Butcher

by LeAnn Asher

  He looks at the door Paisley disappeared through. “That will never fucking happen.” His voice is deep. “Once I am out, I am coming for her. I will not date her over a fucking letter, she needs something more than that.”

  “I respect that.” I step behind the counter.

  Paisley emerges from the other room and waves at us, and Liam holds the door open for her. His head tilts to the side as he checks out her ass as she walks past. I grab my pen out of its holder and I throw it—I hit him on the top of his head.

  He gives me a look and I arch my eyebrows. “Eyes up,” I yell and he shakes his head.

  Joslyn laughs and moves to the back of the bakery. I feel protective over both Paisley and Joslyn. Joslyn is literally the sweetest person I have met, and I want her to be happy.

  The bell above the door rings, and some customers walk in.

  “I just locked up, I will be home in a bit,” I tell Butcher over the phone, and I hear Tiana laugh in the background. I can’t wait to see her. I miss her like crazy. Hell, I miss them both.

  I pull out of my parking lot, and Joslyn goes in the other direction toward her house. I pull into town, and I crank the radio up and roll my windows down, letting the evening air run through my hair.

  Fifteen minutes later I drive by the park just outside of town. I see a Great Dane lying on the ground and a man standing beside him. The man kicks him in the stomach.

  Oh my god!

  I park right beside the man, who is still kicking his dog. “What the fuck are you doing?” I scream and the man glares at me.

  Fuck this shit. I take my gun from my back holster, pull back the clip, and point it at him. “Get the fuck out of here before I blow your brains out.”

  He looks to his dog and to me, and he runs away. I open my door and bend down next to the dog, who is very skinny and looks like it’s been abused for a while. My heart breaks when he looks at me with his sad eyes.

  Lane has been searching for a Great Dane, and I know he will take him in. There is a vet’s office right around the corner.

  I open my back door and I slowly lift the dog, which takes a lot of my strength. The dog stands on shaky feet, and I lead him to the backseat. He climbs in and slumps over slightly.

  I hurry to the vet’s office around the corner.

  I park and I see someone in a white coat locking up. Oh no. I hurry over to her. “Are you guys closing?” I ask her.

  She turns around and smiles at me. If I were a lesbian, I would be pounding on her door. She is fucking gorgeous. “Yes, is everything okay?”

  I explain what I came across, and she gasps and runs over to my car, opens the back door, and looks at the dog. She feels his sides and legs. “His leg is broken. I can feel that. Want to help me carry him in?”

  Together we carry the dog inside, which is a huge feat in itself. We settle him down on the floor, because if we put him on an exam table, we wouldn’t be able to get him back down.

  “I will be right outside.”

  She nods and starts examining the dog.

  I take my phone out and dial Lane.

  “Hey, Shaylin.”

  “So I know you have been searching for a Great Dane, and you wanted a shelter dog.”

  “Yeah. You found one?”

  “Sort of.” I explain the situation, and he laughs when I tell him how I confronted the guy.

  “Butcher is going to let you have it.”

  “Whatever.”

  He is quiet for a moment. “Tell the vet I will take care of all the bills. Give her my info?”

  “I will. Thank you, Lane.”

  I shoot Butcher a quick text telling him I am going to be a bit late.

  I walk back inside the office, and I see her giving the dog a shot. “My brother wants the dog and asked me to tell you he will cover the costs of everything.”

  “Don’t worry about the cost, but I am glad he will have a home once he is better. He should be ready to go in a few days. He only has a broken bone in the leg, and he is way underweight, but he will fully recover.” She moves over to a table and takes out a piece of paper. “Write down your brother’s info, and I will give him a call once he is ready to go.”

  I write down Lane’s name and number along with mine. I hand her the paper, and she smiles at me.

  Hmm.

  Lane and her?

  I hide my smile. “I better go, my man is going to be pissed if he finds out I confronted the guy.”

  She laughs. “Don’t feel bad. I saw a man throw a cat. I picked up a piece of wood and knocked him out.”

