This fucking dog.
She pointed to the scale, and he hopped right up and sat down. I wanted to choke him.
“Seventy pounds,” she read off to the tech sitting at the front desk.
Then she stepped into an exam room, and Zaka followed her right on in. Once we were both in, she shut the door and held her hand out for him to sniff, even though it was apparent he knew exactly who she was.
“How’s he been doing?” she asked me as she crouched next to him to love on my dog. I was more than a little jealous. Especially since I could see down the front of her red scrub top and her cleavage was screaming at me. When she looked up, her hazel gaze paused right at her eye level—my crotch. Then her cheeks flushed a little and she blinked up at me.
“Good. Unless he knows we’re coming here.” I smirked, and she grinned. She had no idea how bad I wanted to wrap her silky ponytail around my fist and pull her face into my cock. I shook off the visions that were beginning to form of her on her knees in front of me.
“I told you he was very intelligent,” she said as she tried to pull in her smile.
“Well, I didn’t expect him to understand what I was talking about,” I said with exasperation. She chuckled and shook her head.
“I’m not so sure he knew exactly what you were saying, but he knew it wasn’t something he’d like.” I raised a brow at her, telling her what I thought of her deduction.
“Oh, really. Well, I think he did know exactly what I was saying.”
Instead of replying to me, she returned her attention to my dog. “Don’t worry, handsome. We won’t touch the family jewels,” she crooned to him, and I swear the fucker smiled at her and gloated toward me.
“So much for man’s best friend,” I mumbled. She tried not to laugh as she assessed him under the guise of scratching and petting him. She looked closely at his muzzle and his gums. Then she listened to him with her stethoscope and finished her exam. Once she was done, she stood up.
“Everything looks and sounds good. No signs of infection. Do you have any questions?” she asked as she wiped her stethoscope and hooked it over her neck.
“When are you going to go to dinner with me?” I asked with a half-smile.
Her eyes got big, and she quickly glanced back down to Zaka. “That wouldn’t be appropriate, Mr. Dupré.”
“Oh, come on, Doc. It’s dinner. I’m not asking you to fuck me. Unless you’re game, then it’s not off the table.” I gave her one of my best smiles, and Zaka actually helped a brother out and laid his head against her leg. His big brown eyes blinked innocently up at her, and I made a mental note to give him an extra biscuit when we got home.
“Jesus, Ogun,” she mumbled in flustered shock, and I realized it was the first time she’d called me by first name.
“Is that a yes?”
“Home Sweet Home”—Motley Crüe
I never should have spoken his unusual name aloud. It was like summoning the dragon by speaking its name. He was dangerous—to my sanity and my well-being, and I was intelligent enough to realize that.
The problem was, he was also like the sun. Brilliant, bright, and intoxicating in his heat. So captivating that you wanted to stare at him and be close to him, even if you knew you’d get burned.
I cleared my throat. “Mr. Dupré,” I began.
“I liked Ogun better. Unless you want to call me Voodoo,” he interrupted. The sexy rumble of his voice was making it really hard to stay professional, but it was imperative that I did so. I wasn’t an idiot. I’d seen him on his motorcycle wearing that leather vest. That was a life I didn’t want any part of—no matter how tempting it might be.
“Mr. Dupré,” I firmly reiterated. “You and your dog are my clients. It would be highly inappropriate for me to have a relationship with you.”
“I’m not asking for a relationship,” he argued. “It’s dinner. Di-nner. Food. With company at the same table. That’s it.”
I was a barely out of school vet. I’d gotten lucky when Dr. Moran hired me as the third vet. I’d done my internship in his clinic and he’d taken me under his wing. The last thing I wanted to do was screw shit up by dating a client. Well, technically, the client’s owner.
Except I really wanted to. I’d been seeing Mr. Ogun Dupré come in with Zaka since he got the gorgeous German shepherd as a little puppy. The first time he showed up with the fluffy black bundle, I fought not to be a stuttering mess. Ogun was that good-looking.
