Chapter 38
JADE
“WHO’S A GOOD girl?” Hart’s sultry, husky voice goes straight between my legs.
Not literally.
It’s not me he’s planting kisses on.
It’s not my head he’s holding in his hands—not me, he’s caressing behind the ears.
And I’m certainly not the one licking his face.
“You’re such a good girl.” He’s just offering up the compliments today, isn’t he? “Yes, you are. What a good girl.”
I’m not jealous.
Not whatsoever.
“Do you like that?” He gently rubs his fingers over the front of her neck.
She tilts her head, chocolate brown hair rustling, clearly in heaven as she melts into the touch.
My heartbeat accelerates.
“You do like that, huh?” His hand slides down to her chest, and she leans into him even more, letting out a contented sigh.
“I think she likes it a lot,” I say, my nipples tightening.
He looks up at me then. Like he’s completely forgotten I’m standing right here.
Watching.
Waiting.
Totally judging him.
“Do you want a turn?”
Oh, now he wants me to jump in the fun.
“I think you’ve got it handled.”
He sits back on his bent legs, his hand still on her. “Come on, she won’t bite.”
“I’m not afraid of her biting.”
“I can hold your hand.”
I fold my arms over my front. “To be perfectly honest, it doesn’t even seem like you want to share her.”
He looks down at her, as if seriously contemplating whether he wants me to join in on their fun time.
But when he looks back at me, his eyes are drenched in lust. “I’d share anything with you, Jade.”
I believe him to my core.
How is it possible that only twenty-four hours ago, I didn’t want anything to do with him, but now I can’t think of my life without him?
“But I can’t promise not to get carried away with cuddles, ‘cause she’s daddy’s good little girl.” He turns and gently grasps the oversized dog’s head, giving her a long ruffle on either side of her ears.
I can’t tell if he really doesn’t hear the words coming out of his mouth, or if he’s really this innocent.
I mean, come on, Dean lives in an endless fantasy where all these words would be misconstrued.
I know I’ve certainly misconstrued them. He can call me a good girl any day. And I’ll return the favor with a daddy.
“What?” He stares at me now, all serious and inquisitive.
I know a flush of red is creeping up my neck. I feel it.
Maybe it was better when he wasn’t paying attention to me. Since we’ve been let in the play yard with Godiva, a chocolate lab, and Hershey, a German shepherd, this is only the second time he’s looked at me. And Hershey sits beside me, giving them the exact look I am.
And the dog doesn’t even understand English.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.” But my breathing sounds erratic.
He chuckles, turning back to the dog. “I just want to take you home.” Even his dog voice is deep and sexy, and my mind won’t go anywhere else.
He could take me home. Right now. Strip me naked and run his big hands over every last inch of me.
“You would like that, wouldn’t you?”
I would.
He leans in close, and the dog is licking his face again.
I’m not jealous.
Not whatsoever.
I don’t want to lick his face.
Lies.
“I don’t have much room in my cabin, but you could sleep in Daddy’s bed.”
I bite my lower lip, my insides going absolutely feral.
He’s fucking with me.
He has to be.
“I bet you’re a good girl in bed. Just an obedient lil’ girl who listens to orders and doesn’t hog the sheets.”
The way I’m biting my lip, my tooth is going to split it open. I would tie him up with the sheets and order him around like he’s my good little daddy.
Hart glances up at me with a shit-faced smirk. “Fox, get your head out of the gutter.”
“I—wh—”
He chuckles, that deep throaty sound that tickles my toes.
“Asshole.”
He laughs. “Payback for picking the most vanilla item on this list after leaving me with blue balls last night.”
“I’d hit you if we weren’t in an animal shelter.”
“Come. I’ll share.” He nods in his direction, and I sit next to him, cross-legged on the grass. “You can hit me if you’d like,” he teases in a low voice that’s deeper than any version of his voice I’ve ever heard.
“I might take you up on that later.”
Godiva lets out a bark and climbs onto my lap. They’re not siblings, but the shelter is trying to rehome them together.
This vanilla item isn’t only vanilla; it was one of the few things on our bucket list we were saving for when we moved in together after college. Visit a shelter and buy the dog we fell in love with.
I didn’t expect to fall in love with two dogs when we aren’t doing anything more than—well, I’m not exactly sure yet.
“She likes you.” He scratches behind her ears.
I’ve never seen him quite like this before. His fingers brush their fur like he’s known them for years.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Hershey is sprawled out next to us, his tongue hanging out, and content just to be here.
Godiva doesn’t stay on my lap for long, and she launches herself back at Hart.
