As my mind began to clear, I suddenly remembered the earlier events of the night. I fumbled for my phone in my pocket, pulling it out and squinting at the screen. Sure enough, there was a message from Hannah, informing me that she had returned my car to my house.

"Well, I guess that solves one problem," I muttered to myself. I looked up at Tee, a sheepish grin on my face.

Tee raised an eyebrow, amused by my realization. "You forgot, didn't you?" he teased. "About your car?" I rolled my eyes, the action only slightly undermined by my still-present smile. "Yeah, well," I retorted, "it's been a long night. I can't be expected to remember everything, can I?"

"Seems like you were focused on other things," he replied, his gaze flickering over me suggestively.

My cheeks heated at his words, his insinuation not lost on me. I quickly looked away, pretending to check my phone again. "Shut up," I muttered, a smile still playing on my lips.

Tee just chuckled, enjoying my flustered state. "You're cute when you get all worked up," he said, drawing closer to me again. "You know that, princess?"

I let out a huff, trying to sound indignant despite my growing excitement. "I am not 'worked up,'" I protests, my words less convincing than I'd like. "I'm just... a bit tipsy, that's all."

"Liar," he murmured, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. "I can tell when you get riled up, princess, and you've been that way ever since I showed you the puppy."

My breath hitched at his touch, my skin tingling under his fingers. I swallowed, trying to find a retort, but my mind was too distracted by his proximity. "That's not... that's not true," I protested weakly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Tee leaned down, his mouth hovering just above my ear. I could feel the heat radiating off his body as he spoke, the rumble of his voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Admit it," he said, his breath warm against my skin. "You're all bothered right now, and you want me to do something about it."

I rolled my eyes, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. "Maybe I do," I said, my voice laced with a hint of irritation to mask my growing desire. His unabashed confidence was both annoying and incredibly attractive at the same time.

Tee chuckled at my response, amused by my attempts to hide my feelings. "Now you're just being a brat," he commented, his hand sliding down to my hip, gripping it possessively.

I shivered under his touch, the heat from his fingers seeping through the fabric of my clothes. "Am not," I grumbled, half-heartedly. "You like it when I'm a brat."

He smirked, his grip tightening on my hip. "Damn right, I do," he said. "But that doesn't mean I won't punish you for it."

I arched an eyebrow, my anticipation growing. "So, which is it? A punishment, or a birthday present?" I queried, my tone a mix of playful challenge and genuine curiosity.

Tee's grip on my hip tightened further, his expression darkening with desire. "Yeah, princess," he said, his voice low and gruff. "You are definitely asking for it now."

Tee took a step back, reluctantly releasing his grip on my hip. He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze still intense. "You need to sober up a bit," he said, his voice a rough growl. "Can't have you passing out on me before we even get started."

Though I was impatient and eager to feel him again, I knew he was right. The alcohol still lingering in my system was making my limbs feel heavy and sluggish. I sighed, my disappointment clear on my face. "How long do you think it'll take?" I asked, my voice a little whiny.

Tee chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement at my impatience. "Patience, princess," he said, reaching out to give my hip a gentle squeeze. "Shouldn't take too long, but I want you completely aware of everything we do tonight. No passing out, no blacking out."

As Tee moved towards the small kitchenette area in the hotel room, I followed closely behind, the puppy labradoodle trotting at my heels. Tee rummaged through a small mini-fridge, pulling out a bottle of water.

I sank down onto the couch, the soft cushions welcoming after the night's events. I settled the puppy onto my lap, absently stroking its soft, curly fur as it yawned and snuggled closer to me.

I looked down at the puppy in my lap. "Buck," I said, testing the name out. The puppy lifted its head, looking up at me with wide, expectant eyes. "Yeah, I think you're a Buck," I affirmed, patting the puppy's head affectionately.

Tee, who had been watching the exchange, raised an eyebrow from his spot by the minibar. "Buck, huh?" he repeated, a hint of amusement in his voice. "That's a strong name for a small dog."

I nodded, feeling a pang of affection for the tiny puppy in my arms. "Yeah, he's just a baby now," I said, scratching behind Buck's ears. "But he'll grow up fast, won't you, buddy?"

Tee walked back towards where I seated on the couch, a bottle of water in his hand. He handed it to me, then sat down beside me, his body pressing against mine.

I unscrewed the cap of the water bottle, taking a shaky sip. The cool liquid felt refreshing against my parched throat. I glanced at Tee, who was watching me intently. "So, does this mean I've sobered up enough yet?" I asked, my tone hopeful.

He chuckled, the sound low and gravelly in his chest. "Not quite," he said, his hand resting on my thigh, his fingers drawing lazy circles on my bare skin. "You need to finish that bottle, Avery. Then we'll see."