Which was why I’d worked especially hard to stay professional. Not that it helped. Each time he came in, he asked me out, and each time it got harder to refuse him.
Ogun Dupré had been in for countless visits, because though Zaka was extremely intelligent, he was a naughty and inquisitive puppy. He’d severed a tendon squeezing through some construction materials, he’d gotten bit by another dog when he got loose, he’d gotten sick from eating the neighbors’ plants, swallowed a sock, and that was only the major stuff.
This was a follow-up from his adventures with a porcupine. Poor thing had quills all through his muzzle, in his gums, and even one ear.
There was a knock on the door, then Veronica stuck her chestnut head in. “Hey, Doc, is it okay that I brought Sasha up to the front desk? She was raising holy h—um, a ruckus in the back.” She gave a nervous grin to Ogun as she bit her lip, and of course he flashed her his beautiful smile.
“Hey, Veronica. How are things?” he asked her in that way-too-sexy voice of his. He came across as a broody grouch when I first met him, but he’d quickly warmed up to us in the office. New people, not so much.
I’d seen him in the grocery store and a few times around town. He always looked like he might set someone on fire with a look. I’d watched people take a wide berth around him in the store aisle and sit further away from him in restaurants. In a way, it made me feel bad for him, but he didn’t seem bothered by it.
Before Veronica could answer him, I answered her.
“Sure, that’s fine. Just be sure to hang on to her when we bring Zaka out,” I instructed her. “Shut the door completely until we’re done,” I politely dismissed her. Not that I didn’t like her; I simply didn’t like to watch the flirting between her and Ogun.
When I turned back toward him, I jumped because he had silently moved to stand right in front of me. His one step forward sent me one step back until my back was against the door.
The teasing look had vanished, and in its place was that dark, heated gaze he so often had. The one that sent my heart rate into overdrive and shivers down my spine.
He slowly licked his bottom lip as his pale eyes stared into my soul. One hand reached up and grabbed the two ends of my stethoscope. Using it much like a lasso, he reeled me in. “What are you afraid of?”
“I—I, uh, it’s not appropriate,” I stuttered.
“Bullshit,” he softly replied, causing his warm breath to feather across my cheek. “That’s the only argument you ever have. I think you’re afraid that dinner wouldn’t be enough for you—that if I got a taste of those plush lips, I wouldn’t stop. Then you’d go up in flames and there’d be no turning back.”
It was unnerving that it seemed like he could read my mind. So of course, I denied it with a laughing scoff. “You’re delusional!”
His lips curled again, but this wasn’t his flirty smile. It was sinister, and oh so damn sultry it made a fine sheen of sweat break out over my upper lip. “If that’s what helps you sleep at night.”
My breath caught, and it took a moment to get myself together. With an overly bright smile, I took a deep breath and said, “Okay, well, Zaka looks great. I’ll go and get his chart closed out.”
With a mirthless chuckle, he shook his head. “You know I’m not giving up.”
“You should,” I said on a heavy sigh.
“But I won’t,” he smugly replied before stepping back far enough to let me open the door. The scent of his cologne followed me as I left the room, and I gave a silent sigh.
I
was passing on the information regarding Zaka to the receptionist to enter in the computer when Sasha jumped up and rushed past me. I tried to grab her collar, but she was fast.
“Sasha!” I called but she was already focused on her target. Shit balls.
It all happened so quickly, I barely had time to move.
Ogun was coming out of the exam room with Zaka by his side, and Sasha was barreling down on him. My heart constricted when Zaka’s ears folded and his body tensed.
To my extreme horror, Sasha grabbed onto Zaka’s ear and bit it right as I grabbed for her. Blood started going everywhere. Everyone was all hands on deck, worried there would be a dog fight.
“Whoa! Hold up there, little fella,” Ogun said as he grabbed her collar. There was no way he could put enough distance between the two dogs if needed.
I grabbed her collar, and my hand brushed his as I pulled her away. “Sasha! Release!”
Lo and behold, she listened.
