Zenone, page 2
Strangely, his words had her paling further even as a sense of relief filled those grape jelly-colored eyes. Instead of speaking, the woman wisely snapped her jaw closed.
“Sir, is there a problem?” a guard asked as he approached with his hand resting on the butt of his gun.
Zeno glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “We’re fine. My lady just tripped and twisted her ankle.”
The guard looked from him to the woman and back again before internally shrugging. “Well, if you need help, feel free to use a courtesy phone to call for a wheelchair.”
“Thank you, we’ll be fine,” Zeno assured the guard before turning to the woman. “If I deal with your luggage, do you think you can walk to the exit?”
The woman nodded quickly. “I told you, I’m fine. You don’t need to pull my bag.”
“Nonsense, a gentleman never allows a lady to drag her own suitcase if he has a free hand.”
Standing, Zeno slipped on his backpack, then wrapped the handle of her carryall around the popup handle of the carryon suitcase. Once everything was secure, he turned to the woman and held out his right hand. “Zeno Santi.”
The woman pushed to her feet with a hiss as she settled her weight on both feet before placing her hand in his. “Willow Lynch. Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Santi.”
“Zeno, please,” he said as he shook her hand up and down several times before stopping, but not releasing it.
He continued looking into her eyes until her cheeks pinked up and she dropped her gaze to his chest. Yep, Willow Lynch was a Little girl, and unless someone else had prior claim, he would be taking her home.
Zeno’s smile widened as he released her right hand then reached for her left. “Well, Miz Willow, I do believe it’s time we head out. Do you have any checked luggage to claim?”
“No,” she answered softly, with a sniff as she used her free hand to wipe away the tears on her cheeks. “This is it. This is everything I own.”
Zeno frowned, but knew the middle of a busy airport was not the place to question her further. Instead, he started walking, allowing her to set the pace.
She winced with the first step she took. Then she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “A little pain will not stop me,” she whispered to herself. “I can do this.”
Zeno did not respond, though he wanted to assure her that together, nothing would stop them. Ever.
But it was too soon for such assurances since he’d only known her name for a minute.
* * * *
Willow was so tired, and hurting so bad, she just wanted to find some food and a place to curl up, and cry. Then she would sleep for a week. But first she had to get away from her gorgeous, dark-eyed escort who had taken control of things with an ease she’d never encountered before.
She reminded herself that she had to keep her Little side hidden until she was alone somewhere in a cheap hotel room. But first she had to find a cheap hotel which was hopefully within walking distance of the airport.
The pain in her ankle throbbed in time with the pains in her ribs, back, and hips, but she refused to let the discomfort stop her. She needed to get away from the airport to somewhere safe. A place where no one knew who she was. Only then would she indulge her Little side with takeout Chinese food, soda, chocolate, and all the other bad-for-her foods she had not been allowed to eat for the past seven years.
In the meantime, she needed to take her focus off the pain. Peeking to the side and up, she admired the man’s classic profile. He reminded her of some of her favorite Italian sculptures. “So, Zeno Santi, are you visiting family in Georgetown?”
They had passed through the exit doors and were now at the top of the staircase that led to the baggage claim and out of the building. He guided her toward the escalator then stepped in front of her, still carrying her bags. It was as if he was protecting her as they descended. Or was he keeping her from escaping?
“No, I’m moving home for good. I just retired from the Navy.”
She shifted then patted his shoulder with a smile. “Thank you for your service.”
She felt him freeze and his muscles tighten for a second before he nodded and swallowed. The statement of appreciation obviously made him uncomfortable.
Before she could say anything further, a cheer went up from the floor below. “Hey, hero! Welcome home!”
Her gaze went to a crowd of grinning people waving flags and holding up signs that read “Welcome Home Zeno”. The men were all tall, dark and gorgeous, like Zeno. The women were all petite and cute.
She was surprised when everyone within earshot stopped and turned to see what the fuss was about. Then the applause began, along with people calling, “Welcome home,” and “Thank you for your service.”
Zeno going still as a statue in front of her showed her just how uncomfortable such praise from strangers made him.
Leaning down, she said so only he could hear her, “Take a breath, smile, and nod.”
She couldn’t see his face, but assumed he followed her instructions. He even went so far as to raise his free hand and give a small wave. It was enough acknowledgement that the crowd not waiting for him returned to whatever they were doing.
Once they reached the bottom of the escalator ride, Willow tried to take her bag back so she could head on her way. Problem was, Zeno refused to release it. Instead, he looked at her in a way that had her Little side surging forth with a vengeance.
“I’ve got the bags, Little one. You just worry about staying on your feet until we get outside, okay?”
“But…” Willow started to protest, but was cut off when the crowd of people who were obviously Zeno’s family surrounded them.
An elderly couple stepped to the front of the crowd. They each hugged Zeno and kissed both his cheeks repeatedly while speaking what sounded like Italian. He responded in kind, looking relieved as he gently embraced the people who he called “Nonna” and “Nonno”, which, having studied Italian in high school, Willow knew meant grandmother and grandfather.
