by Lauren Dane
“Handy.”
He kissed her then. Slow and sweet. At his feet, Jezzy sighed heavily like she couldn’t possibly believe they were kissing again.
Grabbing her by a double handful of her ass, he easily carried them both into the bedroom. They nearly fell when Jezzy got too near Beau’s feet, but laughing, they managed to make it to his newly made bed, where they collapsed in a tangle of arms and legs, mouths fused together in a kiss that sent a hot flush through her like wildfire.
Every time. He rocketed her from zero to melting with seemingly little effort. This was what it meant to be a match for another person. That nearly tangible click of recognition and connection.
When Rachel and Maybe had said their men were different from the others, Cora had understood. Or thought she had. But this sort of thing was so much more than she ever could have imagined. How could she have known what this felt like when she simply had nothing to compare it with until that very moment?
And now that she had it, she knew to her toes that living without it would be awful. She tried not to worry about losing it, tried not to think about what would happen if they broke up. She’d survive, no doubt. People did every day. But now that she had this thing with Beau, she knew she’d forever feel its absence.
One armed, she managed to pull her shirt up and off while he got his pants unbuckled and unzipped. Jezzy howled at the door she’d been left on the other side of.
“Jesus,” Beau snarled, and sat up.
She snickered as she tossed her pants at him. “Let her in. She’s scared to be alone.”
“She’s just fine but she wants to be in here with us. I don’t like being watched having sex,” Beau told her once he’d gotten out of bed and went to open the door.
He pointed at a pillow he’d taken off his bed and the dog, knowing this was a good deal, hopped up onto it, circled three times and heaved a doggie sigh when she finally settled, her head on her paws.
Grinning like a hot pirate, he grabbed a condom, ripped it open and rolled it on all as he made his way to the bed. “Now, I think we were in the middle of something,” he murmured, his mouth skating over the skin of her throat, down to her collarbone and across. He traced her ink with deft touches of his fingertips as his lips and then the edge of his teeth met her nipple.
Pleasure speared outward from her nipple as she sighed, fingers sliding into his hair to hold him there.
He chuckled in that way, that I know I’m about to have you way she found so very sexy.
Rolling, he settled beneath her as she scrambled up to straddle his waist and all she wanted was for him to be in her.
Grabbing him at the root, she held him still as she slowly sank down his cock. Going very still once he was all the way inside.
Once she began to rock, grinding herself against him, Jezzy decided it’d be awesome to jump up onto the bed, but it was a tall bed for a big dude and it took her three times but she made it and marched right up to attempt to sit on Beau’s chest.
“Aw, jeez. Way to ruin the moment,” she said as Beau twisted to set the dog back on the floor with a gentle admonishment to stay down.
“Stop saying ruined.” Beau rolled his hips to emphasize just how in the moment he still was. “Let’s just keep this going.”
Laughing, she leaned down to kiss him, snarling and groaning as he dragged his short, blunt nails down her back, and then yanked her hips forward.
He held her there, bent over his body as he thrust up into her over and over. Slow at first until she got caught up in the nearly magical rhythm, and then he sped slightly, building the pressure, that need to climax deep in her belly.
And that was before he shifted to slide a hand between them, his fingertips brushing against her clit and sending her nearly hurtling over the edge just from that touch.
More.
She must have said it out loud, though she hadn’t intended to.
He gave her more. Thrusting deeper. Harder as he increased the pressure of his fingertips.
There was nothing to do but try not to leave too permanent a mark when she bit into the meat of his pectoral muscles as orgasm slapped into her and then over him as he continued moving for several long moments more.
“Damn. You made me a turkey. Gave our dog a home and made me come all in one afternoon. I feel like I need a daily affirmation about you so I can be partially worthy.”
He laughed as he stumbled to the adjoining bathroom for a few minutes. Jezzy had commando crawled from the pillow to the bed and looked up at Cora with pitiful eyes until she patted the bed.
“I can see spoiling is going to be an issue.” Beau tossed her sweater and she pulled it on, along with her underpants.
“She was abandoned, Beau. Humans she should have been able to trust have betrayed and harmed her. And then she was all alone. Probably confused. She needs spoiling. Like you do.” Cora scratched behind Jezzy’s ears.
He’d been abandoned too. Lost people he should have been able to trust to have his best interests at heart. So if a little spoiling helped and made them both feel loved and cared for? She’d damned well do it.
“How lucky then that she and I have you to spoil us,” Beau told her with a kiss to her forehead and then to Jezzy’s. “We didn’t spoil animals when I was growing up. They were for working. My father has a very low opinion of sentiment, especially for beings he doesn’t consider to have souls, which is everything but humans. So. This is new. But it seems okay to me. Except for the interrupting sex part. We’re going to need to work on that,” he told the dog, who licked his face.
Cora was quite sure it was she who was the lucky one in the arrangement.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“FOR REAL, JEZZY, you are the bestest dog in the world,” Maybe crooned to the dog in her lap.
“Cutest, for sure,” Rachel said.
“Right? Doesn’t that sweater look freaking adorable?” Cora asked.
“I guess we’re going to ignore the fact that you knitted a sweater for a dog?” Vic asked.
