“What would they ask?”
“Hell if I know. Sometimes bankers are noisy. Get all in your business. Fucking bullshit is what it is. Reason I don’t want to go in there.”
She glanced from him to the money. “Vano, I—”
“Look, Sissy—”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Okay, Velvet. You think you got this?”
“They’re not going to want me to sign anything or read anything?”
“Just make sure the receipt matches the deposit amount. Can you do that?”
“I’m not stupid, Vano. I can read numbers, just not… words very well.”
“I know you’re not stupid, Vee.”
“Sometimes I think you like that I can’t read. Just like Pop. Gives you some control or something.”
“That’s not true. I never wanted to keep you out of school. That was all Pop.”
“And sometimes you’re just like him.” She snatched the slip and deposit bag out of his hand.
“Velvet, it’s just the way things have always been, you know that.”
She didn’t want to hear any more of his excuses, so she stormed off, snatching her purse up as she passed.
***
Vano stood in the doorway of his office and watched her go. She was wrong; he’d hated the old ways as much as she had growing up, but their old man had ruled the family with an iron fist until the day he died. And there was little he could do to go against his pop. He knew the life had been much better for him than it had been for Velvet back then because the ways of the gypsies gave little power to women. They kept the home and raised the children, and the men in the family made all the decisions. That was just the way it had always been.
Even when the old man died, things changed little. Ma ran things until Vano was of age to take over. He’d tried to take care of Velvet, but he’d gotten arrested and put in prison for several years, and rather than live another minute under Ma’s control, Velvet had run off.
Well, he’d tracked her down and brought her back, like he’d sworn to Ma he’d do, and he’d made sure to eliminate all her options in the process.
She had to come back to the fold; he’d given her little choice and that wasn’t by accident. And now he was determined she wouldn’t have the means to run ever again.
The rear door opened, and Skin and Weasel strolled in. Not their real names—the ones they’d gone by in prison where he’d met them.
“Told you to call first. You can’t just stroll in anymore. Not with my sister working here. She don’t know shit about you two, and I want to keep it that way.”
“Why’d you bring in her here in the first place? She’s just attracting attention and that’s the last thing we need.”
“I needed some way to show why our profits just went up drastically, dumbass. It’s easy to explain the big draw is her.”
Skin grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pinned him to the wall. “Call me dumbass again, I’ll remind you of what you were in Statesville, you little shit.”
“Okay, chill out.”
Skin released him with a shove. “Fucking punk.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Liam turned his truck into the parking lot of the animal shelter. As usual, there were barely any cars. He slammed the gearshift in park and climbed out. The bell over the door jingled as he walked inside, and the sound of barking dogs carried from the back. He strolled to the counter.
Pam Oswald greeted him with a smile. “Boy, am I glad to see you.”
Pam was a cheerful, but overworked woman with a good heart. She was in her sixties, and Liam wondered how much longer she’d be able to keep this place going. She’d devoted her retirement and a good amount of her savings into opening this no-kill shelter, and it was always at capacity. Liam had found the place when he’d come across a stray and wanted to see if it was micro-chipped.
He’d met Pam, and she’d corralled him into helping the rest of that afternoon and coming back the following Sunday. Ever since, he’d been a regular, donating his time whenever he could.
“I had a couple hours before the shop opens. Thought I’d see if you needed some help.”
“Sure do. We’re short handed today. You want to let the big breeds out in the exercise yard for me?”
“Sure thing, darlin’. You know the big dogs are my favorite.”
She winked at him. “A special one came in last night. Just made for all that land out at your brother’s place.”
He grinned. “You know I moved out. I’m in town now.”
“Yeah, but Max’s son, Ben, would sure love this one,” she brazenly suggested, which was totally her way.
“That so, huh?”
She lifted her chin toward the back. “See for yourself. White pit bull mix with the sweetest face you ever saw.”
Liam chuckled at her salesmanship and went through the swinging door to the back. He walked down the row, greeting all the other dogs until he came to the one Pam had mentioned. It was huddled against the wall of the cage. Liam let the other dogs into the exercise yard, and then returned to the new guy on the block. Liam squatted down and called it over with a soft clicking sound.
The dog shook, but its tail wagged a couple of times.
Liam could tell it was young, not a puppy, but probably no more than six months old. As he squatted there, Pam joined him, and he glanced up. “No chip?”
“Nope. Someone left him tied to the door handle. Found him when I opened up this morning.
“Some people are real pieces of shit.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” She dug in her pocket and held out a handful of treats. “These should get him to come to you.”
Liam took the offering and opened the cage door. He tossed one toward the dog. It wasn’t long before his nose twitched as he sniffed the air and leaned closer to the treat. He crept toward it and gobbled it up. Liam tossed another one at half the distance and watched the dog wag its tail and hesitantly creep to it, all the time keeping watchful eyes on Liam.
This time Liam held out his palm with the remaining treats. “You’re gonna have to come say hello if you want more, Buddy.”
The dog sniffed the air and eyed the treats in Liam’s palm, stretching his neck out. He crept closer and soon had his snout in Liam’s hand. Liam ran a gentle hand down his flank. “Good boy.”
