AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The sound of thundering paws breaks the silence for us, and Snowflake charges down the hallway.
Letting out a delighted shriek, Lily crouches and holds out her arms. The stupid mutt jumps straight into them. Okay, maybe he isn’t as stupid as he looks, considering he did the exact same thing I wish I could have done.
“Oh my goodness.” He places his paws on her shoulders and licks her face like it’s a prime rib, and her giggles fill the hallway. Content that he’s tasted enough of her face, he drops to all fours and sticks his head between her thighs, which only makes her laugh harder. Forget every bad thing I’ve ever said about him, the damn dog is a genius.
“Snowflake. No.” Zeke commands. The obedient pup backs off a little, his little nub whipping back and forth and his tongue hanging out.
Lily brushes the fur from her jeans and stands up slowly. “You called him Snowflake?”
“That’s what you wanted to name him. How could we call him anything else?” Xander takes a tentative step toward her.
A quiet sob falls from her lips, and she brushes a tear from her cheek. Zeke stands behind her, his hands stuffed in his pockets as though he wants to touch her but he’s not sure if he’s allowed. I know exactly how he feels.
Before Xander reaches her, she’s distracted by a movement behind him. A split second later, Stella comes into view and warily eyes Lily, her head low and her tail wagging just a little.
Lily gasps. “And who is this?”
“This is Stella. She’s Snowflake’s adoptive mom,” Zeke says, holding out his hand and beckoning the dog over. She goes straight to him, and he scratches behind her ear.
“Stella,” Lily repeats, a look of wonder on her face. “Can I pet her?”
“Sure.” Zeke looks at the dog with an expression I never saw on his face until the day we brought her home. “She’s a little nervous around people, but we told her you’re one of the good ones.”
Lily’s entire face lights up as she crouches back down and holds out her hand for Stella to sniff. In no time at all, Stella decides she likes our girl and happily steps into Lily’s arms, smiling her doggy smile as Lily rubs her back. “You told her about me?”
Xander squats down beside them. “Of course we did. She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, shorty.”
Lily looks between Xander and Zeke. “She’s from one of the puppy farms?”
Zeke nods.
“You… you saved her? You were the one who had those places shut down?”
“It was all of us,” Zeke replies, nodding in my direction.
She looks back at me, and her eyes swim with tears as she pushes herself to her feet. “You too?”
I swallow the ball of emotion lodged in my throat, but my voice is still little more than a croak. “Yeah.”
“Are you back, Lily? For good?” Leave it to Xander to ask the question I know we’re all waiting to have answered.
Clearing her throat, she gives a small shake of her head. My heart bottoms out. Is that a no? “I think we… we need to talk.”
Relief washes over me. It’s not an outright no. Talking is good. I’d much rather fuck her into submission, but beggars can’t be choosers. We’ll talk things through andthenfuck her into submission.
“West made roast lamb,” Xander says.
Lily looks at me and licks her lips, and I push down all the memories of that tongue on my neck, my chest, my cock. “I thought I could smell your signature dish.”
“It’ll be ready in about twenty minutes.” I recognize the purple bag in Zeke’s hand. “You want to put your things away first?”
“Your room is still how you left it,” Xander adds hopefully.
“I, uh, I don’t know.”
“Lily,” Zeke says softly. “Please? Just give us one night?”
Looking pained, she finally nods, and I wonder what he did to get her here. Whatever it was, I owe him.
