by Allie York
“I love you, Kitten,” I tried to reach for the handle to shut off the water, but Oz gripped me tighter, “It’s getting cold.” She loosened just enough for me to lean over and turn it off, then grabbed a towel from the top of the door. I wrapped it around us, tipping her head back to see the tears in her eyes again, “You have got to stop that.” She didn’t look sad, she looked loved, and the smile on her face said she was happy too. She looked satisfied.
Ozma burrowed her face back into my wet shoulder, “I can’t. I told you I cry over everything.” She laughed and sniffled, “We should probably get out of the shower, huh?” Her nails raked my beard and I suddenly didn’t want out of the shower. I could have stayed lost in her brown eyes for all eternity. My forehead hit hers and I closed my eyes.
Before vet school, I played the college games. I screwed who I wanted, sending far too many women on a walk of shame the next morning, then ignoring them for the next four years. Occasionally, I would hook up with the same girl twice, or even a handful of times, but never stuck with anyone. I dated one girl in vet school, just in the beginning when I thought I could balance it all, but it was casual, and she saw other people too. It was really just sex when either of us needed it, but the heat from the beginning fizzled fast. Everything with Ozma was different. Intimacy never had a place in my life, but Ozma brought a level of connection with her that I thought I’d never find.
I moved our shared towel to her and grabbed a second one to tie around my waist, “Yeah, I have a couple more rooms that need attention.” I winked and Ozma giggled.
“Maybe those can wait for another day?” Her face turned red, and her plump bottom lip got pulled between her teeth. Blotches of red marked her creamy skin around her neck and across her chest. Evidence of my beard and teeth. Having her twice in a couple of hours was too much, but not enough.
“Yeah, those can wait,” I took her hand to help her from the shower, and was immediately attacked. Oz threw herself into me, kissing along my neck and chest. I hugged her close, petting her damp hair. I loved her clingy side. She always acted like it bothered me to have her hang on me, so I was always doing the touching and initiated almost all contact. After finally crossing that line, I got what I wanted from her. Ozma needed the contact as much as I did. Once we unwound ourselves, she left to change in my room with a swat to the ass.
I found Oz laid out on the couch with Hemingway on her chest, stroking him softly. I was dressed for our time at the park, but Oz was back in all black, minus the ears. Her eyes were closed, but her hand moved rhythmically down the cat’s spine, “You didn’t tell me you have a cat.” One eye peeked at me.
“I have a cat,” I plucked Hemi off her chest and offered her my hand to haul her off the couch, “Rose got him for me. Well, Rose pawned him off on me after she adopted him and found out she had allergies.” I scratched Hemi’s head and handed Oz one of my jackets to put on.
“You having a cat is cute,” Her lips brushed mine and I opened my door to reveal Douglas Greenlee with his hand ready to knock on my door. I nearly shoved Oz behind me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I grit the words out, the cloud of euphoria dissipating in an instant. I could’ve hit the guy for that alone.
“I was hoping you’d be home, but I didn’t expect Ozzy to be here too. I should have known though,” Oz fought to get past my arm, but I didn’t budge, “You two shacking up?”
“Do you need something?” My effort to hold Oz off failed and she pushed around me, ducking my attempt to hold her back.
Douglas looked her over and shook his head, “I just wanted to chat with you man to man about your relationship with my daughter, but I guess it can wait. It’s a private conversation.”
“Dad…”
“No, if you have something to say, Mr. Greenlee, please go ahead.” I gestured for him to talk with one hand, wrapping my free arm around Ozma. No way was I letting her go down the same path as the night before. At the first degrading comment, the door was getting slammed in his face. My hope was for her to shut him down first.
He sighed, “Fine, I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. Ozma had a pretty well-known reputation in high school, and I wanted to spare you the pain I went through with her mother, but you look too far gone.” Ozma had gone deathly still next to me, but I felt her breath hitch. A normal dad would have gone through the talk in an entirely different way, making sure my intentions were honorable, but not Douglas Greenlee.
