part0018

“... y eah. That’s what she told me.” Billy’s voice filtered through my sleep laden brain. “Yeah. She’ll be thankful. How much is the extra charge, though?”

I had a hard time opening my eyes. I was so comfortable.

Billy snorted. “She’s going to have a few things to say about that. She doesn’t like hand outs.” Billy gulped and shifted, which made me shift since I was laying on him still. I felt him harden.

That woke me up faster. I rested my chin on his chest as I looked up into his face as he talked on the phone. His eyes met mine and they visibly softened. I liked that.

“Hey, she’s awake. Talk to her.” Billy spoke into the phone quickly before he placed it against my ear, waiting for me to take it from him. “It’s Titus.”

“Titus?” My voice cracked. I needed water.

“Bellissimo.” Titus’ voice sent delicious shivers through me. “Billy was just catching me up on what happened. I spoke with little Snowdrop earlier as well.”

“Mmm.” I was still in that blissful sensation when you wake up and feel like you’re floating.

Titus chuckled, his voice softened. “Still not awake, my fox? Do I need to come over and wake you up with my tongue in your pussy?”

Okay. I was awake for that. I pushed off against Billy’s chest, making him grunt.

“That was not fair.” Hissing into the phone, I ran a hand through my hair that was standing up on its own. I snagged on some of it.

“Oh, but it was worth it.” Titus was down right gleeful. “Now, I’ve got my supplier delivering emergency stock to the stores in the rink, minus Darcorp. Billy told me what you needed.”

“What? How did you manage that? How much is this supplier?” I was doing okay at the store, with a little saved up, but I didn’t have a lot of extra savings to pay for an out of town supplier.

“It won’t cost you a dime, my sweets.” His voice was distracting.

“I’m not letting you pay for my stock.” I stood from the couch. “That’s not how this relationship is going to start out with.” I started pacing.

“Told you.” Billy’s voice was loud enough for Titus to hear through the phone.

“Now, Cider.” His tone was chidding. “You’re running a business. You can’t really pick and choose if this helps you not lose out on business.”

I could feel the twitches start coming on. “Yes, I do. You didn’t even ask me if that was okay for you to do!”

There was a brief moment of silence.

“Forgive me, Cider. I’ve not had a lover in a long time where I actually wanted to take care of them and love them as I do you. I’ve just had my daughter to care for the past few years. I overstepped. Will you please allow me to assist in this matter?” His apology made my fur stand down.

“Well, when you put it like that.” My shoulders slumped as Billy started covering his laughter by coughing. “I might have overreacted.”

“No, sweet fox, you’re an independent woman. And have been for some time.” I heard the smile in his voice. “It will be interesting to see how we butt heads, as it were, in the future.” He certainly had a silver tongue. I guess that made sense because he was a silver fox.

I snickered to myself at the horrible joke.

“Now, about this Samuel.” Titus interrupted my internal monologuing. “I am curious to find out how he found out that information. Billy said that you don’t have it written down anywhere? What about accidentally writing a list down for shopping? Notice any new scents around the house?”

My head cocked to the side as I thought over the last few days. I hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. Billy shook his head as he looked at me.

“No, neither of us.”

“How intriguing.” Titus was now mumbling to himself. “Let me see what I can find out.”

“Oh! Titus, before you hang up.” I needed to tell him.

“Yes, my sweet?”

Damn his voice was smooth and velvety over my skin.

“Jack asked me out on a date tomorrow night.” I looked at Billy as I said it so that he knew he was included in the conversation.

Billy frowned but didn’t say anything. There was clapping from the other side of the phone.

“Thatta boy. Finally got that stick that he’d shoved up his ass loose. Enjoy your date tomorrow. If you need me, you have my number. I’ll see you soon.” Titus said his goodnight so that Billy could hear and we hung up.

“Are you sure about that guy?” Billy crossed his arms across his chest.

Shrugging, I moved so that I could flop down across his lap. “Yeah. I think there’s more under the cold exterior that he was hiding. Whatever Titus did, it seems to have snapped him out of whatever funk he was in.” I turned to look at the television. “How about a movie before bed? This time, I won’t fall asleep, promise.”

“Yeah, right. You always fall asleep.” Billy picked up the remote and handed it to me anyway.

We both ended up falling asleep about a third of the way through the movie. When we woke up in the morning to my phone's alarm, I growled.

“You have the most annoying alarm.” Billy pushed me off his lap, making me roll across the cushions. “Holy crud. Cider, I’m going to be late! I call shower first.” He was up and gone before I could even blink my eyes.

