Chapter 12

12

RIOT

I never thought I'd be in my happy place, walking around a pet store pushing a cart, watching my kitten hum while she dumps shitloads of dog stuff into it without a care in the world.

Nobody tells you about these moments. The ones you don't expect. And I'm digging every single moment with her. She bounces on her toes with joy when she picks this toy and that. Some have squeakers, some are soft toys, with a few hard chew toys. Then there's leashes, collars, dog bowls, blankets, treats. The list goes on.

I'm more fascinated in her reactions than I am with the things she's putting into the cart. I can see that taking care of something is her forte, that she loves animals, and it only makes my heart expand that much bigger.

We said a lot of things to each other, things that I'd kept to myself for these past few months, and while expressing how I feel doesn't come to me naturally, I still feel as if a weight has been lifted.

"Do you think blue is too cliche for a boy's dog jacket?" She taps her chin, deep in thought. "The purple might be a little too out there."

I chuckle. "I don't think he's gonna mind."

"I guess not." She's adorable when she's trying to figure something out, and I itch to reach out and touch her, but after what we did over the kitchen bench this morning, I think I'd better keep my hands to myself. I've no problem dragging her off into the nearest broom closet in the pet store if that's what it takes.

She goes for the blue, telling me that it'll go better with his coloring. All the while, I smirk to myself, still reveling in the fact that I'm pushing a cart around PetSmart on a Sunday morning and thoroughly enjoying myself.

"What do you think he likes to eat?"

Again, adorable. "I don't think he's gonna be too fussy." I don't add that he was starving and his ribs were showing; that'll only upset her again. "But Nina said he was favoring biscuits last night. Hey, look at this, they even have doggie milk."

She smiles. "He might like that. Milk and biscuits, that's so sweet."

You're so sweet. "We can get him a variety of things, see what he likes as time goes on."

She points at me. "Good idea. I'm also thinking he's going to have a hard time with that leg of his. Will he be able to go for walks?"

"Could start off with short ones around the block so he gets exercise, it'll be good for him once Nina gives him the all clear. Or we could take him to the dog park."

She chews on her lip. "Yeah, he seemed pretty friendly. We'll have to work out if he's okay with other dogs."

I don't think other dogs are the issue. I think maybe humans are after the way he was treated, but I don't speak my thoughts out loud. I also know dogs happen to be pretty resilient. He was completely trusting and calm in the truck last night, surrendering to us. That may have been because he had no other choice, but still. He could've kicked up a fuss and acted aggressive. Honestly? I wouldn't blame him. I'd do the same.

But no. He lay there like a trooper, completely submissive and trusting.

"I think he's gonna be pretty happy when he sees all of this." I nod to the overflowing cart.

She grimaces. "Too much?"

I lift the giant purple octopus plush toy that's twenty-five dollars. "Nothin' is real unless you have a giant octopus squeaky toy that glows in the dark."

Her frown turns into a smile. "Wise ass."

"What? I'm serious. He's gonna be droolin' just at the sight of it."

"Cut it out. If I were a dog, I'd think that this was the best thing since canned dog food."

"Funny, I only see freeze dried biscuits from the mountains of New Zealand that cost more than my first apartment rental."

She bats her eyelashes at me. "These say straight on the packet they're a crowd pleaser, plus it has all the nutrients and minerals a dog needs, plus no grains which can be hard to digest and a menace on the digestive tract."

"I had no idea you were into dog nutrition. I'm impressed."

She bumps me with her hips and I laugh. I like Halo happy. I like Halo very happy. "You can scoff now, but Pepper used to love these."

I think back to last night when she told me about her beloved dog who'd passed away a few years ago. Charles had a dog while we were growing up, but he was grumpy and didn't really like kids. I know how attached people get to their pets. Take Priest for example, the club's spiritual advisor. He has a couple of cats he's nuts about; one is weird looking and hairless but that doesn't seem to stop his ol' lady Bella and him doting on the damn thing. I get it though, people need to put themselves into something. And for Halo, it's nurturing something back to health, taking care of a creature who is essentially defenseless and reliant on us. It makes me even more determined to make this work. I just hope that for Cookie's sake he settles, because if he doesn't, it's gonna break her heart to have to take him away. We'll have to see how things go later today. Nina won't be there for another hour, so we have time.

"How come there's two of those?" I nod to the squeaky elephant — the same brand as the octopus.

She gives me an eye roll. "He's going to need two of everything if we're sharing custody. When I'm at work for example, he can't be by himself. What if he needs to go out and pee."

Sharing custody.

"We'll get him some pee mats. And I'll make sure I'm there when you can't be. My job is flexible, and I can take him with me to the shipping yard when I'm workin' there."

