by Hazel Gower
Chuckling, I shook my head. “No, I didn’t buy this. Come on. We’re a little early, but security’s been here for a while.”
Before we arrived at the front door and knocked, it opened and Mrs. Rose Benchwood walked out smiling.
“Hello, Mr. Silverman. Your security has been here for a while. We’re all set up.”
“Hi, Mrs. Benchwood. The security came early as we changed plans and will be here longer.” I nodded down to Alexa who was holding my hand. “This is Alexa.”
Mrs. Benchwood beamed at Alexa. “Hello, Alexa. I’m Rose Benchwood. I’ve been told this is all a surprise for you.” She held out her hand and Alexa took it and gave a short shake before taking it back to cling to me. “Let’s go around the back. Ruby, my daughter, is out back with everything.”
Alexa’s brows furrowed as she gazed around searching for a clue as to why she would be here. The house wasn’t big, a small Queenslander style cottage, so when we came around the corner, she squealed and let go of me to run toward the puppy pen. I was surprised to see more than one in there. Three, to be exact, two smaller and one that was a lot older than the seven and half weeks the little ones were.
“There’s more than one in there.” I stopped before we got too close to Alexa who was already in the pen falling in love with the puppies.
Mrs. Benchwood didn’t take her eyes off Alexa and when she spoke her voice was soft, with a hint of sadness. “What you told me of her story.” She quickly wiped a tear away. “I know I should have consulted with you, but . . . ” She shook her head like she was clearing it. “Benza has been training and he’s mastered most things. Ruby is sure if we stick with him he’ll get better and move on to the next level, but I just don’t see him as a military attack dog. I know he’s just too soft.”
I glanced over at the bigger puppy who I guessed was Benza. He was licking Alexa’s face and trying to get all the attention. I could already tell Alexa was in love. She laughed and cuddled him as she tried to pat the other two puppies. “Okay. What about the other puppy? You said you only have one.”
Her sigh was loud and drawn out. “I was going to keep the female for breeding, but I just feel Alexa deserves to have as many options as she wants.” She stared at Alexa and the puppies and in a barely there whisper said, “Poor girl.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Benchwood.”
She patted my arm. “It’s Rose.” She made a sound that was between a snort and a laugh. “You Silvermans have provided me with enough support and stability over the years with my business that I’m happy to offer you more.”
We got to the pen and the beaming smile Alexa gave me had my heart soaring. I knew that I would do anything to keep her this happy, even if it meant coming home with three puppies and one guard dog.
“What do you think of your surprise, bear? Who you going to pick?” Her eyes lit up like I’d just given her the world, but by the time I ended my sentence she’d gathered the puppies all to her and glared at me.
“Surely you’re not cruel enough to make me choose between these adorable babies.” She batted her eye lashes at me and I groaned, knowing I’d been right before. I’d planned to get one guard dog but instead, I was going home with a whole pack.
Turning to Rose, I scrubbed my hand over my face and threaded my fingers through my hair. I could see Mrs. Benchwood was barely resisting laughing at me. I raised my brow. “You knew as soon as you saw Alexa with those pups that I would be leaving with them all, didn’t you?”
She stopped resisting and laughed. “I wasn’t sure until she let go of you and her eyes lit up like fireworks on New Year’s Eve. I can tell her that she needs to choose one and I’ll have the others to train or something along those lines, but I can see you would give her the world if she asked.”
“Yes, I would.” I looked at Alexa and the absolute happiness that shined out of her at that moment was impossible to miss. “How do you want to introduce the guard dog to its new owner?”
“It’s a he. Sam. He’s a year and a half old and has had extensive training. I’ll say he’s my most trained dog to date. I look forward to hearing how he fits into his role.”
