Page 52 of Taming Bull

His demeanor relaxed marginally. “We’re lucky to have her. She’s catching on quickly. At this rate, she’ll be out in the field in no time.”

“Good to hear.” Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out a business card. “I work for a veteran-run and operated tow company. If you ever find yourself in need, please don’t hesitate to call.”

He turned the card over, and the remaining frost thawed from his demeanor. Apparently my being a veteran trumped my being a biker. Good to know. “Thank you.”

Lily beamed Tom a smile. “Thanks again for all your help this week. Have a great weekend.”

“You too.” He nodded at my bike. “Both of you. Be careful on that thing.”

“Yessir.” I handed Lily a helmet, letting him see her safety was important to me. “We always are.”

Tom headed for his car and Lily put her helmet on, leaning close to say, “Schmooze level, expert. Please teach me your ways, oh great one.”

I chuckled. “I can’t teach that. That there’s my superpower, Angel. I was born with it, but it was honed by Dad’s belt and Mom’s lectures, which I wouldn’t recommend enduring. How was your day?”

“Great, but even better now. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you this week.”

I flipped up her visor and leaned in to give her a quick peck on the lips, completely aware that Tom—and probably others—were watching. One quick taste of her wasn’t enough. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and kiss her so long and hard it left no doubt in any motherfucker’s mind she was claimed, but I withheld. I’d wait until her job was a little steadier before I started that shit. Instead, I put my helmet back on, mounted my bike, and offered her my hand. Lily slid on behind me, wrapping herself around my core.

It wasn’t the first time we rode together.

No, Lily had been on the back of my bike more times than I could count. To some bikers, the back of a bike is sacred, used only for long-term relationship women. But, outside of my work truck, I only had one form of transportation. I wasn’t going to make Lily walk, so she was often at my back. But now that our relationship had evolved, her presence felt different. Everywhere our bodies touched felt like a promise of more to come… more heat, more comfort, more intimacy.

Enjoying the feel of her behind me, I was tempted to take the long way to the shelter, but it had been almost a full week since I’d had her writhing beneath me, and was desperate to repeat the experience. Just thinking about all the ways I wanted to fuck her had me riding the throttle like a sinner busting out of hell.

We made a quick pit stop to feed Brahma and let him out, and found Stocks placing decorative rocks around a tree trunk. He stopped what he was doing and wandered over to join us.

“Hey brother. Lily,” he said with a wave. “You two off to the fire station?”

“Yep. You’ll be there for church tonight, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you there.” Stocks’s gaze followed Brahma. “You know, Lil, you don’t have to come home tonight if you don’t want to. I can let Brahma out and make sure he gets fed in the morning.”

Hope filled her eyes as she looked to me, and then to Stocks. “But he’s my responsibility, and I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”

“Please. He’s the most mellow dog I’ve ever met. He’ll be fine. Go. Enjoy yourself. Remember you’re in your mid-twenties and have a fuckin’ weekend for once. I’ve got the mutt.”

Lily dropped the pooper scooper and plastic bags to jump down and hug Stocks. “You’re the best adoptive dad, big brother, security guard, maintenance man, best friend’s husband ever. Thank you.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. I’m the shit.”

She laughed. “Yes. You are definitely the shit.”

She reached for the pooper scooper, but I stopped her. “Go pack. I’ll clean up after Brahma.”

Bouncing on her heels, she gave me a hug too. “Fine, you can be the shit, too.” Before I could respond, she went bounding into the house.

“Thanks, brother,” I told Stocks.

He leveled a stare at me. “I know I don’t have to tell you this, but Lily means a lot to all of us. What are your intentions with her?”

It felt somewhat surreal to have the question lobbed at me by someone who wasn’t even a full decade older than me, but I appreciated the way he and Monica took Lily under their wings and looked out for her. I rocked back on my heels and thought about where I wanted this thing with Lily to go. “We haven’t really defined the relationship, but we’re exclusive. I love her, and I’m all in. I’m not gonna do anything to hurt her.”

He nodded and clapped me on the shoulder. “Good. See that you don’t. If I have to bail Monica out of jail for killin’ your ass, I’ll dig you up and kill you again. Got it?”

I chuckled. “Loud and clear.”

“Great. My job here is done.”

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