Free 9 The Hitwoman's Downward Dog by JB Lynn Page A

forced airiness that caused a muscle in his jaw to jump. A heady sense of satisfaction filled me knowing I’d hit a nerve.
    "There was something else," he murmured, closing the distance between us with a few steps.
    I knew what he wanted to do and made no move to stop him, because as confused as I was about my standing in his life, I wanted it too.
    The moment his lips found mine, my anger at him was forgotten. I’d missed being in his arms too much to resist. His kiss coaxed out acceptance, then forgiveness, and finally a mindless passion that had my body melting into his as our tongues danced. Together we burned fast and hot, our physical attraction incinerating things like common sense.
    Thankfully, the animals heard the knock on the door. The cacophony they created extinguished our ardor more effectively than a fire extinguisher.
    "Are you trying to get caught, you imbeciles?" God thundered from his terrarium.
    "Cool it, lovers," Piss hissed, digging her claws into my leg for emphasis.
    "Door! Door!" DeeDee barked, racing to the bottom of the stairs that led toward the entrance to the house.
    Shoving Patrick away from me, I yelled, "Just a sec."
    "I wanted to talk to you," Aunt Susan called through the door.
    "Just a sec," I shouted again, louder, waving Patrick toward the storm door exit. He ran toward it.
     

 
     

Chapter 13
     
    "I know you’re angry at me," Susan said, turning the door handle.
    Terrified she’d spot Patrick making his exit, I did the only thing possible under the circumstances. "Stop her," I ordered the animals.
    Both the dog and cat sprang into action.
    DeeDee flew up the stairs barking wildly. "Her stop! Her stop!"
    Piss wasn’t far behind, yowling something that sounded like, "Obey the boundary, beeyotch."
    Thankfully, Susan jumped backward so DeeDee didn’t knock her over. With her attention fixed on the two slightly mad animals, she didn’t notice Patrick slipping out.
    "Oh my," Susan exclaimed, covering her heart with her hand.
    "Don’t scare her," I shouted, running up the stairs to chase the four-legged creatures. Reaching the top, I rounded on them, put my hands on my hips and winked at them before scolding them with my deepest voice, "What do you two think you’re doing?"
    "Mad Maggie?" DeeDee whined uncertainly, wiggling her stub of a tail.
    "No, honey," Piss explained. "She’s just playing. Now pretend to be scared and run and hide behind the sofa."
    DeeDee did as she told.
    I looked at the cat expectantly as she sat on the step, staring up at me with her one good eye.
    "I’m not going anywhere, Sugar," she told me with a bored flick of her tail. "I’m a cat. We don’t do the whole loyal servant act thing."
    "She’s right," God piped up from his terrarium. "They don’t. Dogs are loyal. Cats are sneaky."
    "Cunning," Piss corrected.
    "Sly," God countered.
    Piss flexed her claws. "Crafty."
    While they had their thesaurus battle of the wits, I said to Aunt Susan. "Maybe we should talk up there." I closed the door, locking all the non-humans away.
    "Let’s go outside," Susan suggested, which told me she didn’t want anyone to overhear our conversation. "In the backyard."
    "How about the front porch?" I suggested, worried that Patrick could still be in the backyard.
    "Marlene and her young man are using the front porch."
    "Oh, okay, backyard it is. Just let me get something to drink first."
    I took my sweet time choosing a drink and pouring it in order to give Patrick time to make his escape, but eventually I couldn’t stall anymore and I led the way outdoors.
    "Zeke has been around a lot," Susan remarked as we walked toward the back.
    "Uh-huh," I murmured distractedly, scanning the area for any sign of the redheaded hitman who’d just kissed me senseless. I didn’t spot him.
    "Are you two, um, romantically involved?" Susan asked.
    I tripped over my own two feet as, for a brief moment, I thought she was talking about Patrick. Realizing she’d meant Zeke, I hurried to deny