Chapter Twenty Four Dragna
Chapter Twenty Four
Dragna
If someone had of told me a couple months ago I would be standing in the romance section of an indie bookstore half way across the city, holding twenty something books and following a woman around like a lost puppy, I’d of shot them.
I’d of shot myself to ensure it never happened.
Now though, I love nothing more than seeing the happiness on Willows face as her hands glide over all the books, deciding which ones to get and watching as her eyes narrow to focus on reading the back on them, or how she gasps when she sees a pretty cover.
She also let out a scream at one point and took off running towards a book she said was special edition that she couldn’t find anywhere else.
It wasn’t easy convincing her to let me take her out and spend money on her, she’s too proud, but after breakfast at her favourite cafe and telling Mikhail to drive us here anyway, she softened up to the idea.
It’s been a couple of days since we had dinner with my mother, so I think she knows how serious I am about her now, making her more open to letting me spoil her.
“Okay this is definitely enough. You can barely carry anymore.” She laughs as she looks at the pile I’m holding with both hands.
I told her she could get as many books as I could carry. What she doesn’t know is that Mikhail is somewhere around with a pile of his own of the books she put back after looking at how many she had already.
I’d buy this entire bookstore if she’d let me.
Maybe one day I’ll buy the bookstore she works in for her to run it herself.
When she told me that was her dream, I began looking in to the owner and seeing how much cash they’d accepted to just hand it over the same day.
Lev said I would scare her away coming on so strong, so here we are instead.
“Willow, whatever you want, I’ll get it for you. These books are pocket change if that’s what you’re worrying about.” I look down at her and she chews the inside of her cheek wanting to say something but not letting the words come out.
“What is it?” I ask further.
“Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before. Nobody has done any of the things you have done for me before, so I feel like I’m taking advantage, even if you have money to burn I still feel bad.” She says, looking down at her feet and beginning to pluck at one of her sleeves anxiously.
“Look at me.” I tell her softly.
“I’m glad it’s me who gets to show you what being cherished feels like.
Whether that’s dinners, coffee dates, buying you an endless supply of books, or just simply being there for you in any way I can.
Whatever I can do to make you feel and know how special you are to me, I’ll do it Willow. Anything at all. Let me treat you.”
“If you weren’t carrying so many books right now I’d kiss you.” She smiles at me.
“Then let’s get these to the register so I can get you back to the car.” I smirk at her.
On the way over I was close to losing my composure even with Mikhail driving.
She makes me lose all my goddamn senses and I just want to touch her, feel her and kiss her all the fucking time.
When I’m not with her I feel like my heart is just aimlessly wandering around outside of my body and it aches until I see her again.
“Are you absolutely sure about this many books? They aren’t cheap.
” She peaks up at me over her shoulder on our way to the register and the soft light coming in from the window makes her eyes light up to that hazel colour I could get lost in.
Her hair flowing down to reach her lower back in waves. Her flawless skin glowing.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.” I reply, and I’m not talking about the stack of books currently in my arms.
I am absolutely, completely fucking gone for this girl.
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“Can we take the dogs for a walk?” Willow asks as we carry all the bags of books into my house.
I love how much she fell in love with my boys despite my displeasure at them for melting towards her so quickly.
While I am very happy they took to her so well, they are supposed to be highly trained guard dogs after all and yet, as soon as they saw her, it was as if they had known her forever.
Can I blame them though? I was the exact same.
“Of course. I’ll get Mikhail to get them ready.” I tell her and she slaps my arm lightly.
“No! I want to put their leads on them myself, that’s part of the fun!” She exclaims and I can’t help the smile that forms on my face.
“Okay then, we’ll do it.” I tell her as I notice some of my men who are keeping watch in the garden watch us with interest.
They have never seen me with a woman, let alone bringing a woman into my home who I let control me. I raise an eyebrow at some of them and they go back to patrolling with a nod of their head in apology.
We get inside the house and the dogs come running up to us, or should I say they come running up to Willow meanwhile completely ignoring me. Yeah, they are suckers for her too.
“Their leads are in the drawer, I’ll grab them for us now.” I tell Willow as she sits on the floor petting and kissing my boys, giving them all the attention they want from her.
I walk over with the leads and we get them ready to walk along the grounds of the house.
They bounce around excitedly when they notice it’s not one of my usual men taking them out, but us instead and Willow matches their excitement, getting them all riled up letting them jump all over her and telling them they are ‘good boys’.
Hearing her say those words stirs something inside me and suddenly I’m jealous of my dogs for having her attention. I am one hundred percent fucked if I’m actually jealous of my dogs for being called ‘good boys’.
“Ready?” I clear my throat and speak before I get harder than I already am thinking about her controlling me in other ways.
“Yep!” She says as she stands and I grab all three leads before handing her Boulders lead.
“We will have to switch leads every ten minutes so I get to walk each of them.” She says smiling down at Boulder and giving his head a pat as we make our way out the front door and down the steps.
“Have to give them all an equal amount of love.” She adds and I huff out a laugh and shake my head.
“You really love dogs don’t you?” I ask and she puts a hand over her heart before speaking.
“They give unconditional love no matter who you are or what you look like. They are loyal and always there for you whether you are having a bad day or a good day, what’s more special than that?
” She responds and I watch her stroke Boulders head as he nudges into her, as if he knows exactly what she has just said and agrees with her words.
“That’s true, they are man’s best friend after all.” I say back to her as we continue walking.
“Woman’s best friend too.” She raises an eyebrow at me as she looks up at me under her lashes.
“Hmm, they have taken a liking to you. I’d say they like your company more than mine. They’d probably protect you before they protected me.” I joke with her as I bump my arm into hers playfully.
When I do, Boulder lets out a low growl and turns in my direction, putting himself between Willow and I.
“Tishe, mal’chik, ya prosto igrayu.” I tell him while looking down at him in shock. I guess he has just proved me right. These dogs would absolutely protect Willow before they would protect me.
“What did you say to him?” Willow asks as she laughs, not phased in the slightest that the huge dog she’s walking has just growled at me.
“I told him to quiet down and I’m just playing with you, I didn’t hurt you.” I tell her and she laughs even louder.
“Good boy Boulder. You’ve got my back.” She tells him with a smile on her face and I can’t help but smile back at her.
“Okay time to switch.” She continues as she holds out Boulder’s lead and I offer Volk’s lead to her.
“Volk is strong so he might pull you a little.” I warn her as we swap the leads and to my surprise, Volk walks gently beside her, not even pulling her a little bit.
I guess she has all four of us wrapped around her finger.
We continue to walk around the grounds for an hour, swapping the leads every ten minutes and talking about her work, the club, both of our interests and at some point during the evening, our hands join, fingers interlocked as we walk casually like she has always belonged right here.