Once the older couple stepped out of the way, the men, who all looked disturbingly similar, took turns sharing big man-sized bearhugs with Zeno. At the same time the women focused on her. “I thought Zeno was single,” one said.
“He was the last time Nico talked to him,” another answered.
“So, who are you?” a third asked her directly.
Willow swallowed and began to tremble, trying to edge closer to Zeno as she worked to come up with an answer. “I’m no one.”
“This is Willow,” Zeno stated as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side, causing her to flinch and fight a gasp of pain as her body protested the action. “She’s with me.”
Willow turned her head so fast her neck cracked. “I’m what?” she asked before anyone else could.
Zeno met her gaze squarely. “You’re with me, at least until you’re feeling better,” he said, his dark-eyed gaze burning with messages Willow wasn’t sure she read correctly.
He seemed determined to keep her with him. Since she was tired and hurting and didn’t have anywhere else to go, she decided it might be best to just give in. She would at least have a place to stay for the night and tomorrow she would figure out her next move.
With a slow, even breath, she nodded before she said, “I’m with you until I feel better.”
Chapter Three
“There will be no hanky-panky under my roof,” Nonna said as soon as they were inside the big farmhouse where Zeno’s grandparents had lived for the past sixty-some years.
“Yes, ma’am,” Zeno responded as sharply as if he was back in basic training.
“She’ll stay in your old room and until we can fix up your house, you’ll stay with Laz,” Nonna continued, sounding so much like his old drill instructor Zeno shifted into an attention stance. It took a moment for all of what Nonna had said to register.
“But Laz snores,” Zeno protested.
Nonno chuckled beside him. “That will give you added incentive to fix up your house. In the meantime, you’ll court your lady.”
Zeno wanted to argue, but his grandparents were both wearing the look that said the line had been drawn in the sand and cement poured over it. “Oh, all right,” he huffed before turning to Willow.
The woman looked more asleep than awake. She had fallen asleep as soon as they’d left the airport and slept all the way home. Even now she looked befuddled and a little scared.
“My grandparents will take good care of you tonight, and I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Tomorrow we’ll look my house over and see how much needs to be done before we can move in,” he said before brushing a kiss on her lips. “Sleep well, Little one.”
Willow blinked and stared at him with wide, confused eyes. She surprised him when she didn’t argue about him calling her Little girl, or that she couldn’t stay here with or without him by her side. “Umm, okay.”
Zeno’s cock gave a twitch, and he wished she’d add a soft “Daddy” at the end, but that would come in time. For now, at least he knew she would be safe with his grandparents with a warm bed and solid walls around her.
“Okay,” he repeated before brushing a kiss on her forehead. He then turned and walked out the front door without another word. He was not surprised to find Laz standing on the front porch, as if waiting for him.
The two men left the porch and walked down the road that wound through the Kinky Saints MC compound.
“So, how much work does my house need before I can claim my girl from Nonna’s clutches?” he asked as Laz’s house came into view a few minutes later.
“Not so much. When you sent word you were coming home, Nonna and the girls had us pull all the old furniture out, clean the place, and repaint. They also bought new mini-blinds and curtains. Nonno had the plumber and electrician go over the house, and they updated all the appliances and fixtures. What you need now is furniture and everything else,” Laz said as the two men settled in the Adirondack chairs that graced his small front porch. “So, tell me about Willow.”
“Not much I can tell you. I met her at the airport in Virginia not long before our flight. She shared her sandwich with me.”
“Her sandwich, huh? Is that what you old retired dudes call it now?” Laz asked, making her lunch into something dirty.
Zeno reached over and smacked the back of his cousin’s head. “It was a peanut butter and gummy bear sandwich. Don’t make it into something it wasn’t.”
Laz stared at him, looking perplexed. “You met her at the airport. Did you at least join the mile-high club on the flight?”
When Zeno moved to slap him again, Laz quickly leaned out of his reach.
“Why does everything that comes out of your mouth sound perverted?” Zeno asked as he lowered his hand to the chair’s armrest.
Laz shrugged. “When did you get so old and stodgy? Never mind. Tell me everything you do know about Willow.”
* * * *
Willow fought down a stomach-clenching panic as Zeno walked out the front door. What was she supposed to do now? She didn’t want to share her story with these kind people. Zeno did not yet know about her background, and she certainly refused to tell his grandparents before she told him.
And how had she ended up here anyway? She was supposed to have taken a taxi to the nearest cheap motel and hole up long enough to relieve the Little pressure she felt and then make some big girl decisions about her future.
Instead, she found herself swept along by the Santi family to Georgetown and the compound the family owned. And now here she stood, facing Zeno’s grandparents while he had been banished from the house.
“You’re hungry,” Nonna said when the silence had gone on for far too long.
“No, I’m fine,” she said as her stomach gave a long, loud rumbling growl.
“Come with me.” Nonna took her hand and dragged her along to the kitchen. “Sit and I’ll fix you a plate.”
“I’m hungry, too,” Nonno said as he wandered in a moment later.
“Old man, you ate dinner before we left for the airport,” Nonna said though she pulled down a second plate from the cupboard.
