Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. For after all, he was only human. He wasn’t a dog.”

― Charles M. Schulz

“Good boy,” she praised, checking her watch and mentally noting the time in which he completed it. Knocked off five seconds from his previous time. He gazed at her and the love pouring from his eyes brought tears to her own. He nudged her pocket, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“And here I was getting all misty eyed and you wanted your damn ball.” She dug for it and threw it. Argo bounded after it, his easy stride covering large chunks of ground of her training facility. As he ran, she headed to the far corner where her office was and slipped behind her desk.

Powering up the computer, she turned on her music. It was always busy when she got in new dogs. She scanned her office, smiling at the numerous images on the wall. Past clients and their dogs, winning ribbons and even some competing.

“I have the best job in the world, truly I do.”

Argo brought her the ball and she rolled it back by him sending him back after it. This time when he came back, she sent him to his bed.

In the many days since she’d returned from the competition and she was about to get more dogs in for training. For the most part, her mysterious visitor—guest, hell she wasn’t sure what to call him—had been sleeping.

The wounds on his body had begun to heal. They still made her nauseous to look at them. Injuries on dogs she was able to handle but on people, they made her queasy. It begged the question, what kind of people do things like that to others?

What kind of man hung out with them or did things to get on their radar? There was a darkness in the man staying in her house. She could see it in his eyes below the surface. Not evil for the dogs wouldn’t have allowed him near her, but definitely dark.

“Good thing for their senses, I’m so screwed up in the head, I look at him and don’t think about whether or not he would harm me. I think sex.”

“That’s good to know. And I won’t hurt you.”

She whipped her head to the right and found John leaning against the doorframe. The clothing she’d purchased him hung off his body even though they didn’t hide the powerful muscles all over him. Words escaped her. She longed to sink beneath the floor. Instead she ran with the situation.

“Heard that, did you?”

“I did.” He crossed his arms, nodding in time with his affirmation. She pushed to her feet and moved toward him. Past his broad shoulders she saw Argo watching intently, ball beside him, forgotten. She knew how fast he could make it across the training floor.

Wouldn’t take this man long to snap my neck or kill me in some other way either, regardless of how fast Argo is.

More thoughts she didn’t need to be having. Argo—in tune as always to her every mood—rose to his feet. She took a deep breath and had to calm her racing heart. Holy hell this guy smelled delicious. I shower with the same stuff and don’t smell like this.

With a minuscule hand gesture, she put Argo back into a down position.

“Your dog really doesn’t like me, does he?” She lifted a brow at his question. “Your hand gesture. I saw it.”

And here she’d believed she’d been discrete. “He’s protective. It’s what I trained him for.”

John shook his head. “No, I don’t believe that. You trained him, yes, but the way he watches you. That’s pure love from him, not because of training.”

“Perhaps a mixture of both.”

His chuckle warmed her, adding to the intoxication provided by the scent of dark amber and some other woodsy notes that was in her body wash.

“You can deny it all you want. I see the truth.”

“Not denying anything.” She had to change the subject. “Can I get you anything to eat?”

His eyes flared with heat and he stepped closer. Still not touching but it didn’t matter, her body was taut as a harp string.

“I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

Lord, when had her voice had gotten all husky and low?

“Would he bite me if I kissed you?”

Her throat went dry. “Perhaps. He is a bit jealous of others.”

The corners of John’s mouth twitched up. “I’ll remember that. And just so you know, I am damn sure it would be worth it.”

Let me turn into a pile of mush and beg this man. Holy shit, I don’t understand why I’m falling so hard for this voice and simple words.

Swallowing back the desire she had no doubt lined her tone, she shrugged. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. With his jaw wrapped around some portion of your body and those teeth digging in, you may not think so.”

She slipped to the side, but he moved with her. “What about if you kiss me?”

Heat pooled in her lower body, her pussy slicking with preparedness. “I think you’d be fine then.”

“Well then, I’ll just have to get you to kiss me.” He never once lowered his gaze from hers while he made his proclamation. Her knees wobbled a bit until she got by him and out into the more open part of the training facility.

“Guess so,” she murmured, releasing Argo with a gesture. Her boy bounded over to her and she patted him. The look to her visitor was one without much emotion. Argo ignored him, didn’t ask to be petted and just circled him once.

“I know where I stand.”

“Don’t take it personally, he’s like that to everyone.”

“Pax seemed to like me.”

