her hair swinging over her shoulder, and her ass looking way too good in those leggings. I drop the pizza and breadsticks in front of her, grab two glasses, and pop open the wine.
I pour us each a glass and try not to stare at her lips as she takes a slow sip. She moans, just a little, and my knees nearly buckle as my cock urges me to make a fucking move already.
“God, I needed that.” She winks at me, and I have to fight to keep myself under control.
While we eat our pizza, Elsie keeps one hand under the table to pet my spoiled animals. The pure joy on her face… I’m pretty sure my heart just flips upside down.
Everything falls into place. Elsie cracks jokes about how spoiled my animals are, and I make fun of Beans’s dramatic sighs every time she pauses in petting him.
“So,” Elsie finally says, voice soft and curious, “how did you end up with this crazy crew?”