Page 108 of Whispered Promises

“Want me to tell you how fucking sexy I find you?” He pauses, staring intently at me. There’s no smile or smirk now; instead, it's dark, smouldering.

“Oh. No, I mean, you don’t have to. But any time you want to, I’m willing to listen.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Women like compliments. Well, I can’t speak on behalf of all of them, but I’m sure a lot do.”

“You want me to compliment other women?”

“No. Well, yes. I mean, if you want to? I can’t dictate what you can and can’t do. Can I?” My voice rises, turning what should’ve been a statement into a question.

Mortification overtakes my body, and I can’t seem to stop the crap coming from my mouth.

With a last sweeping brush of Mabel, he steps around and up to Gilly.

Crapsicles. Now he’s facing me.

But with her back coming up to my chest, it feels like there’s at least some form of support holding me up, as my hands stay buried in the soft hair on her back.

“You can,” he states. “Tell me I’m yours.”

I swallow. It’s loud and tight in my throat from the heat of his words. I want that. But I’m dating three of them, so I have no right to demand it. The possession still licks through me. I really want to claim him as mine.

Surely if he’s asking me to…then I should?

“Little tease. Tell me.”

“You’re mine,” I whisper, allowing the hungry part of me loose. She’s greedy and wants all of them. Maybe she’s always been there, just tucked away in the dark parts of my mind, and they’ve awoken her with every touch.

His head tilts to the side, and the smug look on his face causes my face to flame.

Can he see her? Shit, who am I kidding? He’d love her.

“Sure fucking am. You said it. Can’t take it back either,” he growls, his dark brows pulling low as his hand clasps my jaw and he tugs me gently up onto my tiptoes. It should be awkward; it shouldn’t work, but somehow his tall frame curls over the expanse of Gilly’s back, and his mouth presses into mine.

Did he seal the deal with a kiss?

Wait, is he some sort of demon I just sold my soul to?

Although technically, he gave me his.

Because he’s mine.

A wide, goofy smile stretches across my face when he pulls back. He pauses, eyes flicking to my mouth as he slides his thumb across my lips, stroking my smile. It suddenly feels heated, and my skin prickles under his gaze as my heart pounds heavily behind my ribs.

“Okay…I need to get the carrots,” I squeak, interrupting our trance.

What I really need is a moment to catch my breath.

My back hits the wall inside the barn, using it for support. I need to focus for a second, get my breathing under control, and my mind unstuck so I can concentrate.

A vibration in my pocket startles me more than it should. Tugging out the farm’s phone, I answer, bringing it to my ear. “Furrever Home Sanctuary, how can I help?”

Pushing off the wall, I wedge the phone under my ear as I open the container with the carrots.

“Hello?”

Silence meets me again. I go to hang up but freeze when a breathy exhale comes down the line.