“He loves most people. Sorry, didn’t mean to lump you in with everyone else, but it’s Pax’s personality.” They paused by the door and she lowered the heat in the building, not any reason to keep it high when no one was going to be in there for a while. She’d put it back up when she came back out. “Come on.” She opened the door and waited.

He looked at her and the dog. “Waiting on me?”

“Yes, I have to set the alarm. And Argo waits until I go.”

She stared at his ass as he moved by her. Leena flicked her tongue over her lips and tried not to sigh like a schoolgirl stealing a peek at a naked man. This one just made it really hard not to want to touch and feel.

Use the excuse you have to check his injuries.Yep, sounded like her brain, giving her bad advice. But was it truly bad advice? Injuries did need to be checked. She shook her head, set the alarm, and pulled the door shut behind her after Argo went out. Double-checking the lock on the door, she shoved her hands in her coat pockets. This is why I get myself into trouble because I’m mental. Full on mental.

“What’s funny?”

“Huh?” She focused on John.

“You chuckled. What’s funny?”

“Sorry, lost in thought. Are you sure you’re feeling okay? I should check your injuries again.” Good job, mouth. Make me sound all desperate to get my hands on him. Okay, maybe it’s true but I could act like it’s not about my raging hormones and it’s about my concern for him.

She wondered if she’d spoken out loud or if he could just read minds for he arched an eyebrow and sketched another smile. One sure to get her out of her panties if he would only ask.

They walked in silence back to her house, Argo between them. If he knew the tactic, he didn’t comment on it. As she closed the door on the cold, they both shrugged out of their jackets.

“I’m going to fix some coffee, then check your injuries. After that, I’ll start on some food. I have some clients coming in later, so I have some things to do before they arrive.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Sure. I have to go through the kennel and make sure all is in order.”

“So, you train dogs and kennel them?”

She went to the kitchen. “I used to have about seventy-five runs that I would have full all the time. But training is my real love so I scaled majorly back on the boarding. I still help out some people from time to time and keep the dogs I’m working occasionally.” She filled the coffee maker and turned it on. “The kennel now is mostly if I have a litter of pups. Today however, I have a neighbor bringing in their four dogs for me to keep while they go on a cruise.”

“Why not house dogs while you train?”

“The goal of what I train is to become a team. No point in me taking the money to train your dog when if you can’t learn to read him or her, then you won’t be a team. It’s been my experience that it’s the humans who need more guidance and help than the canines. I will do it occasionally, but I prefer to work with the team.”

“You like dogs better than people.”

She nodded. “In most cases yes.”

He laughed. “Most? I’m going to say all.”

Leena smiled. “Can’t disagree. They are much easier for me to understand. They’re not petty, or vindictive. You love them, they love you back. Unconditionally.” She got some mugs. “I also have training classes tonight. I’m not sure what you were caught up in, but the ones coming out are cops, so you may want to stay out of sight in the house.”

She watched his reflection in the window. Witnessed the tensing and the frown.

Instead of pushing, she left it alone and hoped whatever he’d been mixed up in wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass.

Although, he could bite me anywhere he chooses.It was official. She had problems. “Let’s check your wounds.”

Without the slightest hesitation, he whipped off his shirt and tossed it over the back of a chair. She gulped and did a quick count to ten. Okay, perhaps it was more like thirty. The wounds were still red but appeared to be going down.

He crooked his finger at her. “Come closer. Hard for you to check from over there.”

Safer this way.

“For who?”

She blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“You said it was safer this way. I’m wondering for who is it safer?”

Words didn’t form in her mind nor did they flow past her lips. She had locked into the firm mouth with the small scar above the right top lip. So much for keeping that an internal thought alone. I may need to duct tape my mouth shut around this man. And yet, even that brings to mind some things I don’t need to contemplate.

“Leena?”

Christ. That was sex on a platter, the way her name fell from him. She bit the inside of her cheek and moved toward him with purpose. I can do this.

“Me,” she said. “It would be safer for me to stay over there.” Her mouth watered as the scent of him intermixed with her soap reached her again.

“Why?” He watched her with intense gray eyes. “Do you feel I will harm you?”

“No. I know I’m protected. This has nothing to do with anything other than—” she shook her head, “—never mind.” I may be a lot of things but I can control my mouth about how much I want to hump him like a bunny.

She checked quickly, putting some more medication on the ones that could use it. Her groan turned to a whimper when he undid the top button of his jeans. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed as the faint clicking of the zipper hit her. Her heart thundered with the sound of the material sliding down his thighs filled the air.

