Of course, she would let the soppy bastard climb on the bed with her.
And, guessing by the bowl on the floor, she gave him some of her stew, too.
My chest gives a painful twinge.
I should just let her sleep on the pull-out. I should go back to my room. Leave her be. Ishoulddrive her all the way to Harlan’s and make her his problem since he was the one who couldn’t follow ‘protocol’.
Ishouldforget all about her.
Pretend I never laid eyes on her.
But instead, I silently close the distance between us and scoop her up into my arms, holding her more tightly thannecessary against my chest. My breath catches when her face nuzzles against my chest, and her fingers curl around the fabric of my shirt.
Trigger follows us into my bedroom, where I carefully settle her on my bed. He doesn’t dare jump on the bed here. Not with me in the room. He knows better.
Her eyes drift open, and before I can turn to leave, her fingers close over my wrist and for some godforsaken reason, I feel the action mirrored in my dick. Winnow hesitates for a moment, her pillowy lips parted with words she hesitates to speak.
“… Thank you, again. For everything. I promise I’ll do all I can to make your life easier while I’m here.”
Intuition tells me there were other words balanced on the tip of her tongue that she chose to neglect, but before I can say otherwise, Trigger plops his butt down on the ground right beside the bed, jamming his snout at her to beg for pats.
Heaving a sigh, I shake my head.“Boy, get over here.”
Instead of cooperating, Trigger lies down as his ears go limp and he gives a pleading whine for permission to stay.
Winnow’s grin has gooey feelings blossoming in my heart as she coos to him and strokes his head, making his tail thump wildly against the bedside table.
My eyes narrow at him as he gives me a guilty look, but continues to glut himself on her affections. “Never took you for a traitor.”
“Be sweet to Daddy, I’m sure he needs his cuddle buddy tonight.”Daddy.Her words alone have a near-instantaneous effect on my dick, making it harder than fucking steel. To top it all off, there’s a soft and tender look lingering on her face from showering Trigger with her love, as her eyes lift mine.
Thank fuck I’d already had my manhood trapped in the waistband of my boxers and pajama pants, and the hem of myt-shirt is long enough to cover the weeping head and semi-exposed shaft of my dick.
Daddy.
Goddamn it, now I’ve gotta jerk off again.
WINNOW
Ihadn’t intended on calling himDaddy,even if only in the third person and in reference to his dog, but I can’t bring myself to regret it. The way his giant body had gone still and his gaze fucking scalded me made me realize that chemistry likethisexists. That such visceral connections are not merely the stuff of fiction because while it wasn’t the first time I’ve witnessed a male’s burning desire, it was absolutely the first time it sparked something within me.
Although, to my dismay, it seemed to have lit a fire under him to leave the room.
Leaving the bedroom door open a crack, Gideon pads down the hall on bare feet, at which point Trigger turns back toward me, tail thrashing like he’s excited his daddy is letting him have a sleepover.
He gives me a few more licks before settling down, and it’s with my fingertips touching his silky neck that I fall asleep, consumed in moments from sheer exhaustion.
The soundof Trigger’s claws clicking against the wood floor wakes me some hours later, and I open my eyes to see Gideon’s imposing silhouette filling the doorway. My heart skips a beat before it begins to race—as if it can run straight into the solid wall of his body. I train my eyes to sleepy slits to give the illusion he hasn’t woken me, even though I expect him to turn away and take Trigger with him.
Instead, I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. Raking over the sight of my body, now hidden only by his oversized t-shirt that’s ridden up my waist, andno undergarmentsbecause I normally sleep in the nude. I also say a silent prayer that it’s too dark for him to see the scars on my back.
Lying stomach-down, diagonally on his bed with one leg hitched up on one of the pillows I’m clutching—pillows that are infused with his glorious scent of evergreen and leather—incidentally gives him a full view of my ass and pussy.
Arousal pounds through me as his gaze lingers, and before I can stop myself, my pussy clenches and my hips give a tiny, mindless thrust as a soft sigh escapes me even if I’m mentally shaking my head at myself.
You are such a slut for this man. And how in Akash’s name is it that I am more turned on by him sneaking a look at my bare pussy than I’ve ever been with any other male.
Gideon goes so still that I can’t help but wonder if he’s even breathing. A little pang of disappointment rings through me when he grabs his work clothes, closes the door, leaving only mylingering arousal and the sound of his retreating footsteps in his wake.