Page 32 of Haunted Nights & Savage Sins
I use the napkin to wipe at the corners of my mouth and push my plate away from me.
“I’ll clean up. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Thank you. I appreciate the meal. It was wonderful… the company as well.”
He smirks again, only a grunt in response.
“Actually, I have another request.” I look up at him, keeping my voice light and polite.
He presses his mouth together and trains his eyes on me. “What is it?”
“This was a great meal but very heavy. Do you think we could go outside and just take a walk.” I see him gearing up to tell me no. His shoulders tighten and his fists clench on the table. “Not outside the gate or anything. Just right here on the property. Maybe by the hedges. Some fresh air and exercise is all I’m asking, and you’ll be right there with me.”
I wring my hands together under the table. It’s such a small thing, but I know for Cormac this is a monumental ask. I’m still not sure what his aversion to going outside is, but I know he has his issues with it.
“Just for a little while.” He finally concedes, and I clap my hands before I push up from the table and reach my hand out for him to join me.
He looks down at my hand and then back up to my face, as if he’s unsure. A small tremble races up my body when he finally grabs hold.
I want to run for the door, but I keep my steps slow as we walk out, hand in hand, to the backyard.
He stiffens the second we make it to the steps that lead outside, and I rub my thumb along his finger to let him know that I’m right here with him. When he releases a breath and we continue on, I start to feel a bit of pride for him. He’s truly working so hard for this.
The minute my feet touch the grass, I hear the soft padding of paws coming in our direction. The dogs aren’t tied up or anything, and they are coming right toward us.
I yank myself back, trying to get back to the house, but Cormac holds me steady.
“They won’t attack you unless I give the order. They are just curious.”
“That doesn’t look like a bunch of curious dogs. They look like the hounds from hell.” My words come out shaken.
He chuckles slightly before pulling me forward. The three dogs pad right over to me, and I stand stock-still as they look up at me before pressing their noses against my bare legs and against my hips. The doberman manages to find his snout under my dress, and I giggle, trying to get him away.
I reach down and pet him. I’m surprised when, in the most unexpected manner, he licks my palms and fingers, probably trying to get whatever leftover food is there.
I laugh a little harder as I bend and start giving all of them love. They bark and jump around when they realize they are getting attention. I don’t know for sure, but I doubt Cormac comes out here just to play with them very often.
He’s right, though. These dogs aren’t beasts. They’re just very well-trained soldiers.
“Oh, crap… well now I love them.” I sigh, shrug, and stand up next to Cormac with an even wider smile on my face.
“Yeah, they’re good boys.”
“Do they have names?”
He points to the two rottweilers. “Ash, and that one is Brim. This guy here is the youngest.” He points to the doberman. “He’s Ember.”
Ember? Brim? Ash? All of them have names related to fire. I’ll have to dig more into that later.
“Ember is my favorite, I think.” I reach down and rub my hand over his head once again.
“Don’t tell them that. They’ll get jealous.” He grumbles playfully before he tugs on my hand and we start walking along the very outskirts of the property.
While we are walking, the dogs follow close behind. Every once in a while they run off to play with something before coming right back. While we walk, I do my best to dig into Cormac’s life. I find out about his life and his brothers, one of whom I find out is still in prison. There are certain topics he doesn’t like to talk about, like his childhood or his mother, so I steer clear of those.
I’m surprised when he tells me that he doesn’t really have a passion, nothing he likes to do more than anything else, or the fact that he’s never had a girlfriend. I’m sure it has something to do with the scar on his face, but I don’t pry about it.
By the time we make it all the way around the house, my legs are hurting and I’m starting to get way too cold, but I don’t want the night to end. Instead, I want to spend more time with Cormac. More time breaking down these walls that he’s spent all his life building up.