“Thank you. He will not be leaving Alexa’s side.” I lowered my voice so Alexa wouldn’t hear. “I haven’t told her yet, but in a couple of months she will be going to court to testify as a witness for some major cases. It’s not a request either. We have tried to get her out of testifying, but the court has ordered her to do it. I’m telling you, too, as I know my family has a lot of dealings with your business and I don’t want this group to try anything with you. We’re notifying all business that have been involved with us, as we have had other business attacked before.”
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll leave some of my dogs out at night.”
“I’d advise that. I have security and we don’t think we’ve been followed, but I don’t want to chance your family getting hurt because you’ve helped us.”
Rose nodded. “The dogs will alert and protect us Mr. Silverman.” She caught her daughter’s gaze and called to her. “Ruby, go get Sam.” Ruby left the pen where she’d been playing with the puppies and headed to the kennels. Rose looked back at me. “We will start with Sam’s transfer today. I have had Sam sleep with her shirt you gave me. I’ll bring him to your place every day for the next two weeks.”
“Sounds good. My head of security, Darren, will contact you and sort out the times and security details.”
“I’ve spoken with him already, but will double check with him on times.”
Ruby came down from the kennels with a large, short-haired German Shepard.
“Bear, I have someone else I want you to meet.” She barely tore her attention from the puppies to shoot a glance my way. “Alexa, I need you to leave your puppies for a little while and come meet him.”
The reluctance was clear on her face as she got up and stepped over the gate. Benza clearly didn’t want her to leave him and I laughed as the puppy jumped the fence. Alexa was smiling so hard, her eyes bright with so much love, that I couldn’t resist. I went to her and gathered her to me, capturing her lips with my own. She instantly wrapped her arms around my neck and sank against me.
In that moment I knew that I was one lucky man.
I WAS IN HEAVEN. I pinched myself as Mason embraced me and took my lips in a kiss that had the world around me disappearing and the love I already felt overflowing. If I hadn’t already been in love with Mason, I would have fallen head over heels in love with him then. He was letting me have not one, not two, but three adorable puppies and he’d just told me he had something else for me. My heart was bursting with my happiness.
A wet nose nudged us apart and I giggled as the bigger puppy, who’d jumped the pen, pushed his way between us. “I’m not leaving you for long, little buddy. You’re coming home with us.” I leaned down and hugged the puppy.
“His name is Benza.” Ruby told me. “I see now what you meant, mum.” She gave me a smile, but I could see it was kind of forced. “Mum didn’t think he was cut out for our military training.”
The dog in question rubbed his face against me and then licked me. I didn’t know much about dogs, but it was clear to see that Benza was the biggest softy ever.
“Alexa.” Mason got my attention back to him. He guided me over to Ruby and pointed to the huge adult German Shepard. “This is Sam. He will be your new constant companion.”
What on earth did he mean by constant companion? He was letting me have three puppies. Wouldn’t they be my companions too? I studied the dog and noticed he didn’t look like just any dog. His ears were up and his eyes looked like they were scanning his surroundings and he stood very still. He wore a black vest and as I took in everything I just knew this wasn’t a companion like the puppies would be. This was a bodyguard on four legs.
I knew because of what I’d seen and what had happened to Dustan, The Devil’s Queens were a huge threat and that I needed protection, but I wondered if having an advanced trained guar
d dog that followed me around was too much.
I WAS BORED OUT OF my brain. I had my lessons with Sam. I saw my therapist. I did my school studies and worked with my tutors. We only left the house to go to work at his gym. Even three adorable puppies couldn’t fully occupy my mind.
Mason stayed busy with work, catching up from the time he had off looking after me. Most nights he fell asleep as we watched something on TV.
Our make-out sessions were hot and heavy, and left me begging him for more, but Mason had a will of steal, or I was doing something wrong. No matter how hard I tried, he wouldn’t go further. I was horny and wished I was more knowledgeable in seduction.
The show droned on in the background, but I wasn’t watching it. I was staring at Mason. If I didn’t know him, I would think he was watching the show, but I could see the spaced out look in his eyes, the slacked mouth, forehead crinkled deep thought and his body tense.
