Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”

~Orhan Pamuk

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“Cascade Kennels. How may I help you?”

“Leena?” There was a pause. “Mitch Guerreo from down by Fort Lewis. I work with the K-9’s here.”

“Yessir? How can I help you?” She’d almost met him once a long time ago back when he’d been an active handler for the Army. That was still when her father had been alive, so she wasn’t sure the man was still active, but it didn’t matter, if she could help, she would. She recognized the name.

“I have a dog here that I thought immediately of you when he came in. Do you have time to look at a file? I can email it right away.”

There wasn’t any way she could ignore the hope lining his tone. “Of course. Email it immediately and I’ll read over it then give you a call back.”

“Thanks, I’m sending it to the email from your website now.”

“Call you back when I’m done.”

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. Thank you.” The line went dead and she returned the handset. The house was quiet, John was working out in her training facility, stating the running would do him some good. The dogs were crashed having been out for a few hours earlier this morning while she did kennel work.

She couldn’t lie, she was intrigued. The thought of being able to help dogs regain what they had lost…for her that was one huge ass gold dipped, diamond studded carrot. That and helping them reach the peak of their potential.

Leena dampened her lips and headed for the kitchen. Fixing herself a tall lemonade, she carried it to her office with her. She drank while waiting for her computer to boot up. Then she sat there and read the file. Two more lemonades and five pages of notes and Leena knew this dog was coming to her.

She dialed Mitch back and waited, thumping her eraser on the desktop.

“Guerreo.”

“Mitch, Leena Parsons.”

“Leena, thanks for calling me back. What’d you think?”

“I think this dog, Hugo, needs to be here as soon as it can be arranged. For a dog to have gone through what he has and for him to be acting as he is, I don’t like it. I have the time to give him the attention and work he needs.”

“So you’ll take him then?”

“Absolutely. Everything about this intrigues me. Belgian Tervurens are terrific dogs and this one has been through hell. Time for him to find some peace.”

“Damn glad to hear you saying that. I have a few more rolls of red tape to get through, they want him here for the quarantine. But I’m trying to show that since you’re a kennel, you can do that as well. You know how the military isn’t a fan of letting go of their property.”

“Let me know when to pick him up. I’ll have a run ready for him and will check in periodically with you to check on the progress.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank me when Hugo is back to how he should be.” Pax bounded into the room and she petted him while turning in her chair. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

“Be calling soon.” Mitch hung up and she followed suit, just as a sweaty John walked in the office.

“How was your workout?” She ran her gaze over him and her heart pounded harder as her nipples tightened. How was it that some looked so good after working out and others—like her—only managed to look a hot mess? Wasn’t fair but she would take advantage of the view offered.

He smiled as he propped a shoulder against the doorjamb. “I needed it. You did a damn good job of taking care of me. I’m almost back to one hundred percent.”

Such words were a double edged sword. Pasting the smile on her own face, she rocked back in the chair. “Wonderful and the healing is all you. I just brought you in out of the cold.”

“You’ve done way more than that, Leena.”

“I suppose this means you’ll be leaving then, if you’re back to full health?”

“I do have to get back. I have to bring down the bad cops and finish up what I’d gone under cover for in the first place, stopping their arms dealing trade.”

Bile built up in the back of her throat and she struggled to keep it there. In the back of her mind, she had been aware this day was coming but it didn’t make the truth of it having arrived any easier to swallow.

“I understand that. You still have a job to do.”

“Babe, I don’t want to leave you, but I have to.” He moved across the carpet to crouch before her chair and put his hands on her thighs. “I really would rather stay here.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to stay. Forget his old life and stay here with her. She didn’t allow those words to slid free however, she wasn’t about to be that selfish. He surely had a life he was anxious to return to in Oklahoma City. One she wasn’t a part of.

This is going to suck.

“You should call your brother and let him know you’ll be coming home soon.”

He held her gaze. “I’ll do that. But later, right now, I have something else in mind to do.”

Her pussy throbbed with craving. “What’s that?”

“You.”

The whimper escaped without any hesitation. Draping her hands over his, she leaned into him, needing to have his hard body pressed against her. “Yes.” She kissed him, allowing her need to pour free. He didn’t back them away from the chair, instead he pushed her further into the chair, covering her with his strong body.

Winding her arms around his neck, she dug her nails into his shoulders. He cupped her pussy through her pants, and she squirmed on the seat, wanting him closer. Her moan of relief slipped free seconds after he worked his way into her pants and was dragging his finger along the seam of her lips, teasing but never touching her clit. Her relief quickly turned to frustration as he continued to keep from touching the bundle of nerves ready to explode.

“John,” she begged, moving her hands down his sides and pushing away the waistband of his workout pants.

“My pace,” he uttered before sinking a thick finger inside her weeping pussy.

She grasped his cock in her hand and pumped. “Fine, your speed. I’ll do this at my speed.” His responding moan was music to her ears.

“You’re evil, woman.”

“Says the man with his finger deep inside my pussy but won’t touch my clit. What’s that supposed to be, niceness?”

“Pleasure.” He added another finger and she began panting.

Tightening her grip on his shaft, she stroked him faster, loving the sounds sliding past his own lips. She trembled, needing just a little nudge to fall over the precipice. A result she craved. But this man had learned her body so well, he knew when to push and when to back off. He worked her like a harp, plucking and flicking the perfect strings so she played to his tune and speed.

But he wasn’t immune to her, either, his cock throbbed in her hand and his groans were getting increasingly louder.

“Fuck me,” she said, willing to be the one who begs.

