They’d been surprisingly well-behaved for me. Thank goodness. I hadn’t been in the mood to wrestle.
Well, maybe with her…
I had no idea how to take care of these animals. But I’d promised her and Mason. It was part of the deal.
And I couldn’t wait to see her face when I brought them inside. Maybe she’d smile at me again. The girl could light up a room with that megawatt smile.
As soon as I got inside, I knew it was worth it. She didn’t squeal like a girl. She just froze, one hand holding up a pair of bright pink panties. Then she smiled at me, a real smile.
Her whole face lit up. It knocked my damn socks off. My God the girl was beautiful.
“I brought you some friends.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you. And also… panties?”
I would have laughed but the sight of her holding those sexy things up made me freeze in place. I wanted to see those things on her. So I could tear them off.
With my teeth.
I cleared my throat.
“You only packed two pairs. I figured you might need more stuff while we sort everything out. Easier than doing laundry every other day.”
I set the cat case down and let the creatures out. I hoped they didn’t destroy everything in house or piss everywhere. I’d got them food and a new litter box too.
I’d been a busy boy. Running errands for her. I was fucking whipped and I hadn’t even gotten a taste.
I wanted to see some real appreciation dammit.
“There’s other stuff too.” I stared at her. “Not just…”
“Panties.”
She nodded, finishing my sentence. She seemed to realize she was holding them in the air because she dropped them into the bag. She gracefully bent her knee to call the animals over to her.
They surrounded her, rubbing against her for attention as she knelt on the floor. I was a dirty old man, no doubt about it.
Because all I could think was- damn, she looks good on her knees.
“Thank you Connor. Thank you so much.”
She stared up at me, her eyes sweet and soft and sincere. There was that appreciation I was looking for. There was just one little problem.
How the hell was I going to turn it into what I really wanted?
Cassandra
“That’s a good boy. That’s a good boy!”
I sounded like an idiot. But Besos was licking my face and I could not have been happier.
Well, if I hadn’t witnessed a murder and put my only friend in the world in mortal danger.
But right now, Connor said Mase was safe. I was safe and the fuzzy ones were safe. And I was buzzed as fuck.
“Did you eat?”
“Uh huh.”
Connor was staring at me as I sat on the floor getting my face licked. He looked like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or throw up.
“That’s not sanitary.”
“Probably not.”
“The alcohol might take care of the germs.”
“Maybe.”
I was laughing as I tried to push Besos away. Connor took pity on me and pulled his leash away. Then he got busy in the kitchen, setting up bowls and a litter pan in the bathroom down the hall.
I reached into the shopping bags again and stared at a bright blue top. I pulled out an orange shirt and camo patterned leggings.
“Why is everything so bright? Are we going hunting or something?”
He glanced over his shoulder at me, looking sheepish.
“So you don’t get lost.”
“Lost?”
He grinned.
“In the woods.”
I scowled, pretending to be mad. It was high-handed and bossy and weirdly controlling of him to buy me clothes.
But I couldn’t be mad. It was kind of sweet. Plus, after seeing those pictures- that he’d lost his partner- his best friend- I saw him differently.
Connor had a heart. He could be hurt. He wasn’t just a mindless, ridiculously hot FBI drone sent to annoy me. He was human now. Human and somehow, not so out of reach.
Not so different from me or Mase. We’d all had our hearts crushed and picked up the pieces. We were all just doing our damned best.
He just happened to look insanely handsome doing it.
I grinned at him, deciding to make nice. He’d bought me stuff. I was in a good mood, why not spread it around?
“What are we doing now?”
He sat down and reached for the bottle. My eyes got wide as he poured himself a man-sized shot.
“We could talk.”
I shook my head. I knew he’d just ask a thousand questions I couldn’t answer. I saw his eyes land on the poker chips and light up.
“Or… we could play.”
I smiled at him.
“Oh, you are so on.”
Connor
“Here, have a lemon.”
I watched her tip her head back, taking the shot. She’d insisted on the salt, so I’d done the gentlemanly thing and got her some lemon slices and a beer chaser.
Lick it. Slam it. Suck it.
Three things I would love to be doing right now.