Page 88

"Okay, well, good to know you can’t be trusted with hot chocolate. Even better thing, I brought a thermos," he says, producing it from his bag along with two mugs. "Hey! Dick!"

With three long strides he reaches his dog, scolds him in a whisper, and unsuccessfully tries to pull the blanket from his teeth.

I leave it to him to discipline his furry son and pour our hot chocolate. Hot damn, maybe he’s got a point. It's nice and hot and smells downright heavenly.

As I shake the canned whipped cream, the room falls silent. And when I press the nozzle into the first mug, in my periphery, I notice the dogs sneak closer, eyes fixated on the can. The way they move and stare at it is very zombie apocalypse.

“Seriously?” I hold up the can to four dogs staring at it with hypnotic fascination and drool dripping on the ground. "Okay."

I stare them down one by one. "Sit." Within a fraction of a second, their butts are on the ground, tails wagging.

"Good girls!" I hold the can high over Blanche, press the nozzle and let some whipped cream fall, knowing fully well it won't even touch the ground.

And I'm right. She catches it in her mouth with ease, and whatever speck makes it to the ground after all is dutifully licked up.

Next is Dorothy. She too catches it with ease. Rose is not as agile, so I put some on my fingers and hold them out for her.

Then I turn to Dick. His butt might be on the ground, but his tail is wagging so furiously he's scooting across the floor. As soon as I press the nozzle, he ignores that I ever gave him a command and jumps towards the creamy goodness.

“Okay, that’s enough, Dick. Down.”

“Me next!”

I turn and freeze.

Kieran is kneeling on the ground, a cheeky grin curling his lips as he opens his mouth and sticks his tongue out.

I freeze, hand holding the whipped cream in the air. Holy moly. Is it hot in here? Why is it suddenly so warm? There’s something about him on his knees, mischief written all over his face with that cocky smile.

"Come on, Brooke. Give it to me." My face burns warmer than the sun. Softly, softly shake my head and lower my arm.

"How determined are you to watch that movie?" God, I can’t even look at him without wanting to jump his bones.

His grin widens. "Honestly? Suddenly not determined at all anymore."

"Then how about we get upstairs?" Quicker than I've ever seen him move, he jumps to his feet and grabs the two hot chocolate thermos mugs from the counter.

"Bedtime," I declare to the dogs in the meantime, because as much as I’d love to tear off his clothes, I have animals to care for. Said animals run to their kennels without complaints an issue, and I latch their doors quickly before running to grab Kieran’s hand, heart thundering in my chest.

His warm lips are on mine the second we cross the threshold to my apartment.

"Fuck yeah, I need this." I sigh happily into the kiss and run my fingers over the short hair on the back of his head until I find enough length to bury them in.

"Good," he rasps and walks me backward. "Same."

He kicks the door closed while balancing both of our hot chocolate mugs. Not a sheet of paper would fit between us as he navigates us to the kitchen to set the mugs down in my sink.

Priorities. And I’ve got to say, the kissing-me-and-putting-away-mugs multitasking? Hot.

As soon as his hands are free, his arms lock around me. Now it’s my turn to walk him to my bedroom, our tongues playing. Maybe Dick followed us, maybe he’s still downstairs. At this point, I don’t know and I don’t care. But just in case, I bump the door closed with my hip, then push him onto the bed, climb over him, and reach for my nightstand.

"Here." I throw a pack of condoms onto his chest, then take off my sweatshirt.

"Brooke..." He picks it up and turns it in his fingers, clearly fighting laughter. "I don't want to be a party pooper, but these are so long expired. I’m too pretty to become a dad anytime soon. I value my beauty sleep."

"Are they?" He turns it to me, and I skim over the letters and numbers. Twenty-Four. "Damn it." It has been a long time. But it’s okay. I'm a big girl. I can improvise. "Okay."

I sit back up, grab the condoms, and throw them back into the drawer. "I’m prettier than you and already have a bunch of toddler-like beings to take care of.” I wink, then my lips tug into a smirk. “How about I ride your face while I jerk you off?"