WE ARE ONE: Volume Two

by Jewel, Bella

  But just because I liked him didn’t mean I had to jump into anything or label this, right?

  Would you care if some other woman stole him?

  What the hell sort of question was that? Of course, I would. I’d probably start a cat fight, and that wasn’t me at all.

  Crap, he’s already changing me.

  I felt possessive toward him. I wanted him more than just physically but as a friend, too.

  How had this happened?

  Regardless of my confusion and rapidly beating heart whenever I thought about Ryder Carson, life went on and I got better.

  Plus, I had a business to run, a partner not to let down, and parents who were too self-absorbed to care what I did with my life.

  On the morning of the third day of my sickness, I managed to shower and dress and head to work with only a mild headache and a few sniffles. I was better, bitches (dog speak only), and I wouldn't lie around in bed thinking and fantasising and wanting so much to talk to the boy who made me hot in all the right places.

  When I got to work, Polly threw her arms around me and looked as if she’d pass out with exhaustion. “Oh thank God, you’re back. I can’t do it anymore, Ves. I’m beat.” She dragged me into the surgery where a cat sat on the bench, squalling in a plastic carry case. “It needs its leg set. It was mauled by a neighbour’s cat in a turf war, but I don’t want to operate on my own.” She batted her eyelashes. “Are you up for it? Together, of course?”

  I nodded, stretching out the residual aches in my muscles. “That’s why I’m here. Do we have time now?”

  She sighed in relief. “Yes, we have a couple of hours before the next arrival.”

  A trickle of trepidation crept down my spine. “And who is the next appointment?”

  Polly’s eyes lit up. “Oh, come on. Don’t play that game. You must know. He’s probably only coming to see you.”

  I slapped my forehead with my hand. “Ryder?”

  She nodded. “The one and only.” Leaning in, she whispered, “He called here the other day all worried about you.”

  “Yes, you said. You gave him my number.”

  She smirked. “Oh, yes I did, didn’t I? And how is that going?” She nudged my shoulder with hers. “Did you sleep with him?”

  I glanced over my shoulder in panic. I didn’t know why—it was just us, after all. “No, I did not sleep with him.”

  “But you like him?”

  “No…I—”

  “Don’t lie to me, Ves. We’ve been together for too long for that nonsense. When you like a boy, you get pissy. And you’re pissy right now.” Grabbing the caterwauling cat’s crate, she placed him onto the surgery table. “Come on, let’s fix poor tabby here so you have plenty of time to see lover boy.”

  “He’s not my lover.”

  She winked. “Maybe not yet. But I have no doubt he will be.”

  * * *

  I hated that Polly might be right.

  When Ryder walked into my office a couple of hours later with a cardboard box and a Chinese Crested shivering inside, my heart softened and became a damn melted marshmallow as he grinned with his annoyingly handsome face.

  Swallowing hard to ignore my rising obsession with this man, I snapped, “What seems to be the problem with this one?”

  He shrugged as he placed the box on the table and scooped the nude dog with its little mop of hair on its head and feathers on his legs out of it. Its naked skin was splodged with brown and pink spots.

  Out of all impractical breeds, the Chinese Crested had to be one of the worst. It shivered constantly. It had no defence against prickles or mud and could never survive without a human keeping its ridiculous genetics from dying out.

  I sighed, rubbing my temples where a small headache still lurked from the past few days.

  Ryder kissed its snout, grinning. “She’s cold. Told me so herself.”

  “It’s summer. She can’t be cold.”

  Squeezing the bald, impractical dog, he shoved it into my arms. His fingers grazed my nipple as he pulled back.

  Somehow, I didn’t think it was by accident.

  Our eyes locked.

  I sucked in a breath.

  He clenched his jaw.

  Residual flu or not, my body instantly flooded with heat.

  He murmured, “She has no fur. Even you and I wear clothes in summer.”

  The image of him in no clothes hammered into my skull. I licked my lips as my eyes trailed to his mouth. Having a few days in bed with nothing to do but heal and fantasise about Ryder was not good for my libido. I’d had a few nice naps where his lips found mine, his hands traced my body, and his cock…well, that was too X-rated to reveal.

  If I admitted how kinky my daydreams were…I’d have to kill someone because I’d only just stumbled upon this saucy sex-kitten inside me and I still didn’t know what to do about it.

  Kill her off…or…embrace her. Hug these filthy needs and saucy role-plays running in my blood and finally admit that I needed to play to be fully complete.

  Ever since I lost my virginity at seventeen to a boy I’d been dating for six months (and then broke up three weeks after handing over my V-card), I’d kept a lid on what I truly wanted in bed.

