Zenone, page 3
Willow stilled as he spoke, then shook her head with her eyes still closed and obviously still more asleep than awake. “No, it’s not safe. Run away before he gets you,” she whispered urgently to him as she tried to pull her hand from his.
Moving to lie down next to her, Zeno pulled Willow into his arms. Brushing his hands over her hair to soothe her, he said, “Shh, Little one. It’s all right. No one will hurt me. And I won’t let him hurt you, either. You’re safe and Daddy’s going to take care of everything.”
“Daddy?” Willow stilled for a moment before her eyes opened. She blinked several times before focusing on him through the dim light. “I don’t have a Daddy. Just an asshole, rat bastard ex who refuses to let me go. For your own good, Zeno, don’t worry about me. I’ll leave in the morning, and then you can go on with your life.”
Her sad voice made Zeno even more certain that he was to be the next, and last, man in her life.
“Nope, not happening, kitten. This Daddy won’t let his Little girl fight the boogeyman all alone.” He met Willow’s confused look with a smile. Brushing a kiss on her nose, he began to gently rub a hand up and down her arm in what he hoped was a soothing movement. It had been a long time since his last Little girl, and he hoped what worked then worked now. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart. We have a big day tomorrow, and you need to rest up for it.”
Though she looked like she wanted to argue, Willow nodded. Settling her head on his chest, she cuddled even closer to his side, as her eyes drifted shut. It was less than a minute before she relaxed fully as sleep claimed her.
Lifting his free arm to slide his hand behind his head, Zeno stared at the ceiling, studying the five blades of the ceiling fan that slowly turned. Taking a deep breath, he smiled as the scent of the woman beside him filled his lungs. Orange and sweet was the only way to describe it. For the first time in months, his cock stiffened with interest. Too bad it was way too early in their relationship to do something about it.
Tonight, he would focus on keeping his woman’s nightmares at bay. For no matter who tried to deny it, he knew she was the perfect woman for him.
Chapter Four
“Zenone Antonio Santi, what the devil do you think you’re doing?” A shrill voice shattered the dream Willow was having and jerked her awake in a heartbeat. Willow didn’t understand the rest of her words.
“Ow, ow, ow,” a deep male voice sounded.
In the next second, the hard-as-rock pillow her head rested on disappeared and the bed shifted wildly, causing her to flop over onto her back.
Opening her eyes, Willow turned her head to face the spot where the two voices were now arguing in intense whispers. Forcing her eyelids up, she frowned. A small elderly woman was holding the ear of a man nearly twice her size, bending him down so they were face to face. Though she could not understand a word the woman said, she could tell just by the tone that she was harshly scolding the man.
“Good morning?” she said as she shifted and groaned when every muscle in her body protested.
The arguing stopped and two heads turned to look at her. “Good morning, Willow,” the older woman, who Willow now remembered being called Nonna, answered. “I’m sorry we woke you up. I’ll just take this naughty boy out of here so you can go back to sleep if you wish.”
“Nonna, stop. My ear,” Zeno protested as she opened the door and pulled him by the ear out into the hall. She closed the door behind them.
Willow giggled when she heard the woman begin to scold Zeno again, not stopping when the man tried to defend himself or explain. Rolling to her side, she looked around in the covers for a moment before remembering that her ex had destroyed her old stuffie, along with most everything she owned. She would have to find herself a new one since she didn’t think Nonna would allow Zeno anywhere near her bedroom again.
Willow climbed out of bed, then spent a few minutes bending and twisting, trying to stretch the muscles that were determined to complain about any movement. Once things loosened up and she was no longer hunched over like an old woman, she opened her bag and took out one of the three T-shirts she’d packed around her computer and camera equipment. Digging deeper, she pulled out clean panties and socks as well. She would have to wear her bra again since it was the only one she had now. She made a mental note to see if Nonna would allow her to wash her clothes at some point before she completely ran out of clean clothes.
