Tanya Ramirez.

Hoofer. Dame. Hustler.

Lover.


I absentmindedly dragged my hand repeatedly down my puppy's back, smiling at her movements on my lap. I'd had Penny for about 2 years now, and she was the one thing that had been keeping me going. She was perpetually a puppy, young and free. I knew from the minute I saw her that I had to have her. My little ginger bombshell.

Then my mind turned yet again. Onto the only thing that I could think about.

It had been a week or so since my first encounter with the ignominious Jerry Carter. Not that I was counting or anything. We kept our meetings frequent but secret. I let him claim me wherever he chose. His car, my apartment or his, anywhere dark. We ate together, smoked, drank, laughed, looked at the night sky. He had such a spell on me that I couldn't fathom. His eyes, his little smirk, his muscles, his..

"Tan?"

My brother's soft voice shook me out of my daze. Feeling his hand curve around the top of my shoulder, I lifted mine to sit on top, looking round to see him smiling down to me. Penny lifted her head at the sound of his voice.

"How's the wire-tapping going?" I had to change my current thoughts to something else. If Eric could read my mind right now. God, it was a crime to just think about my lover like I was.

"Ah, Max is slow learner. Even worse than you were. But we'll get there."

I watched Eric take a seat close to me, I could tell straight away by his expression that he was stressed. All the boys were. I knew they were secured on a big job, but I didn't know what it entailed. I daren't ask either, Jerry or Eric, everything in the crew was confidential.

"Jerry not helping you guys?"

Crap, where did that come from?! Me and my fucking big mouth. I knew Jerry was still on my mind, and I pined to know where he was. Why I hadn't seen him in days..

"He's not one for doing the prepping. Likes the dirty work, not the cleaning up." Nodding at my brother, I took a last drag from my menthol, stabbing it out in the ashtray on the table. Feeling Penny paw at my legs, knowing she was getting restless.

So much for changing the subject, Tan.

"I'm gonna take Penny out for a walk. You boys need anything?" Eric shook his head as I got up from the chair, my lil' puppy secured behind my arm. "You're alright, sis. Don't let the rat catch anything." Before he could blink, my hand bounced off his arm and I was back in the house. Preparing to make the most of the sun LA was getting at the moment, I relished in it. And I wanted to spend everyday in it with Jerry.

Not a minute went by when I didn't think about him. But I I'd realized that we were so different, so distanced from each other. Or more to the fact we had to be, for both our promises to Eric.


As I walked the Downtown streets lined with sunshine, my puppy happily trotting along by my feet, I felt a sense of warmth over come me. No matter what happened with Jerry and my work, I always had LA. My home. My family. They were all that mattered to me.

Seeing Penny stop and sit in front of me, I bent down to pick her up, knowing how stubborn she was about being walked. Her little legs wouldn't carry her more than a few blocks. The little curls of fur on her back moving in the gentle breeze.

"Watch your dress, ma'am."

I tugged down on the back hem of my dress, realizing I'd misjudged how strong the breeze was.

"Thanks, I.."

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my hip, soft lips to my cheek, a husky whisper close to my ear.

"I'd have to arrest you for indecent exposure if that dress blew any higher.."

It was him.

"Jez, what are you doing here? I thought you were working." My voice appeared in a quick ramble, I was eager. Maybe too eager. I hadn't seen Jerry in days, I need my fix. I needed..I needed him. The sudden racing of my heart pumping in my chest failed to relax me. My confidence and stability gone yet again in his presence. He wrapped his arm around my waist, turning my to keep walking by his side. I heard him chuckle a little, seeing Penny lean her paws up on my arm to lick his perfectly sculpted jaw.

"Hey lil ginger."

I pulled my puppy away from him, not wanting her licking his suit. I knew how much Jerry prided himself on his appearance, especially when out in public.

"I had to see you, Tan. You haven't left my mind since we last met."

Were these words really coming out his mouth right now? Had the infamous Jerry Carter had just told me he missed me. Me. It all caught me by surprise, what the hell did I say to that? I didn't want to come over too forward, too clingy, I..

"Jerry.."

He stopped beside me, his hands resting down on hips, I felt him start moving his thumbs in circles over the cotton material of the summer dress I'd matched to the weather. Rays of sun were almost blurring the contours of his features.

"Tanya, you're different. So different from other women."

And here come the thoughts.

I started to ramble again, Penny seeming to settle down in the curve of my arm as we talked above her. "Jerry, you've turned my world upside down. When we're apart, it feels like a piece of me is missing. I long to be with you every moment of the day.."

My little embarrassing speech was interrupted with a set of lips pressing against mine. The kiss I'd been craving for days. I moved my lips with my lover's, feeling his hand clasp around the side of my neck.

He pulled away from our embrace. A pause of silence appeared. My stomach flipped over and over again, like someone was washing clothes in it. His voice softened completely, like the silkiest material flowing from his lips.

"You're mine."

I was his.