Chapter 17 Seth
Chapter seventeen
Seth
I’m practically beaming when I clock into work and Oliver notices immediately, one eyebrow quirking up in amusement.
“Should I even ask?”
I give him a shit-eating grin as I busy myself with stocking the newest goth-inspired blouses. “So, remember my stalker?”
Oliver snorts. “I remember him,” he replies from his position by the jewelry counter as he gently cleans the glass top.
My sudden excitement dwindles a bit, and doubts begin to creep in. Maybe Oliver was right and this was a bad idea. Maybe I really was an idiot to think anything serious would come from starting a relationship with Frankie.
“Did he hurt you?”I jerk at Oliver’s demanding tone. Thank God there aren’t any customers in the store right now, because he wasn’t exactly quiet when he asked that.
“No! He didn’t hurt me. He’s…” I take a deep breath. I honestly don’t know how Frankie will react if Oliver knows what he does, but I can’t not give Oliver an answer. He deserves part of the truth, at least.
“His name is Frankie. He’s a wolf shifter and I’m his mate, I guess,” I end lamely. Oliver just stares at me for a moment, and I duck my head as I continue putting up the blouses.
“Is that why he was stalking you?”
“Part of the reason,” I squeak out. “But he’s been really sweet to me and he’s the one who saved me in the alley” I drop the blouse I’m holding, and slap my hands over my mouth as that revelation bursts out of me.
Oh, shit. I did not mean to say that.
Oliver drops the rag and comes around the counter, arms crossed over his chest as he gives me a pointed look. “You said you didn’t know who saved you.”
My heartbeat thunders in my ears, somewhere between embarrassment at having been caught in a lie and actual fear that this all would end disastrously and I’d lose my closest friend.
“Um…I lied. I was confused at the time, and I didn’t want the cops to go after him or anything, and…
” My eyes sting with the first pinpricks of tears, and I look away from Oliver as I hastily wipe them away.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just worried,” Oliver says gently, running a hand through his hair. “You really that serious about him?”
I nod, sniffing pathetically. “He’s my mate.” He gives me a confused look, and I let out a little laugh. “It’s a shifter thing, apparently. But he’s it, Oliver. He’s the only one I want.”
“Oh, wow, okay. That… I was not expecting that. Um…mazel tov?” Oliver shakes his head and goes back to cleaning the jewelry counter, a smirk on his lips.
The day goes by pretty quickly after that, with customers trickling in until an hour before the end of my shift.
I can’t keep the smile off my face and I know Oliver isn’t the only one to notice.
Martha gives me a knowing look on more than one occasion, amusement twinkling in her dark eyes.
But she doesn’t ask any questions, which I’m thankful for.
I don’t know what I would say that wouldn’t be some white lie or super vague.
Finally, I’m clocking out. The urge to literally run out of the store almost overtakes me, but I tamp it down.
I’m almost disappointed that I don’t see Frankie outside watching me, but it’s ridiculous to think he spends all his time keeping tabs on me.
He has a job, after all. Though I’m not quite brave enough to ask exactly what he does.
I mean, I know the guy – Zeke, I think, is his name – said Frankie is an enforcer, but I don’t really know what that means in terms of day-to-day tasks.
Does he guard people? Beat them up? Collect protection money? Hell, does the mob still do that? Maybe he does all that, along with like loan sharking, or something.
I snort at the direction my thoughts are heading.
It will be easier to just ask him the next time I see him.
I’m walking down the block, taking my time getting back home.
It’s a beautiful day, and while the late afternoon sun is warm enough to make me sweat, it’s not miserably hot like it will be once summer gets here.
I’m almost home when the yipping sounds of puppies reach my ears, and I stop in my tracks, my head swiveling in the direction of the tiny mom and pop pet shop. The thought that pops in my brain is ridiculous, and I don’t know how Frankie will react, but I really, really want to do it.
With a grin and just a bit of trepidation, I enter the pet shop and browse the dog section. Finding what I want, I make the purchase, nodding politely to the older man at the counter, before racing back home.
I can’t help the giggle that escapes me as I toss my purchase on the coffee table. I can’t wait to see how Frankie reacts, and I’m damn near vibrating with excitement. It could end disastrously, because the reality is that I know next to nothing about Frankie. He might not like surprises or pranks.
