Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. You’ve nothing to worry about there.”

― James Herriot

---

I’m in so much trouble. She shouldn’t have kissed him. Should have kept her distance. She’d not done either of those things and now she was spiraling down a hole she had no control in. Not that she wanted any but damn, despite the attraction to him she’d not expected this type of visceral response to a kiss.

She ground on him, needing to be closer. Desperate to have more contact. Her fingers, tight in his hair, held him to her. His tongue swept through her mouth with sure strokes. John had a secure grip on her waist, keeping her solidly over his hard cock. Her nipples pushed hard against the fabric of her bra and she wanted his mouth there. It wasn’t the only place she wanted his touch.

Up his hands inched, brushing her skin with the calluses he had. Her belly was a bundle of taut nerves. Her clit throbbed and she shifted on his lap, rubbing it over the hard ridge straining the jeans.

Inches from her breasts, he paused, and she blinked before it registered. The beeping sound made when someone entered her property. Heart pounding, she stared at his mouth before slipping to her feet.

“Coffee should be ready by now,” she said before leaving the room. I’m such a baby. I ran away. Now wasn’t the time for her to think about that, she paused by a monitor and identified the car coming up her driveway.

“I didn’t figure you for someone to run,” he commented from behind her, seconds before his arms slipped around her drawing her back against his hard chest.

“I left to check the monitor.” Yes, even to her ears that was a pathetic excuse.

“And who’s in the silver Titan?”

“K-9 handler Vernt and his partner Nikko, a Belgian Malinos.”

“I thought they didn’t come until later.”

She shrugged. “Guess we kissed longer than we’d thought.” It was true, she didn’t think that much time had passed but they’d been kissing for twenty minutes. In her mind it hadn’t been more than two.

“Guess we need to finish that kiss.” He turned her in his arms then backed her up to the counter so she couldn’t get out of his arms. “And see where it leads us.”

“Pretty sure I know where that’s going to be.”

His gray eyes sparkled. “Only pretty sure?”

“Confident.”

“Always.”

“I meant I was confident where it was going to be.”

“That too.”

She rolled her eyes. “I have to go meet him.”

John narrowed his eyes before dipping his head to kiss her once more. “You know you’re mine, right?”

Flicking her tongue over his lips, she smiled before ducking and walking away. “I’d stay out of sight until they’re gone tonight.” She grabbed her coat. “Argo, heir.” Dog at her side, she strode out into the fading light of day. The wind whipped around her, and she tucked her chin and struck out for the training facility.

Vernt hopped out of his truck as she neared it. “Leena,” he said with a smile.

“Officer.”

“All this time and you won’t call me by my name?”

“I’ve always been better with dogs’ names than people. How’s Nikko doing tonight?”

“Anxious to get some work done.”

“Good to hear.” She waited while he opened the back door and took the dog from the crate set up in the back. “You can run him if you’d like. All the others are put up, I’ll take Argo inside and turn the heat up. We still have about ten minutes before five.”

“Thanks, I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.” He waited with a hand on Nikko’s collar as she took Argo to the door and put him inside the training center. Then she got to say hi to the canine. Once she finished, Nikko bolted off in the deep snow, running and playing. “See you two inside.”

She adjusted the heat and turned on the outside light. Last minute decision had her stepping back out into the cold. “I’ll be right back, I’d like to work Pax a bit as well. Going to go grab him.”

Vernt looked at her before nodding. She jogged to the house and opened the door. “Pax, heir.” He arrived moments later. Slipping his fur saver on, she clipped a leather leash to a link and backed out, ignoring the male—human this time—standing there watching her.

Her first client waited for her at the door. “Wasn’t sure if Argo was loose or not.”

“He is, sorry. Let’s go in.” She went in first and dropped him with a word. “I’d say Nikko is loosened up. Take him through, I have a course set up.” This time they were on the other half of the training center, not the agility side. This was a course for the police dogs, had a few extras in it that her regular agility didn’t have.

While he took his partner there, she got her dogs situated on their beds and put in down stays. Argo immediately put his head down and closed his eyes. Pax however, wanted to be part and watched intently.