“What’re you thinking so hard about?” I nudged him with my elbow.
Mason shook his head and his Adams apple bobbed as he sucked in his lips and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them he turned his attention on me. “Work and, um, can I ask you something?”
“Sure?” I shrugged. By now I was sure Mason knew he could just ask, and not have to get permission. Making sure I faced him, I raised my brow. “You can ask me anything you want anytime you want.”
He blinked several times in quick succession, like he couldn’t even remember why he’d asked or he couldn’t think of an answer. “Don’t know. Lost in my own thoughts I think.” I nodded for him to continue. “This is my aunt’s house. I, we, have taken over this place. Uncle Lucas and Aunt Evelin stay more in Brisbane than the coast, so it doesn’t matter, but you’re eighteen soon and I wondered if you’ll still want to live here? I mean, what are your work goals? Have you thought of what you want to do?”
“What do you mean by what I want to do?” Did he want me out of here? Maybe that was why he wouldn’t go further than kissing and some groping.
“School? This house? You want to be with me and I want you, God, do I want you . . . ” He groaned and I relaxed a little. The sound said just how he felt for me. “But what do you want? I know you want children and to be with me, but what about a career? Do you want to live in Queensland? We can move anywhere in the world.”
“What about your gym and your dream of being a boxer?”
He shrugged and I straddled his lap wanting to snuggle him. His arms came around my back and I beamed down at him as he caressed me. “I can live my dream anywhere, too. Money talks, bear, and I have a lot of it.”
“Don’t you want to be here when your grandparents move to Brisbane? They’ve lived in America all your life, haven’t they?” If I had family that I hadn’t seen in so long move close, I would jump at the chance to spend any time I could with them.
He shrugged his shoulder. “Meh, I talk to them on the phone and I’ve always had money to go visit them whenever I wanted to. I’m not that close to my grandparents anyway. My parents, Uncle Carl, Ryder’s parents, and even Stephan’s parents have been a bit out of sorts that they didn’t move here sooner and chose to stay with Uncle Lewis in America.”
“I thought you said Dustan lived with them?” I was sure he’d mentioned that.
“Yeah, he moved over as soon as he finished high school and studied and was trained to take over one of the big businesses that our family controls, along with some of our properties. Bennett, Uncle Lewis’s oldest, has taken Dustan’s place now that he’s moved back to Australia.”
My stomach felt like a lead weight the more we spoke of Dustan. Guilt assaulted me as it did anytime he was mentioned. He was in a coma and it was my fault. My therapist and Mason had told me over and over that it wasn’t and that the Silvermans had problems with The Devil’s Queens long before I came along, but the ransom was for me, so I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was to blame, no matter what they told me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry about the trouble I’ve caused with Dustan.”
“Bear, you have nothing to be sorry about. I’ve told you, over and over, that it isn’t your fault. I can see it in your eyes anytime I mention my cousin Dustan, the guilt you feel. I promise you have nothing to feel guilty about.” He tucked a thick strand of hair that had gotten free of my ponytail behind my ear. “Don’t you worry about The Devil’s Queens. I’ll keep you safe. You need to start to think of your future. What do you want to do once you’ve finished your schooling and are eighteen? I’m so proud of you. You’ve come so far with all your school work. Although from what your teachers and tutors have told me, you’re so smart that it hasn’t taken you much to catch up, even though you’ve been out of school for a couple of years.” He brought my hands to his lips and kissed them both. It was a sweet gesture and had my stomach fluttering. “I’ll tell you something I haven’t told anyone but my parents. I hated school and struggled with almost all subjects. If I was even an iota as smart as you, I would have gone to University or even TAFE.”
