Chapter 197: Quiet Moments, Loud Hearts

Fraser’s voice dipped into something teasing. “You don’t? Then what do you want? Want me to spoil you a little?”

Summer’s face went red. She grabbed a throw pillow and chucked it at him. “How about none of the above?”

Fraser’s hand slipped from the back of the couch and pulled her right into his lap. He leaned in, his mouth near her ear, his voice low and warm. “You sure about that?”

His breath was hot against her skin. Summer flinched twice, completely betraying herself. Being with Fraser lately—it felt like they were in a whole different kind of relationship. Even though their three-month deadline was already halfway over, neither of them had brought it up again. Maybe that’s just how people are. When the end is coming, you start to hold on tighter. Like maybe you’re afraid to break it.

Summer straddled Fraser’s lap sideways, feeling the tension and power coiled beneath her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him down to her level. Then she leaned in and gently bit his Adam’s apple, speaking into his skin with a playful smile. “Yeah… still don’t want it.”

Fraser’s throat flexed hard under her teeth. His eyes went dark—dangerously dark. He couldn’t remember a time Summer had ever been this bold. He tilted his head down, locking onto her with a look that burned. His voice dropped to something rough and low. “You say no, but you’re biting me? What are you, part puppy?”

Summer felt her skin flush under the intensity of his stare. They were so close now. She could see everything—the flutter of his lashes, the curve of his eyes, the heat behind the way he was looking at her. Her lips found his, slow and deliberate. His mouth was cool against hers, laced with the faint trace of smoke and something unmistakably his. The kind of taste that pulled her in like a drug—

Summer leaned back slightly, her lips still brushing his as she said with a smirk, “What, am I not allowed to?”

Fraser let out a short laugh.

In one smooth motion, he rolled her beneath him on the couch, his gaze dark and locked in.

Summer could feel his fingers, slow and deliberate, slipping open the buttons on her shirt. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. There was something different about tonight—something that made her want what came next.

Then the doorbell rang.

Just like that, the fog in her mind cleared. She pushed him off and sat up quickly, frantically fixing her shirt. “Who’s that?”

Fraser stayed where he was, shooting her a look full of unfinished business. She caught the heat still lingering in his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. She gave his leg a light kick with her bare foot. “You go get it.”

Fraser shrugged with a sigh and dragged himself toward the door, clearly not thrilled. At the front door stood one of the housekeepers holding a fluffy white pup—Pudding. “Mr. Graham, we’ve brought Pudding over.”

Summer leaned over Fraser’s shoulder to look, her face lighting up the moment she saw the dog. She jumped up with excitement. “Pudding!”

That’s when Fraser remembered—he’d asked someone a couple of days ago to bring the dog over. Perfect. I just ruined my own night.

He dropped down on one knee and rubbed the dog’s chin with a deadpan look. “Alright, pal. You’re on your own tonight. Got it?”

But Pudding wasn’t having it. He wriggled out of Fraser’s grip and took off straight toward Summer, barking happily. She hadn’t seen him in a while and was over the moon. Even though the dog was huge, she still threw her arms around him like a kid with her favorite stuffed animal.

Fraser shut the door and folded his arms, watching the two of them goof around—right there on the couch where he and Summer had just been this close to taking things further. He let out a low sigh. Great. Two people and a dog. Kinda starting to feel like a full house tonight.

Fraser strolled over and leaned against the couch like he owned the room, legs spread in that effortlessly cocky way. His eyes fixed on Summer, brooding and unreadable. “Seriously? All your attention’s on the dog?”

Yeah—he was jealous, and not even pretending otherwise. Pudding was still bouncing around Summer like a hyper toddler. She looked up at Fraser and considered throwing him a bone, just to smooth him over. But Pudding wasn’t letting up, so she gave Fraser a quick smile and said, “Just keep yourself busy for a minute.”

Fraser grabbed the remote and started flipping through channels, occasionally sneaking glances at the two of them.