“Thanks for your concern, but I’m fine,” I rolled my eyes theatrically, and tugged on Oz, “Let’s get to the park before we have to get to our reservation.” I lied and shoved us around him, “Have a nice night, Mr. Greenlee.”
We didn’t even make it to the end of the hall before he called out, “Tell him about Brad, Ozzy. It’s only fair to the guy.” A whimper came from her throat, but we just kept walking.
I spun her and backed her into Jolene, caging her in to kiss the stray tear on her cheek, “Please stop,” Oz shoved at me, but it was pointless, I wasn’t moving.
“What about him gets to you? We both know that every word he says is bullshit, so why do you take it?” Ozma stared up at me for a long moment.
“I don’t. I don’t take it,” She lifted to her toes, pressing her mouth to mine and wrapping her arms around my neck. I fell into her, pressing her against Jolene when we heard the door to my building slam. Our surroundings vanished when her tongue teased my lip and I took over the kiss. I knew who had followed us out but neither one of us cared. I kept kissing her until I heard the squeal of tires hauling ass out of the parking lot and finally came up for air.
“You do take it, but not anymore. Got it?” I helped her into Jolene and we went to pick up her dog. The kiss was to distract me, but it only kinda worked.
We made it to her house to find Ziggy in the crate and I hooked him to the leash while she went to change. Oz let him out with no leash, but I didn’t quite trust my bond with him that much. He watered every tree in the yard, and few bushes before we made it back in and he bounced off to find Ozma. She was meticulously putting on makeup in the bathroom, and I leaned against the door frame to watch her.
“Brad was the asshole I dated in high school. I use the term ‘dated’ very loosely,” Ozma tossed something in the bag and picked up something else.
“Oz, stop.”
“No. Anyway, we went out one time to this hayride corn maze thing and ended up alone. He tried to rape me. Blair came to pick me up in the middle of nowhere. I guess Brad needed a good story for the black eye I gave him and the bruises he gave me. Turns out I’m quite the freak according to Brad. Dad swears I’m just like Mom.” Ziggy whimpered at my feet and realized I was digging my nails into my palms. Ozma breezed past me out of the bathroom, but I stopped her.
“Your own father believed a rumor over his daughter?” I was pissed but Ozma just smiled and nodded, “Does he need me to vouch for you? Because I can give him very specific details…” My taunt was cut off when she smacked my arm and I returned the favor on her ass.
“So, now you know about Brad. Ready to go to the park?” I had the tendency to deflect with humor, but Ozma just deflected. I let her get away with it and followed her through the house while she gathered her things. Her tight jeans were a second skin and her fitted t-shirt was topped with a flannel button up. It was the most casual I had ever seen her. Oz stooped to tie her shoes and I just enjoyed the view. Visions of taking her from behind filled my head and I had to look away. We had plenty of time for all that. Just before she and Ziggy left the house, I took her hand and slid my hand up her arm.
“Are we okay?” The intense connection we had just a few hours before felt disjointed, like it had cracked at some point.
Oz gave me a small smile, “I’m just processing. I guess I thought I’d feel different,” Her cheeks turned pink, “We’re fine.” The woman had switched temperatures on me more times in the last four hours than I ever thought possible.
“Nothing’s changed, Ozma,” I hugged her and Ziggy bounced at the door, “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m in this. I need to know you are too.” A heavy sigh left her and she sagged against me.
“I’m in it too. I just don’t know how this works. We’re going to eat with your family, it’s kind of a big step,” Dinner was suddenly a bigger step than sex, but Ozma was the queen of deflection, “I’m trying to figure out how things will be if this doesn’t work.”
I pushed her off me, making her look at me, “Oz, this works, we work, so stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m keeping you. I love you. Period. This insecure bullshit is done. Your dad is a dick. Everything was fine until he showed up.” Ozma was facing me, but not actually looking at me, “I get it, he wears you down at record speed, but I’m not him. I’m not here to tear you down, Oz. You’re strong and beautiful and driven, but it’s like he walks in and you’re a different person.” Ozma glared at me, “I just want the old Oz back. I want the one who yells at me and takes no shit.”