Leena opened her eyes and looked. Man just didn’t have a damn thing to be embarrassed about. He was built right and then some. She’d picked up both boxers and boxer briefs. He stood there in a pair of navy blue boxer briefs that left zero to her imagination. Not that she needed to use it, ever since she’d pulled him from that water, she’d been well aware of what he was packing.

She attended the marks on his legs and slowly stood. John stared down at her as she pushed up, his cock outlined by the material, stretched taut and showing how turned on he was as well. She yanked her focus from that and held his gaze.

“I think you’re fine. Few more days and you should be all healed.”

“Thank you,” he muttered, dipping his head closer.

When his lips were barely separated from hers, she replied, “You’re welcome.” Then she stepped back and left the room to regain some control. Her hands shook as she waited. She’d not wanted to kiss someone with that much passion in a long time. Looked like tonight would be another night where she found release with a toy and dreams.

That sucks.

αβ

John stared up the aisle of the kennel. He was alone for all purposes, Leena off in a different room. Her dogs were out running in the snow.

The kennel building was nice, her setup sweet. All runs had indoor and outdoor access. He’d just removed the barriers so the flaps could be used in the four runs she was going to use. The rest had remained in to combat the cold. Raised PVC beds and a tiled floor.

“All set here?”

He lifted his head in surprise, she’d came up on him so silently. “Doors can be used. Fresh water in each pail. Was there a reason you put them across from each other, two on each side?”

“Two of their dogs will fence fight with each other so they never go side by side but this way all four can see each other. May be easier on them.”

“You put them farther back instead of up front.” He closed the chain link door behind him.

“One of their dogs is a Great Dane, he needs that door. I work around that. I don’t mind them being down here. Their comfort is what’s important.”

“Sweet setup.”

“Yes, it’s nice. They each have a three-hundred yard run out the back and I have areas that they can play together in.”

“I saw that when we came in. What is the netting up for?”

“I had that for the last litter of puppies. When they are outside to protect them from hawks and eagles.”

He whistled. “I wouldn’t have thought about that.”

“They also always have an adult with them to keep an eye out.”

“When was your last litter?”

“Argo was from my last. Five years.”

“So long?”

“His father was something special.” Her voice wobbled. “I’ve never been in the breeding for money. I didn’t do many litters. When I lost Argo’s sire, I turned my attention to competing and haven’t really given any more consideration to breeding. I looked a long time to get the others.”

He moved up beside her and trapped her within the circle of his arms. “The large male whose picture is over the clock?”

She nodded. He lowered his head and allowed her curls to brush his cheek. His cock jerked hard in his pants. Since he’d met her it had been doing its damnedest to punch free and sink between her legs. Or lips.

God, she smelled amazing. Slightly sweet but a definite hint of the shower gel he’d used. He nearly flicked his tongue along her skin to see if she tasted as good as he believed she would. Clenching his right hand into a fist, he backed away. Not good to take your savior up against a wall, but damn if he didn’t want to do just that. Fuck her hard against the wall until she screamed his name to the air and came hard around his cock.

“Is there anything else I can do to help before they arrive?” He didn’t miss the tiny tremble that she tried unsuccessfully to hide.

“No, I’m good. They’ll bring their own food. Oh, no, that’s wrong. Do you mind helping me in the back?”

“Lead on.”

An hour later, he watched from the side as she welcomed the new arrivals. Her dogs were in the house and he watched the couple put their four dogs in her hands. Leena easily held all four even though they were jumping around and barking crazily. He’d already carried in their food and beds.

He and Leena had come in with a mower and plow to clean out each run. He was impressed that they all were wide enough to accommodate it.

“Thank you so much, Leena,” Mrs. Studi said. “We were afraid we’d not be able to go on this trip.”

“It’s my pleasure. I’m not going anywhere until after you come back so it’s not a problem. Go. Have fun on your trip. I’ll get them settled. We have your contact information.”

Both looked in his direction. “I didn’t know you hired someone to work here.”

“I didn’t. He’s a friend from out of state, just in town for a short visit.”

He was impressed by the ease she said that.

The couple patted their dogs once more than got back in their car. Leena cleared her throat and headed for the door. John met her there and helped her get them put in their respective kennels.

She had the dogs settled in very little time and together, they left the kennel and began the walk across the yard to her property. A warning snaked up his spine and he glanced around, the feeling of being far to exposed slamming into him with the force of a gale wind.

Yes, she had trees but the area around her house could basically be considered clear. He shifted closer to her, doing his best to keep it to himself but she peered over at him.

“You okay?”

“Tired.” If that’s the lie it took to get her in the house and quickly, he’d tell it any second of any day.

