Cannon Austin turned and stormed away, leaving them all staring.
“I am so sorry,” she murmured. “He’s an asshole only half the time, and we obviously got the bad part of the day.”
Chris laughed and tried not to let it bother him. After all, Cyra had defended him and that had to mean something. “Go finish. I’ll clean up and hang out with Rex.”
She kissed him softly. “I’ll be right back, Christopher.”
When Cyra left, he picked everything up off the floor and fixed the table. Taking a seat, he stared at the dog. “Okay, you and I are roommates now. I have a huge back yard and I’ll get you plenty of things to destroy. All that I’m asking is that you don’t bite the old witch or eat the tarantula. He might make you sick.”
Rex stared at him.
Chris patted the couch beside him and the dog moved towards him hesitantly. Cyra trained him, so he must be friendly. When Rex jumped up on the couch, he waited to be scratched behind the ears. As Chris complied, he laid his head in his lap and let the man have at it.
This was one more victory.
“Rex, do you like beef jerky? I have some in my car, and I’ll give it to you if you don’t eat the seats or puke on the leather. Okay? I just got that car and I really love it.”
Cyra stood in the doorway and silently watched Chris talk to her dog. It was endearing that he was genuinely trying to make friends with him. Her heart pounded as Chris treated him like he was a human being and not just a silly dog. This was one of her man tests, and he had passed.
Yeah, she was madly in love.
“I wouldn’t feed him right before he gets in your car. He’s been known to get sick if it’s too far of a drive,” she stated, entering with her bag.
Rex looked up and waited for a command.
“Here.”
The dog hopped of the couch and raced to her side. “You better behave at Chris’s house. If you eat even one shoe or piece of furniture, I’m going to be upset with you.”
When Cyra clicked her fingers, he dropped and covered his eyes with his paws.
Chris laughed at the trick. “What else can he do?”
“Rex-y get a drink for Chris.”
They both watched as he trotted to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator with the towel slung through the handle. Reaching in with his mouth, he retrieved a bottle of water and walked it over to the man.
“Does he do beer?” Chris asked, laughing.
“Yes, but then he wants to drink it. He bites into the cans to steal a sip. It’s really a huge mess, and a drunk dog is a puking dog.”
Well, that was good to know. It was time to switch to only glass bottles. Chris took the water and stood up. “Shall we go?”
Cyra took his outstretched hand and let him lead her to the door. Before they could leave, she went up on her toes and whispered in his ear.
“Rex, come,” Chris said as he snapped his fingers twice. Obediently, the canine trotted after them. “I could get used to this dog thing,” he stated. Something about it made them feel like a family.
“Yeah, it took a year to get him to stop eating shoes. It was a huge challenge. We’re working on playing hide and seek. I give him something to smell, and then I hide it. He finds it and gets a prize. He’s really good at it. He probably should have been a police dog.”
Chris opened the trunk by hitting a button. “Hop in Rex,” he said.
Cyra looked appalled.
“I was kidding. The trunk is for your bag. You know, in case he starts to puke back there…”
Once she realized that he was wasn’t serious, she began laughing. “Don’t tease me. I’m a nervous wreck that he’s going to destroy your house and car,” she warned.
“Don’t be nervous. The dog and I are going to get along just fine,” Chris replied as he opened his door and pulled the seat forward for Rex to jump inside.
“I have to admit, something else scares me, Christopher. Now is a really good time for you to tell me that there really isn’t a tarantula.”
Before he could reply he glanced up in the mirror at the big dog staring back at him. It was probably a good thing that he had a few bigger vehicles. This one wasn’t Rex worthy.
Chris focused on Cyra. “I have good news,” he said as he slipped the key in the ignition. “You can outrun a tarantula.”
She stared at him. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Please don’t puke in the car,” he answered, laughing. This was going to be one hell of ride home.
It didn't take them long to get to his house. As they were driving up the street, he asked her to close her eyes. He wanted her honest opinion of the place. If she reacted badly, Chris was going to sell it. If they were moving in together, he wanted her to be happy too. It was going to be their place, and not just his monstrosity.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Yes. Trust me. I want you to get the full impact and give me your true impression. I need you to be hit with it all at once.”
She did what he said and covered her eyes. “Does Rex have to close his eyes too?”
Chris loved how she was going along with it. Most other women would think he was nuts at this point. “They already are closed.”
“You’re funny.”
Pulling up, he hopped out. “Keep them closed until I tell you.” Walking around the Mercedes, he opened her door and took her by the hand. Normally, he’d park in the garage, but he wanted her honest opinion. “Rex, come.”
The dog obeyed and took a seat at his feet.
“Okay, open them,” he said as he watched for Cyra’s first response.
When she opened her eyes, she wasn’t sure what to expect. There was a startled gasp and it was followed by a moment of absolute silence. Then she finally found her voice, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” she mumbled. Her eyes went wide and she covered her mouth with her hand in surprise.
Chris wasn’t sure how he was supposed to take that. Was she praying for someone to get her out of there or was she just shocked?
