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I shake my head. “That’s strike two, Dean. Stop trying to play dumb with me. Tell me the truth. Tell me what you did, and tell me why, or I get up and leave.”

“You said you’d pick up Ella from school.”

“You’re right. Must’ve missed the part where I need to let you get off before they’ll let me roll through the car line.”

“Jesus, Mike.”

He needs a little incentive, I think. Walking forward on my knees, I take him in my mouth again. Pressing in, I let my beard brush his thighs. I grip his hips enough to get his attention, maybe even leave a bit of a mark. In the past he’d have complained, but not this time. He’s so damn desperate to push himself over the edge. In no time at all he’s thrusting again, so again I pull away.

“God. Fu—dammit, Mike.”

“Tell me the truth, Dean.”

He thrusts his hands into his hair. “What do you want me to say, huh? Fine. Ravi’s boyfriend has a hacker on his payroll, and I got her to dig into all of your clients I could remember the names of and threaten them with a little exposure if they didn’t quit hiring you. And it wasn’t because I was jealous, it was because of the cage. It was because I was pissed.” He crosses his arms and looks away.

Holy hell.

“Dean…” Not that I’ve decided yet what I’d do when he got three strikes, but he’s almost there.

His gaze goes to the ceiling. “And I wanted you to see that I could give as good as I get. And…” A red flush creeps up his neck and face. “Fine. Maybe I was also a little jealous.”

A little jealous doesn’t lead to Dean going to the lengths he did. There’s only one other person I’ve seen Dean ever put in this kind of effort over, and that’s Ella.

I can’t stop myself from leaning forward to press my forehead against his stomach. His still-raging erection brushes over my cheek.

It helps hide my face. How fucking huge I’m smiling.

“Brennan finds out, he’ll kill you.” I’m not even sure that’s hyperbole. Brennan can be nice, when it serves him. Someone messing with his business?

The thought gives me a shiver.

For a second Dean’s stiff, but then his hand comes to the back of my neck. “Nobody knows except you, me, and a nice woman named Bev. Liam has an idea, I think, but he wanted—I don’t remember what he called it, but he told me he didn’t want any details so he wouldn’t have to lie to anyone.”

“Plausible deniability.”

“Sounds about right, yeah. So.” Dean clears his throat. “If you’re mad, tell Brennan. You’re named as Ella’s guardian in my will, so if anything happens you can finally get her that dog she’s been wanting.”

For a beat, I’m stunned silent. When I realize my eyes are leaking, it takes me by surprise. “You listed me as Ella’s guardian?”

A heavy sigh comes out of him. “Of course I did, Mike. Who else would it be?”

That’s… ”I don’t know what to say.” Keeping my hands on his hips, I pull back and slide my cheek against his hard dick again. Then I pull him into my mouth, spurred on by shaky breaths and desperate pleas of “Oh fuck, Mike, please, please don’t stop.” Until his salty cum fills my mouth.

His hands press my shoulders as he doubles over in front of me. “Jesus. That was…”

“Life changing? Made you see God?”

He shakes his head. When he looks down at me, I see something I’m not used to when we’re alone together. I think it’s fondness. “I shouldn’t have taken it that far. I’m sorry.”

Since we’re going there… “I’m sorry about the cage.”

He puts a hand over his eyes. “I had to drop my pants in front of Ravi and his scary-ass boyfriend.”

Okay, that’s a little funny. “You know, those things are pretty easy to get out of.”

“Ravi told me. After I already had my pants down and my dick out.”

I laugh, but then Dean’s phone buzzes from the bedside table. Before he can grab it, I do.