Her smile soothed a part of him he thought gone while he’d been deep. “Almost back. Thanks for helping me out.”

“Not a problem.” He stepped ahead and reached for the door the same time she did. Their hands brushed against one another and his heart kicked up a few notches.

“I got it,” she said.

“Not how I was raised.”

“Considering you’ve been beaten and tortured, allow me.” He watched as she pushed open the door and waved him in first.

God, it went against every fiber within him to leave her back exposed. He didn’t dally and breathed only slightly better when the thick door had been shut behind them.

“You really don’t look that good. Let me help you to bed.”

Given it was the concern and not his exhaustion that had him looking stressed her comment sent liquid steel and fire to his cock, making it hard and throbbing. And because he was an ass, he allowed her to wrap an arm around him and escort him back to the room she’d given him to use. Her scent wound around him, the crisp outdoors combined with the deeper, darker one of amber and the rest of the smells in her bath wash. He may not be able to pick them out and name them but they did a number on his libido.

He half stumbled onto the bed and lay there for a moment, erection digging into the mattress beneath him. I’d rather it be going into her. Angling his head, he found her there, a concerned expression marring her heart-shaped face.

“I’m okay,” he promised.

“Maybe we should get you to a doctor or hospital to get you looked at. What if I missed something? I can do patch work on dogs but know crap about human injuries. You might have internal bleeding. I mean, hell, it’s pure damn luck that you didn’t lose something to frostbite. I don’t know how long you were in the water.”

He pushed to a sitting position and grasped her wrist. Tugging her between his legs, he settled his hands on her hips. “I survived this because you came along and saved me. I don’t have any internal bleeding and I’m not entirely sure I should be going to a hospital anyway. It may put me in a position that I wouldn’t be able to get out of. These people have a long reach.”

She inched closer. “Who are these people?”

He tightened his jaw so much he was shocked he didn’t crack the bone. “I can’t say much. I was in with a bad crowd.” He flexed his fingers loving the tantalizing hint of skin he found beneath his pads.

“How long were you under?”

He jerked his gaze to her. “What?”

Leena brushed some hair away from his face, the back of her hand moving against his scruff, intimate and calming. “I work around cops and ex-military all the time. Plus, while you had your fever you talked. I put somethings together that contradicted themselves.”

“Then you know I’ve put you in danger simply by being here.”

“So what? You going to strike out on your own? Walk in the middle of winter to someplace else? How logical is that? And don’t think I don’t notice how you’re avoiding my question. You wouldn’t last an hour out there even if you bundled up. Another storm is inbound with a prediction of another ten to twelve inches minimum.”

His stomach plummeted. All he was doing was putting her in danger. They would be trying to find him. He had to stay off the radar until his muddled thoughts smoothed out and he could finger his traitor.

“Listen. I’m not keeping you here if you truly want to leave but I really think you should stay.”

Another brush of her hand along his jaw. Christ this woman’s touch pumped life into him.

“You’d be in danger.”

“Life is full of dangers. If I was worried about that, I would have left your ass in that water. I’m protected here. There are cameras, I have cops who come by and check on me because I’m like their little sister. Oh, and I have the dogs.”

“Bullets stop dogs.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m well aware of that. I also know they are always going to protect me. And if these people think that I helped you and come here anyway, it won’t matter if you are here or not. They will still want to either kill or torture me to get the information. So, the way I see it, you may as well stay. Use my resources and find out what you need to in order to take these bastards down.”

He inched his fingers up under the edge of her sweatshirt, craving more skin contact. Either it was his overactive imagination, or her whimper slipped from between her full lips to his ears.

“It will be dangerous.”

She held his gaze without flinching. “Life is dangerous.” Leena lowered her head closer to his and murmured, “Besides, I like having you around.”

Lust didn’t just nip at his heels; it ran him down like a wolf pack taking down its prey. Relentless. Hungry. Determined.

“I don’t want you to be hurt. I couldn’t live with myself.”

She slid her fingers into the hair at his neck and climbed on his lap, straddling him. “Guess you’ll have to be gentle at first when you take me against the wall. Although, I’m pretty sure I could handle it.”

This time the moan fell from his lips. Gazes locked, breathing heavy John wanted nothing more than to take her up on the blatant offer. Her breath was warm as it fanned over his mouth. He fought to not take advantage of the lust pouring between them, but she took the decision from him. Leena finished the distance and covered his mouth with hers. Her need poured into him and mixed with his own, creating its own vortex.

Shit.