Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
My excitement grew with each new item I pulled out of the bag until I was full-blown grinning.
There were bowls, a small bag of food, treats, toys, puppy pads, shampoo, a bed…the list went on until the coffee table was filled with items. It wasn’t everything, but it was more than enough to get started.
Grabbing one of the bowls, I tore open the bag of food and used the scooper to measure out some food before grabbing the second bowl and filling it with water. I arranged them both on the cute mat Ocean picked out, and Coco wasted no time barking and flying (more like tumbling) off the couch.
He raced over to the water first and started lapping at it before moving over to the food. Back and forth, he switched between bowls like he couldn’t decide if he was hungry or thirsty.
I was so busy giggling at his antics as I set up his bed that I briefly forgot Ocean was even there until he called my name.
“Hunter.” Spinning around like I’d been caught being bad, I stared at him wide-eyed. “What do you say?” I cocked my head at him, and he crooked a finger. Grumbling, I shuffled over to him until I was standing between his feet. His man spread meant there was plenty of room, and still I felt caged in by his long legs. “What do you say?” he repeated in a low tone.
Feeling indignant, I placed my hands on my hips. The movement made my breasts jiggle, which didn’t go unnoticed by him. “Thanks, I guess.”
Ocean laughed as my defiance delighted him, which stole my breath and turned my nipples into painful points. Only a man fully convinced of his dominance would brush off any half-hearted challenge to it. “You guess, Vengeance?”
I shrugged and looked away. I ain’t gon’ kiss his ass.
Suddenly, Coco came sniffing, paying special attention to Ocean’s shoes and my ankles. Like his bowls, he couldn’t decide which of our scents intrigued him more, and I thought of Coby again.
At least Coco would never leave me, I thought petulantly.
A moment later, Coco rose onto his hind legs and started pawing at Ocean’s leg for attention. To my surprise, Ocean obliged him, lifting the puppy up with one hand and holding him suspended to stare him down. Coco growled, and Ocean kept staring until the puppy whined and licked Ocean’s hand.
Feeling smug, Ocean looked up at me. “You see, Hunter? Even the dog knows when to submit.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“But you do know, don’t you?” His deep voice had dropped even lower until it was nothing more than a sensual rumble. “When to submit?” Breathing heavier now, I couldn’t move because I feared what I might do. “Here,” he said indulgently. “I’ll even make it easier for you.”
Keeping his gaze on me, Ocean set the puppy on his lap, who turned to me and started begging for attention. I tried to pick him up, but Ocean lifted Coco out of reach and then set him back down once I dropped my hand.
I almost snapped at him to keep the damn dog, but Coco was just too cute and adorable not to be mine. The battle of wills between Ocean and me lasted a little longer until Coco began crying at the lack of attention. Ocean scratched between his ears, and even though it soothed the pup, who turned to lay his front paws on Ocean’s chest, it made me seethingly jealous.
“Show me, Vengeance. Show me that you know how.”
I inhaled a shuddering breath. There was an ache between my thighs that grew warmer and damper when I finally gave in, lowering to the floor until I was kneeling between Ocean’s legs.
“So fucking gorgeous,” he praised. “Such a good girl underneath all that violence.”
Biting my tongue, my gaze pleaded as I tentatively reached out to pet Coco.
Ocean smiled and let me.
Not a minute later, Coco wandered off to chew on his toy. I didn’t move from my spot. I didn’t dare. Ocean rewarded me by threading his fingers through my bushy ponytail, paying me the same attention he’d shown Coco.
I should have been offended by it.
Instead, I ended up resting my cheek on his hard thigh while my heart pounded furiously and my stomach did back flips. I peered up at him, and he stared down at me. Neither of us said a word, content to just be in each other’s presence.
I forgot I was supposed to hate him.
A knock on the door startled me awake, and I lifted my head from Ocean’s thigh in time to see his head popping up too from the back of the couch.
I guess we’d both fallen asleep.
Stretching his powerful body, Ocean checked his watch and then leaned down to kiss my forehead affectionately, which succeeded in making me blush and want to kill him at the same time. He then lifted me under my arms and deposited me on the couch next to him like I weighed nothing before rising to his feet and going to the door. Smiling when Coco followed him, I curled up on the couch with my feet tucked under me.