At first, she simply stared at the house, and then at him. Words seemed to temporarily escape her. There was one thing for sure, he hadn’t lied. It was huge.
The other thing that caught her off guard was that it did indeed look haunted. There were gargoyles, stained glass windows, and a dark stone exterior. The landscaping reminded her of some English Manor, and she didn't know what to say. It was quite possible that she had never seen anything like it before.
“I need your honest opinion.”
She didn't have words. Half of her wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but the rest of her was enthralled. It looked like something out of a dream. The romantic in her wanted to claim it as some castle and him as her crazed mad scientist, but the cop and realist in her was leading the pack when it came to comments. “Your mother picked it out, huh?”
Chris’s heart sunk. Yeah, she hated it. “It’s not as gothic looking inside. I swear. I had the entire place redone to be more modern.”
There weren’t words for what she was thinking. When he ran his hands through his hair and it stood up, he again looked like some outrageous scientist. Cyra wanted to laugh at the entire situation.
“Please say something?” He was getting nervous. Apparently, his gut feelings on the place had been right. The house was absolutely horrible, and he should have known better than to bring her there.
“It’s huge, Christopher.”
He waited for more.
“How do you live here?” she asked. Surely, he got lost.
Yeah, she despised it. “We don’t have to stay here. I like your house. I’ll move there with you.” Now, he just prayed that she didn't run from him screaming. He finally found the perfect woman and his travesty of a mausoleum was going to destroy it.
She glanced over at him in surprise. “Hey, wait! I didn't say I didn't like it. I was just caught off guard by the size, Christopher. This really doesn’t really fit the word ‘house’. It’s more an
estate or mansion.”
It broke Cyra’s heart that Chris believed that she would judge him on his home.
The tightness in his chest was lessening. “So, you don’t think it’s some scary haunted house?”
She finally started laughing. “I don’t know about the haunted part, but it’s not scary. Well, unless I get lost. It may take some time to find my way around in it.”
He could finally breathe again. “I’ll give you a tour.” Taking her hand in his, he led her towards the main entrance. “If it becomes scary or overwhelming, let me know and we can leave.”
When they arrived at the front doors, she started laughing again. “Those are the biggest doors I’ve ever seen.”
“I don’t usually use them. I go in and out through the garage.” Chris was finally relaxing. At least Cyra was entertained. That had to be a good sign.
Once inside, the laughter continued as they walked across the marble floor to a room with a massive fireplace. “Chris, I don’t even have words to even express my thoughts.”
“Okay, then just answer yes or no. Can you live here?”
“Yes.”
“Does it creep you out?”
“No.”
“Will this place in anyway impede how often we roll around naked in bed? We have really amazing sex, and I’ll sleep in a cardboard box to keep that going.” He needed to cover his bases.
“Hell no! Our sex life isn’t going to change.”
“Well that’s all I really need to know then,” he replied as he started laughing at the look on her face.
Cyra scanned her surroundings and was getting used to it. “Can I have a minute to just take it all in?” When he took a seat on the one couch, she began walking around the room. When Chris said his family had money, she didn't think he meant this kind of money. Yes, he had a nice car and went to good schools, but this was old wealth.
Finally, she was ready to talk about it. “Okay, I’m going to be honest with you.”
Well, here it came. “Shoot.”
“Outside, it looked a little dark and haunted but inside, it just looks like a really old, grand home. I like the marble floors, and it’s a good thing that I like socks in the winter, because you’ll be the one I’m warming my feet on if they’re chilly.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “You really like it?”
“I love the fireplace,” she answered, running her fingers over the wood. “It’s absolutely beautiful and reminds me of you.”
Walking to her side, he looked confused. “Me?”
“Yes. You’re sturdy and strong, but still magnificently carved and put together. Someone took their time to create this, and it feels like your home. It screams patient and meticulous order.”
Never had he come home to the monstrosity and felt like it fit. “Christmas is coming, and we can put a big tree in here and lie on the couch and watch the fire.”
She looked up at the ceiling and snickered. It had to be the highest ceiling she had ever seen. “It’s going to be one hell of a tree.”
Then he thought about it. “Can we possibly celebrate Yule and Christmas? Belladonna gets testy if I go all Christian on her. It’s double the presents,” he teased.
Cyra smiled. “We can celebrate anything you want. You just need to teach me all about it so I can learn,” she murmured and leaned into him. The scent of his aftershave was very lulling.
Before he knew it, Chris was gently kissing her. There was something so peaceful about having her in his arms and against his body. Yeah, having someone to come home to would make this far less cold of a place to live. “Want to see more?”
She pulled away and took his hand in hers. “Yes, but then I want to pick up where we left off, Doctor.”
Every hormone in his body began dancing at her words and the implication. “Yes, Agent.”
Cyra pointed at the dog. “Rex, stay.”
He barked and went to the couch.
“Can he sit on the furniture? If not, I can train him to stay off if you like.”
The dog could drive his cars, if it meant Cyra was living with him. “He’s fine. Tony Magnus brings his dog here all the time.” Leading her across the room, he walked her down a hall. “This is the kitchen.”
