Page 45 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

“Why?” I asked, not bothering to look up.

“You need to be nice.”

“I wanted nothing to do with getting a dog.” I answered harshly, working to keep my voice low, not wanting to see Lily’s face fall like it had earlier.

“Yet, you didn’t say no, either. It makes me wonder why.” Before I could react, Ms. Ketill snatched the papers from my hands.

“Ms. Ketill, I don’t know what you’re playing at here, but it needs to stop.”

She patted my arm. “Jaxon, I worry about you. Have some fun, make a friend. You don’t need to be so angry at life all the time.”

Her words hit me harder than I was ready to admit.

“I have friends,” I responded sullenly. I was not thrilled I’d responded in a tone my ten-year-old self might have used.

“And it doesn’t hurt to have one more.” Her eyes softened around the edges. “I want to see you happy.”

It was hard to deny her when she pulled that caring crap out. She was more of a mother to me than my own.

“Fine,” I growled. “I’ll leave the work behind.”

“Everything okay?” Lily asked. She strode into my office, giving me a puzzled look.

“Everything’s great.” I forced out between clenched teeth. “I’m ready to go when you are.”

Ms. Ketill placed my folders on the desk. “I’ll have dinner ready for when you both return.”

How was I going to make it through one more meal of watching Lily’s lips part as she slid her next bite into her mouth, hearing the little sounds of pleasure she made when the taste particularly thrilled her? I was convinced she didn’t even know she made the sound, but I did. And so did my aching cock. After suffering through dinner the last two nights, I ended up in my shower, jerking off while envisioning her plump lips wrapped around me.

Damn it!These intruding thoughts needed to stop. I was walking around with a permanent erection.

“Let’s get going,” I ground out, walking ahead of her.

“Jaxon,” Ms. Ketill called out as I got further away from the two of them. I ignored her, continuing with my brisk pace. Once I turned the next corner, I discreetly adjusted myself before either of them caught up to me.

A winded Lily muttered, “Slow the fuck down, grump-hole.”

She skidded around the corner, realizing too late that I was only a few feet from her. Her body slammed into mine, and I reached out to catch her before she fell. My arms wrapped around her, securing her to my side. This close, her soft curves pressed into me. My still half hard cock rested against her stomach. Since my brain was no longer working, I tilted my head in her direction. I told myself it was to make sure she was okay, but that was a lie. I needed to see her face.

Her doe eyes were wide and looked up at me with something akin to yearning. She was so close, too close. All it would take was the slightest move on my part and our lips would touch. Damn it, I really wanted to kiss her.

This was inconvenient.

“Oh, um—” she murmured and raised her hands to my chest to steady herself. Her voice snapped me out of my rumination. Her fingers curled into her palms, forming tiny fists. Her cheeks had turned a rosy color as she bit her lip. She felt it, too.

I set Lily away from me. Practically shoving her in my haste. “Are you coming or not?” I strode to the front door.

“Oh, right. Right,” she responded, her soft voice sounding unsure.

I opened the door to allow her to pass by me, knowing it would be easier to hide my erection with her in front of me. She stole a glance at me as we moved out the door, the blush still staining her cheeks, her breathing erratic. It pleased me way more than it should to see she wasn’t immune to me either.

We only had to make it to the veterinarian’s office, and then we’d have the dog as a distraction. For the first time, I was relieved to have the stray join us.

Lily slid into the car, proceeding to sit against the opposite window. She had enough self-preservation to not sit too close. I yanked my phone from my pocket the moment I sat down, grateful for something to focus on other than her. In trying to keep myself busy, I checked my text messages. One from Jess caught my eye.

Jessamine: We need to chat, boo. My parents are being total assholes.

That wasn’t anything new.