Once she was dressed and brushed her hair, Willow made the bed and repacked her belongings. When there was nothing else to do, she left her suitcase and carryall by the door and ventured out into the hall.
There was no one around upstairs, so, after using the bathroom, she headed downstairs.
The scent of coffee grew stronger once she stepped out of the stairwell, so she followed her nose to the kitchen. Nonno was sitting at the table reading a computer tablet and drinking a cup of coffee while Nonna bustled about the kitchen preparing breakfast.
She jumped and squeaked when large, warm hands came down on her shoulders before a pair of lips set in a scruffy bearded face kissed her cheek. “Good morning, kitten. I hope you slept the rest of the night better than the first part.”
Turning her head, she looked into a pair of warm brown eyes. “I did, thank you. You worked even better than Viking.”
“Viking? Who’s Viking?” Zeno pulled his head back and frowned at her.
Realizing what she’d said, Willow took a step sideways, trying to get out of the doorway where his grandparents could hear their conversation. When he followed, she took another step, and another. But she never got out of range of his hands. She blinked and tried to breathe, but found it difficult through the terror that had suddenly sprung up.
Would Zeno slap or punch if he didn’t like her answers? Her ex never hurt her the same way twice in a row, keeping her guessing as to if, and when, he would punish her for whatever slight he had imagined.
Zeno must have read something in her expression, for he stepped back and lifted his hands to his shoulders. He looked like he was about to be robbed. “Easy, kitten. I won’t hurt you. You don’t have to tell me who Viking is if you don’t want to. But you need to breathe with me before you pass out, okay?”
She nodded and tried to match her gasping breaths to his longer, slower, deeper ones. It took a few cycles, but finally she was able to breathe in and out with him. With that, her racing heartbeat slowed and she regained control and was able to speak.
“Viking was my teddy bear. I’d had him since a friend gave him to me as a high school graduation present. He was really great at keeping the bad dreams away. RBX tore him up along with everything else I owned and then literally shit on him the day before the divorce was finalized,” Willow whispered as she blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling.
Zeno took two quick steps and wrapped his arms around her with one hand going to cup the back of her head and the other to brace her back. “I’m so sorry he did that, Little one. We’ll buy you a new one today while we’re out shopping.”
Though his voice was soft and full of compassion, Willow leaned her head back and stared up at him to confirm he wasn’t laughing at her. “Really? You’d let me buy a new teddy bear?”
Her heart dropped when he shook his head. “No, kitten. I’ll buy you a new teddy bear. Unless you want a tiger or a lion or some other kind of stuffed friend instead.”
Willow shook her head and said softly, “I’d like another teddy bear, if we can find one.”
“Then another teddy bear it is. I’ll see if there’s one of those stores in the area where you can build your own bear,” Zeno said as he rubbed a hand up and down her spine. “In the meantime, I want you to think about what color you want your nursery, as well as what color sheets and blankets we should have. And dishes. And pots and pans. We also have to think about furniture. I have a few pieces coming, but our house is going to need a lot of stuff and I want you to be happy with everything.”
Willow froze, not sure she was hearing the man right. He wanted her to choose bedding and furniture for his house? Before she could clear the shock and think of a rebuttal, Nonno called from the kitchen.
“Zenone, bring that girl in here so we can feed her.”
“Yes, Nonno,” Zeno said.
“Zenone?” she asked as her eyes went wide.
“Yes, but only the grandparents call me that,” he said with a growly sound to his voice. “Saint Zenone of Verona is the patron saint of fishermen, anglers, newborn babies and the city of Verona.”
Though she wanted to laugh not only at the name, but the fact that this big, muscled man was named after a saint, Willow rolled her lips over her teeth and nodded.
When she thought she could speak without laughing, she asked, “Is that why you became a Navy SEAL? To protect fishermen and babies?”
Zeno growled as he stepped back and used the arm still behind her back to guide her into the kitchen. “Be careful, kitten. Keep sassing the Daddy Dom and you’ll find yourself over my lap for a spanking.”
