Had To Make You Mine

by Kat Long

  “Thank goodness he was with you. I can’t imagine what would have happened if someone else was walking him,” I said, squeezing her tight with gratitude. In the back of my mind, something tried to break through, nagging at my subconscious.

  “I’m going to go see if his X-ray is ready,” Jenna said with one last squeeze. I nodded and held on to Max’s hand for dear life. Why would someone be so careless—leaving garbage on the sidewalk that could purposely hurt animals?

  Wait. Was this on purpose?

  Barking mad.

  The email. Benjamin.

  I froze. There was no way he could do something like this, could he? Hurting an innocent animal? It was cruel. It was sick. It was me jumping to conclusions, thinking the worst.

  “What?” Max said, gripping me a little harder. “You just got tense. What’s the matter?”

  “I don’t think this was an accident, Max.”

  “Not an accident? What do you mean? He ate something he shouldn’t have. It unfortunately happens, right?”

  “I think someone did this on purpose—to hurt Baxter, to hurt me.”

  “Baby, who would want to hurt you?”

  “I think Benjamin did this.”

  “What?” Max released my hand to throw his in the air. “How is that possible? It’s time you tell me more. Consequences be damned, Annaleigh!”

  I took a deep breath and met his eyes. They were blazing, his understanding and compassion gone.

  “He sent me an email earlier saying I’d be barking mad to keep seeing you, then Jenna finds a doggie-doom cocktail outside my house? It’s too much of a coincidence. I need to make a call.”

  “Benjamin? Is that asshole still bothering you?” Jenna said, walking back in and over to Baxter.

  “So, everyone knows more about your history with him than me, right? That’s great.”

  Max paced back and forth in the small space, and Baxter raised his head to follow him. Jenna laid a soothing hand on his back, and he settled down, breathing deeper and letting Jenna listen to his heart again.

  “Don’t get defensive with her, Broody!” Jenna said, crossing her arms. “Wasn’t this supposed to be your first date or whatever? Unless you count almost fucking against a brick wall date number one!” She slammed her stethoscope on the table, making us all jump, and put her hands on her hips. Max shook his head and looked down, clenching his fists.

  “It’s fine, Jenna. I think Benjamin might have had something to do with this.”

  “That little chicken-shit! I’ll poison him!”

  She looked between Max and me, and he was grinding his jaw and squinting. His face was getting redder by the second. When I stepped closer, he stepped back.

  “I have to make a quick call.” The hallway was cold and sterile, and I took out my phone, seeing a missed call and voicemail from Officer Hanson. I paced and listened. The restraining order came through. Finally, good news. With the police report and documentation from the bank, they served Benjamin this evening. I fired off a quick text to Jake and called the officer with my suspensions about what had happened to Baxter. Shaking out my shoulders, I took a couple of deep breaths before walking back in.

  Three sets of eyes met mine as Baxter lifted his head all the way.

  “See Annaleigh? He’s already getting better. Why don’t you head home? I’ll call if anything changes.”

  “I can stay, Jenna. I don’t mind.”

  “I know you don’t, but staying won’t do anything except give you an awful night of sleep. I promise I’ll call if anything changes.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure.”

  “Of course, I am. Now say bye and go home,” Jenna said.

  Max hadn’t moved from the corner, but when I said goodnight, he stepped forward and took my hand, using his other to scratch behind Baxter’s ears. That earned us both a stronger tail wag. Thank goodness. Jenna was a literal lifesaver.

  After spending a few more minutes with Baxter and Jenna, we went back to the truck. I was chewing my lower lip and thinking about what to do next. I was planning on staying with Max, but I doubt I’d be good company. I’d call Addison and see if she wanted to come over or head to my parents’ house. My parents might be the best option. Mom would definitely have homemade scones and good vodka.

  Max was quiet on the way back to his house but kept a firm hold of my hand. When we got there, he brought my hand to his lips before letting it go. I unbuckled to get out, but he stopped me.

