“Touch yourself,” he ordered, voice wrecked. “Come with me inside you.”
My hand slid between us. Fingers found my swollen clit and circled fast. The combination—his thick cock stretching me, the relentless pressure on that perfect spot inside, my own fingers—was too much.
“Roarke—I’m?—”
“Me too, baby. Fuck—Josie?—”
He slammed in one last time, burying himself to the hilt as he came with a guttural groan. The hot pulse of him inside me triggered my own release. I came again, clenching tight, crying out as pleasure ripped through me again, brighter and deeper than before.
He collapsed over me, breathing hard, forehead pressed to mine. For long minutes we just lay there, tangled and trembling, hearts hammering against each other.
Finally he kissed me—soft, slow, reverent. “You’re incredible,” he whispered.
I smiled against his lips, still dazed, still full of him. “So are you.”
And for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel like I had to be quiet.
5
ROARKE
I’d never smiled this much in my life.
The sun was barely up when I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Josie. She was curled on her side, dark hair fanned across my pillow, lips parted in sleep. I stood there longer than I should have, just watching her breathe.
Mine.
The word settled in my chest with startling certainty. This woman mattered to me in a way nothing ever had before. I didn’t overthink it. I didn’t question it. I just knew.
But first, I had something to do.
I scrawled a note—Back soon—and left it on the nightstand before heading out into the cold morning air.
The drive to the veterinary trailer took fifteen minutes. I spent every second thinking about the German Shepherd from the night before—the way he’d pressed against the back of his kennel, afraid to move. The way Josie had crouched down and talked to him until he trusted her enough to lick her fingers.
I understood that dog. I’d been that dog—bounced from place to place, never staying long enough to trust anyone. Building walls so high no one could get over them.
Josie had climbed mine in a single night.
Maybe it was time I stopped pretending I didn’t need anyone. Maybe it was time I built something that wasn’t just for me.
Rylie was already at the trailer, bleary-eyed but cheerful as she worked through paperwork. “You’re back early,” she said. “Forget something?”
“The Shepherd from last night. Big one. Still here?”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Yeah. You interested?”
“I want to adopt him.”
The words came easily. That surprised me.
Rylie beamed. “Give me a few minutes.”
It took longer than that, but I didn’t mind. I spent the time by the kennel, letting the dog sniff my hand through the bars. He was still wary, still pressed back, but his tail gave a cautious wag when I spoke.
“You and me,” I said quietly. “We’ll figure this out.”
By the time I loaded him into my truck—kennel and all—it had been nearly an hour. Longer than I’d planned. But Josie would understand.
