Page 29 of Vow of Vengeance

"You have a dog?"

I never would have guessed Declan to be the type for pets. If anything, maybe a snake in a fish tank. Not a dog... and certainly not a dog like this. The little furball looks like the type of thing celebrities used to pop in their purse to carry around like an accessory... not the sole companion of a broody millionaire.

"Yeah," he sighs and I glance around, looking for any signs of another woman. "That's Roxy."

The name sparks a memory, and it doesn't take me long to recall his password.

Roxyblue72.

"Your favorite whore." I say, looking down at the dog who takes that as permission to resume licking me.

"My favoritebitch." He corrects. "You're my favorite whore, remember?"

I roll my eyes at him, but the insult doesn't feel like one. I'm just grateful there's not another woman I have to compete with.

He drops onto the couch behind me, loosening his tie from his neck and unfastening the top button as he leans forward, making my mouth go dry. His attention is on the laptop he set up before him as his fingers navigate over the keyboard, rapidly tapping. I go to stand behind him and Roxy jumps from my hands, jumping on his lap instead.

I expect him to push her aside, to tell her to calm, to demand she sit. Instead, he puckers his lips, letting her give him kisses too.

It's so fucking absurd that I want to laugh, but I hold it in, watching in disbelief as he coos at the little dog like she's the cutest thing he's ever seen. And to be fair, she is pretty damn cute.

"I know," he says, his voice gentle. "I missed you too, Rox."

"Should I be jealous?" I tease.

Declan laughs and turns to me, seizing my chin and demanding my full attention as the dog settles next to his lap.

"You should never be jealous for my affections, little bird. I don't long for anything other than to worship at the altar between your legs for the rest of my days."

I gasp, trying to sound properly offended by that. But I can't deny the clench deep inside of me, or the way my ovaries have been fawning over him rapid-fire.

"I'm more than my pussy." I mumble. But there's no heat in it.

"Of course you are." He laughs. "You're also a tight ass, a great pair of tits, and a hot mouth."

I roll my eyes.

The truth is, we both know he can have anyone he wants. He's never let onto why he wantsme. Because I didn't want him? Because he wanted to see if he could make me give up my hatred for him?

"I'm serious, actually." I sigh, gathering the courage to meet his gaze. "We both know you can stick your dick in just about anything, and you have."

"Well, that's rude." He laughs despite the words, clearly not bothered.

"I just mean, you can have your pick of anybody. Why me?"

He looks confused by the question. "Whynotyou?"

I can think of a dozen reasons just off the top of my head, but I keep them all to myself.

"Because we don't make sense, Declan." I laugh. "The millionaire playboy and the widowed journalist who death stalks?"

He shakes his head, muttering to himself, and then stands, pulling me around the couch toward him.

"I don't want to make sense." He says, stroking my cheek with a thumb. "I want to make babies."

His words are an echo of a conversation we had in Costa Rica, before he betrayed me by punishing me for loving someone before him… before he turned my world on its head. He didn’t bring up my lack of birth control again and I’ve been a little too distracted to worry about it.

"Declan." I laugh, turning to walk away. He's being ridiculous, pedantic.