I swallowed, the heat from his touch shooting straight to my core. I took another long sip from the bottle, the water doing little to quench the thirst he was stirring in me. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I accused, my voice a bit breathless.

He shook his head, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Not at all, princess," he said, his hand drifting higher up my thigh. "This torture is killing me just as much as it's killing you."

Despite the truth in his words, I couldn't help but feel a thrill at the thought of him struggling against his own desires. The raw need in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, making my heart race. "Good," I retorted hoarsely, taking another drink from the water bottle.

I could see the strain in his shoulders, the muscles tensing as he fought the urge to give in. He was trying to keep a lid on his own desires, to maintain control, but the way his hand was gripping my thigh told me it was taking all his willpower.

I finished the last bit of water in the bottle, placing it onto the coffee table in front of us with a slight clatter. "There," I said, my voice a bit more steady than before. "Bottle's empty. I'm sober. Now what?"

Tee stood up from the couch, gently picking up Buck from my lap. The puppy protested with a soft whine, its eyes wide with confusion. "Time for bed, little man," Tee said, his tone affectionate. He carried Buck over to a small dog crate set up in the corner of the room.

I watched as Tee set Buck inside the crate, murmuring softly to the puppy in a soothing voice. I was surprised that I hadn't noticed the crate earlier. Maybe my mind had been too clouded with alcohol and desire to pay attention to the details of my surroundings.

Tee returned to the couch, sitting back down beside me, closer than before. He was so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. His gaze was intense, almost predatory, as he studied me.

Tee leaned back, gesturing for me to stand up. "Alright, princess," he said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "Let's see if you're really sober. Walk a straight line in front of me."

I stood up, steadying myself on a nearby chair. I put on a mocking look of obedience, mock-saluting him. "Yes, officer," I said, imitating a serious tone. Then, I began to walk in a straight line, exaggerating my footsteps as if mimicking a police sobriety test.

He watched me with a mix of humor and desire. "Very funny," he said, his eyes sparkling. Despite the humor in his voice, the heat behind his gaze betrayed his underlying intent.

Tee's arms suddenly wrapped around me, pulling me onto his lap. I let out a gasp of surprise, quickly steadying myself on his shoulders as I found myself straddling him. He held me tightly against him, the heat of his body searing through my clothes. I could feel the hard planes of his chest under my fingers, the muscles taut with tension.

I looked down at him, suddenly very aware of just how close we were. I could see the dark desire in his eyes, his hands gripping my hips like he was afraid I'd slip away. I shivered, my heart pounding in my chest. "Tee," I said, my voice a shaky whisper.

He didn't respond, not with words anyway. Instead, he cupped the back of my neck, his fingers sliding into my hair. He tugged gently, pulling my face closer to his, his lips mere inches from mine. "You're making this excruciatingly difficult, princess," he murmured, his voice rough with restrained lust.

I let out a breathless laugh, leaning my forehead against his. "I want more than just sex," I confessed, my voice a whisper. "I want all of you, Tee. Not just your body, but your heart and your mind, too."

His expression softened, surprise and tenderness mixing in his gaze. He released his grip on my hip, bringing his hand up to cup my cheek instead. His thumb traced gentle patterns on my skin, his touch surprisingly tender.

"You're serious," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. It wasn't a question, more a realization. I nodded, meeting his eyes without hesitation. "I am," I confirmed, my heart fluttering in my chest.

He studied my face for a moment, seeming to search for any hint of doubt or insincerity. Finding none, he let out a ragged breath, his lips curving into a smirk. "You're a goddamn dangerous woman, you know that?"

I smiled, my heart swelling with an intensity of feelings I couldn't even begin to describe. "I've been told once or twice," I replied, my tone light. "But is that so bad?"

Tee chuckled, his hand sliding to the back of my head again, his fingers tangling in my hair. "No, princess," he said, his voice roughened with desire. "It's not bad at all."

I tilted my head slightly, looking at him with a sly smile. "So, what does this mean for us, then?" I asked, my voice a little teasing.

Tee's eyes darkened with intent, his hand tightening in my hair. "It means," he murmured, leaning in to brush his lips against the shell of my ear, "that I'm not going to let you go. Ever." Tee's voice was a gravelly whisper in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "And it means," he murmured, his hand slipping down to grip my hip possessively, "that I'm going to make you mine. In every way possible."

My heart skipped a beat, his possessive tone igniting a fire deep in my core. I felt a rush of desire, my body tingling with anticipation. "Is that a threat or a promise?" I managed, my voice breathless.

Tee pulled back slightly, letting his gaze roam over my face. His eyes were intense, burning with a mixture of desire and something even more primal. "Both," he said, his voice gruff. Before I could respond, he shifted his grip on me, lifting me off his lap and onto the couch.