She joined Vernt and worked with him.

Ten o’clock she’d said goodnight to her final client. A new K-9 pair. Morgan, a relatively young member of the unit had gotten a new bitch and they’d not connected yet. She’d given them some things to work on, to help mold them to a better team. Thankfully the handler was an eager man to make their new team work out. After they’d departed, she’d gone to the kennel for one final check on her boarders.

She rubbed the back of her neck as she made her way across the dark yard. The snow had begun to fall once more, and she was grateful she wouldn’t be out traveling when it picked up. As it was now, the fat heavy flakes more than quadrupled in speed by the time she reached her front door. Erma was with her and she brought the bitch in then shut the door behind them both.

Her other dogs met her, and she shrugged out of her coat after greeting them. Then she removed her heavy boots, leaving her in a pair of wool socks.

“That was a long night.”

Even though she knew he was here in her house, the sound of his voice caught her off guard and she jumped. Angling her head, she spied him approaching her. He wore nothing more than the low hung pair of jeans she’d picked up for him. The warm light from a faraway lamp added a golden hue to his tanned skin. She could still pick out the welts and burn marks on his skin but none of it detracted from the allure he exuded.

“Typical night,” she managed to state, even as her breathing kicked up and her heart pounded faster.

“The men and women you work with respect you.”

He neared and she longed to rub along him like a cat would. Wind around him and see how loud he could make her purr.

Christ, if he affected her like this after having gone through what he had, how would he have been perfectly healthy?

“I know what I’m doing.” Her comment wasn’t to brag it was matter of fact. “I’ve been doing it a long time.”

“I have no doubt.” Closer still, filling her nose with his heady masculine scent. John braced his hands on the door behind one, on either side of her head, boxing her in.

What a nice place to be trapped. Between him and something hard that could take him fucking me.

She prayed that was a thought she’d kept to herself. His eyes had darkened and swirled with passion and heat as they bore into her. He dipped his head and a lock of hair fell over one eye, partially blocking her view of it.

“I’m not sure what it is you’re doing to me, Leena Parsons.” His words were rumbled and reminded her of dark, decadent sex.

“I’m just standing here.”

“Like I’m sure your dogs are watching trying to ascertain if I’m a threat or not. I have you boxed in. Will they bite me?”

“I’m sure it’s not fear they are scenting coming from me.” Between her legs, slick and needy for his touch. Her breasts were swollen and overly sensitive. It wouldn’t take much to set her off. She reached out to place her hands on his chest, initiating the skin contact between them.

His groan slammed into her and tore at the remaining layer of control surrounding her. Firm muscles beneath her fingertips twitched as she skimmed his torso.

“I’ve thought about you all damn day since that kiss. Before then, but especially after.”

His confession was music to her ears, especially given how much time she’d been thinking about him since he arrived in her life.

“Same here,” she admitted, lowering her gaze to follow the path her hands were taking. “Do you hurt?” She lightly brushed over one of the burn marks on his pectoral. It looked like someone had taken a curling iron to his skin burning him.

“Yes.”

She jerked her hands back only to lift her gaze when he captured her wrists and placed her palms back on his chest.

“Not from the wounds.” He pressed closer. “Don’t stop.”

She listened, not wanting to halt in her exploration. Leena had no illusions that this man wasn’t dangerous but right now, she didn’t give a damn. Her body had made its demands clear and she was going to listen. If there were regrets, she would deal later.

“Do you have protection?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered immediately, hands circling lower over the marred six-pack he had. Whatever he’d gone through had taken some of his strength, but the man wasn’t lacking in any regardless. “I have plenty.”

“I hope so.” His nose flared as she worked her way along the waistband of his pants.

Turning her hand, she slid it down the inside of his jeans. The heat from his body seeped into her and she moaned herself. The smooth cotton of his boxer briefs a different feel than the hair that she’d followed down beyond the button.

The ridge there, blatant and hard, had her pussy clenching with a wanton need she’d never experienced before. She squeezed him once, eliciting a deep guttural sound from the man before her.

“Leena,” he warned.