“Nothing I do is good enough, Harris, not ever. I get a degree, but it’s not a masters, I open a business, but it’s going to fail. I don’t have sex, but I’m a whore. I find an amazing guy who loves me, but I’m not good enough.”
“You don’t get it, do you? He’s sick, not you. You’re not the problem.” Ozma stared at me for a long time, chewing her lip.
“I feel like the problem, but I guess I shouldn’t. Just give me some more of that patience you are so good at, okay?” With that she kissed me and pulled me out of her house with Ziggy leading the way to Jolene. Oz jumped in the front, Ziggy settled into the back, and we headed to the park.
By the time we made it to the site of our first date, Ozma was back to her normal self. We strolled over the bridge to the gazebo, with her hand tucked in mine and made another lap around the pond, talking about how cool it was getting and the holidays. The first day of November brought us into the holiday season at full force and she worried about the boutique keeping up with the demands of Christmas.
Then she asked me a question that made me freeze, “So what is the history with Rose and Porter?”
“Porter and I have been friends for ages. Rose always had a little crush, but there is not history. He’s ten years older than her. Why do ask?” I caught my temper rising and cleared my throat. I loved Port like a brother, but my baby sister was off limits. Hell, she was barely legal.
“Calm down, Harris. I was asking how they met, not saying anything was going on,” Ozma tugged at my hand, “Rose talks about him sometimes, that’s all. Just a small world.” I turned her hand over and kissed it, changing the subject to how she met Porter. Leaving my sister out of it. The idea of Rose’s crush was cute, like when she was eight and swore she was going to marry him, but at eighteen, it wasn’t so cute.
Once Ziggy started slowing down a few hours later, we headed back to Jolene and then to see Mom. If I could get her alone for a minute, I could ask her about what her plan for Ozma’s father entailed. I needed to take out my own restraining order since he tracked down where I lived and Ozma would be there, a lot. She’d be there all the time if I had anything to do with it. The idea of him coming knocking while I had her over pissed me off. I knew with complete certainty that Ozma had been a virgin that morning, and it took a lot of self-control to not tell the guy. I had the urge to tell everyone, shouting it from rooftops. It would have just made things worse to tell Douglas, and Ozma may have murdered me.
Chapter Eighteen
Ozma
The Oswin’s house still had the cobwebs on the porch and jack-o-lanterns lining the walk when Ziggy, Harris and I strolled up to the front door. Harris had taunted me the entire drive, telling me how he was going to beat my ass at whatever game Rose decided on, but we both knew better. My Hangman game rivaled his and that was just the beginning of my mad gaming skills. Harris went to open the door, but dropped his hand and turned to kiss me before the door opened and we walked in. The outside hadn’t been cleaned up, but the inside was spotless. No decorations or any signs of Halloween. Instead, tasteful fall decorations were everywhere.
“I was about to call you!” Gloria called, waving us into the kitchen, “I made Italian.” The smell got stronger and my mouth started watering. The eggs from that morning had been long gone half way into our walk at the park.
“Good! We’re starved,” Harris kissed his mom and opened the door off the kitchen for Ziggy to trot out into the yard. My dog acted like he owned whatever home he was in. He went down the porch steps into the fenced yard and started claiming everything in the yard as his. I rolled my eyes as he marked every blade of grass.
A squeeze to my hand pulled me from my thoughts, “I’m glad you came. Harry’s text said you had an interesting morning,” My wide eyes went from Gloria to Harris and I felt my face get hot. Please tell me he didn’t tell his mother we slept together. I swallowed the dry lump in my throat, “Have you thought about a restraining order as well?”
I sighed when I realized my dad, not my sex life, was the topic of conversation, “Oh, no, I couldn’t. He’s my dad, no matter how crazy.”