Soon the dog was rubbing against Liam and licking his face.
Liam looked up at Pam who was shaking her head and smiling. “You’ve got the touch, son. Like no one I’ve ever seen.”
“I don’t know about that, but he does seem sweet.”
She passed him a lead and gestured down the aisle. “Take him outside and work with him for a few minutes. See if he’d make a good dog for an eight-year-old boy.”
Liam clipped the lead around the dog’s neck and stood, his knees cracking. “Come on, buddy.”
The dog followed at his side, eager to be out of the cage. When they stepped into the sunshine and fresh air, his tail wagged as he sniffed the breeze.
Liam worked with him for almost half an hour before he made his decision and brought him back into the reception area.
Pam turned from what she was doing, her eyes falling to the dog at Liam’s side. “Well, I see you didn’t return him to his cage. Does that mean you’re taking him?”
“I’ll drive him out to our place, talk to Max, let him decide if he wants Ben to meet the dog when he gets home from school. I can’t make any promises.”
Pam nodded. “Good deal. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope this sweet boy finds a home.”
“I better get going if I’m going to get out there and back before the shop opens.”
“They want him, bring him back, and I’ll micro-chip him.”
“Will do.”
She bent down and rubbed the dog’s ears. “Good luck, boy. Be on your best behavior.”
Liam led the dog outside and opened the door to his truck. The dog hopped up eagerly, sat on the seat,
and stared out the windshield. Liam chuckled. “Guess you’re anxious to go, huh, Buddy?”
Twenty minutes later, the pickup rolled slowly up the gravel drive to the place Liam had grown up. The old farmhouse was were Max, his wife Malee, their adoptive son Ben, and Mrs. Larsen their cook and Ben’s part-time caregiver lived. Off to the left was the big new place Jameson had built for his wife Ava and their newborn daughter.
Until recently Liam had lived in the old place with Max and their youngest brother, Rory, who was rarely home anymore. When Max had married, Liam had felt it best he give them space. Especially now that Max’s little family was growing even more with the news that Malee was pregnant.
Even though they’d insisted he didn’t need to move out, that the farmhouse had always been just as much his as his brothers’, he’d needed space of his own. Being in town, in his own place had felt like the right move. He didn’t regret the decision; he still visited, often coming for Sunday dinners or bonfires.
He parked and got out. “Come on, Buddy.”
The dog jumped down and sniffed around. Liam let him investigate for a few minutes. The phone in his pocket went off, and he answered it.
“Hi, it’s me. How’s your day going?” Velvet’s soft voice filled his ear
“Hi, babe! Good. I’m out at my brother’s place.”
“Oh, should I let you go?”
“No. What’s up?”
“Nothing. I miss you already.”
Liam grinned at her admission, his eyes on the horizon. “I miss you, too. You’re still coming over tonight, right?”
“Um, I don’t know if I can.”
His smile faded. “Why’s that?”
“I may be working late. Sometimes they don’t close up on time.”
“Try please.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Liam got the feeling she was trying to back out. “I need to see you again, Velvet. Don’t you want that, too?”
“More than anything.”
“I can come pick you up. They’ll have to let you leave then.”
“No. That’s okay. I’ll figure a way.”
“You gonna get in trouble?”
The screen door on the front porch creaked.
“No. It’ll be fine. See you tonight.”
“Okay, babe. Call me when you’re leaving.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Liam slid his phone back in his hip pocket and glanced up to see Max coming outside. He was shirtless, in a pair of sweatpants, and barefoot, a mug of coffee in his hand. “Mornin’.”
“Mornin’. You get a dog?” Max ambled down the stairs. The dog sniffed his leg, and Max squatted down to scratch his ears.
“He was dumped off at the shelter last night. Left tied to the door.”
“What a shit thing to do.” Max scratched under the dog’s jaw. “He’s a sweet thing, huh?”
“Pam thought he might be a good fit for Ben.” Liam didn’t see any point in pussyfooting around the subject.
“Ben?” Max’s brows rose.
“Doesn’t every kid his age need a dog? And you sure got the space out here. This dog would be in heaven.”
“Man, I don’t know, Liam. A dog’s a big responsibility, and with the baby on the way…”
“I understand. Just thought I’d give it a shot.”
Max continued to rub the dog’s chest. “He sure is a beaut.”
“You wanna talk to Malee about it? Might give Ben a friend to play with out here, make him not feel so pushed aside when the new baby comes.”
Max glared up at him. “He’d never be pushed aside.”
“I get that, but bro, you and I both know what it’s like when the new baby comes home. You with me, and me with Rory.”
Max patted the dog’s side and then stood, grinning. “Yeah, Jameson and I tried to put you in a basket and leave you out in the yard. If Mom hadn’t caught us goin’ out the back door you would’ve been wolf bait.”
“Very funny.”
Max took a sip of coffee and lifted the mug. “You want a cup?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
“Since when do I have to ask? You always just walk in.”
Liam shrugged. “You got a wife now.”
“Yeah, so?”