Then again, perhaps it’s a promise.

With her left hand, she undid the button on his jeans and lowered the zipper. The house had fallen silent except for the exchange between the two of them. Outside the wind howled as it picked up in speed, but there, in her warm house, they moved at their own speed.

Leena pushed the denim over lean hips and never took her eyes from the outline of his cock in the dark blue material. He kicked them away but didn’t move from her touch. With a flick of her tongue along her lips, she hooked her thumbs in the elastic of the final article of clothing keeping her from her prize.

Yes, this is my prize. I want this. I want him.

His tense body was right there for her. She pushed down the last barrier and whimpered as his dick bobbed free from its confinement. Thick and long, the large mushroom head shone with the pearlescent proof of his pre-cum.

Curling her hand around him, her eyes fluttered.

“Fuck,” he mumbled, hips bucking, pushing him further into her palm.

She stroked him at her own leisure. Using her thumb of her free hand to wipe the moisture from the tip, she tipped her head up and met his gaze while sucking it clean. His eyes were so dark they appeared black.

On either side of her head, his hands had clenched into fists. She tightened her hold on his cock and resumed her attention to the shaft.

“You keep this up and I’m going to embarrass myself.”

His words had her glancing back to him. “You’re the one just standing there. You want to touch, touch.”

He lowered his hands to the buttons on her shirt and paused seconds before he ripped the halves apart, peppering the floor with the small plastic objects. Leena gasped, not caring where they went, she’d find them later.

John’s gaze flashed then he dipped his head and took the pebbled tip of one in his mouth, bra and all. She tensed all over, bowing her back to push more of her breast in his heated mouth. The gasp ripped from her, ragged.

As he paid attention to her breasts, she inhaled sharply when cool air hit her boobs. Shit, how’d he undo my clasp without his hands? The thought was fleeting at best for his tongue and lips distracted her once more. As he drove her to distraction, his hands were attacking the button fly on her own jeans.

Why didn’t I wear sweats today?While the button fly wasn’t as swift to open as it would have been to just shove sweatpants down her legs, John was quick and soon enough they were around her ankles. As he’d done, she kicked them away, her strokes not slowing once same as his avid attention to her breasts.

His pushed her shirt over her shoulders along with the bra and that joined her pants on the floor. He readjusted and covered her mouth with his. She opened eagerly for his thrusting tongue. His taste spilled over her taste buds and she leaned into him more, craving more. One hand on his dick, she wrapped her other arm around his neck, sinking her fingers into his silky hair as she pushed up on her toes.

He cupped her ass before slipping two fingers below the panties and along her swollen pussy lips. Her legs trembled but before she could regain much stability, he pushed them into her, deep and in one single motion.

“Shit,” she panted. Her release was instantaneous and bordered on brutal. The orgasm was so swift and demanding, she couldn’t hold herself up. His fingers deep inside her scissored and thrust as she rode out the powerful wave flowing.

John held her up, snaking an arm around her waist. “You’re so goddamn tight. I can’t wait to sink my cock into you and feel you milking me. Rippling around me as I fuck you until you cry my name out so loud, you’ll be hoarse the next day.”

Tugging on his hair, she found the fortitude to open her eyes and meet his gaze. “Then fuck me already.”

---

In the backof his mind, John kept waiting for the dream to vanish and him to be faced with another round of torture with the jumper cables. But the man who’d not had a woman in a long time, not more than a quick fuck to keep up appearances, was willing—more than—to take the woman, or vision, before him up on her offer.

This Leena Parsons was something else. Curves to die for, creamy skin that tasted even better than it looked and smelled. And her pussy, holy fucking hell, it was heaven and he wanted the tight wet heat wrapped around the cock she currently held in her hand.

Don’t let me wake before this is over.

“Legs around me,” he ordered, lifting her at the waist.

She complied without hesitation. Fingers still deep inside her heat, he walked them down the hall to the room she’d given him to use. Wrist pistoning his digits within her, he sought her lips, and reclaimed them as his own.

Locked together, he climbed up on the bed and moved up so he wasn’t hanging off the mattress. She nipped his lip and he drew back.

