“I see you found my gift.”
“Yes, thank you.” My gaze nervously flicked back to Abel again.
Not one to miss anything, Ocean stood and dismissed his head of security. Abel, of course, argued against leaving me alone with his precious charge. While the big, bad men bickered over the dangers of little ol’ me, I slipped by them and returned to the warmth of the cabin.
My belly tightened and filled with heat when I heard the door open and close moments later.
I turned to see Ocean darkening the door, but he was thankfully alone.
Neither of us spoke for several moments, and yet somehow we both said far too much.
“How did you know?” I eventually allowed myself to ask, trying and failing to keep my awe and gratitude out of my tone.
Ocean moved deeper into the cabin while boldly eye-fucking me like I already belonged to him. “I may have heard it from a little birdie.”
“Coby told you I wanted a puppy?” I asked as I sat on the couch and transferred the puppy to my lap. He immediately curled into a ball with a warning growl directed at Ocean. I didn’t think it was possible to love the little cutie more. “She told you I wanted a Yorkie?”
“She let it slip,” Ocean said while dropping down onto the couch next to me and stretching to get comfortable, when I scowled at him.
“Oh…well, thanks. You can go now.”
Ocean grinned at my dismissal and stayed right where he was, so I ignored his ass while I petted the puppy’s black fur. “What are you going to name him?”
“Coco,” I answered immediately.
“It’s a boy, Vengeance.”
“Coco,” I echoed. I turned my head to glare at him.
Ocean tucked his lips to keep from laughing, but his eyes were snitching on him. “Coco it is.”
“Why are you here?”
Ocean sighed and mumbled, “I figured you could use some company.”
“I thought that’s what Coco was for?”
“And to bring you this.” Ocean extended his leg and kicked over the reusable tote bag on the low coffee table that I hadn’t even noticed he brought in with him. It was from the pet store.
Immediately, I stood and set the puppy down. He lifted his head to watch me, but stayed put while I searched the store bag.
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.