Beau snorted a laugh but said nothing else.
“I had yarn left from the sweater I knitted the baby,” she told Vic, who blushed. “I like to knit and she’s clearly a shorter-haired terrier mix because once the groomer cleaned her up she gets a little shivery when it’s cold. It was easy enough to make in two days. Are you saying she should freeze, Vicktor? Monster.” Cora winked at him.
Rachel snatched the dog from her sister and Cora decided not to inform them that Beau had fed Jezzy an entire can of those gross sausages that smelled like dog food. Cute though Jezzy was, she also farted like a demon, and then pretended it wasn’t her.
The whole crew was over at Beau’s place for a housewarming dinner and they’d settled on the couches in the living room. The fire warmed the space and gave it such a pretty glow. Jezzy had gotten over her initial shyness and the terrier had taken over, sending her to all the new humans in her house, sniffing and charming, getting lots of snuggles and belly rubs.
“You’re getting married a week from today. That’s bonkers. Everything okay? Can I run any errands or help doing anything else?” Cora asked Rachel and Vic.
“It’s all in place. We kept it simple on purpose. Food is handled. Service is handled. Because it’s freaking Christmas, there were so many awesome decorations to be grabbed, so we’re all good for that and most of it was on sale and we can use it next year.” Rachel nodded like everyone had that level of calm when they had barely any time to plan a wedding while they were suffering from morning sickness.
Small. Intimate. Something for only very close friends and family that would be more like a Christmas Eve dinner and party than anything else. And because the Russian Orthodox church didn’t celebrate their Christmas until January, Rachel and Vic weren’t stepping on anyone’s toes or offending anyone with a December 24 ceremony.
“When you’re feeling better and once the wedding is in the rearview, Beau and I would love to host a dinner for you two either here or at Luna,” Cora said. Beau smiled her way. He’d been so awesome to offer that up. A wonderful, very personal gift from them to her best friend and her husband.
“Oh! I hope you don’t think I’ll try to refuse such a lovely gift. Because I’ve come to be very spoiled by your amazing cooking and what has turned out to be a really fantastic pipeline to one of the region’s top restaurateurs.” Rachel kept her tone deadpan but Beau understood it was a tease and took it as such.
“To be fair, you’re my bread pipeline so it’s sort of mutual,” he said.
“Heading into the kitchen. Anyone want me to bring something back?” Cora asked them as she stood.
“I’ll help you bring it all.” Maybe popped up. “This house is gorgeous,” she said once they began to assemble all the various drinks people had requested.
“Right? I love it. And Jezzy prefers it here to my place. Which I can’t really take personally as I prefer it here to my place because it’s wide-open and bright and sleek and the view is awesome.”
Before he’d moved, they’d slept at her place most of the time. But ever since he closed on the house, they’d spent most of their time there. Her cozy little town house seemed cramped with him and the dog in it. And Jezzy couldn’t really run around off leash though she had a small area around her town house she could technically call a yard. But at the house they had a big yard. And very tall ceilings and heated floors. She’d even found a new favorite local grocery store and the wine guy there was awesome.
“You think it’s too soon,” Cora said, not really that worried her friend would agree.
Maybe scoffed. “Are you fucking kidding me? I think it’s perfect because you’re both totally into each other. Also? Alexsei pretty much moved into my house a few months after we started dating. He never moved out. Your dog is also perfect. What do you think of his art?”
Cora laughed, delighted that her friend got her so well. “He’s got good taste. I mean, thank god, because it might have been a deal breaker. Even better is that he’s tasked me with helping him flesh out his collection. It’s like my birthday every day.”
Beau gave her a puzzled look when she came back with Maybe, giggling up a storm. She just smiled serenely.
“You’re all coming to the New Year’s Eve party my parents are hosting, right?” Cora asked them.
In addition to the November family dinner, Cora’s mom and dad always held a big party on New Year’s Eve at the gallery with great food and drinks. Her father’s clients and her mother’s business associates came and it was quite the evening. This year she’d be going with Beau at her side. The first time she’d ever brought a date.
She’d let her mother have control of the event, even though it was at the gallery. It was her parents’ night and it gave her pleasure to help make it successful. In turn, her mother had seen it as the olive branch it was and had eased back some of her manic need to control everything.
As Beau had said, little steps added up over time and all she could do was her best.
“Totally. Your parents throw a great shindig. Plus it’s over by ten so we can go watch fireworks from your place.”
Another thing they did was to hang out in the courtyard at her town house for the countdown fireworks at the Space Needle. Her porch was perfect and they brought out blankets and booze to bring in the new year.
This time so much was different. She’d taken over at the gallery. She’d met Beau and fallen in love. Jezzy had come into her life and she and Beau were learning how to be better pet owners and to only spoil her in the good ways.
Mainly it worked but those eyes were hard to resist when she wanted just a little taste of whatever Cora or Beau were eating. Then again, Beau thought she hadn’t known about the Vienna sausage thing, but for goodness’ sake, it wasn’t like he ever had them in the pantry before they got a dog. Plus the smell, good god.
