Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
She loved the scent that wrapped around her. Hedonistic and hot, Aspen felt like her senses were on overdrive. His every touch sizzled against her skin. Trying to give back all the pleasure he lavished on her, she caressed his honed form. When he shifted his hand to brush a work-roughened thumb against her clit, she exploded into an orgasm. His strokes quickened and Jerico roared his climax into the room, bringing Rexy back to his side.
Jerico eased her legs off his shoulders and braced one arm on the wooden table as he tried to recover. Aspen pressed kisses to his chest, needing to show him how much she loved him. He captured her mouth and kissed her hard.
“You’re mine, little girl.”
“Yours,” she agreed without hesitation.
A woof made them both look toward the side of the table. Rexy danced on his feet, thinking this was a new game. He licked the hand Aspen held out to him before turning to Jerico and kissing him.
Her smile faded as she watched him sag in place, as if all his energy had evaporated in a flash. “Are you okay?”
“The adrenaline just crashed, baby. I’ll be fine. I just need sleep.”
She helped him to the bedroom and watched him collapse on the bed, instantly falling asleep. After showering in the guest bathroom to avoid waking him up, Aspen crept into the bedroom. Stretched out in the exact same spot, Jerico seemed dead to the world.
She shrugged on her nightshirt, and double checked all the doors and windows before turning off the lights. Carefully, she pressed one knee onto the mattress. His eyes flashed open instantly, on alert at the small motion.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. Come here, baby. I want to hold you.”
He shifted to his back, pulling her to his side so she could rest against his chest. “Mmm. You smell good,” he murmured before crashing back into sleep.
Aspen closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. Her daddy was home.
CHAPTER 22
Playing in her nursery, Aspen reached below the table to pet Rexy who lay on her feet. It seemed like the dog had begun to heal after all the trauma that had characterized his life. Aspen knew she was still his favorite person, but Rexy certainly loved his new dad. How could you not?
The month had flown by in a whirlwind of activities. Jerico wasted no time in hiring a lawyer for her. With all the documentation, it didn’t take long for a restraining order to be issued against Eddie. Apparently, the jerk was fighting an additional battle as the police officer who’d taken her information had passed along the documentation to an animal rights organization. Aspen would never have known anything about those charges if Eddie hadn’t exploded in court and exposed all of his dirty laundry. The judge had not been impressed.
Jerico’s presence made Aspen feel more at ease than she had for a long time. Even when he was away, she knew she was safer than she’d ever been. The team had installed heavyweight doors with solid locks and deadbolts. Personally, she’d thought the cameras were a bit over the top, but the first time she’d spooked at a noise outside, Aspen had thanked them mentally. She’d also scolded the neighbor’s cat who played on their doorstep—from the inside, of course. They’d discovered Rexy loved cats way too much.
“Ready for the team to invade?” Jerico asked from the doorway.
“Sure.”
The group gathered frequently. Now battle-proven, any reservations about whether they’d work well together had evaporated. Caden had prepared them well.
Aspen jumped to her feet, looking sadly at the puzzle. She was almost done.
“When one of the guys gets here, we’ll carry your table outside if you’d like to keep working on it,” Jerico suggested.
“You’d have to be really careful not to lose any pieces.”
“I think we can handle that. We’re trained not to leave anyone behind,” he teased.
“Daddy!” She protested his joke with a dramatic roll of her eyes, loving every minute of the fun she got to have with the man who’d turned her life totally around.
“Aspen!” he teased and walked forward to wrap his arms around her waist and whirl her in a circle.
She clung to him as she laughed. Jerico had fulfilled all her dreams and fantasies. Spending time with him was a delight.
The doorbell interrupted them, and Jerico set her feet back on the floor. He stayed by her side to make sure she was steady before loping to the front door.
“Zale! Come in. I’m going to put you to work.”
“Glad to help. What can I do?” Zale’s voice drifted down the hallway.
“Aspen wants to keep working on her puzzle. Would you help me carry the table outside?”
“Of course. I’ve got some vitamins for her as well,” Zale replied, his voice growing louder as the men came down the hallway.