Our dog. She’d been doing that more and more, and it only increased his hope that things might change, that their affair might go on longer than she’d originally intended.

He led her into a long gallery that stretched the length of this wing of the house that extended back toward the garden. His chamber was in the corner on the left. There were windows along two walls, which made the room bright and cheerful, even in winter, which he liked. Especially since it was decorated in dark blue with accents of gold.

The moment they stepped inside, Ash came bounding toward them. Unsurprisingly, he veered toward Evie. “He always does that,” Gregory mused, smiling.

Evie had crouched down to greet the pup. “Does what?”

“Greets you first.”

Looking up at Gregory as she stroked Ash with both hands, she quirked a brow. “Does he?”

“As if you didn’t know that,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not the least bit offended. I would choose you first too.”

“Not over him,” she said, sounding horrified before she nuzzled her nose against Ash’s. “Do you like it here, Ash?” she asked. “Where do you sleep?”

Gregory gestured to a large pillow near his wide four-poster bed. “He has a designated place to sleep, but he usually prefers to slumber on my feet.”

She continued to pet Ash as she glanced toward the bed. “It’s certainly large enough to accommodate him. And probably several other animals. Or a harem.”

“There is only one woman I want in my bed,” he said, imagining her tangled in the bedclothes.

“And is that why you brought me here?” she asked coyly.

“While I would like nothing more than to…indulge ourselves, I can’t see how that’s possible. We don’t have much time. Besides, you look far too ravishing to be, er, ravished.”

She narrowed her eyes provocatively. “There are ways to indulge ourselves quickly and without damaging our appearances. Would you like to learn how?”

“With an offer like that, how can I refuse?” While his cock hardened at the prospect, his brain saw another obstacle. He looked toward their sweet pup. “What about Ash?” He’d proven to be rather problematic when they were intimate. They typically had to shut him out of the room to keep him from interrupting.

“You can either put him in your dressing chamber or find him something to chew on, which may occupy him long enough. As you said, we don’t have much time, so we’ll need to be quick.” Her gaze dipped to his pelvis. “I do hope you’re sufficiently aroused.”

“Every time I’m with you,” he said, his desire surging.

She stood. “What do you want to do with Ash, then?”