  She is totally perfect for Lane. I throw my head back laughing because I can just see her doing that. She is smaller than me. I am five three and she has to be like five one. She has auburn hair and large blue-green eyes.

  “See you later!” I call over my shoulder and walk out the door.

  I arrive home, and I am met by Butcher at the door. He is standing with his arms crossed across his chest, glaring at me.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  “Lane called.”

  It’s official: I am going to kill my brother! I was going to tell Butcher, but I wanted to give him a blowjob first to soften him up. Ha! I snort at my own inside joke.

  “Baby, what was I supposed to do? Let him get away with it?” I give him my most sweet and innocent look.

  He rolls his eyes. “That doesn’t get you out of trouble.”

  He steps away from the door, and I walk inside. I hear little feet running from the living room, and Tiana comes around the corner. “Mommy!” she yells and runs toward me, her arms up in the air.

  I almost collapse on the ground at her saying “Mommy.” Did she just say that? Did I imagine it? Her little body slams into mine, her arms going around my neck as she hugs me tightly. I look at Butcher in amazement.

  “She called me ‘Daddy’ earlier. Adeline read her a story about parents adopting a baby, and I guess she connected the dots.”

  A tear slips from my eye and I close my eyes, just holding her. I hold my daughter. My hand strokes the back of her head. Is this even real? Am I dreaming this? Can life get any more perfect?

  Twenty-One

  Shaylin

  Whack! I am bent over Butcher’s leg, and he is spanking me. Literally spanking me. I laugh out loud and he does it again. I laugh again while squirming, trying to get away.

  “Are you going to be good?” he asks.

  “No.” I chuckle. “I am going to be very bad.”

  My comment throws him off, and I get away. I push him down onto the bed. We are both already naked.

  “Fuck my face,” I say.

  I climb on the bed so my head is propped up on the pillows. I don’t have a gag reflex, and it comes in handy in situations like this.

  Butcher growls loudly and scoots so he is straddling my face. I rub his balls before taking him in my hand and stroking him from top to bottom. He hisses, closes his eyes, and throws his head back.

  I love that my touch alone affects him like this. I open my mouth and place the tip inside it. I suck hard and he almost comes off the bed. I drag my nails from his thighs up to his butt, and I squeeze and pull him down, taking all of him.

  “FUCK!” He grabs the headboard.

  I swallow and I choke slightly. Butcher pulls out and I pull him back in. He takes my cues and starts fucking my face. I press my tongue on the underside of him, and he goes faster. I watch his face as he loses every ounce of control he has. A minute later I grab his butt again, halting his movement. I swallow over and over and over.

  “Shay,” he growls and he comes.

  Oh yeah, I got it.

  He slides out and I let him go with a pop. He grabs my feet and pulls me off the pillows. He climbs between my legs and he slams home.

  “Yes!” I hiss.

  He pounds into me harder and harder until the only thing I know is Butcher and the intense feeling happening between my legs. His teeth nibble at the side of my neck and I raise my legs, locki
ng them behind his butt to push him harder into me.

  “Fucking made for me,” he growls and gives me a deep, wet kiss. He slows down and rises on his elbows, which are on either side of my face. “Made for me,” he repeats. He slowly moves inside me and my toes curl. “I love you, my Shay.”

  “I love my Butcher.”

  He grins and presses his forehead against mine. I grip the back of his neck, holding him to me. We come together as one, staring deep into each other’s eyes.

  “I have nightmares that this is a dream,” Butcher whispers and my heart breaks a little at his words. His dark eyes look deep into mine, his face scarred up and beautiful.

  “It’s real. I am real.” I take his hand and press it to my heart. “This is yours.”

  “I don’t deserve you, my Shay. But I am selfish and will take you any way I can.”

  I shake my head furiously and grip his face between my hands. “I am the one who doesn’t deserve you, Butcher.” I kiss him deeply before placing my face in the crook of his neck. I feel Butcher relax into me and I close my eyes.

