Page 91 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

I winked. “Like it’s hard.”

He roared with laughter and grabbed me by my waist. It felt right when his forehead rested against mine. “So many hidden talents you’ve got. I wonder what else there might be that I don’t know yet.” His husky voice flowed over me, making me want to pull him close and do many inappropriate things to him, even with an audience.

“For me to know and you to find out,” I whispered past a tight throat.

“Count on it.” His beard scraped against my chin as he pressed his lips to mine. I opened my mouth to let his insistent tongue in, our tongues lashing together, until theahemof a voice made us freeze.

“Ugh, Jaxon. That’s soooo gross.” Davie stuck his finger in his mouth and pretended to retch.

I laughed and took Jaxon’s hand. His fingers tightened around mine. “Who wants a dough boy? Those are my favorite.”

“A what?” Davie asked, now clutching the Pikachu that was at least two-thirds his size.

“Fried dough.” Jaxon smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair.

My heart squeezed. Jaxon would be an amazing father one day. He’d been patient with Davie’s incessant questions, offered to take him on the rides, and genuinely enjoyed the boy’s company.

I wondered what he thought about having kids. I hadn’t let myself think of it over the years, especially after having to care for my father. While my mother had been a terrible example of a parent, Dad had always been there for me, and I wondered what it would be like to be a mom.

***

THAT NIGHT, I LAY CURLEDup against Jaxon in his bed. We’d returned from the fair a few hours earlier and after dinner, had decided to relax and watch a movie together. The ending credits ofStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sithrolled across the screen. We’d picked up where we’d left off a week earlier.

“Which one’s your favorite?” Jaxon asked, after placing a gentle kiss on top of my head.

I took a second to enjoy the moment before I responded. It was these times with him that really made me swoon. The light touch on my arm when I walked by him, the brief kisses, the conversations.

“Easy. Return of the Jedi. You?”

“Empire Strikes back. I’m a fan of the older ones.”

“Same.” I gave a happy little sigh.

He stared at me, giving me a thoughtful look. “Then I need to ask you a very important question. Which side of the ‘who shot first’ debate are you on?”

I leaned back. “What?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you don’t know this one. Who shot first, Han or Greedo?”

“Oh, easy! Han.” I remembered the movie well, but Jaxon had thrown me with his question. Especially since I’d already started to think about how easy our time together was compared to when I first arrived. The initial sexual attraction was still there, but now everything seemed deeper, better, between us. It sometimes surprised me how little time had truly passed and how comfortable I was with him.

“So you think that George Lucas was lying when he said that Han wasn’t a cold-blooded killer and only shot to defend himself?”

“Doyoubelieve that?” I gasped. What he was implying was galactic blasphemy. I raised an eyebrow saucily. If he did think that way, I might have to reevaluate my feelings towards him.

He smirked at me. “I mean, the guy wrote and directed the film. He should be the one with the inside track.”

“I can’t believe you just said that. Han’s whole character arc is based on the fact he shot first. He needs that as part of his redemption arc, you buffoon.”

He snorted. “Buffoon? Says the woman who believes Han shot first.”

“Jaxon, seriously?” I grabbed the remote and flipped through the television apps until I foundStar Wars: A New Hope. “Anything can be added nowadays to a film.”

I pressed play and forwarded the movie to the scene in question. Once we got to the moment, I paused the television, and pointed. “Now watch.” I hit play. “Do you see or hear any other shots fired?”

Jaxon didn’t answer. Satisfied I proved my point, I turned to look at him with a smug smile on my face. His shoulders shook as he tried and failed to hold in his laughter. Loud, gasping breaths tickled my ear as he leaned toward me.

“Were you screwing with me?” I asked in mock outrage.