“But it’s you he wants,” I point out.
She seems to accept my claim as she showers Bear with more love.
Unexpectedly, Blake gets a far-off look in her eyes. “I always wanted a dog, but Dad never let me.”
The mention of Landon Jennings has my lips pressing together. It’s a good thing Blake’s back is to me because my body is on the verge of shaking, but my emotions aren’t her burden to bear. She’s already been through enough.
Exhaling a deep breath, I shove my fury deep down and lock it away. “Well, now you have one.”
“That’s true. I do.” Pivoting to face me, she gets up. “Is there anything I have to do before I take him? Do we need to try to find his owner?” Her second question holds a note of apprehension.
“I already tried. No one’s claimed him. I even scanned him for a chip, but he doesn’t have one,” I reassure her.
Even if I did find out that Bear had an owner, I would still give him to Blake. I wouldn’t hurt her by separating the two. She’d act like she’s fine, but I know this woman. She’d be heartbroken.
“He’s had his shots. His teeth are in good shape. No broken bones.” I recite the facts like I’m going through a checklist.
Blake reaches for me without my prompt. She returns her hand to mine, resuming the hold we had before. “Thanks for checking him out.”
A fire enters my veins, increasing my pulse and making me want to shed my clothes and hers, but I keep my voice soothing. “Not a problem. I just need you to sign some paperwork, then he’s all yours.”
Blake nods her head, and I steer us back the way we came and into my office. At my desk, I pull out the proper papers and point to two signature lines. “There and there.” Blake snags a loose pen and scribbles her signature. “Congratulations, Blake Jennings. You are now the proud owner of a very happy pitbull.”
Her smile is bright, lighting up my whole world. “Thank you, Levi.”
Blake has the body of a woman—a very beautiful woman. Nothing like the fake and over-edited pictures of women in magazines that have become the standard today.
Unable to hold myself back any longer, I step into her space, backing her up against the edge of my desk. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and her pupils are blown wide. My cock grows hard in my pants. I lift my hand, brushing her cheek with my fingers as I tuck her hair behind her ear.
She swallows, and her gaze drops. “Levi…”
I rest my hand on the side of her neck. “Don’t push me away.” My other hand grips her hip, and I seal our bodies together. “If you don’t want me, then say it.”
“It’s not that.” She gives me a pleading look, her eyes gathering tears. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I know,” I state firmly, cupping her face with both hands. “Look at me, Blake.” Her eyes flash up to mine. “Iknow.”
Blake shakes her head vehemently. “You deserve someone with less baggage—someone easier.”
My thumb wipes the tears that fall free. “I don’t want easy, Butterfly. I want you.”
Her shoulders relax as if my statement has lifted a weight from her.
As Blake lifts onto her toes, I lean down, and our lips meet in a furious passion. Blake immediately opens her mouth for me, and I take the opportunity to swipe my tongue inside. A feral groan rumbles in my throat.
One of my hands glides down her chest, around her hip, and grips her ass while my other hand cups her breast. I swipe my thumb over the peak, causing Blake to whimper into my mouth.
Blake’s hands dive into my hair, scraping my scalp with her nails and eliciting another moan from my chest. Her teeth scrape my lower lip, biting me with just enough pain to make me want more.
One moment, Blake and I are losing ourselves in each other, and in the next moment the world goes pitch black. The animals back in the kennels go into a full-blown pandemonium, barking and crying at the top of their lungs, alerting me to whatever is coming.
My reflexes take over, rotating me to face the door to my office and shielding Blake with my body.
Blake tries to peek around me, but I swing my arm back to hold her in place. “What was that?”
I remain silent, listening intently for any sign of life. When one doesn’t come, I dart to the cabinet along the wall and retrieve my Sig Sauer P320. “Stay here.”
Blake tracks my movements as her hands shake. “Where are you going?”