My fox whined at me. She wanted to run again. I glanced at the time. I didn’t have time to do that today but made plans to go for a run the next day, which seemed to settle her.

That’s when I remembered. I had a date tonight.

“BILLY! I get the shower first! I’ve got to get ready for work and my date tonight!” I scrambled over the couch, because going around it made no sense, and ran for the bathroom. “You take forever to groom your beard!”

The door was already locked. I banged on it as Billy started to sing The Goat Song from the shower.

“Goats are clever. Goats are wise. They've got four legs, they've got two eyes. Goats eat anything from fillet steak to oats….” Billy belted out the notes as if he were in front of an audience.

“Dang it, Billy!” I slapped the door as he laughed on the other side.

I’d just have to figure it out on the fly. I sniffed my armpit as I started going through my clean clothes in the closet.

Well, at least I didn’t reek. I could clean up a tiny bit in the back of the store later if I started to.

My phone dinged with a text from Titus.

I couldn’t stop the joyous feeling that spread through me as I pulled on clean clothes.

Morning, fangboy. I’ll let you know how it goes. He might run since I don’t have time to take a shower because a certain goat is hogging the shower.

There was an instant reply. Dang, he typed fast.

You’ll smell just as divine as you usually do. I’ve got a meeting. I’ll talk to you later.

My phone went into my front pocket of the jeans I pulled on with a few hops to get over the stomach. They were a little fancy since they had black glitter in the fabric. I decided to leave my hair down after brushing through it. I even put on a little dab of clear lip gloss.

Oh man. I had it bad. I wanted Jack to like me. The matebond was there pushing us together, but I really did want to get to know him. He seemed like he could use a friend.

There were no signs of Samuel, at least, when I got to the rink. I was actually a few minutes early. I really needed to work on getting up earlier.

Igor was standing outside of the door, relaxing against the wood. She was watching a group of kids play tag a little down the way.

“Hey, Igor.” I unlocked the door, letting her through before closing it and locking it again. “What’s up?”

Igor seemed upset as she started to walk between the tables. She pulled down the chairs.

“Lawrence isn’t talking to me. He says that I’m selfish.” She put a chair down so hard, it almost cracked the tiled floor. “Would a selfish person come in and help you for free?”

I bit my lip to stop from laughing. I was pretty sure if I laughed at her right now, she’d eat me.

“What were you doing when he called you selfish?” I put my personal things under the counter.

“I was making a list of things I wanted done once I dominated this town. Specifically, the greenhouse. I wanted a larger place to spread out at night. I was thinking of taking over that orphanage's place.” She sat on the other side of the counter.

I could feel my face pale. “Uh, you do know the mafia protects that area, right?”

She waved her hand. “Like I’m afraid of a few furballs. It’s the perfect location for optimal sunbathing.”

Oh boy. “Have you talked to Iris about this?”

“No. That harlot and her slaves are off on some adventure in the desert. Left me in charge for the next week.” Igor thumped her hands on the counter. “That’s selfish!”

It was fascinating sometimes to remember that Igor wasn’t like the rest of us. She wasn’t human, or a supernatural technically. She had a lot to learn.

“Well, where would the orphans go if you took their home?”

She glared at her hands. “Lawrence asked the same thing and got mad when I said I didn’t care.”

I flicked her in the forehead. “Take a second to reflect on that statement.”

She rubbed her forehead as she hissed at me but she didn’t immediately reply. That meant she was actually thinking about it. I went about prepping to open while she did.

I’d just unlocked the door and flipped the sign to open when she spoke.

“I’m selfish because I didn’t think about where kids, who don’t have parents already, would go if I took away their home?” Her tough attitude had momentarily vanished. In its place, was a young vulnerable woman who didn’t know what empathy meant.

“It’s a selfish idea, yes.” I handed her a cup before pouring some cooled apple cider. “Maybe look for land that doesn’t have buildings on it for your plans? That could show Lawrence you thought about what he said.”

She took a sip before nodding. “You’re right. I need to start thinking about things besides how they will work in my favor.” She set the now empty cup down. “I had a thought on your problem. What if I follow him around for a few days? I can see if I can find anything to use against him that wouldn’t involve actually eating him.”

Pausing for a second. I thought about it. Normally, I wouldn’t want to involve a friend, but she offered and if anyone could get information without getting caught, it would be Igor. No one noticed a random plant. This guy was gunning for my livelihood and pranks really weren’t going to cut it.

“Let’s do it.”

Igor grinned, her teeth had sharpened to points. Oh boy.

As Igor left for the day, I focused on the next customers that started coming through. The steady stream of customers helped keep my mind occupied from the date that would be happening in a few short hours.