Willow couldn’t help the shiver that raced through her, though she wasn’t sure if it was fear or anticipation that caused it. In either case, once they were in the kitchen, she stepped away from Zeno and moved around Nonno to the other side of the table, just in case.
* * * *
Three hours later, Zeno tightened his grip on Willow’s hand as he pulled her toward the bear-making store in the mall. He’d found the store online, and though it was in a mall twenty miles from home, he set his sights on it. Borrowing Nonno’s SUV, he had driven straight here, circling the mall twice before he found the entrance nearest the store.
When Willow stopped just outside the store, he turned to find her looking wide-eyed from him to the empty store and back again.
“What’s wrong, kitten?”
“We can’t go in there,” she whispered.
“Why not?”
Zeno knew he was steamrolling her, but they had a lot of shopping to do today, and this was just the first stop.
“They’re too expensive,” she whispered, as tears filled her eyes. “I can get along without one for now.”
Zeno stepped closer and pulled her in for another hug. He liked feeling her next to him, the top of her head fitting just perfectly under his chin. Tilting his head, he rested his cheek on her hair and hugged her tight.
“We’re here, and while you don’t have to get one, I really would like to buy you one today. That way if Nonna feels it necessary to hold you hostage for another night, you’ll have someone with you to keep you safe. Please let me buy you a bear.”
He felt her wipe her cheeks before nodding. “All right. Thank you,” she whispered into his chest.
Brushing a kiss on her head, he released her and took her hand in his. “Okay, sweetheart, let’s go shopping for a knight in fuzzy armor to slay your nighttime dragons.”
The soft giggle that statement elicited had him smiling in response.
It took them an hour and Zeno finally swatting her ass to stop her from arguing with him about every decision. When she couldn’t make up her mind about whether to buy a honey brown teddy bear or a dark brown, he finally took them both and handed them to Naomi, the clerk who had introduced herself and offered to help them through the process.
It took some doing before Willow finally relaxed, but they both got into the spirit of building “their” bears. Zeno even snuck away with two voice boxes and recorded a message on each before handing those to Naomi when Willow was trying to come up with names for the two bears that would go on their adoption paperwork. It only took her a moment before she named the dark one Hero and the light one Viking.
Willow balked once again at the wall of clothing, claiming they didn’t need to have outfits. Zeno ignored her protests, and grabbed a Harley-Davidson leather jacket and a sailor outfit. He wanted to buy more clothes, but could see that Willow was starting to stress out about the money they were spending.
When they reached the checkout counter, he sent her out of the store before the clerk finished ringing up the total. When she pulled out her wallet, he grabbed her hand and pulled her close. Leaning his head down, he said so only she could hear, “Put your wallet away. Daddy buys his kitten anything she needs or wants.”
She looked up at him as if she wanted to argue but he turned her toward the door and patted her ass. “Go outside and wait. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Naomi smiled. “New relationship?”
He nodded as he handed over his credit card, not even looking at the total. It didn’t matter what the cost as long as Willow had a friend to cuddle with when he wasn’t able to be there with her. And maybe even if he was there. They’d have to see how that worked out.
When he finally joined her, she was standing and looking at a purple balloon as it bobbed along the ceiling with the wind currents. When she tried to take the box that held her new friends from him, he held it out of reach. “I’ve got it, sweetheart. Now, let’s go get some lunch before we look for bedding.”
Chapter Five
By the time Zeno drove them into the Kinky Saints MC compound, Willow was exhausted. Zeno had not been kidding when he told her they had a lot to shop for. Like most men, he didn’t like shopping, and would just want to grab the first thing he came to and hit the register.
Willow found herself taking the list Nonna had given him before they’d left the house away from him. Instead of just doing a grab and go, she would spend a few minutes checking quality and brands.