  Butcher is something I never thought I would have. Waiting was worth it.

  A loud piercing scream has me shooting up in bed. I look around wide eyed, and I see Butcher has his boxers on and is out of bed. He leaves the room. I jump out of bed and toss on some clothes. I rush out of the room and into Tiana’s. I feel panic starting to take hold.

  I look around the room frantically, and I relax when I see Butcher holding Tiana. “Nightmare.” I walk over to them and sink down on the floor in relief.

  I take the small throw blanket and cover her up, and she raises her head and looks at me. I kiss her small cheek. “Sleep, angel. We are here.” She closes her eyes and fists the blanket. Once she is asleep Butcher gently lays her back in her bed and brings her blanket up to her chest.

  I stand up and Butcher follows me out of her room. I leave her door and ours open in case she gets scared again. I sink into bed and curl into Butcher.

  We fall back asleep, but I have an uneasy feeling.

  Another piercing scream shatters me out of my dream, and I hear feet running toward our room. Butcher jumps out of bed, and runs to the door.

  Tiana is crying and Butcher picks her up. She sobs into his shoulder. Why is she having these nightmares? Butcher sits down on the edge of the bed, and I scoot over next to him. “Shh, angel, it’s okay.” I rub her back and she starts to settle down.

  “Let her sleep with us.”

  Butcher lies down on his back with her on his chest, and he looks concerned. I hate that she has these dreams and they affect her this way.

  An hour later she falls back asleep, and Butcher lays her on the bed between us. I bring the blanket up, covering her. She rolls over and cuddles into Butcher’s side. She feels safe around him. She looks so tiny lying against his side like that.

  “I will ask Myra if these dreams are normal tomorrow,” I whisper and he nods. I sink down on the pillow and kiss the back of his hand, letting him know it will be okay. I can feel the worry radiating off of him.

  Tiana has been through a lot, and I don’t want to admit that those dreams are a part of the bad times in her life. I don’t really want to think of what all she has seen. Lexi probably traumatized her, and her father is also a basket case.

  I wish I could take it away from her.

  I look at her tiny face, lean down, and kiss her forehead. I want to take away everything that bothers her. She was put into our lives for a reason. She is my daughter. She is mine to raise into a beautiful strong young woman who will take on the world.

  I put the dishes in the dishwasher after breakfast while singing along to “Monsters” by Katie Sky. This song is perfect—it’s like it was made for Butcher and me. I close the dishwasher door and I turn around, running smack dab into Butcher’s chest. He takes hold of my forearms, steadying me. His hands wrap around my back, he lifts me off the ground, and my feet rest on top of his.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  His hands slide up my back to my arms, and he lifts my hands to his shoulders. “Dancing with you.”

  Oh my god.

  He brings his hands back down, and they rest on my ass cheeks. I roll my eyes at him. I’ve got to admit Butcher is super romantic when he wants to be. I rest my cheek on his shoulder, my arms wrapped around his neck, his hands on my ass. He dances us around the kitchen.

  There aren’t any words spoken. It is just us sharing a moment. Butcher showing another side of him—at every turn he does something that surprises me.

  “Daddy!” Tiana calls. She is standing a few feet away from us, staring. She walks over to me, raising her arms. Butcher tightens his grip on me, and I pick her up and place her on my hip. Butcher smiles down at her with pure love, and that takes my breath away.

  “My girls.” He kisses the top of her head and then my lips. Butcher bends over, dipping us both. I laugh and she laughs along with me. Butcher dances us all over the kitchen, dipping us at different times, making Tiana squeal with laughter.

  I stare at Butcher as he watches Tiana, laughing in pure amazement. How blessed am I?

  Twenty-Two

  Shaylin

  One Week Later

  * * *

  My phone buzzes in my pocket—it’s from the vet. We’ve been texting on and off throughout the day. We have plans next week to get lunch. She also had to keep the dog for an extra couple of days because of a cut under his leg. Lane is coming today to pick up the dog.

  Amelia: Thank you

  Me: Huh?