“I will. I’m going to eat this pussy first. I want you to come on my tongue as you scream my name to the room.” He pulled out his fingers and yanked her sweats down then shoved her legs apart. He was quick and she lost her hold on his dick as he settled between her legs and dragged her to the edge of the chair as his mouth covered her.

“Oh, God,” she cried. Her fingers dug into the hair on his head, anchoring him to her. Fire sprung up along her skin as he ate. He licked, flicked, and teased her with his lips and tongue. Just when she wasn’t sure she could take anymore, he added two fingers. Fucking her with them as he hummed over her clit was what her body had needed and she bucked against him.

“Fuck, I’m coming!”

He took his fingers away and pushed his tongue deep inside her as she came hard, body shaking hard. Her body shook harder as his touch landed on her hypersensitive clit. He never relented until she’d didn’t believe she could shake any more. He looked up at her, spark in his eyes.

Leena stared back then shoved him, so he tumbled back. Kicking out of one leg of her pants and panties, she straddled him, grasping his cock and guiding him inside her. His gaze darkened with passion and she rocked on him.

“I need to be fucked, John. You are probably tired from your earlier workout so I’m going to do all the work. You just lie there while I have my way with you.” She rolled her hips and listened to his breathing hitch. “Yes, this time, I’m taking what I need.”

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αβ

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John staredat the bus and back to the woman who’d saved his life and welcomed him into her home. They hadn’t called for boarders as of yet and he wasn’t in any rush for them to do so. Leena stood nearby not talking or touching him. He didn’t want her to be away from him, he’d gotten far too used to experiencing her touch, her caresses.

He clutched his fingers around his newly purchased ticket and made his way back to her side. She sat in a chair, legs crossed and a file in her hand. He knew it was the one of the dogs she was getting, she’d sounded so excited when she spoke of this new dog coming to her kennel. Still, she glanced up from the tablet in her hands when he sat next to her.

“All set?”

“Have the ticket, he said they’ll be calling for boarding in about twenty minutes.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather fly? The weather has cleared up enough that you can do that.”

“I think this is the safest way. I’m not going to Oklahoma City so Davis will be there to pick me up and we can begin our plan to take down all the crooked law involved as well as the family who’d set out to have me killed.”

She smiled slightly and powered off her tablet before angling her body in the seat to face him. “Let me know you made it home okay, please.”

He settled his hand along her jaw. “Of course I will. You saved me, Leena, I don’t know how to repay you.”

“I didn’t do it for any reward, you know this. Just get the bastards who are doing a disservice to the uniform.”

“We will.” Her skin was so soft beneath his palm, he never wanted to stop touching her. “Davis will want to meet you.”

“Sure, we can arrange that.”

He knew a brush off when he heard on. She didn’t believe he would ever return to her life. She’s in for a surprise then. John had no intentions on letting this woman out of his life. She was perfect for him. While he wasn’t sure how it would all work out, he knew she was the one for him.

He gripped her chin and angled her back to where he could hold her gaze. “We will arrange it.”

This time the smile held overwhelming sadness. “I’m sure your life will take over once you get back home. You have a lot on your plate. SRT is hard.”

“You’re worth it, Leena Parsons.”

“And you are one hell of a sweet talker, John.”

“You doubt me.”

“No. I don’t doubt you, I doubt that you will have all of this extra time for someone who lives states away. It is a wonderful thought though.” She maneuvered her face so she could place a kiss on his palm. “A most wonderful one.”

He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her, holding her as tight as he could with them in separate chairs. She rested her head against his shoulder, and he buried his face in her hair, loving the amber smell that surrounded her.

They remained like that until the call came for him to board. With regret he released her and got to his feet. Seconds after she stood as well, he pulled her near again. Chest to chest, he looked down at her and took possession of her mouth. He pushed into her with sweeping strokes of his tongue, accepting as much of her taste as he could have. It wasn’t enough, but he understood it would have to do. He had to leave. She had to stay.

“I’ll be seeing you again, Leena.”

“Goodbye, John.”

“Not goodbye, just an until next time.”

She touched his cheek. “Go on, get out of here before I cry.”

“Walk me to the door.” Arm over her shoulders, they moved together. Each step harder than the last. When she could go no further, he dipped his head for another kiss. “Christ, I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” She hugged him then stepped back out of reach.

He hefted the bag he was taking with him, the one filled with items she’d purchased for him and stepped through to the outside. He stole a look back and found her standing where she’d been, a smile plastered in place. She lifted one hand and waved farewell.

“You need to board, sir, so we can get moving.”

The driver’s voice ripped into the private world he was sharing with Leena. He turned and stepped in, handing over his ticket. John found a seat by the window and looked out for another glimpse of Leena. He couldn’t see her, and he craned his neck in order to catch a final view. It wasn’t to be and so he clung to the last image he had of her, standing there waving goodbye to him.

I will see you again, Leena.

He got more sleep on the trip. As they crossed into Oklahoma, he was ready to stretch his legs. They stopped at another bus stop and he climbed off amongst the others who had gotten off to work out the stiffness in their legs. He should be home in no time.

Spying a vending machine, he wandered over there and stared at the selections. Nothing overly appetizing but he could go for some of those cheddar fries. So, he put money in and pressed the button. As he bent to take the bag, a tingle went up his spine. Then one went through his entire body as a taser sent thousands of volts through him.

He collapsed, twitching. When he recovered, he was being dragged along the dark side of the building. He struck out, knocking one of the men back. Shoving his hand into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and pressed the one button on it. For his brother.

“Get his phone,” a man growled.

A sharp crack in the back of his dropped him for good this time. His world went black as he lost consciousness.