  “Stay put. I’ll be right back, Blue.”

  I nodded as he opened the door. Good. He understood and was going to take me home. Jake had texted back and said he had another meeting with Human Resources tomorrow, and I replied, saying thanks before laying my head back and closing my eyes.

  Max came down a few minutes later and put a large black bag in the back seat before climbing in and taking my hand.

  “I’m moving in,” he said, meeting my eyes for a second before returning them to the road.

  “You’re what?”

  “I’m going to stay with you for a few days. Just to make sure nothing happens. I’d prefer it if you stayed with me, but when Baxter comes home, I know he’d be more comfortable at his house. My brother’s coming down next weekend, but at least this way you won’t be alone. How long has this been going on? With the dick-weasel?”

  “Um, it started with him asking me out and not taking no for an answer. Then Raymond got involved, and lately, they’ve both gotten aggressive, and I had to involve HR.”

  “And Jake knows?”

  “Yeah. I told him, and we started documenting each incident.”

  “Thank you for telling me,” he said, letting go of my hand and making a turn.

  “Thanks, um, for not getting upset?”

  “Oh, I’m fucking furious. But not at you. At them, and at the bank for not doing something sooner.”

  I could see the anger rolling off him in waves, but at every opportunity, he reached out and reassured me with a touch. My house was unremarkably waiting for us, and the doggie-doom concoction was still on the sidewalk. We walked in, and I tossed my purse on the kitchen island before slumping on the couch with my head in my hands. I was not some weak damsel-in-distress. I take charge and kick ass. But through this ordeal, all I’d done was wait. Wait for Human Resources. Wait for the restraining order. But it was time to stop waiting. I was not a pushover.

  Max dropped his bag by the door and looked around before walking to the kitchen. I heard him opening and closing cabinets and water running.

  Oh, Max. He was making me tea. I stood and walked to the kitchen, pressing my front to his back and wrapping my arms around him. Tensing for a moment, he breathed deep and ran his hands up my arms before turning to face me and pressing his lips to mine.

  His kiss was reassuring, and he moved his lips against mine in practiced perfection. This wasn’t a precursor to sex. It was loving and intimate. When we broke, I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head on his chest. We swayed slowly back and forth, like when we danced in Tennessee until the kettle whistled. I took down lavender tea with orange honey while Max found the broom and dustpan. He walked outside to clean up the sidewalk mess, and when he came back in, he grabbed the bag and walked upstairs.

  I found him in my bedroom. He was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head down and his elbows on his knees. I took a sip of tea and put the mug on the dresser before kneeling in between his legs. Rubbing my hands along his thighs, he looked at me. I could see the worry lines around his eyes. His cheeks were splotchy, and his hands were sweaty.

  Running my hands down his stomach, I pulled off his shirt. He didn’t stop me as I pulled him up and unbuttoned his pants, stripping him down to his briefs. I did the same and pulled him into the bed.

  “I don’t like this. What if he tries to hurt you next, Blue,” he said
, squeezing me tighter against him.

  “He won’t. We won’t let him, Max.”

  I traced the light dusting of hair on his stomach and felt my eyes get heavy as sleep pulled at me. It could have been my imagination, but I thought I heard Max whisper, “I’ve fallen for you, Blue,” but sleep pulled me under, my tea forgotten on the dresser.

  - 22 -

  COME BACK AND STAY

  Max

  It was amazing how fast something new turned into something I didn’t want to be without. I was usually awake before our alarm went off, listening to Annaleigh’s cute whistle-snore. She was like a sexy little lumberjack in training, and I’d spend a few minutes holding her before getting up. The irony wasn’t lost on me that a man who hated to snuggle, now preferred to wake up next to someone, and used words like ours to describe an alarm clock.