  Amelia: Your brother.

  I put my phone back in my pocket and laugh. Butcher will be here any minute. We are having a date night, and Adeline is babysitting.

  I see him pull up outside, and I walk over to the door and turn off all the lights. Butcher opens the door and I step out and lock it.

  “Ready to go?” Butcher asks and looks me up and down.

  We arrive at the restaurant, which is more laid back than our first date. We are at the place where we first met. Love at first stalk!

  We are seated and we go ahead with giving our order. Since we have eaten here a lot, we already know what we want. I scoot in the booth, and he slides in beside me. I grin at him then snake my hand under the table and grab his dick through his jeans. He jumps and his knee hits the table.

  I fall to the side, laughing my ass off.

  His hand snaking inside my leggings and inside my panties halts my laughter. He did it so fast there wasn’t any way to stop him. I lean forward and push my upper body against the table.

  “Butcher,” I hiss and try to pull his hand out.

  He doesn’t move, but rubs his finger against my clit.

  Oh my god. I look around the room to see if anyone notices. “Someone will see, Butcher,” I whisper and his face darkens.

  “You think I would allow anyone to see my woman?”

  I shake my head, and he snakes a finger inside me while his thumb strokes my clit furiously. I press my face into his arm and close my eyes.

  The thrill of risking getting caught makes me come a lot faster. Butcher tilts in his seat and presses my face in his neck so I am hidden from everyone. I explode around his fingers, my body shuddering and shaking. He slowly takes his fingers back.

  “Here is your food.”

  I jump in shock and sit up. The waiter stares at me with a weird expression before looking back at Butcher. “How does everything look?”

  Butcher shoots me a wink and puts the finger he had inside me in his mouth. “Delicious.”

  No, he didn’t.

  I put my hands over my face. I can feel I am blushing head to toe. I hear the waiter walk away and I drop my hands, shooting Butcher a glare. He bursts out laughing, and I put a heaping scoop of mashed potatoes in his mouth. He chokes slightly, but he quits laughing for a second. He continues laughing with his mouth closed and kisses my cheek. “You look beautiful blushing, my Shay.”

  Me being mad is o
ver just like that. Who can be mad at him when he is being sweet? “Yeah, yeah.” I wave it off, but I can’t hide my smile. “Love you to Butcher.” I don’t look at him but continue eating my steak.

  “Love you to my Shay.”

  My heart still skips a beat at the sound of him calling me “my Shay.” Being around Butcher gets more intense by the day. Tiana has brought us closer than I ever thought possible. That little girl has stolen my heart. She stole it the moment she looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes.

  We eat in silence, but I can feel him looking at me. He does this a lot when he doesn’t think I am paying attention. He just looks at me, and I do the same to him when he isn’t looking. I love to just watch him, how he is a people watcher and how he sometimes smiles but ducks his head to hide it. When Tiana calls him “Daddy,” his eyes light with excitement.

  He is just perfect.

  A lot of people just see Butcher’s rough and tough exterior. He is dangerous—don’t get me wrong—but there is so much more to him that that. The way he holds me at night, calls me his Shay, and watches my every move, and how he loves me and Tiana. He always wants to protect us from everything.

  Once he loves, he loves with all of his heart and soul. That is Butcher.

  I get back from the bathroom, after I am done eating, and I see Butcher standing by the table waiting on me. He takes my hand and tucks me close to him. I feel his body stiffen. “Butcher, what is it?”

  He looks around the restaurant, checking out every person in there. He shakes his head and looks down at me. “I just got a bad feeling.”

  He opens the door to the restaurant, and he all but drags me to his bike. He slips on the bulletproof jacket and helmet, lifts me on the bike, and climbs on in front of me. A chill runs up my spine and I look around the parking lot, but I don’t see anything unusual going on.

  Butcher starts the bike and shoots out of the parking lot. He pulls into traffic, and I look back to see two SUVs start up at the same time. I just watch, and Butcher pulls to the left toward home.