“Maybe you should consider it if he’s going to be following you around. I don’t mean to pry, but the scene last night was not a pretty one,” Gloria squeezed my hand and Harris rested a hand on my waist.
“I’ve dealt with Dad way longer than either of you. He’s a jerk, but I’m fine. You should definitely do it though. I’ve never seen him act like he did last night,” The way he showed up at Gloria’s house was a power play. He wanted to scare her for rejecting him, and it worked.
“I don’t like any of this,” Harris finally spoke up, “I don’t like him showing up, I don’t like the way he talks to you, and I think you should take it a little more serious, Oz. I know he’s your dad, but he’s gone from jerk to stalker,” I looked up at the concern on his face and leaned into him.
“I’ll think about it. Can we talk about something a little more pleasant?” Dad didn’t come up after that. We stood in the kitchen watching Gloria cook and talking about work. I gave more details on the boutique than Rose could, so we talked about the business side of stuff. Harris plated all our food, insisting we all go sit down when Rose ran in and hugged me. The table was set up for six people, but Harris left both ends empty, putting us across from his mom and sister. It all made sense when Gloria looked over at Harris and I, hands clasped on the table, and looked longingly at the head of the table. It was his father’s seat. I gave his hand a little squeeze and got a smile in return.
“I was weird about Harry dating my boss, but you two are so cute,” Rose gushed all starry-eyed at us.
“Glad you got over that, because I plan on keeping her,” Harris kissed my hand and went back to eating. Any kind of relationship was still new to me, but him being so open about it made me blush every time. Harris was certainly proud to be with me.
He cleared the table, glaring at me when I tried to help him, and I kept talking to Gloria about younger Harris. Rose vanished for a minute and came back with a giant post-it pad and a marker to play Hangman. Rose took the first turn and I held back as much as I could before blurting out an answer. ‘Legally Blonde’ was far too easy. Harris came back just as Gloria took her turn and settled next to me, kissing my shoulder before calling out a letter. Once I let Harris and Rose guess a few letters and we were dangerously close to a dead stick figure, I finished the puzzle.
“You are a smart cookie,” Gloria pointed the marker at me and I laughed, “Have you actually seen that movie?”
“Yeah, I had a teacher obsessed with Roman culture, so we watched A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum like four times in his class. It didn’t have anything to do with his class, but the movie is so cute,” Harris’ phone rang while I took my turn at the pad of paper. Rose had just beat my puzzle when Harris came back, looking a little grim.
“I need to go help Rick and Jax,” Harris rubbed the bac
k of his neck, “A precarious surgery is coming in and they want my help. I guess the dog is kind of difficult. Stay or go with me?”
“I can stay,” I didn’t want him out of my sight, but my clingy side had to be silenced. Harris was mine and I had to be secure in that without following him around at work.
“You sure?” Harris saw right through me, but I nodded with a smile. He stalked across the room kissed me before saying his goodbyes to Gloria and Rose, and I watched him strut from the house. Jolene started, purring loudly, and roaring from the driveway.
Gloria watched me curiously for a second, “You love him, don’t you?” She pushed up from the table, and came to take her turn at Hangman.
“Yes,” I handed her the marker and tried to make my way to my seat. Instead, I got jerked into a tight hug. Gloria squeezed me and sniffled a little until I hugged her back.
“I know this is so silly, but I know how he is and I was getting worried Harry would never find anyone to tolerate the less desirable side of him. Thank you,” I wiggled out of her grip, trying not to laugh at her. At least his mom wasn’t wearing any rose-colored glasses where Harris was concerned. He could certainly be a jerk, “I made this awkward, I’m sorry.” Gloria wiped the tear from her eye and we went back to our game.
The more time that dragged by, the more nervous I got. Ziggy stayed perched in Rose’s lap while we watched some crime show in silence. Rose took selfies with the dog, and I checked my phone every few seconds, the minutes ticking by, and making me squirm. A difficult dog was understandable, but my clingy side had me going crazy. Two hours and thirteen minutes later my phone rang and I jumped from my daze to answer it.
