Page 34 of A Furever Home (Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue #8)
What will you do if it’s rejected? I didn’t ask, because I was afraid her answer would be to run, and I didn’t want to put that thought into her head. I’d brainstorm with Brooklyn later.
“I hate this.” Cheyenne leaped to her feet and paced back and forth.
“Why can’t our family be normal? Why did they have to be freaks?
If my friend Emma hadn’t let me use her smart phone all through school, I’d probably think that’s just the way life is.
I’d be like Nevada, marrying some bastard like Harvey and having his babies and cooking and mending and canning, and waiting for the UN to invade America. ”
“I know.” Brooklyn went to stand near her as she paused, her head tipped back, her hands clenched in her long, straight hair.
“Hey, I do know. When I got kicked out, I was so damned lost. I’d never even been to the city, and there I was, like a total hick, wondering how I’d survive.
I got luckier than I deserved, meeting another gay man at the bus station and going home with him. ”
“You went home with a stranger?” Cheyenne stared at him. “You could’ve been, like, murdered.”
“I got lucky, like I said.” Brooklyn flashed me a look that suggested not everything had been rosy, but I figured we’d have lots of time to get to know each other’s sore spots without a vulnerable teen listening. “And now you have me.”
“And me,” I added, because yeah, I hadn’t known Cheyenne long, but anyone Brooklyn cared about was under my protection too. “We’ll get you through this crisis and you’ll be complaining about homework and zits again soon.”
“Instead of marrying Harvey. Shit, I’m looking forward to that.
” She hiccupped a laugh, then sobbed. When Brooklyn reached out toward her, she fell into his hug.
He looked at me over her shaking shoulders and I gave him a thumbs-up.
There were times in my teens I’d have killed for a hug. Brooklyn was a great brother.
“Maybe you guys could take Eb and Twain for a walk,” I suggested. “It’d probably be good for Cheyenne to get out of the house while we know the coast is clear.”
“Can we?” Cheyenne straightened and wiped her eyes with the heels of her hands.
“Sure.” Brooklyn rubbed her back and stepped away. “Some exercise would do me good, too.”
“Can we take Sadie?”
“She didn’t seem to like the leash last night,” Brooklyn said. “Let’s give her some time to settle in.”
“Okay. But I get to walk Ebony.”
Damn, I did like that girl’s sass. Luckily, I had Eb trained to wear a head collar that would give her some leverage if the big Lab saw a squirrel. “Sure. You wash up. I’ll get their leashes on them.”
When she’d vanished down the hall, Brooklyn came over and sat on the arm of the couch by me. “Do you want to come along?”
“I want to cuddle up to my nice ice pack.”
“I’m replaced already.”
I tugged him down for a kiss. “They recommend hot packing after cold packing. You could regain most-favored status.”
He met my lips eagerly, sliding his fingers into my hair, but we heard Cheyenne’s door open. “Hold that thought.” Brooklyn got to his feet and pointed at me. “You stay put and rest. We’ll get the dogs out. Do you think Chili wants to go?”
I looked over to where she lay, one eye open, belly-up in one of the biggest beds. “Nope. She’s all about self-care. Have fun.”
When I had Eb fitted into his head collar, Brooklyn and Cheyenne leashed him and Twain. As they headed out of the room, Sadie retreated to a mat in the corner. I eyed her, hearing the front door open, then close. “Relax, honey. I’m not moving from this couch. You’re safe.”
And so was I. Even with a nasty argument with Cheyenne’s brother coming up, I felt at ease in a way I hadn’t for a long time.
I wasn’t alone. The supportive shoulder Brooklyn had given Cheyenne would be offered to me the moment that sweet man thought I needed it.
The comforting awareness settled deep in my belly.
I closed my eyes and let the ice pack numb my thigh.
Later that evening, after the chores were done and Cheyenne had gone to her room with Eb and Twain in attendance, I was lying in my bed chasing sleep when the door clicked open, then shut. Brooklyn tiptoed in and came over. “This okay?” he whispered.
I tented up the covers. “Get in. I thought we were being discreet for your sister.”
“We’re being quiet ,” he said, slipping in beside me, still in his sleep pants. “Last thing I want is for her to hear us having sex. But she knows we’re together, and I need you tonight.”
I put an arm around him and hugged him close. “Been a heck of a few days, huh?”
“You could say that.” He laughed, a sound that came across more rough than amused. “I hate Harvey. He made my teen years less than fun. He’s not touching Cheyenne.”
I stayed silent, leaving room for him to tell me more, but he shook himself, like setting the topic aside. “You know what would be more fun? Keeping each other quiet while we come.”
“Uh. Yeah. Can do that. Kissing or blow jobs?” My dick, which had been soft, got optimistic at the thought.
“I like a man with plans. Start with one, move on to the other?”
I cupped the back of his head and kissed him.
He slid his hand down past my waistband and, heck, yeah, this was a great way to end my day.
I had to press my palm over my mouth to stay silent by the time his talented lips and tongue got to work on my cock.
Then I returned the favor, and his groan as he knelt over me, spilling into my mouth, was loud enough that Sadie barked from the family room.
“Oops.” Brooklyn stared down at me, his chest flushed and heaving, his eyes bright.
I swallowed and licked my lips as he slid free. “With luck, Cheyenne will never know what woke the dog. Could’ve been a rabbit. Or an anaconda.”
Brooklyn snorted. “You did not just go there.”
“No, you just came here.”
We got the giggles, which I totally blame on stress relief. By the time he was done falling over and smothering his laughter against my neck, and we’d each had a sip of water from my bedside tumbler, sleep came easy. I dropped off between one breath and the next, with Brooklyn safe in my arms.