Growl picked up the phone and ordered the pizza for six. That left more than one hour.
He must have seen the dismay in my expression because he said, “Coco and Bandit need walking. If you come along, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
I nodded eagerly and since the only pair of shoes Growl had brought in my backpack were my running shoes, I was equipped perfectly. The moment we stepped out, I realized how trapped I’d felt inside that house. Growl didn’t bother putting his dogs on a leash. They began sniffing the local shrubs as Growl and I walked side by side. It felt strange. I’d been with him for almost twenty-four hours and so far he’d been far more decent to me than I’d have expected. But I had a feeling that had more to do with the fact that I confused him than with mercy or pity. “So?” I began, when it became obvious that Growl enjoyed the quiet of the walk.
“Falcone seems to be content with the punishment he’s inflicted on your family so far. With your father dead, and you with me, he sees no necessity to punish your mother and sister at the moment.”
“So my mother and sister are alright?” I asked in relief.
“For now,” Growl said matter-of-factly.
“Where are they?”
“Your mother is in your old house. I’m not sure where your sister is yet.”
“What do you mean, you’re not sure? What happened to her? How can you be sure Falcone didn’t hurt her if you don’t know any details? What if he gave her to someone as a gift?”
Like he did with me, I added in my mind. I wanted to be there to protect her. It was my job to do so.
“Falcone hasn’t been very forthcoming with information today. After your father’s betrayal he’s even more cautious. But he has some kind of plan and it seems to require that your sister and mother are well.”
“But—”
“No,” Growl said firmly. “That’s enough. I told you what I know.” His brows drew together and he shook his head, more to himself than directed at me. I still marveled at how tall he was, towering a head over me. My eyes traced his muscled arms, inked from wrist until as far as I could see. Especially the skull and the snake barring its teeth gave me the creeps. I wondered how much more of his body was covered like that.
“We should keep going or we’ll miss the pizza,” Growl said.
My eyes shot up to his face. How long had I been staring at him again? His jaw was tight, his eyes filled with a fire that made me nervous.
I quickly walked ahead and he fell into step beside me shortly after. We didn’t talk again.
Growl
Growl staggered into the yard toward his fitness area. He needed to let off some steam and his workout was due anyway.
Something was fucking wrong with him. He had Cara in his house. He was allowed to do with her whatever he wanted, and what had he done so far? Nothing. Something about her made him incapable of just grabbing her and having his fucking way with her.
He’d never forced a woman to sleep with him. Perhaps that was it. He liked it when they fought him, when they bit and scratched and sometimes even screamed, but not because they didn’t want it but because they did. He had no trouble hurting people, hurting women, but this was different. That was his job. And he enjoyed it. There was no denying it. But sex was something else. He didn’t want to force a woman. He wanted the woman to want him.
Of course, many of the whores he’d had in the past probably hadn’t really wanted him either, but they’d done it by choice because they wanted the money. He could live with that. And Lola, she definitely liked him more than her other johns.
He sighed, and put more weight on the barbell. With a grunt, he pressed it up.
The worst was the way he’d caught Cara looking at him today. She liked the sight of his muscles. He was fairly sure she was attracted to him on some base level. She hated him, too, and that was stronger than any desire she might or might not feel for him.
Fuck, he wanted her. The door creaked and Cara stepped out onto the porch. When she noticed him doing his workout, her eyes widened a tad, then they traveled the length of him before she caught herself and looked somewhere else.
Growl groaned inwardly.
He wasn’t one for games. Or for analyzing the subtleties of a woman’s behavior. This was giving him a fucking headache.
Her gaze settled on the porch table. “Did you bolt it to the ground so I couldn’t use it to get over the fence?”
How did she come up with that kind of logic? “No,” he said, putting the barbell into the holder. “I didn’t know you’d live with me. Did you want to use it to get over the fence?” He’d suspected she might try to escape. He’d also known that she wouldn’t succeed.
“Why are there no tables or chairs in your kitchen?” she asked. “And why are there no books?”
Why, why, why. Why did she always have to ask questions?
Growl got up from the bench and stretched his arms. Again. That look. Fuck it. He crossed the distance between them and pressed her against the wall. Her squeak of surprise was silenced by his mouth. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, relishing in the fucking sweet taste of her. And she pressed herself against him. Fuck. She was attracted to him. He knew it. He kissed her harder and put his hand below her skirt, pressing his palm against her crotch. Even through her panties and her tights he could feel the heat radiating off her pussy. He pressed a finger between her folds, rubbing her through the fabric. And she moaned into his mouth. Her wetness was starting to soak her tights, and Growl’s cock sprang to life. Fuck. He wanted to take her right here on the porch until she screamed his name.