“I don’t have condoms in here. They’re in my room.”

He wanted to roar in frustration. Instead, he picked her up once more and took her to her room, lying her back on the pale blue bedspread. She released his cock and reached over to the bedside drawer and tossed a box in his direction. Reluctantly he removed his hand from her pussy and withdrew a foil packet.

Rolling it on his dick, he groaned as she lay back and put her fingers in her slit. Her juices coated her skin and his mouth watered, wanting to clean them off. Sheathed, he moved closer between her legs and captured her wrist while her three fingers were sunk deep inside her core.

She sucked her lower lip in her mouth and stared at him. The passion in her eyes floored him. Her hunger was as great as his own.

“Please,” her ragged moan fell like ambrosia to his ears.

“Let me taste you.” He fisted himself and moved the tip along her pussy beneath her fingers.

She offered him her fingers and as he took them in his mouth, he pushed the head of his cock between her swollen lips. Her flavor was sweet and he sucked them further in. Around his shaft, her body tightened. He didn’t slow but didn’t slam into her with a single jolt. He kept up the continuous glide until he sat fully embedded within her.

Already his balls had drawn tight, wanting nothing more than to release within her. Blinking, he stared down at the woman lying there, moaning his name. Flushed skin, parted lips, breasts moving as she inhaled sharply.

“Better than I ever imagined,” he said.

“Move, please. Oh God, fuck me.”

He listened. She took her hand back and settled them both on his shoulders as he thrust. Her nails dug into him and he could tell her pleasure, even without the mewling cries evacuating her mouth, from the way she clutched him. The tighter her grip got on him, the more her cries came.

He drove into her, over and over. Unrelenting. Her pussy stretched around him, tight, and he knew she’d not been with anyone for a long time.

The knowledge made him even more possessive than he had been from the start. Burying his face into the side of her neck, he inhaled deeply. Their scents comingled around him. Over twenty-four months of living a life he wouldn’t ever have picked for himself. Then the twelve days of hell when he’d been discovered. Honestly, he hadn’t thought he would live much less ever enjoy the touch of a woman again.

He wound his hands in her hair and tugged so she gasped. Then he claimed her mouth once more. His hips continually worked his cock in and out. Her cream coated him and the muscles she flexed tight held him as if they never wanted to let him go.

Darkness tinged the edge of his vision, and he was afraid the time was up for this dream. He shook his head and growled low in his throat. “No, I’m not letting go.” The caged beast was unleashed and he took. He sought his own pleasure, working his dick into her at an unrelenting speed, his hunger and desperation owning him.

Her cries filled his ears, her legs wrapped like a vise around his waist, allowing him all the penetration he wanted, deep or shallow. He wanted deep, longed to remain buried within searching for her heartbeat.

Leena’s back arched and a cry poured from her lips as she splintered around him. The power of her orgasm such it carried him over the edge after her and he released a shout of his own as he came, ropes of thick come shooting from him. Even then, he didn’t stop but continued fucking her as they both rode out the remnants of their releases.

Limbs shaky, he collapsed on her, all energy spent. She didn’t fight him or ask him to move. She tightened her grip on him, wrapping her arms and legs around him, not giving him any room, sharing his space with him. Eyes closed, he exhaled heavily before his body took him back into the land of exhaustion.

He woke alone, naked and covered by thick blankets. A light was on beside the bed, offering a low glow to the space. He climbed from the bed and searched for another pair of jeans. Tugging them on, he went after a pair of thick socks before walking out into the rest of her house. It was dark so he turned back around and went to her room and this time took a longer look at her space.

Dark brown with pale purple highlights. She had a queen bed, which he knew was comfortable, since he’d just climbed from being in it. Her furniture was simple. The hardwood floors were covered by a few area rugs that had abstract designs on them.

Where is she?He scratched his right shoulder and walked to the room she’d put him. Flicking on the light, he peered in and found it just as empty as the room he’d been in. He frowned as the realization that no dogs were around hit him. Had something happened?