But right now, I need to shower and maybe do a little sprucing up. I’m not a slob, but a little dusting and tidying up in here wouldn’t be a bad thing. I turn on the shower, stripping quickly as the water heats. Tossing my clothes into the hamper, I hop in, groaning as the hot water hits me.
As much as I want to stand there until the water turns cold and I’m all pruney, I wash and prep myself quickly before hopping out.
I’m drying myself when the unbidden thought pops into my head that I really need to explain to Frankie what my shitty ex did.
I know Frankie didn’t ask why I’d want Jake dead, but I’m sure he’s wondering.
I let out a shuddering sigh as I hang my towel on the little hook in the bathroom.
Maybe I just want to bare my soul to Frankie, or at least let him know the darkest part of my life.
It might make me feel better, help me stop acting like it’s something I should be embarrassed about. Lord knows I didn’t ask to be abused.
At any rate, I need to stop thinking about it now. All it will do is upset me, and I don’t want to be upset when Frankie gets here.
Throwing on a pair of jeans, I head to the kitchen to make myself a turkey and pickle sandwich, eating it as I tidy up the place. There’s not much to do, and within an hour, it looks like it could grace the cover of some interior design magazine, but only if the theme is poverty chic.
I’m putting the last of my dishes onto the drying rack when I hear the lock on my door click. I tense, my heart pounding against my rib cage before I can talk the panic down. Jake doesn’t have a key, which means the only one who could be coming into my apartment right now is Frankie.
I turn from my spot in front of the sink in time to see Frankie step through my door. I give him a smile as he locks it behind him. I stay where I am, even though I want to throw my arms around his neck and pull him down into a toe-curling kiss.
I’m starting to realize there’s so much left to learn about his man. I don’t know how he feels about public affection – or any affection. I don’t know if he’s simply that perceptive or if I have some sort of look on my face, because he strides up to me and crashes his mouth against mine.
I groan, my lips parting, and he doesn’t hesitate to slide his tongue against mine.
He pulls me against his body, his hands on my ass, and I can feel just how happy he is to see me.
Hell, I’m pretty happy to see him, too. My pants are getting way too tight to be comfortable, and I rut against him, trying to get some sort of friction to help relieve the ache.
“Did you miss me?” Frankie growls against my mouth before he pulls away
I whine, going upon my toes to chase his lips.
“Yes, I fucking missed you. Now get back here, damn it.” I grab the back of his head, my fingers carding through his short hair as I jerk him back down to me.
He laughs, a deep chuckle that has my dick jerking in my pants, before I’m able to mold my mouth against his.
I lick against his lips until he parts them and then plunge my tongue into the damp heat of his mouth.
He tastes like whiskey and tomato sauce, an interesting mix that seems to fit him perfectly, and I have no idea why.
After a lengthy make-out session, I finally let him pull away from me.
“I can say that I’ve never had someone be that enthusiastic when I show up.” He smiles down at me, one hand still cupping my cheek.
The giggle that comes out of me has my cheeks heating, and I duck my head. I’m happy he isn’t pissy with my enthusiasm, but I’m also embarrassed that he pointed it out.
“I’d ask how your day was, but I don’t know if you can even tell me.” I chew my bottom lip, glancing up at him.
He wraps his arms around me, rubbing his face against the top of my head. “It was good. Boring, actually.”
I pull away, giving him an incredulous look. “Your job was boring? Seriously?”
Laughing, he lets me go. “Yes. I was a bodyguard for a meeting and got to stand around doing nothing for nearly three hours.” He pulls off his boots as he talks, taking them over to the little mat by the front door where I put my shoes.
I turn to wipe the water off the counter when I hear the rustle of a bag and Frankie’s hum of amusement. “What’s this? Planning to get a dog?”
Oh shit, I forgot to put the dog toy in my bedroom!
I whip around, clinching the hand towel nervously in my fist as my face heats up yet again. “Oh, no, no dog. No plans to get one, either,” I stammer, suddenly embarrassed. He gives me a curious look before ripping the tag off the toy and running his fingers over the purple plastic.
“So, why did you get it?” He asks the question softly, but I can hear the low growl in his voice. All the blood heating my face rushes south, my dick thickening in my pants.
“It’s for you,” I whisper. I clear my throat nervously as he brings the toy to his lips. Flattening his tongue, he draws it up the side of the toy, flicking the end of the plastic with the pink tip. “It was meant to be a joke, but I’m horrible at jokes.”