Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“Oh my goodness,” I said, reaching between us to take it from him. “Where did you find him?” I asked, tucking the cat between my arms. “It is a him right?”
Jim nodded. “It’s a him. And I never lost him,” he explained. “I took him to the animal shelter, who adopted him out to Barbara.”
“The elderly woman you check on every week?” I asked, my heart warming at how damn sweet he was. He never missed his Wednesday night check in with her.
“Right,” he said. “But it turns out it wasn’t such a great fit. He didn’t get along with her dog Dane. It turns out this little beast only seems to calm down for you.”
The beast was currently purring in my arms, his golden eyes almost shut as he settled into my hold. I tsked him, moving to sit down on one of the patio chairs. “I guess that’s what happens when you go through extreme situations together,” I teased. “We formed a bond among the chaos.”
Jim laughed, taking a seat next to me. “He needed a home.”
“You adopted him for me?” I stroked the little guy’s fur, the vibrations from his purrs having a super calming effect on me.
“Yes,” he said. “But I’m not expecting you to take care of him on your own,” he hurried to explain. “I’m not giving you a task. I have everything he needs here, and I bought a duplicate set of supplies in case you wanted to keep him at your apartment.”
I melted. Like seriously melted. I might be dripping right off the chair as we spoke.
“But if you don’t want the responsibility, I can take care of him here for us. Just, when the animal shelter called, I couldn’t say no. Not when he’s the reason you came back to me.” He reached over and timidly pet the sleeping bundle.
“Jim,” I said, emotion clogging my throat. “This is the best present I’ve ever gotten.”
Jim released a breath.
“He’s perfect,” I continued, leaning over to kiss Jim.
The cat protested in my arms, wiggling free and leaping out of my lap, darting straight in through the opened back door like he owned the place.
Jim laughed. “He already knows where his litter box is,” he said, reaching over to the sparkling apple juice and pouring us two glasses. “And his tree scratch post thing and a bed. I don’t know much about cats, I just got what the girl at the shop said.”
I grinned so hard my cheeks hurt, taking a sip to try and hide just how big my smile was.
“Did you propose to her too?” I teased.
“Oh, you’ve got jokes, huh?” He took my glass, setting it and his down before he gently hauled me into his lap, showering me with kisses that made me laugh and arch into him at the same time.
“You’re the one dreaming of whisking my boss off her feet for a never-ending supply of cake.”
“I love it when you get all territorial,” he said, his kisses growing longer, slower against my neck.
Warmth flushed my skin, and I shifted on his lap, settling one leg on either side of him. “Is that right?” I asked, rocking over what I could already feel was hard beneath me. Goodness, I’d never get enough of this intense need for each other. I kissed his lips, then the line of his jaw, before nipping at the lobe of his ear. “You like seeing me jealous, James?” I whispered, rolling my hips.
He groaned, hands flying to my hips and making me do it again as he captured my mouth. “I like anything that makes you look like mine.”
A hot shiver raked my body at his words.
“I am,” I said on a breath. “I am yours.”
He went still beneath me, his eyes locking with mine. All jokes vanished, replaced with a primal intensity that made a white-hot knot form in my core.
“Say that again,” he said, emphasizing his demand by dragging me over him again.
“I’m yours,” I said, breathless as he moved me on him again and again, winding me up even though we were still fully dressed.
“Fuck,” he groaned, kissing me hungrily. “Feel what you do to me?”
I shivered, reaching down between us, unzipping his pants so I could wrap my fingers around his cock. He thrust into my hand. “I feel that,” I said, grinning as I kissed him again.
God, I could spend hours just kissing this man. It was the perfect balance of claiming and giving, thrilling, and as comforting as a warm blanket. He had a direct line to my bliss button, and sweet heavens did he know how to push it.
I stroked his considerable length in my hand, gripping and pumping while kissing him so intently I could barely catch my breath.
“Anne,” he breathed my name between my lips, wrapping his arms around me as he stood up, taking me with him. He pulled back enough to catch my gaze, walking us into his house and shutting the door behind us.