He ran for a shirt and tugged the long sleeve over his head then went to the front and shoved into the boots she’d given him. Shrugging into the coat, he peered out the window and saw the snow fell in thick flakes around the light on outside her training facility. It fell hard enough he couldn’t see any footprints, but it was worth a shot.

The biting wind tore into his exposed skin and he was ready to crawl back into the bed and warm up. He picked up his pace and got to the door. Turning the knob, he pulled it open and blinked away the burn from the lights filling the space.

He’d found her.

All four dogs fixated on him as he entered, pulling the door closed behind him. Leena had on a pair of warm up pants and a sweatshirt. Strip her and start all over, his brain said. A sentiment, his dick agreed with completely.

“Everything okay?” she asked without looking at him for longer than two seconds.

“Wondered where you’d gone off to.”

“My day starts at four. I get our training in first so I can focus on other people’s animals and today since the weather is only going to get worse, I figured I’d at least get it done and do emails the rest of the time.”

All four dogs were lying around her as she bounced a tennis ball on the floor. None of them moved. He did, approaching her.

“Can I help?”

“No, thanks. It’s almost time for us to finish up and get some breakfast. I just have to run Pax and Erma through the obstacle course once more.” She cracked her neck and lobbed the ball across the floor. “Hope, Wazzu.”

Her bitch took off like a shot, the other three still as marble statues. When she caught up to the ball, had it in her mouth and proceeded to play with it. Leena looked at her other dogs, walked around each of them and released Argo then Pax. She brought Erma with her to the obstacle course. While the other three played and ran around, Leena worked with her younger female. John stayed on the outside of the area as they tackled tires, jumps, ladders, and more.

They got to a low long stretch that the dog would have to crawl and Erma refused. Instead of getting upset, he watched as Leena worked with her, encouraging her to go through, going with her on her own belly under the item. She moved portions of the belly crawl area off and worked with her until she could call the dog through, one section at a time before putting them back together and having her go under the full length at once.

“Good girl,” she praised, roughhousing with the dog. “Once more, girl. You and me together.”

The bark that followed had John crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, this he had to see. Erma kept pace on Leena’s left as they went back to the start. A bit more roughhousing then she settled her dog down. And started.

The jumps, tires, and everything were taken accurately and without a misplaced step. The moment they began running to the crawl, he leaned forward, anxious to see how it would play out.

She issued the command and Erma lunged forward, moving on her belly under the full length of it. John watched Leena’s fist pump but she kept the dog moving, sending her over two more jumps and through a hanging tire before she praised her.

“Yes!” she cried. “Good girl, you did it!” She caught Erma as she jumped up, hugging her then sinking to her knees, arms still around her dog. Her praise was muffled by the dog’s coat and the barking she did.

Together, they walked to the entrance and she sent her off to play with the others. “Pax, hier. One run for you, my young man.”

John waited. Pax ran it clean and she praised him nearly as hard as she had Erma. “Let’s eat,” she called out as she released Pax to play.

John walked to her side, waited for her to look up at him then he kissed her. Dipped his head and captured her lips. Her face shone with the sweat she’d worked up running her dogs and working with them. He didn’t care. She moaned and pushed closer, he snaked an arm around her back and held tight.

“Hi,” he muttered against her lips.

“Back atcha.”

“I thought you’d run.”

Her smile calmed the fear that had swarmed him. “Where would I run to? I know you saw the weather out there when you came here. Not balmy Miami weather.”

“Don’t know where to, but it’s what I thought.”

“I’m right here. Gonna feed the boarders then head inside and take care of my pack. You should go back in, take them with you.”

“I can help.”

“I get it, you’re a man, you want to help but if it’s all the same to you, I don’t want to have to carry you again. You’re not fully healed yet and you were sleeping like the dead when I left you. Even now I see exhaustion and sweat is on your brow.”

He kissed her again. “Yours too.”

“But I’ve been working. You’ve been standing. Go back to the house. I’ll be along shortly.”

“Then we talk.”

Her expression became thoughtful. “Yes. We need to talk.”

Together, they left the building and he continued on to the house when she veered over to the kennel. He let the dogs in the house then shut out the increasing cold and snow to wait for Leena.