  Sometimes Annaleigh joined me on my morning run, but mostly, it was Baxter and me. The lick-monster came back two days later, healthier than ever. Jenna worked her magic and earned herself a well-deserved bottle of wine and spa day. She assured us there was no permanent damage, and Blue said he was back to normal when I accidentally left a hot dog on the kitchen table, and it mysteriously disappeared two-point-five seconds later.

  After our run, there was coffee, kisses, and kibble. But my favorite part of our new morning routine was that most days, I had a very wet and very limber shower partner. God, I remember yesterday, the way she licked her lips and sunk to her knees, taking my cock in her sweet mouth. I buried my hands in her wet hair and growled when my cock hit the back of her throat. She responded by digging her fingernails into my ass and swallowing. One of her hands trailed down my thigh to her clit, and she bobbed up and down on my cock, rubbing her pussy. I came so hard my knees shook, and she screamed my name as she came with my cock in her mouth.

  Oh shit!

  And now I was hard again. I was always hard around her. I palmed myself and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist. I breathed in the citrus smell and looked down at Baxter, who was lying on the bathmat. He looked up, tilting his head.

  “Cut me some slack, bud. I can’t smell oranges without my dick getting hard.”

  He wasn’t amused and hustled out of the bathroom to judge me from the bed. Laughing to myself, I dried off and wiped off the mirror to shave.

  We still drove separately to JMS. We were going to hold off on telling Jake until the shit with Benjamin was over. But we still had a secret sign, like the Bat-Signal. We used it when we wanted to kiss. It was cheesy as fuck, so damn cute, and totally my idea. I did it at least a dozen times a day.

  I hated going home tonight, but Warren was coming to town tomorrow and staying with me for the week, and nothing had happened on the Benjamin front. There wasn’t a reason for me to stay except the constant desire to always be around her. But I had to sand and stain the bench I was working on and at least move the dirty laundry to the closet. I couldn’t fucking believe I’d almost missed being a part of her life because I was a stubborn idiot.

  We were going to B’s after work for burgers and to listen to her cousin Alex play with her band, Lace and Whiskey. When I asked if she was going to sing, she smiled and said not tonight, but probably over the weekend. I was glad she had plans since I should focus on reconnecting with Warren. It wasn’t the right time to introduce him to my girl, no matter how much I wanted them to meet.

  My Girl.

  It was the phrase I repeated more and more. After spending time in Tennessee, I’d listened to Country Music, and My Girl by Dylan Scott described my feelings to a tee.

  My girl was in a band. My girl lit up a room when she walked in. My girl wrote an album that went double-platinum. My girl was a partner in a bar. She shrugged it off as if every person got album royalties and invested in local music. She’d had these big, beautiful things happen in her life and one night took it away. I wanted to shake the hell out of whoever Bird was for ruining her passion.

  But it was coming back. I could see it in her eyes when she sang along with the radio or when she talked about her old band. There was a light in her eyes that wasn’t there before, because she was embracing her passion.

  Closing my car door, I grabbed an orange and took the back entrance stairs two at a time. The boardroom door was closed, and Annaleigh was sitting at her desk chewing on her thumbnail and tapping one red heel on the carpet.

  I could feel a crackle of tension in the air. Something was different. Something was off in a bad way. She was fidgety and nervous. Her features barely changed as she met my eyes. I touched my pointer finger to my lip in our little secret code for a kiss and furrowed my brows when she didn’t mimic me.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, moving closer to her and running my fingers along her jaw. She leaned into my touch, like she always did, but didn’t smile.

  “I don’t know. Jake stormed in here earlier, canceled our meeting, and locked himself in the boardroom. I’ve heard him raise his voice, but he’s alone in there.”

  “I’ll go see what’s going on.”

  “No, Max. Don’t do that.”

  “Why? I mean… are you sure?”

  “I am,” she took her thumb out of her mouth. Her poor nail was chewed down to the quick and touched her lip.