Five minutes later, Willow had a plate heaped high with food fresh from the microwave placed in front of her, along with a glass of milk. After heating a second smaller plate, Nonna set it in front of her husband, then sat down with a glass of red wine.
Willow took the first bite and could not help the moan that escaped. “It’s delicious,” she said.
“I’m glad you like it,” Nonna responded before taking a sip of wine. “You and my Zenone are a new couple, yes?”
Willow had just put another bite into her mouth, so she took her time chewing as she tried to come up with an answer to the elderly woman’s question that wouldn’t horrify her.
Finally, she swallowed and nodded. “Yes, we’re new. I met him this afternoon about twenty minutes before we boarded the plane for Austin. He didn’t like my peanut butter and gummy bear sandwich.”
Willow held her breath as she watched Zeno’s grandparents exchange a glance, and then both began to grin as they turned back to her. “He was the decisive one even as a boy. Always knew what he wanted and charged ahead,” Nonno said with a nod. “Now if we can get him to settle on a new, not dangerous job for the next years of his life…”
“That won’t be hard, now that he’s got a woman,” Nonna pointed out. “And think of the sweet babies they’ll have.”
Willow’s eyes went wide. “Ummm, please don’t talk about babies when we’ve barely kissed. We might not even be a match, once we get to know each other.”
“Nonsense,” Nonna scoffed, waving her wine glass around. “You’re perfect for one another. And you’re just the kind of woman he needs. Strong, steady, beautiful. A Little girl in need of a Daddy’s strong guidance.”
Willow blinked and felt her cheeks burning. How had they known she had Little tendencies? Did everyone know? Would the family make fun of her for preferring someone else be in charge?
For a moment, she wondered how far the nearest hotel was. Then she blinked and realized these two would never allow her to walk away, even if she did have somewhere to go.
Taking one last bite, Willow pushed the plate away. “Dinner was delicious. Thank you for dinner, and putting me up. I think I’d like to turn in now, if that’s all right.”
“Oh, of course. You must be exhausted.” Nonna rose and swept her dishes from the table.
In moments, she had been guided to the guest suite on the second floor. The décor was pure country, and made Willow smile as she unpacked her nightshirt and toiletry kit.
By the time she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed into the oversized T-shirt she’d been wearing to sleep in, Willow was beyond exhausted. Climbing into bed, she curled up and only then allowed herself to drop her guard enough to cry out some of the stress that had been building to a dangerous level. She fell asleep mid-sob, though her spirit felt a thousand pounds lighter.
* * * *
Even through the closed bedroom door, Laz’s snoring kept Zeno awake. Finally, with eyes gritty from lack of sleep, Zeno got up, dressed, and took the blanket with him. Leaving Laz’s house, he walked down the road to his grandparents’ house. Wrapping the blanket around his shoulders against the chilly night air, he vowed to have a bed, linens, and other furniture in his house before the next sundown so he and Willow could be under the same roof. He loved his grandparents, but after twenty years away from home, having them monitor his love life so closely was not in his plans.
All the lights were off inside his grandparents’ house, but the front porch light glowed as it had every night for as long as he could remember. Stepping onto the porch of the big farmhouse, Zeno tried the door, pleased to find it locked. They had not locked the door for years, not until he and his cousins had entered their late teens and began staying out past curfew. It only took a couple of nights of swatting mosquitos while trying to sleep on the porch to understand that Nonna did not fool around when it came to curfew.
Looking around the front porch, he found the ceramic frog his grandmother had bought in case of emergencies after “her boys” had moved out. Picking it up, he opened the hidden door in the base and took out the key. Unlocking the front door, he then replaced the key, and the frog before stepping into the house.
Closing and locking the door after him, he took a breath and felt a knot loosen that had been growing since he’d walked away from the house earlier in the evening. He took a moment to pull off his shoes and socks before heading deeper into the house.
Driven to be near Willow, Zeno wasn’t sure how she would react if she woke up and he was in her room. None of the doors, except the master bedroom, had a working lock, so getting in wouldn’t be a problem. Creeping up the stairs, he said a quick prayer that his cousins had followed through with the agreement they’d made his last trip home to take the guns out of the house. Otherwise, if he heard him sneaking around, Nonno might fill him with holes before he even got to Willow’s room.
His eyes now adjusting to the dark, Zeno paused at the top of the staircase and looked around. Two nightlights glowed at opposite ends of the long hall, providing just enough light to see by. From what he could tell, nothing had changed. The door to his grandparents’ bedroom was closed, as was one other at the far end of the hall. Listening, he could hear Nonno’s snoring and wondered once again how his grandmother slept through the sound.
Keeping close to the wall where the floors didn’t make as much noise, Zeno picked his way down the hall, glancing over his shoulder every time a floorboard squeaked under his weight.
Just as he reached the room where he thought Willow slept, a scream cut the silence. Pushing open the door, he hurried inside. Across the room a small figure tossed about the bed, muttering softly as she fought the covers.
Zeno hurried to the side of the bed and sat down. When one arm emerged from the covers, he grabbed it and said softly, “Shhh, kitten. You’re all right. I’m here.”