But someone he’d known had given them to their dog as a treat and he’d remembered, introducing them to Jezzy, who apparently adored them. Enough for Cora to ignore the gas and find it cute.
The sight of Beau with Jezzy on his lap, blissfully happy with the petting and loving she was getting made Cora pause and only barely withhold a pleased sigh.
Giant and strong but always gentle. Especially with those smaller than he was, or vulnerable.
She handed over his root beer and took her place next to him.
* * *
BEAU LOOKED AT his phone and excused himself. “Gotta take this. Come on, Jez. Wanna go outside?”
He knew she’d come out with him. Even though it was chilly, the dog loved the yard. Her kingdom, as she’d come to consider it. She seemed to have an endless love of playing fetch and he had to admit he loved to play along with her.
Once he was out of earshot of the crew in the house, he called Ian. “Tell me exactly what happened,” Beau said when his friend answered.
The uppermost yard was large and level. He’d had it fenced off so Jezzy would be safe out there. So he flipped on the main lights so she could see for a game of fetch and tossed the bright green ball she loved so much.
Ian said, “Some dude comes in and leaves an envelope for me. Says it’s a contract I need to see. There was a clipboard for a signature but the hostess who signed for it doesn’t remember a specific name of a delivery service but it wasn’t any of our normal ones. Leaves after a thank-you.”
Beau listened while he tossed the ball Jezzy had just dropped at his feet.
“I didn’t see it for several hours until my dinner break when I cruised by the back office and it was on my desk. Inside there was another envelope with your name on it. That’s where the letter is tucked.”
Beau swapped out the slobbery green ball for the pink one and Jezzy barked her excitement. When he turned to look into the house, Cora was laughing, listening to something Wren was saying. In their house. Oh sure, he hadn’t asked her to move in just yet because he didn’t want to spook her. And the fact was, they spent most nights together anyway.
He had something real. Something he could see lasting. A dog. A group of friends who all had a positive influence on his life.
His old life would not destroy what he was creating in Seattle. It would not touch Cora more than it already had. She deserved laughter and a life full of the things she wanted most. She’d just gotten away from her mother and he wasn’t going to drag any more drama into her life.
He had promises to keep. He would continue this search for his children until he found them or he died. He would help when he could. But his past would not own his future.
“Read me the letter,” Beau asked.
“‘Someone in your family is gravely ill but The Anointed won’t grant permission for treatment. Specifics to follow. Don’t ignore your phone.’”
Ian sighed. “Nothing else. No signature. It’s been printed on generic printer paper.”
Beau blew out a breath. “Thanks. I’m sorry this bled into the restaurant.”
“Shut up, asshole. I’m in this with you. Always have been. Keep your phone on, I guess. How’d they get your number and why not just call it instead of doing all this cloak-and-dagger shit?”
“My uncle Obie has my old number. I have a phone just for that. The last contact I had used that phone too, but not on the first few contacts. Maybe they’re watching me to see how I react or they read spy novels under the covers at night and hope they don’t get caught. Perhaps they’re jerks who like messing with me,” Beau said. “Since I can’t be certain which phone they might mean, I’ll keep them both on me.”
Ian said, “Okay. Good idea. Pops says he’s having you and Cora over for lunch. Invited me as well but I said I’d run that by you first.”
“Why would I not want you there? Cora l
ikes you. I thought you liked her?”
“I do. I just know my grandpa is important to you and you want to present Cora to him for his approval. I didn’t want to get in the middle of that.”
Beau had really good friends.
“Thanks. Yeah, I suppose I am presenting her to him. Like, hey, look at this beautiful thing I managed to get right. But you’re part of that. Cora knows you’re like my brother. She knows Pops is like a father to me. She’d probably appreciate your being there because she’ll at least know you. Take a little bit of the pressure off. At least he won’t act like a fool at dinner like her mother did.”
Beau was trying really hard to like Walda. He had no trouble when it came to John and Cora’s siblings. But her mother, while admirable in many ways, was really fucking entitled when it came to Cora’s time and energy.
Ian made an unhappy sound at the mention. Beau had shared the details with his friend a few days after that dinner and he’d been upset on Cora’s behalf.
“You want to drive up with us?” Beau asked. “We’re bringing Jezzy. Your grandfather demanded it and who am I to refuse that?”
“I’ll let you know for sure once we get closer to that day. I’ll bring the letter to you tomorrow. I need to get back to work.”
They said their goodbyes and Beau tucked his phone into a back pocket before calling the dog. “Come on. It’s too cold to be out here any longer. Plus your mom keeps looking out the window at you.”
A girl and her dog.
She lit up when he opened the door and Jezzy raced over to her, jumping up into her lap and giving her lots of kisses.
Fortunately she’d given him a happy smile and would let him lick her anywhere he liked when they were alone so he had no reason to be jealous of the dog.
“Everything all right?” Cora asked him after everyone had left.
“It was Ian. Among other things he said to pass on his hello and said he’d be coming to lunch with us when we go up to Pops’.”
It wasn’t as if he liked not sharing everything with her. But at that point when he really had no new details that she needed to hear, he figured he could spare her any stress. If and when something major happened, he’d share the information then.