“Bad girl!” I scolded her after she sat. “I called your name, young lady. Mr. Dupré, I’m so sorry! If you’ll take him back in the exam room, I’ll check his ear.”
Sasha jumped up and was twisting in my hand, trying to get free to get back toward what she saw as her new friend. “Veronica!” I called. She’d promised to hold on to her if she was at the desk with her.
I heard running coming from the back, and Veronica arrived, breathless. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I had to run Mrs. Turnbow’s chihuahua to the back because she got out of the kennel somehow. I thought I’d be back before he came out.”
“Take Sasha for me.” Though she was fighting to get loose, she was wagging her tail and whining to get back to Zaka.
Ogun had returned to the room with his dog, and the rest of us tried to clean up the mess before another customer came in and it looked like we’d slaughtered an animal in the small lobby.
“You go take care of Zaka, I’ll get this,” Veronica offered. Thankful for her return from putting my now howling dog in her crate, I pushed the loose tendrils of hair out of my face.
Ugh, I must look a mess.
Hurrying into the room, I closed the door firmly. “Mr. Dupré, I’m really very sorry.”
“Did you get hurt?” he asked as he stared at me. Looking down, I realized I’d gotten blood all over my arm.
“Oh! No, that was from Zaka. Let me wash up, and I’ll take a look at him.” Mortification swallowed me alive as I scrubbed my hands and arm.
“I think it was just a lucky bite. Is she yours?” he asked as he held a paper towel to Zaka’s ear. Zaka was being remarkably good through all this.
Then it hit me. He could sue me over this. Shit.
“She is,” I reluctantly agreed as I checked his dog’s ear. The bleeding had stopped, but there was a small puncture wound. “I think it will heal closed, but I can suture it if you want.”
He laughed, and I looked at him in surprise. “It will be fine. I’m sure it will grow shut, and it will match his porcupine piercings.” It was the opposite ear of the porcupine quill holes. They had grown shut nicely, but a few spots left some tiny scars.
“Sasha is up to date on all of her shots,” I assured him. “I can get you a copy of her shot records.”
“No need. How old is she?” he asked as he crouched down next to me and scratched his dog’s neck.
“She’s six months old,” I replied as I finished cleaning the small wound. His proximity was doing really crazy things to me. I desperately wanted to ask him to back up, but then I’d be giving away that he affected me.
“She’s beautiful. I didn’t know you had a German shepherd. Did you get her because of Zaka?” That disarming grin came out to play again, and I had to look away.
“Of course not,” I said a little emphatically. I’d wanted one my whole life, but my father hated dogs. However, Ogun’s dog had been my driving force to finally get one.
“Mmm-hmm. Whatever you say.” His tone was teasing, and he’d seemed unconcerned about the incident, but I needed to know.
“Are you going to sue me?” My teeth tugged on my lower lip, and I pushed my hair that had escaped my ponytail behind my ears.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous. It was a simple accident. I don’t think she’s mean, nor did she intend to hurt him.” At his words, I relaxed.
My relaxation was short-lived.
“But you could ensure there are no hard feelings by going out with me tonight,” he said with a smug smile. My mouth fell open at his audacity.
“Are you blackmailing me?” My eyes were big with disbelief.
The laughter that escaped him was rich and rare. I’d heard him chuckle, but the boisterous laugh curled my toes and was infectious enough, I had to fight giving him a sappy smile of my own.
“Let’s call it friendly persuasion,” he finally replied. I shot him a look that said I wasn’t amused. Looking him in the eye was a mistake with the minimal space between us, because I was mesmerized by his pale blue eyes. The strong lines of his jaw, the bold slash of his brows. Everything about him called to me.
Blinking rapidly, I broke the spell and cleared my throat. Then I stood to put some distance between us.
“I’ll pick you up at six,” he said, and I gasped.
“But I didn’t say yes!” I exclaimed.
He gave me that sultry smile again and headed to the door. Pausing with his hand on the knob, he turned to me. “You didn’t have to. You have my number in my file. Text me your address.”