Her paws land in just the right spot to turn him into a human jungle gym.
She lets out an excited little squeal, and her tail hits my face on her way by.
“Thanks.” I taste a mouthful of hair.
Hart laughs.
Then, out of nowhere, I hear a soft spritz.
I blink. “Is she? Did she just—?”
He freezes, his eyes locked on me. “It is. She did.”
He slowly pulls Godiva off his lap. She’s still wagging her tail furiously, clearly unaware of the mess she’s created.
My eyes follow his as he looks down at the spreading wet patch on his shirt.
I can’t help the giggle that bubbles up from deep inside me.
“Oh, she did.” I bite my lip, trying to keep it together.
“I’m glad you’re so amused.”
I can’t hold it in anymore. My laughter bursts out.
“This is not the kind of bonding I had in mind.”
I’m laughing now, genuinely laughing. Harder than I have for a long time, and indeed the hardest with him.
“Looks like Godiva claimed you.”
With a resigned sigh and a smile creeping across his face, he shrugs. “I think she has, but I’m not sure I’m ready to commit yet.”
The dog is in full play mode, happily rolling around on the grass nearby, oblivious to the trouble she just caused.
“Maybe next time we can avoid the wet t-shirt contest.” I try to stifle my laugh.
“Or switch roles. I don’t mind sharing the full dog-pee experience.” He rises to his knees and leans toward me with his arms wide open, reaching for a hug.
“Nooo!” I lean back, but my hand lands on Hershey’s tail, and he yelps. “Sorry.” I jerk away and lose balance.
Hart’s arm shoots out, and his hand circles my waist, pulling me close. For a second, our faces are so close I could kiss him. The dog leaps on Hart’s back, and he crashes straight into me, and we both tumble onto the ground.
I hit the ground first, and he lands on top of me, arms sprawled out, and palms catching himself.
“Shit. Sorry.” His voice is soft, concerned, and close—so close.
“Sorry? You saved me. I should thank you.” The words don’t come out as I intend; instead, soaked in a need I didn’t mean to reveal.
His fingers brush my cheek, just a graze, and everything stops—my skin tingles.
I can’t move.
Can’t look away from the hunger in his stormy eyes that speak louder than any words ever could. It’s strange how something so simple—a hand against my face—can mean so much.
His eyes drop to my lips for a split second, and I feel the air between us tighten. But then he shifts, just enough that I can feel his breath on my skin, so close, so intimate.
“You okay?” His thumb brushes my cheekbone, lighter this time, and I wonder if he even knows he’s doing it.
Or maybe he does.
Maybe it’s deliberate.
It doesn’t matter either way; the softness of his touch burns into me, like it’s carving its way under my skin.
The dogs happily wag their tail nearby, jumping on us, oblivious to the sudden shift in the air.
“I’m okay,” I say quietly, a little breathless from the fall and the way his hands are still resting so carefully on me.
He doesn’t move.
I don’t move.
His eyes soften, his thumb brushing lightly across my skin as if to make sure I’m really okay.
“I didn’t mean to knock you down like that.” There’s tenderness in his voice, but it’s engulfed by desire.
It’s like a thread has snapped between us, one that was holding the lightness, and now we’re both treading in deeper waters.
It sends a quiet rush through me, everything else disappearing.
The dog, the shelter, the world—it all fades into the background, leaving just the two of us, lying on the grass with him holding me close.
And all I hear is my own breath, feel the soft rustle of his movements, and his weight pressing gently into me.
He lets out a soft exhale. “Are you sure?”
His chest rises and falls steadily, inches from mine.
I nod, trying to keep my composure, but I can’t help the way my pulse quickens.
“Yes. I’m fine. Really.”
“You’re so beautiful,” he says. “I love being this close to you. Just us. Just like this.”
I lick my lips. “Me too.”
A quiet silence falls between us. His fingers trace the side of my head. Then, as if realizing how close he still is, he starts to shift away.
He sits beside me with a faint smile. “I didn’t mean for this to turn into whatever this is.” He offers his hand and pulls me to a sitting position.
I brush some grass off my shirt. “Next time, mean it.” I meet his eyes. “Because that kind of tension deserves a solid follow-through.”
His lips slowly curl upward, and he nods. “Yes, ma’am.”
I look down at the wet stain on my shirt. “Minus the golden shower.”
He chuckles. “I’ll make it up to you. I’m sure I can find you a clean shirt.” The way he looks at me now isn’t quite like before.
