Page 60 of Taking Denver

“Oh, you have no idea what I have in my deck,” I say, curling my tongue around the final word. “I have an idea. Why don’t we make a little deal?”

I lean my shoulder on the car to face him, making sure I’m uncomfortably close. It’s clear that seduction won’t work with Hayes; he’s decided who I am, and no amount of flirting will change that. That’s fine. It just means I no longer have to hold back. I don’t have to ease myself into his bed; I can go full throttle, and it will either work or throw him off kilter.

Regardless, it’ll be fun.

“I’ll confess,” I say, wrapping his tie around my hand, keeping my eyes locked on his. “But…”

He looks unimpressed, almost bored. “But?”

I pull him close. “You have to fuck it out of me.”

“This is old,” he whispers.

“But it’d be fun.” I pout. “I bet you’ve thought about it. Bending me over, kicking my feet apart, holding me down, and making me say the words.” I bite my bottom lip. “Oh, Holden, I’ve been such a bad, bad girl.” I pull him closer. “Do bad things to me.” He grips my wrist and pins me against the car, eyes flaring with rage, and I smile. “I like it rough. Get your cuffs out.I enjoy the feel of cold steel against hot skin.” I snap my teeth, and he pushes himself away from me.

“I don’t need to fuck you to make you confess, Denver. You’ll have made a mistake. And I will find out what that mistake is, and then you’re going away for a long time.”

He walks away, and I wave at his back.

“No goodbye kiss?” I call out after him. “Asshole.”

I climb into the car, and my phone rings. I frown as I answer. “When did you change your name in my contacts?”

Ranger chuckles softly. “What? You don’t like it?”

“You being saved under ‘My Husband’? Not particularly.”

He hums. “It’s best to get used to it, Wife. What did Hayes want?”

“How did—” I lean over the passenger seat to peer up at the security camera outside the rear entrance of Pulse. I give it the finger, and Ranger laughs. “Hayes was just being his usual charming self.” I start the engine. “Was there something else you needed, Grim? Or did you just want to show off your stalking skills?”

“You’re okay?”

I grip the steering wheel, his concern warming me. “I’m fine.”

“Good. Drive safe.”

I scoff, as if safety is the last thing I’m capable of experiencing, then pause. “Wait, what am I saved in your phone as? ‘My Wife’?”

Ranger’s laugh is soft. “No. You’re ‘My Love.’ Always have been, always will be.”

Chapter 22

Denver

Ipause in the kitchen doorway, shopping bags in my hands. After leaving Pulse, I decided that I needed retail therapy. It was somewhat successful. The pistachio ice cream definitely helped, even if I now have the worst heartburn of my damn life.

Standing at the kitchen island, Ranger has an apple in one hand and a small knife in the other. The skin of the apple is in a long green curl, the end touching the marble countertop, and his dark eyes are fixed on the fruit as he continues to remove the outer layer in one strip.

“Do you realize how much that makes you look like a Bond villain?” I ask, dropping my shopping bags on a kitchen stool.

Ranger doesn’t raise his gaze to me. “Why do you think I learned how to do it?”

I can’t help a small laugh escaping. “Weirdo.”

Now he looks at me, a handsome smirk toying with the edges of his mouth.

Wesson wanders into the room and sits at Ranger’s feet, golden tail sweeping the floor. Ranger feeds him a slice of apple, and the dog crunches it happily.

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