Servicing the Target (Masters of the Shadowlands #10)(39)

Anne looked at him, expecting him to explain.

Instead, he looked appalled. And silent. Tough guys and tears. So not a good mix.

“Come here, baby.” Anne set her food down and pulled Uzuri close as the meltdown started. “The minute Ben said you had a problem, everyone wanted to help.”

Uzuri pressed her face into Anne’s shoulder…and cried.

Anne simply held her and stroked her shoulders comfortingly. Nothing else to be done—sometimes a girl just had to cry.

Sam and Holt came out of the bedroom. Sam saw Uzuri and gave Anne an approving nod. There was one man who wasn’t worried about tears.

Holt took a step toward them, concern in his eyes. After a second, he shook his head and glanced at Anne. “Bed is put together and ready to be made.”

“Thank you.” She surveyed the room for new additions to the crew. “Kim, when you’re done, can you and Linda unpack the bedroom wardrobe and make the bed.”

“Of course.” Kim had tears in her eyes when she looked at Uzuri.

On the other side of the living room, Nolan strolled in the front door and nodded to Anne. “Truck’s empty.”

“Here, Sir.” Beth rose from her chair and handed her Master pizza on a paper plate.

He took her place, opened his legs, and she settled between them on the floor. After leaning forward and taking a quick kiss, he accepted the bottle of Corona from her.

They really did look perfect together. Anne smiled slightly. Almost three years ago, she’d told Nolan that having a more permanent submissive was worth it. Since then, he’d found Beth—and she’d lost Joey. Now she was the lonely one. And wasn’t that just pitiful?

In Anne’s arms, Uzuri lifted her head.

“All right now?” Anne asked.

Uzuri nodded and whispered, “Thank you. I’m sorry.”

“Not a problem.”

“Come with me, girlfriend. There’s still more work to be done and food to eat.” Gabi tucked a handful of tissues into Uzuri’s hand.

Sally slung an arm around her waist. “Come and see your kitchen. You won’t recognize it.”

The two dragged Uzuri away, setting her to laughing—and giving her time to recover her composure away from everyone else.

Nicely done.

After picking up her abandoned food, Anne settled into the chair Gabi had vacated.

To her surprise, Bronx dropped down at her feet. At the entreating look in his eyes, she plucked a piece of pepperoni off her pizza. His tail thumped the floor as he delicately accepted her gift.

At the sound of a familiar, hearty laugh, Anne looked up.

Laughing at a comment one of the boys made, Ben was choosing slices of the meatlover’s pizza. His face fell at the sight of the empty brownie platter.

After looking around, he walked over and joined Bronx at her feet.

“Ben.” Her voice held a warning he completely ignored.

He set his plate and Coke on the floor, turned sideways, and positioned her left foot on his thigh so he could edge between her legs. His left shoulder leaned on the couch cushion—almost on her *; her right leg was behind his back.

With a contented sigh, he picked up his drink.

Around the room were snorts of amusement and giggles.

Pushy submissive. Anne set her pizza down, put a hand on his shoulder, and fisted his hair, tilting his head back.

Heat flared in his eyes, and like a wolf facing its alpha, he exposed his neck even further.

She loved the way he responded to her. Nonetheless…

“Benjamin, did I ask you to sit at my feet.” Her voice carried to his ears and none other.

“Ma’am, no.” He gave her an easy smile and moved his plate before Bronx could get to it. He didn’t lower his voice. “After that bullshit of Cullen’s, I wanted to make a point.” His brows drew together. “If you really don’t want me here, I’ll move.”

Across the room, Cullen frowned. “Ben…”

“You know, Anne, he deserves to lose those balls,” Dan called.

“What’s going on?” one of the youngsters whispered to another.

“Estúpidos babosos.” Andrea slapped her Dom’s arm before glaring at Dan. “My workers are here.”

Cullen winced at the reminder.

Dan gave her a repentant chin lift.

“What’s going on is that Cullen thinks I’m too pushy with this woman.” Even as he offered Bronx a sausage tidbit, Ben grinned over at the boys, not uncomfortable at all. “You ever get that from your friends?”

Two of them turned to the third and started teasing him.

A perfect diversion. Anne gave Ben’s hair a tiny tug of approval.

His shoulders loosened under her hand.

The young lads were nudging each other and trading insults, and she could see where boys that age could certainly turn a person’s life upside-down. Yet, even in all their teenaged idiocy, they really were cute.

As the conversations floated around her, she finished her pizza and wiped her fingers on the napkin. Ben had already cleaned his plate.

“Good pizza, Ma’am,” he said. “Thank you for feeding all of us.”

“You’re welcome.” She picked up her other plate from the end table, knowing—knowing—she shouldn’t give him any encouragement. Nonetheless, her heart wouldn’t let her set the dessert back down. “Despite your extremely pushy behavior, I think you’ve earned a reward. You did a nice thing today for Uzuri.” She uncovered the big chocolate-frosting covered brownie.