At the moment, I'm here, there and everywhere. Whenever the club needs me. Sometimes it's at the shipyard where we have a large shipping container business. Or I work security at the Vault; the gentleman's club downtown, or behind the bar when they get busy. Sometimes the job can be boring, other times I'm strapping my rifle on my back to take down the bad guys. I guess you could say no two days are the same. I like the versatility. Going to the same job every single day would drive me bananas.

She turns to me, her face worried as she chews on her lip once more. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"

"By givin' him a foster home?"

"Wait, does that mean he'd go up for adoption?"

She's already attached, I can sense it. "No, it just means we can trial him and see how he fits in." I place my hands on her shoulders as color rises up her neck. I notice that happens sometimes when she's anxious, nervous or turned on. And in this case, she's getting anxious. "Then bigger decisions can be made."

"But nobody can take him away, right?"

"Remember, he's not chipped, babe, and he was dumped with a broken leg. No judge in the world is gonna make him go back to an environment like that. Breathe."

"I'm sorry," she sighs. "I just really felt a connection with him, I know it's silly."

"It's never silly to care for somethin', to open your heart, Kitten. It's one of the things I really dig about you."

Her eyes brighten a little. "It is?"

"Yeah, that and the way your cheeks turn pink, the same color as your nipples before you come."

Her eyes go wide as she gasps, looking around to see if anyone heard. I laugh and pull her close to me, my lips meeting hers. I palm her ass, knowing my boner ain't gonna go down anytime soon.

"You're such a bad boy," she whispers when we pull apart.

I give her a wink. "Never attested to bein' a Boy Scout, babe."

I know she's needy, even though I thoroughly fucked her every which way last night and it turns me on even more to know that she's not quite sated, even after this morning.

" Myles ," she whispers.

"Oh, Myles ain't here now, babe. It's Riot." I lean to her ear. "Myles does it soft and slow and makes sure you get off at least twice. Riot fucks hard, makin' you squeal those pretty little lungs out."

"I don't know who I love more."

Her words send heat through my body, and not just between my legs, but everywhere.

"I think I have a fair idea."

She flattens a palm on my chest. "Oh, you do?"

I lower my voice. "But then again I've not taken that plump little ass yet, have I, beautiful?"

She's biting on that lip again and when I move my mouth to hers and shove my tongue in, I'm promptly interrupted by someone clearing their throat.

I turn to look over my shoulder at an old woman trying to get by with her cart.

I give her a chin lift, but she ignores me and pushes past with a distasteful look on her face.

I adjust my dick and Halo laughs. "You're in the habit of scaring old ladies now?"

"Hey, for all we know she could've been enjoyin' the show."

She shakes her head as we move on. "Can't take you anywhere."

An eye watering amount of money later, I'm carrying several bags to Halo's car. Since we had shopping to do for Cookie, there was no point in coming on my sled.

She still wants to stop off at Target to check the blanket situation. I can't hold back my chuckle as she climbs into the driver's seat; watching my baby drive is also a turn on I didn't realize I was missing until today.

Apparently she has an obsession with throw rugs, and did warn me several times that I am to reprimand her if she buys more than three. Oh, this is a hoot. I've never had so much fun in all my life.

I always thought couples shopping together were super lame, but all I can think about is how I could do her in this store without getting caught. I touch her here and there, hold her hand and we kiss like we've been dating for months, not the one night we spent worshiping one another. This is how it should be. This is how it's meant to feel; right.

When I palm her ass cheeks as she bends over to pick up a checkered throw, she immediately jolts forward and then spins around, her face stern. "Riot! They have cameras in here."

"Who gives a fuck? You bend over like that, law enforcement would only agree with me and they'd let me off. Plus, I can't help it, your ass is delicious."

Despite herself, she smiles, and my heart jolts just a little bit. "Are you always this sweet and handsy, or is it just on Sundays."

"Wrong again. Target makes me hard." I waggle my eyebrows and she bursts out laughing. I like making her laugh. I push her hair behind one ear and sneak a kiss.

"Throw rugs getting to you, big boy?"

I grin. "The home goods department. Joanna Gains really knows her stuff."

She shoves me in the ribs. "No looking at other pretty women."

"You're prettier." We kiss again but I'm interrupted by my phone buzzing in my back pocket.

I fish it out, reading the text from Nina.

Nina

He's ready when you are, there's a few things to go through before you can take him

I relay the text out loud to Halo and her shoulders sag in relief.

Me

Thanks for the update. We'll be there in fifteen, just picking up some stuff for him

Nina

Roger that ??

Halo clamps her hands together as she bobs up and down on her toes like an excited kid. "Okay, so we'd better get to the checkout."

"Let's do it."

