“No, I don’t sew and you know that.” He winked at her.
Her hands were locked together and he saw how nervous she was. He took one of her hands within his, lifting it to his lips and kissing her knuckles.
“Relax.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’ve been to nightclubs before.”
“They’re not scary places. Did your grandparents tell you they were?” he asked.
Willow laughed. “No. They wanted me to go out and party, to have a life. Grandma was worried I was hiding from life.”
“And are you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I’m not hiding, it’s just, I’ve never, I don’t … ugh, I don’t make friends easily, and I guess going to nightclubs on my own just didn’t appeal to me.” She frowned. “Are we seriously talking about this?”
He wanted her to relax. The nightclub wasn’t far. It was early and he wished to conduct his business soon. He already had food waiting for them inside his office. There would be time to enjoy some food, do work, and then dance.
Peter pulled up to the nightclub, and the doors were not even open.
“I think I’m overdressed.”
“No such thing.”
He loved the dress he’d chosen, which showed off her curves, and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. Most of the day, he’d wanted to be alone with her, touch her, make love to her, fuck her. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this woman.
Walking into his nightclub, he saw that the men and women were preparing to receive customers. The floors were being mopped, the bar was fully stocked.
They all turned toward him in greeting. He nodded at them and took Willow with him.
He got to his office. Peter knew when he’d parked the car, to come in and stay at the bar and keep an eye on everyone.
Arriving in his office, he was pleased to see that the food waited on his desk.
“More food?” Willow asked.
“I know you’re feeling nervous, but starving yourself will not do.”
“How do you know I feel nervous?”
“You’re shaking.” And it had nothing to do with arousal. He was taking Willow outside of her comfort zone.
“I won’t tell Willow to stay away from you.”
“You won’t? I thought you already had?”
“No, I haven’t, but you’ve gone to these lengths, and don’t think I don’t know about the additional cameras,” Lauren tutted. “You’ve got to promise me, you’ll give her time. Willow is nervous. She struggles with change, and new things make her nervous. She avoids living. Archie and I, we tried. We did try, but she has always been so skittish. Even as a youngster, it took her several attempts to get in the pool. So, what I’m asking of you, Carson, if you have every intention of claiming my granddaughter, you give her everything. You’ve got to show her what living is about, but above all else, you’ve got to promise me you will love her.”
It was one of their few and final conversations. He’d noticed Lauren was getting weaker, but he did like the older woman.
Willow didn’t know that when the news came to him of her final passing, he did shed a tear. Carson never cried. He hadn’t felt true emotion in a long time, not happiness, not sorrow, certainly not grief, but with Lauren, he felt it.
“I’m fine,” Willow said, lying.
He pulled her into his arms, cupping her cheek. She put her hands on his waist.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“You need to relax, Willow. I’m not going to hurt you. I will never hurt you.” He brushed her lips with his. “I’ve got you, and the people outside aren’t going to hurt you either. I won’t let them.”
“How do you know you can stop them?” she asked.
“Because I know what I’m capable of, and you’re mine.” He sunk his fingers into her hair, pulled her close, and kissed her hard. She released a moan, and he just couldn’t get enough of this woman.
His cock was already hard as a rock. It would be so easy to take her to his desk, spread her legs, and fuck her there and then. But Willow’s first time would not be in his office. She was going to be as desperate and as needy as he was. Breaking the kiss, he forced himself to step away. His balls were fucking blue with how many times he’d been aroused with no follow through.
Last night had been his own special kind of torture. He never wore anything to bed as he preferred to be naked. Holding Willow, as she wore a flimsy nightshirt, feeling her ass nestled against his dick, finally having her in his arms, had been a dream as well as utter torture. It had been worth it, though. He had slept. With Willow in his arms and the scent of coconuts surrounding him, he’d slept peacefully. He’d waited for Willow to fall asleep before he’d found his own peace.
Pulling out a chair, he waited for her to sit, and as she did, he pushed the chair beneath the table.
“You have a dinner table in your office?” she asked.
“No, this was taken from downstairs.” He went to his desk and found the food waiting for him. Carrying it to the table, he put a plate of meatballs and pasta in front of her, and took a seat opposite.
“Did Grandma tell you this was my favorite?”
“Yes.”
Willow smiled. “I’m starting to think she had a little bit of a crush on you.”
“No, Lauren knew I was going to take care of you.”
“How did you and my grandparents meet?”
He noticed she didn’t like to linger after he made his claim or told her that she belonged to him. One day soon, he’d get her to react, but until then, he was happy for her to pretend it wasn’t happening.
“Awhile ago,” Carson said. “There were a string of burglaries in the area. I wasn’t happy, and I extended my security services to many people on the street, your grandparents included. I met Archie, and he told me he didn’t need to pay for no security.” Carson chuckled. “He had a baseball bat and a magazine. Told me he’d protect his woman’s shop.”
Willow gasped. “Oh, my, really?”
“Yep, and you know what, he wasn’t wrong. A couple of nights of him staying in the shop, he caught the burglar.” Lauren and Willow didn’t know that Archie had called Carson, not the police.
“I know how this shit works, son. I’m not a fool. He steals from you, I don’t call the cops. Now, I consider this dealt with, you and me, and you’re not going to give me no trouble.”
Carson had to wonder if that was how Lauren knew who he was and what he did. He never gave Archie any trouble, and whenever he heard of anything happening in the area, he always stopped by.
Archie’s death had been tragic. He’d been upset by Archie’s passing as well, but he had made sure to keep an eye on Lauren after that. When he met Willow, he’d known she was his, and since then, he had made it his mission to claim her.
Chapter Four
The nightclub was alive with activity.
Willow sat at the bar, sipping some fresh orange juice while she waited for Carson to be done. They had shared a meal and it was kind of nice to think of her grandfather and Carson sharing an interaction, even if it did seem kind of strange at the same time.