Page 128 of Animal's Reformation
“And I love you.” She snuggled closer to him.
He held her tighter and soon his even breathing told her he was sleeping. For a long while, Olivia watched the moonlight seeping through the narrow slats of the shutters, casting moving shadows on the walls and ceilings. Feelings of happiness and love enveloped her; she loved Animal with a fire that could never be extinguished. For the first time in her life, she had found her home and it was safely in his arms. With thoughts of Animal filling her head, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Sunlight filtered intothe room as Olivia nuzzled cozily into the crook of his arm. Animal was sleeping soundly, and she lay there mesmerized by the way his tattoos danced each time his chest rose and fell with every breath.
After a while, Olivia quietly slipped out of his arm and padded to the closet where she kept some of her clothes then crossed over to the bathroom. She wondered if Lucy was up yet as she closed the door and turned on the shower. Twenty minutes later, dressed in black biker shorts and a turquoise tank top, Olivia made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Lucy sat at the table coloring, and looked up when Olivia walked in.
“Hi, Olivia,” she said.
“Hi, Lucy. What’re you coloring?” Olivia stood behind the girl and looked down over her shoulders.
“A butterfly. I love them—they’re my favorite insect. Are you and my dad going to get married?”
Olivia jerked up and took a step backward. “Uh … I don’t know. Why?”
“Because …” She took out another crayon and showed it to Olivia. “This is a newer color. Do you like it?”
“Yeah … it’s really pretty. Carson’s Grocery is having a contest for the best-colored pictures. I really think you should submit yours. They have it according to age. You’ve got a real artistic talent.”
Lucy glanced up at her and scrunched her face. “Really? No one’s ever told me that.”
“You really do. Once you finish your picture, we can go over there and enter it if you’d like. I really think you should.”
“I’m almost done with it.” Lucy bowed her head and resumed coloring.
“What’re you almost done with?” Animal’s deep voice washed over Olivia sending tingles through her body.
“My picture.” Lucy picked it up. “See? Olivia says I should enter the contest at Carson’s.”
“You’re doing a damn good job, kiddo. I think you should go for it.” Animal ruffled his daughter’s hair and winked at Olivia. “Morning,” he said in a low voice. “How’re you feeling?”
She licked her lips and brushed her hair away from her face. “Pretty darn awesome. You?”
“Yeah … damn good.” He crossed over to her and snagged his arm around her waist and swept his lips across hers. “Fuckin’ love you, babe,” he whispered against her ear.
“I’m hungry,” Lucy said. “And so is Patches.”
“Did you change his water?” Animal asked as he shuffled over to the pantry.
“Yep. He was real thirsty too.”
“Do you want French toast?” Olivia asked as she watched Animal pour some dog food in Patches’s bowl.
“Yes, please!” Lucy’s eyes lit up and Olivia laughed.
“French toast it is. I’ll make a strawberry sauce too in case you’d like that with your powdered sugar.” She crossed over to the refrigerator and starting taking out the ingredients when Animal came behind her.
“You’re fucking fantastic.” He nuzzled her neck, his lips soft, his stubble rough against her skin. “Lucy’s real fond of you, just like her dad.”
“I’m pretty crazy about the Walsh family myself.” She leaned back into him.
“I wish I could bend you over the counter and show you how hard you make me, darlin’.”
Olivia glanced over her shoulder at Lucy whose face was tight with concentration. “Me too, sweetie.” She pulled away and walked over to the counter and began preparing their breakfast.
An hour later, Animal sat back in his chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, his hand on his stomach. “That was so damn good, babe. Did you like it, kiddo?”