Throw rugs and blankets are long forgotten, and so is our make out session as we head to the checkout. She picked up a few things including a fun size bag of tennis balls because she thinks he might like to play fetch when he's better, and a giant crocodile stuffed toy. I drew the line at dog pajamas, but I'm sure this is just the beginning of my girl's new obsession.

She's got a spring in her step as I carry the bags to the parking lot and I try to keep my eyes off her ass in the jeans she's wearing. It's not hot out, but it's humid enough, and I'd give my all to see her bare legs in a dress.

I take over the driving, shoving the chair back because Halo's a shorty and I couldn't even squeeze behind the wheel.

It doesn't take us long to get there, and Halo chats the entire way, telling me all about her hometown in St. Charles' Parish and how she used to work in the family business.

"Antoine wasn't happy when I moved away." Oh yeah, I've heard a little bit about her brother, not that I've got a lot of dirt on him yet. "He kept telling me how disappointed he was in me, as if record keeping and answering phones was my life's mission."

"Why does he think he's your keeper?" I prod. It seems like all the males in her family want to try and run her life. Her father. Her ex. Now her brother.

"Like I say, they're a third generation company and my dad is like the J.R. Ewing of the parish."

"Except he's in construction and not oil rigs?"

"Wait, you know who J.R. Ewing is?"

"Netflix."

She laughs. "You're full of surprises."

We pull up and I reach into one of the bags in the back and shove the new collar into my back pocket. Every dog needs a collar.

I swing an arm around Halo's shoulder as we enter. The receptionist greets us and Nina ushers us into the back.

"He's been a trooper." She beams at us. "The most gentle boy. He's medicated, and he'll continue on this course of pain killers until it's done. I'd like you to bring him back at the end of the week so we can check his progress."

Halo wrings her hands nervously. "We bought him a whole bunch of stuff," she says. "To make him comfortable while he recuperates."

Nina nods. "That will all help, as will a calm environment. I don't have to tell you how traumatic this has been for him, but he's not showing signs of distress, and he's been very affectionate."

"We don't deserve dogs," I mutter. If that had been done to me, I'd be off humans for the rest of my goddamn life.

"Meanwhile, I'm on call if you need anything. Other than that, good luck."

Halo thanks Nina profusely, even hugging her as we move over to one of the larger cages where Cookie is lying. His head is up, and his tail wags when we get closer.

Nina unlocks his cage. We watch in anticipation as he stretches out. His front paw has a purple cast and he attempts to hop up. Because he's skinny, he doesn't weigh as much as he should, but he's still a big dog. When he has some meat on his bones, he'll probably double in size. I get down on my knees and crouch, reaching in as I scoop him up into my arms. He licks my face and Halo looks like she might cry.

She pats his head like he might break and when she looks at his cast, she bites her lip. "Are you sure he's allowed to walk on that?"

"Not for a few weeks if we can help it. Frankly, he won't want to as it's painful, but as he heals, he'll want to start moving more," Nina says. "It was a clean break, so he'll likely try and hop around and he won't be able to put weight on the broken leg. But don't freak out if he does want to try and get up, it's natural for him to move as long as he's not doing laps of the block."

Halo turns to me. "See, this is what I was worried about when he needs to potty."

"We can take him outside," I tell her.

"Did you work out how old he might be?" Halo caresses his cute little face as I hold him in my arms.

"At a guess, I'd say around three to four, and he knows commands, but I get the impression he was an outside dog. House training may be something you need to implement, and I can help with that if needed."

"Thank you," Halo whispers.

"He's gonna be fine, right, bud?" I scruff under his chin and he groans, pushing his head into my shoulder.

"Oh, and he loves his pats," Nina goes on. "Like I said, he's been completely trusting and a dream patient. You guys did an amazing job getting him here when you did."

Halo drops her gaze, no doubt reminiscing that horrible night when we found him. Thank God we did.

"He's in good hands," I say. "Let's get him out to the car."

We walk through to the front doors and say goodbye to Nina. There's nothing but good news here.

I lay him on the back seat and Halo climbs in beside him. He seems comfy enough as he lays his head down, resting against Halo's leg.

"We'll set him up at yours, and then I can take some of the stuff to my place later," I say.

"Okay."

I look at her through the rearview mirror. "You good?"

"Thank you, Riot. For everything."

"Don't thank me, thank your hearin' because I wouldn't have heard shit."

"He's safe now." I don't know if she's convincing the dog, me or herself, but it doesn't really matter. The sentiment is the same. He is safe.

"Nobody is ever gonna hurt him again, Kitten. I promise."

I drive back to Halo's apartment with my shoulders a little lighter, and my heart just that little bit fuller.

I'm head over heels and it's the only place I wanna be.