  Giving her a wink, I touched mine back and handed her the orange before walking into my office. I turned on my computer and checked my emails. The first one was from an unknown sender, sent at four am this morning. As I scanned the words, color slowly crept up my neck, and I tugged at my tie that was suddenly too tight.

  To: Maxwell.Jackson@JMSbank.com

  From: unknown sender

  RE: Out of Time

  Mr. Smerdon,

  Consider this payback for daring to touch what is mine. I would advise walking away, or next time you’ll be sorry. Remember, she was mine first.

  Yours,

  ~B

  Mr. Smerdon?

  Shit!

  Benjamin did a piss-poor job of trying to hide his identity, sending this to me over the bank’s server. I wanted to handle that little chicken-shit myself, but since he knew about our relationship, I needed to loop in Jake. And I needed to tell Blue my last name. I should have done that weeks ago. I wasn’t hiding. I only wanted to distance myself from their influence.

  Undoing the top button of my shirt and loosening my tie, my mouse hovered over the forward button, almost missing the attachment. Knowing my luck, it would be a freaking computer virus, but I couldn’t help myself. I opened it.

  What the hell?

  Benjamin and Annaleigh were sitting at what looked like a bar, awfully close. Intimately close. His arm was around her, and she was staring at her drink, smiling. It looked like they were on a date. I didn’t know what was worse, seeing proof she might have lied about their relationship or knowing someone was spying on them. Closing out the picture, I stood and motioned for Annaleigh to follow me back into my office. She stood and gave me a tight nod.

  “Leave the door open,” I said, as she sat down and put one hand on her stomach.

  “Benjamin knows about us,” I said, turning my computer around to show her the email without the attachment open.

  “We need to tell Jake,” she answered, not missing a beat. “And then go to HR and disclose us and report this.”

  “I agree. We should have done this last week.”

  “As soon as Jake is finished, we will,” she said, standing up and looking determined and sexy as hell.

  But I had to ask one more time; I had to make sure she was telling me the truth about Benjamin. I took off my glasses and blew out a breath, lowering my voice. She had to lean in to hear.

  “Annaleigh, baby, just tell me one more time you’ve never been involved with Benjamin.”

  She tilted her head, and I reached out to twirl a strand of her hair. As she opened
her mouth to reply, the connecting office door was thrown open, and Jake came barreling in, his face a mask of fury. Annaleigh jumped and froze, eyes wide with worry, when she saw his face.

  “Both of you! In the boardroom! Now!” he said before slamming the door closed. Our eyes met, and Annaleigh shrugged her shoulders before walking out of my office.

  We walked inside and sat, looking at Jake who was standing at the front, holding a manilla file folder. His posture was aggressive, and he paced back and forth, almost daring us to speak. I looked to Annaleigh and back to Jake before taking a breath to talk. Before I could, I felt a featherlight touch on my thigh.

  “Let me guess,” Jake started before either of us could begin the conversation. “You want to disclose a relationship.”

  “Um. Yes. We would. And there’s something else,” I replied, looking at Annaleigh. She kept her eyes on him as he paced the boardroom.

  “Jake, we started officially dating last…” she said.

  “Sunday. You started dating last Sunday.”

  Jake finished her sentence and took two pieces of paper out of the folder, passing them to us.

  “Didn’t you?” He leveled us both with a glare, and Annaleigh nodded. I followed suit and dipped my head in acknowledgment. We didn’t officially start dating until the night Baxter got sick. But we had been involved long before that.

  “Sign this. It’s a relationship disclosure for HR.”

  We both took the paper and looked it over. It was a standard document to protect the bank and us if things took a bad turn. Looking at Annaleigh and nodding, we both picked up pens and signed the bottom, sliding them back to Jake. He put them back in the folder and took out several more pages. He sat down beside me with a sigh, looking between us before running one hand through his hair.

  “They fired Benjamin earlier, and Raymond resigned. Another employee came forward with harassment charges, and the board had an emergency vote this morning. With that being said, Annaleigh, they’re questioning your allegations.”