“She’s knocked up. All those hormones… I don’t want to piss her off.”
“Shut up and bring your dog.” Max headed toward the porch.
Liam grinned and followed. “Not my dog, he’s your dog. And his name’s Buddy.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Velvet woke up against Liam’s warm muscled body. Warm was putting it mildly; the man was like an inferno. She lifted her head from his chest and let her eyes travel over his naked body. She moved and felt the soreness between her thighs that would remind her how much sex they’d had last night.
He’d teased and tormented her, but now it was her turn. She slid down the sheet and moved between his legs. She looked up at him carefully; he had one arm thrown up on the pillow, his other hand rested on his stomach.
She gently touched his cock, stroking it to life. It didn’t take long, and she ran her tongue up it then took him into her mouth.
***
Liam cracked an eye and looked down, his hand automatically fisting in the silky hair that spread over his stomach. Velvet’s mouth sank down over his dick again, and he moaned, clenching tight. His other hand came up to gather her hair in his hands and hold it from her face. He wanted to be able to watch his dick, wet and glistening, pump in and out of her sweet mouth. It had played a big part in the fantasies he’d had of her in the weeks since LA. Especially as he stood in his shower, his hand on his soap covered dick, imagining her pouty red lips wrapped around him and moaning as he took her.
He pumped his hips up, holding her still with his hands in her hair. She moaned around him, but her mouth moved quicker up and down until he felt his release creep up on him. He pulled free and dragged her up the bed, and in one fluid motion, he flipped her onto her stomach and yanked her ass up in the air, pushing her shoulders to the mattress.
He clenched her hips tight and buried himself in her soaked pussy.
She gasped and squirmed, but his hold was unbreakable as he controlled the pace. With this angle, his thrusts could go deeper, and he knew they dragged over her g-spot with each pump.
He kept one hand locked on her hip but dipped the other to toy with her clit. He could feel the pulses of her pussy clenching around him. He ached to his balls with the need to pound into her, but he wanted to get her there first. He stared down at her perfect heart shaped ass and couldn’t help but pop it with a smack.
She sucked in a breath and shattered into orgasm, coming so hard for him, his restraint snapped. All it took was the image burned in his brain of her mouth on his cock and he exploded, slamming home and shooting into her. “Fuck!”
He pulled her up on her knees, still hard inside her. She moaned as his hands closed over her breasts, and he pinched her nipples hard. She whimpered and clenched down on his dick again.
“Yes, baby. God, I love that,” he growled. “You take me so good.”
He lowered them both gently to the bed and gathered her in his arms. He stroked his calloused hands over the soft skin of her back, down to her ass and up again, over and over.
***
Velvet cuddled against Liam, enjoying his gentle touch until he broke the silence.
“Babe?”
“Hmm?”
“What’s your real name?”
She bit her lip, hesitating before answering. She lifted her head from his chest. “It’s a stupid name. I hate it.”
“Come on. It can’t be that bad.”
“Veleena.”
Liam tried to stifle his grin. “I was wrong.”
She smacked him on the shoulder. “Jerk.”
“Sorry. It’s a real…pretty name. But Velvet suits you better.” He ran his hand up her arm. “Velvet. The word just makes me want to to
uch your skin.”
She rolled to her back and took his hand, guiding it slowly up her chest, the whole while her eyes locked with his. It was all the invitation he needed. He lowered his mouth to hers and moved over her again.
“Damn, woman. You’re insatiable.”
“You made me this way.”
An hour later, after they’d gone another round and recovered, he smacked her ass. “Come on, pretty girl. We’ve got places to go.”
Once they were dressed, Velvet grabbed her sling bag and tied her pullover jacket around her waist. Liam locked up the place and they skipped down the stairs. He tugged her into the bakery. Mrs. Heinzlemann greeted him with a smile and soon they had coffee and warm pastries in hand. As he was paying, she passed him a paper bag, smiling and nodding at Velvet. “Schöne Frau.”
He grabbed it and winked at her. “Ja.”
Velvet couldn’t help her curiosity as they walked out of the shop. “What did she say to you?”
“She said you were a beautiful woman.”
Velvet grinned. “I knew I liked her.”
Liam chuckled.
“So you speak German?”
“Don’t be too impressed. I only know a little.”
She gobbled the pastry down and made a grab for the bag, but he held it out of reach.
“Na uh.”
“What’s in the bag? It smells delicious.”
“I had her pack us some sandwiches for lunch. You’ll have to wait.”
Liam stopped at a motorcycle parked at a spot half a block down, and Velvet’s eyes swept over it. It was backed into the spot, its rear tire to the curb. It was slung low and long with gleaming black paint and shining chrome pipes. “This is yours?”
“Yep.” He shoved the last of his pastry in his mouth and licked his thumb.
“I didn’t know you rode.”
“Been riding since I was in high school.” He drank down his coffee, tossed it in a trashcan on the curb, and then tucked the sack into his saddlebag. He jerked his chin at her sling bag. “You want me to put that in here?”
“Sure.” She passed it to him. Once he had it tucked away, he took two helmets out of the other saddlebag and handed her one.
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