The room was vacated by the frustrating man and his beautiful beast as I sat reeling. Hiding out in the exam room until I knew they were gone, I pretended to be cleaning.
“That’s my job,” Veronica said from the doorway. I glanced her way to see her cheerful grin.
“I know. But I don’t have another client, and it’s almost closing time.” We closed early on Saturday.
The bell on the door chimed, and Dr. Moran came in. He’d been on a farm call this morning for an unexpected and difficult equine delivery. He was the only large animal vet in this practice.
“Kira,” he boomed in his deep voice. “Thank you so much for holding down the fort for me today.”
“It was nothing, considering how light the load was today.” We discussed the various animals that had come in, including Zaka. Mrs. Turnbow came in for her dog, and he briefly chatted with her. Once she’d left, I finished filling him in on the day’s few patients. The whole time, I nervously debated asking him about my situation.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, able to read me well. After ensuring Veronica and the receptionist were out of earshot, I fidgeted and then looked him in the eye.
“Um, what is the policy here for personal interactions with our customers?” It was suddenly difficult to swallow, and I desperately wanted a drink. My gaze dropped to my shoes.
His knowing chuckle had my head whipping up to look at him. Kindly, he asked, “Let me guess, Voodoo Dupré?”
Shock had me blinking owlishly. “How could you possibly know that?”
“Well, for one, I just finished talking to him in the parking lot. But other than that, I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he’s in with that big beast of his.” He gave me a soft smile, and I cleared my throat nervously.
“There is no policy. We’re a small family-owned clinic. However,” he suddenly got serious, “it can make for a sticky situation later if things don’t work out. And Voodoo is… well, I’ve known him since he moved here as a little boy. He’s a force, to be sure, but he’s always seemed a little broken. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
Dr. Moran had been a great mentor, and I valued his opinion. As well as his concern. The last thing I wanted was for him to worry about me though. What he didn’t know was that I was a lot tougher than he was aware.
“It’s only dinner.” I shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Hmm,” he hummed knowingly before he cupped my shoulder with a callused and wrinkled hand. His wizened eyes searched deep
in my own. “Just don’t expect too much from him.”
With that, he left the room to go back to his office where Mrs. Moran waited for him so we could close up and everyone could go home.
As I grabbed my tote and my naughty puppy, I looked at the sticky note I’d jotted his number on. It was only dinner, I repeated to myself for the millionth time.
Except the truth was, I had a sense that he was right.
This had the potential to combust. I could feel it in my bones.
I only hoped I’d survive the blaze.
“Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)”—Type O Negative
Snuffing the candles, I rose from my small altar and set the small silver blade on the worn wood. The scent of the herbs that had been burning clung to my clothes. For the first time in a long time, my inner demons were quiet and peace enfolded me in a heavy cloak. It was unusual, and I had to wonder what was behind it.
Though I knew. Deep inside, I knew.
It was her.
Dr. Kira Baranov always stilled the beasts that lurked in the darkest corners of my soul. Simply being in her presence was like breathing clean air after a fire. It was part of the reason I’d relentlessly pursued her each time I’d taken Zaka to see her.
I doubted it would last; it rarely did. My whole life, I’d turned to various vices to quiet the ugliness inside me. They all worked temporarily to distract and calm the churning anger I kept tightly leashed.
Noting the time, I left the basement, quickly showered, dressed, grabbed my keys, wallet, pistol, and finally shrugged on my cut. I’d been proud to earn the right to wear the skull with the crooked crown, and not a day went by that I wasn’t. Of course, that was much to my mother’s disappointment.
Truthfully, she didn’t have a lot of room to bitch. She’d ended up falling for one of the members who’d been tasked with getting us away from New Orleans and to a new life. It may not have been the life she wanted for me, but it was in my blood.
My sperm donor may have been a piece of shit, but my grandfather had been a Royal Bastard and so had the man I considered my father. The one who taught me how to be a man.
Voodoo (Royal Bastards MC: Ankeny IA) Page 3