Before my family had died, I’d loved school and even though I’d always wanted to be a mum, I wanted to go to university too. But now, all I wanted was a family and to be surrounded by people I loved. Gazing into Mason’s big dark brown eyes I saw the love he had for me shine out of them. I could do both. If Mason ever touched me enough to start a family, that is. “I’ll apply to university, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want a family as soon as you’re willing to give me one. If you ever let us get far enough to make any babies.” I added the last bit in a soft mutter.
His chuckle was deep and sent a shiver of need through my body. No boy, or man, had ever given me the feeling that Mason gave me with just a look or even the sound of his voice. I’d been just a teenager when my family died and hadn’t been into boys yet. As I got older, with my background, I never seemed to get interested in the opposite sex. I wasn’t even attracted sexually to females, either. When I started to get feelings for Mason it was a relief. Now, I was just a horny mess around him.
His chuckle turned into a belly laugh. “You don’t have to worry about that. I want you so damn much, but I want you to be ready.” He touched my head. “Mentally. Not just our body chemistry taking over. I want all of you Alexa. Don’t ever doubt I want you. I’m barely holding it together enough to not ravish you.”
My heart beat so fast my chest hurt and my stomach flip-flopped. I was one lucky girl. My man was amazing. As much as I wanted Mason, I knew he was holding out a little longer until I was legal age and had a few more therapy sessions under my belt. Resting my head on his chest I snuggled into him, content and safe.
SAM HADN’T LEFT MY SIDE in the last couple of days. Even when I went to the toilet he tried to get in, but I managed instead to keep him waiting by the door. When he had his vest on he was in work mode, always alert and wouldn’t play, even when the puppies were annoying him. When the vest was off, Sam still wasn’t a playful dog. He seemed to always be aware and ready to defend me.
Mason didn’t seem bothered by Sam following us everywhere. I thought he would at least say something about having Sam in our room when we slept. When Mason’s fingers started to roam, I’d been putting a stop to it as I wasn’t a fan of having Sam watch us. And did he watch. My nightmares were back, all because of Sam’s eyes watching me.
“I thought being at work would cheer you up.” Mason kissed my forehead before we entered the gym.
“It does. I love being with the children, but I’m tired.” He guided me to his office. “I’m not used to all the security and being watched even when I sleep. It’s creepy.”
He sat in his chair, gathered me to him and stroked my hair. It was a calming notion, but with the little sleep I’d had, it was kind of irritating. I batted at his hand and wiggled off him.
“Bear, I know you’re not sleeping.” He tried to pull me back to him, but I avoided his advances. “I awake to your screaming. I rub your back and talk nonsense to sooth you. Alexa . . . ” He groaned an
d I let him draw me back to him onto his lap. His lips brushed my cheek and his index finger turned my head and he kissed me.
I let myself go, the kiss consuming me. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I ran my fingers up his neck and through his hair. I loved his hair. It was just the right length and so soft. I felt his body flex and harden against me. In his gym shorts it was hard to miss the large erection. Trailing my hand down I rubbed his member.
When he moaned and slowly eased away from my lips, I knew we wouldn’t go any further. “Why do we have to stop?”
“You know why.’
“No. I don’t.” I did, but I wanted him to tell me. He was holding back and his only argument was that I wasn’t ready.
“You’re not ready for the next move. Your nightmares prove this.”
Pushing at his chest I growled in frustration. “I only started getting the nightmares again when I learned of Dustan being taken. They got worse when we got Sam. I love that dog, but it’s bloody creepy having him watch me twenty-four-seven.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “I don’t like being watched like that. I don’t feel free. I’m trapped. I think that’s why the nightmares are worse.”
His sigh was long and loud. “I know, and I wish we could put our guard down, but . . . ” He rolled his eyes up and leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been putting off telling you, especially with your nightmares getting worse, but I think I can’t hold off any longer. I was hoping to get some more therapy sessions in and wait until you’re more comfortable with Sam, but time is running out.” He sat forward and stared at me. “Some of The Devil’s Queens have been arrested and the information you have will help to prosecute them. In a little less than three months you’ll be required at court to testify.”