Inside, she stared around in awe. “Wow, that refrigerator is bigger than the cooler in the morgue.”
Now, he laughed at her slight exaggeration. “Do you cook?” he asked, hopefully. Maybe the kitchen would finally be used. “I don’t. I only come in here for beer or to toss takeout in the fridge.”
“I do cook, Christopher, and I’ll make dinner for you every night if you want me to.”
Oh yeah, he wanted her to do just that. It screamed normalcy and family. “Let’s keep going. Off the kitchen is the pool.”
When he led her through the door, she started laughing again. “Chris, it’s an indoor pool.”
He pondered what she meant by that. “Well, if you don’t like it, we can knock the glass walls down and make it an outdoor one. I’ve only swam in it a few times myself. It’s no fun when you’re alone.”
She heard the hurt in his voice. “I’ll swim with you any time you want,” she promised. Even though he hid his pain, it must have been hard to grow up alone. “I was just surprised that it was inside the house. It was a little shocking, that’s all.”
He stared deep into her eyes and found nothing but truth.
Escorting her back down the hall and past the mahogany carved walls, he opened the door to his office. “It’s the library and my office. I spend a lot of time in here. In fact, next to the bedroom, here’s where I practically live.”
She walked in and looked at all the books. “Wow, someone loves to read. You know, you can download them and it takes up a lot less space.”
“Yeah, I have them that way too, but it’s nice to light the fire and watch the snow fall outside the window as you read a book in here.” What he didn't tell her was how lonely it could be.
“That sounds perfect.” The smile on her face was huge, until she saw him. “Oh my God!” Backing away, she got as far away from the glass terrarium as possible. “It’s huge!”
Chris looked around trying to ascertain what had caused her to look so disgusted. When she pointed at the spider, he tried to calm her down. “That’s Igor. Do you want to meet him?” he asked, as he walked towards the glass box.
Cyra couldn’t speak. There were lots of things she could handle in life. Death no longer fazed her and even standing in autopsy was doable, but a big hairy spider with so many eyes made her want to scream like a maniac. Surely, he wasn’t going to actually touch it.
Opening the box, he put his hand in and immediately, the spider crawled onto his palm. “Igor, say hi to Cyra.”
When he held it up, she backed as far away as possible, her face going pale white and she simply shook her head. Okay, she wouldn’t be coming in here, ever.
“Cyra, are you okay?” he asked, suddenly becoming alarmed. Quickly, he placed Igor back in his terrarium and went to her side. “Sweetheart, breathe. You’re putting yourself into shock.”
She tried to catch her breath and not hyperventilate. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I have this irrational fear of spiders and all the legs.”
He wrapped his arms around her protectively. It wasn’t odd for people to have spiders as one of their phobias. It was quite common. “Okay, before we come back from the assignment, Igor will be gone. I’ll make my mother take him home.”
She nodded as she leaned against him.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Slowly, he began kissing her and running his fingers over her cheek and chin. “I’m here. Igor is leaving. You don’t have to come in this room, and he won’t come out.”
“What does he eat?”
“Bugs,” he answered, leading her from the room.
“Chris, people kill spiders for a reason.”
Now, he was laughing as he tried to find a way to lessen her fear. “Wait until you meet the python in the ups
tairs bathroom.”
She stopped walking.
“Sweetheart, I’m kidding. I was trying to make you forget the spider, that’s all.”
“Next time try poetry or a sonnet,” she answered.
Chris clutched her hand in his and squeezed reassuringly. At the base of the stairs, they began the climb. There were lots of rooms and doorways yet to explore, but he really wanted to show her his bedroom.
Actually, now it was their bedroom.
Pushing the double doors open, he watched her face.
“That’s a very big bed,” she stated as she looked up at him. “I love it. It makes me want to run over and bounce on it like a kid.”
Suddenly, he was very happy. “By any chance would you like to try it out?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. “We can christen your first night in it and then head down stairs on the couch if you want.”
She turned into his arms. “I think I’d like that very much.”
His lips found hers, as he walked her backwards towards the mahogany monstrosity. Chris’s hands wandered across her body, as he found her gun and badge. Slipping them off her belt, he placed them on the nightstand beside his own. “I can’t believe that I’m about to roll around in bed with you in this house,” he muttered into the kiss.
“Believe it,” she replied as she began to pull off her clothes. Suddenly, she wanted to get naked as fast as possible. “I want you, Christopher.”
His body swelled in need. Just hearing the words from her mouth drove him wild. “God, I need you Cyra. Like no one ever before in my entire life,” he replied, finally getting free of his own clothing.
When he moved towards her, she thought he was going to attack. Instead, he lifted her up to sit on the bed. Once situated, he joined her.
Chris couldn’t believe his good fortune. “Cyra,” he murmured as he pulled her against his body, and rolled with her until they were in the middle. Their limbs became tangled, their mouths met and hands wandered everywhere.
“Chris,” she whispered as she stared down into his face as she ended up on top. Cyra began leaving little kisses all down his throat. When she reached his chest, his heart thudded beneath her lips. Finally, she dropped a gentle kiss over the bandage on his side.
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