There’s a new layer to it. Both of us are aware of how the playful energy has shifted into something more subtle, more real.
I smile. “I’ll hold you to that, too.”
Dogs barking and whimpering greet us as we enter the shelter, alongside a volunteer who eyes the dog pee on our shirts with a touch of sympathy, but more humor.
“I thought I was gonna be the one getting soaked today.” She tries to stay professional, but the smirk gives her away. “They love new people, but sometimes they get a little too excited.”
“Yeah.” Hart half grins at me. “She really took us by surprise.”
“She took you by surprise,” I whisper.
“Come on back.” The worker holds open the door to a small supply room. “We’ve got some clean shirts in the front if you want me to grab them. All donations go to the shelter.”
Hart nods without a second thought. “We’ll take two.”
I follow Hart inside, and the back room smells like wet dog and soap. It’s a small, utilitarian space with white tile floors, a sink, and a mirror above it. Shelves line one wall, holding an assortment of cleaning supplies and neatly folded towels.
The worker smiles, standing in the doorway. “Godiva and Hershey are adorable, but they really know how to leave their mark.”
“That they do.”
“They need a good amount of space to run around. You mentioned you own a ranch?”
Hart and I share a look. We had a dream ranch started at the end of our book, but we never finished it. Never had the time.
“Lots of land,” Hart answers.
Her smile widens, liking the answer. “I’ll be back with those shirts.”
She leaves us, and the room feels smaller with only the two of us.
“Last time we were together like this, I was bleeding out.” His fingers work the buttons of his flannel shirt, and my mind is struggling to concentrate on anything else.
“Hardly a scratch.” My voice is low, and I swear it cracks.
He chuckles, shrugging off the black and white shirt slowly and easily, making it impossible to look away. “You say that like you didn’t shoot me.”
My eyes flick up to his, not accusing, just remembering.
“Shoot is a strong word. It was a dart.”
“Still counts.” He drapes the shirt over the edge of the stainless steel bathing sink. “I could barely move my arm for a day.”
“You were fine.”
“I was twitching.” His laugh seeps somewhere in my chest.
He steps closer, just a little, and the air changes
“Guess you’ve always had good aim.” He’s not talking about a dart anymore.
Next goes his T-shirt, but not in any way I’ve seen before. There’s a roughness when he pulls it off, not caring how it looks, and the action is hot enough to stir all the things inside me.
My eyes travel down his torso.
I can’t help it.
I don’t want to help it.
Muscles flex and stretch. Veins rise beneath sun-baked skin. Every breath draws deep into his ribs. And hair sprinkles his chest now. My fingers itch to run through it.
But I notice the fresh bruises and fire ant bites. They’re like mine, not red anymore, and instead a fading pink, with bits of peeling skin where the worst of it had been. And I wonder what’s happening down below the V diving down his waistband.
“Those were two very different emotions on your face just now.”
My eyes snap back up to his.
“Lust. Caring.” He runs his at his pec and for a moment I forget what he’s saying. “You could take off your T-shirt, too.”
I hike a ‘fuck off’ eyebrow.
“Fair enough. Not the place.” His head dips, eyes sexy. “Yet.”
“You’re very confident for a man I peeled fire ants off a few days ago.”
He tilts his head. “Is that where you went? Was that disappointment at the thought of me not functioning at one hundred percent?”
“It was concern.” I walk around him and stretch my shirt over the sink, reaching for the sprayer with the other hand, while leaving my shirt snug on my body.
“I’ll have you know, I’m functioning at one-hundred percent capacity.” He stops beside me and inspects the soaked fabric of his shirt.
“Are you sure that isn’t the tough guy in you talking?”
“There have been moments. The mechanical bull.” He shivers. “I went through a lot of calamine lotion.”
“What about the theater when you—we—you know?”
He grins at me. “Have I made Jade Fox speechless?”
I try to ignore that he’s bare-chested, beautiful, and way too calm for someone elbow-deep in dog pee.
“Shut up.” I jab his side with my arm.
My skin heats from the contact, and at the same time, my thumb hits the trigger. Cold water sprays straight at Hart, hitting him above the waistband of his jeans.
He flinches with a sharp inhale, eyes going wide and blinking against the splashes.
I gasp and let go of the trigger. “I—” My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh my gosh, I didn’t mean to—”
He looks at me, water dripping from his ribs. “Did you just spray me?”
“I’m so sorry.” Laughter bubbles out of me.
“I don’t think you are.” His gaze shifts, something playful flickering just beneath the surface with a kind of quiet dare in his eyes.
Then he lunges for the sprayer.