Wooden spoons and other kitchenware she went with cheapest, off-brand, but with sheets, pillows, and towels, she went for the nicer, more luxurious feel. When it came to colors, she chose white for sheets and towels, and a navy-blue king-size blanket. She only hoped the sheets would fit the bed they had yet to buy.
Zeno remained silent and watchful as he followed her with the cart that filled rapidly. When she felt they had enough to get through the next few days, he followed her to the register and once again handed over his credit card without looking at the total. He had more than enough money saved to furnish the house, and then there was the money he’d inherited as a teenager that Nonno had invested years ago and he’d never touched.
After a stop at the furniture store where he bought a bedroom suite, couch and television with stand, they hit the mattress store for a bed. Willow watched in shock as Zeno would talk to the manager, flash his retired military ID and instead of having to wait a week for delivery, was promised delivery by end of day.
Since the SUV was full of purchases, Zeno did not pull into his grandparents’ drive. Instead, he drove to the house next door, backing into the driveway and parking as close as he could to the front door.
“Welcome home, kitten,” he said as he turned off the engine and opened his door.
Willow waited for him to round the front of the SUV so he could open her door. He stopped in front of the vehicle, pulled out his phone and typed something before repocketing it, then continued around to her door. She’d learned at their first stop that despite being a Daddy dominant, Zeno Santi was a gentleman and would always, always, ALWAYS open doors and make sure she was safe.
“Thank you,” she said as he opened her door and took the box holding her two teddy bears from her lap. She ended up holding the box after their last stop due to the back of the SUV being packed with everything else they’d bought.
She smiled when Zeno leaned in and brushed a kiss on her lips. “You’re welcome. Now, I’m going to put you in charge of directing traffic. My cousins will be here in a few minutes and we’ll unload. All you need to do is check bags and tell them which room they go to and we’ll unpack them later, okay?”
Overwhelmed at not having to lug all the bags in herself, Willow nodded.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll have to stay with the grandparents again tonight, but at least you’ll have your new friends to keep you company,” he said with a grin.
Before Willow could ask where he planned to sleep that night, motorcycle engines began to roar louder and louder.
A moment later, four motorcycles drove into view. Pulling into the yard, they parked in a line on the far side of the yard, allowing plenty of room for the delivery trucks that would soon be arriving. The silence when they turned off their engines was deafening after the loud roar a few seconds before.
Two of the men helped women riding on the backs of their bikes to climb off before climbing off themselves. The other two were alone. Willow took the box of bears from Zeno and retreated toward the house as the mob descended upon him. She’d only taken two steps before he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to stand next to him.
It was a repeat of the night before, manly hugs and back slapping all around. Once the greetings were completed, the women turned to her as the men turned their attention to the SUV.
“Hi, Willow, I’m not sure you remember our names, but I’m Cara Michaels and I belong to Nico,” the woman with the chestnut brown shoulder-length bob said as she held out a hand.
Willow shook her hand with a smile. “I remember the name, but there were so many last night. Thank you for reintroducing yourself.”
“I’m Annie Griffin, I belong to Max. Do you knit? Crochet? Quilt?” The blonde shook her hand then shifted her grip to pull Willow along behind her into the house once the niceties were concluded.
“Umm, no. I’ve never done much crafting. I’m a photographer and graphic designer, though I also have my massage therapist certification from where I lived in Virginia. I’ll have to see what the requirements are for giving massages in Texas,” Willow said. As Annie pulled her through the house she looked around, admiring the beautiful, nearly empty surroundings.
The walls were painted a soft, barely-there gray that worked well with the white trim around the floorboards, doors and windows, and golden-brown hardwood floors that looked like they’d been installed when the house was built. There were a few wooden side tables along one wall in the living room, and the dining room they passed had a large table in the center of the room and chairs lining the far wall. Her breath caught when they entered the kitchen. The room was small, but it was the most perfectly arranged kitchen she’d ever seen. She couldn’t wait to cook a meal in this room.
