Page 177

My eyes widen, and I look at Corm, who looks like he’s regretting this visit already. “I guess so,” he grumbles.

I squeal, and Coco bares her claws in protest. “Hey, little one, you’re coming home with us.” I rub her head and she settles again. “We don’t have anything at home. What do we even need?”

“I have some supplies you can take, and I’ll email you some links to give you the list of essentials,” Ethel says. “Or you can study up a bit, get things for her, and come back in a few days.”

I bite my lip, the sense of responsibility fighting with the affection I already have for this kitten.

“We’ll take her now.” Corm sighs, not even trying to hide his annoyance.

“He’ll fall in love in no time,” Ethel whispers to me.

“And you mentioned Rolfie?”

“We’re not getting a dog,” Corm says, in that tone of his that doesn’t leave room for negotiation.

I roll my eyes. “Yet,” I murmur.

“Saar,” he warns. I guess he heard me.

Ethel takes me to Rolfie’s kennel. The small, white mutt is curled in the farthest corner, but when we approach, his tail wags and he lifts his ears.

“Wow, there is something between the two of you. He’s been so apathetic, and now look at him.”

Coco fidgets in my hands. “I’ll come back tomorrow to spend time with him if that’s okay, Ethel.”

“That would be wonderful. Before your injury, it looked like he might allow you to take him for a walk.”

“Let’s try to build his trust again.”

We join Corm, who is on his phone in the front office.

Ethel puts Coco in a carrier. “Let me prepare some food and litter for you.”

“No need. I got everything organized while I was waiting. Everything should arrive in two hours.” Corm puts his phone into his pocket.

“Oh my.” Ethel gasps, probably shocked at what money can do.

We get into Corm’s car, and I snuggle against him. “Thank you.”

It was quite obvious he didn’t care much about the visit or Coco, but he did this for me.

“You can thank me on your knees later.”

I lick my lips, desire immediately swarming inside me. “I was planning to cook for you, and the cat will need supervision to adapt to new surroundings, so I’m not sure if—”

He grips the back of my neck and turns me to face him. “It’s my cock that you will have down your throat tonight, even if I have to hire a fucking cat sitter.”

It’s the most delicious threat I’ve ever heard. “I don’t know,” I tease.

“Are you telling me your pussy isn’t weeping right now, begging to be mine?” he whispers into my ear, and said pussy clenches. Drenched, no less.

Based on the tent in Corm’s pants, we’re both affected, and I hope Livia is still home to take care of Coco.

The car stops in front of the house. Corm helps me out, and I lean in to pull out the carrier with sleeping Coco.

He moves to cover me like a bodyguard. He’s been doing that every time we get out of the car together.

With the reinforced security, there is no chance someone would sneak in and shoot at us again, but I guess we both have post-traumatic responses that help us cope.