  At first, I was sad thinking I’d live a life where I was broken somehow compared to the men I’d been with and their bland routine. I’d put what I truly wanted in a vault and settled into adulthood with the begrudging acceptance that I had a good skill-set, a great friend, and a successful business.

  So what I would never get to experiment in bed? I didn’t need it.

  But Ryder…he somehow cracked the combination on that vault and made me remember the naughty things I’d imagine when I was seventeen when I had no rules or past experiences to hinder me.

  It was freaking terrifying to finally admit I missed something I’d never had. And for Ryder to shred my life and make me come face to face with just how sexual I wanted to be made me want to run until my legs turned to noodles or strip and command him to finish what he’d started.

  “Earth to vet Fairfax.” Ryder waved his hand in front of my face.

  I jumped, hugging the dog tighter. “What? What happened?”

  He bit his lip, doing his best not to smile. “You space-cadeted on me again.” He chuckled. “You were looking at my mouth. You weren’t thinking of doing bad things to me again, were you? Because if you were…I can totally help with that.”

  Yes, please.

  It would be so easy to nod and let whatever magic between us ignite. But we were at my work. I was supposed to be a mature, composed female.

  Be that female!

  My cheeks heated as I dropped my gaze to the Chinese Crested in my arms. “I wasn’t thinking bad things. Not in a bajillion years.”

  “Bajillion, huh?” He raised an eyebrow. “Never heard of that amount of time.” He came closer, bringing sex and sparks and seduction. “Can I perhaps trade your bajillion and put my own time stamp on it?”

  I froze as his hand cupped my cheek.

  My face leaned into him.

  Damn face.

  Damn hand.

  Damn chemistry.

  “I suppose…” I breathed as his chest strained beneath his grey t-shirt. He was the one seducing me, yet he was just as affected. “What did you have in mind?”

  His eyes lingered on my lips. “Do something for me and I’ll kiss you right here, right now.”

  My mental capacity crashed.

  “Do what?”

  His eyes burned hot into mine. “It’s a huge, huge favour.”

  The way he said huge made me think he’d swapped the word favour for cock.

  I burned up as his thumb grazed my cheekbone.

  He murmured, “If you did it, I’d do whatever you want.”

  What, you’d chase me? Pretend to be a policeman and handcuff me? Reach inside my head and be prepared to play with me?

  My tummy clenched. “What are you proposing I do?” I held the squirming dog as s
he tried to wriggle into my scrubs, looking for warmth. Not that I could blame her—it was fairly chilly in here with the air conditioning.

  “You’d do it?” His eyes turned luminous. “For me?”

  “Yes.”

  Way to go, Ves. Don’t sound desperate or anything.

  He smiled. “You’re such a kind, sweet…” His head tilted, bringing his mouth close to mine. His scent of outdoors and timber shot up my nose as he brought me forward, our lips only inches apart. “…amazing woman. I’m so fucking hard for you right now, Vesper.”

  Dangnamit, everything inside me tightened, melted, swapped ownership and put its hands in the air to flay like idiots over how much I liked this guy.

  How much I wanted this guy.

  “Tell me what you want me to do, Ryder.” I licked my lips, almost hyperventilating with how much I needed him to kiss me.

  “Christ, I love it when you say my name.” His thumb ran over my bottom lip, pulling it down as he pressed the lightest kiss there. “Vesper, I wouldn’t just ask this of any other woman. I’m asking you because you’re so damn incredible.”

  Ask me what?

  You want me naked and on all fours?

  Got it, give me three seconds.

  You want me to dress up in a nurse’s uniform and look after you instead of the dogs you bring in?

  Hell yes, get on my table and drop ‘em.

  I swallowed again. “Spit it out. I need to know.”

  My heart needed to know before it galloped from my chest and left me a corpse.

  “Okay, here it goes. Can you, Vesper Fairfax…knit?”

  Eh…

  What?!

  I blinked, wrenching my face from his hold. “What did you just say?”

  He bit his lip, shaking with mirth. “I asked how skilful you are with two needles and some wool.”

  “Why? Do you have some crazy fetish you’re trying to admit to?”

  “I have fetishes, but needles aren’t included.” He couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. “Man, you should see your face.”

  You should see what you did to my knickers, you jerk.

  “Why exactly are you asking if I have knitting skills?”

  His eyes dropped to the dog. “Well, she’s cold. You’re a vet. You’re supposed to help her dilemma.”

  “Her dilemma?”

  “Yes, she has no fur. You should…I dunno, knit her something to make up for the shitty deal she got in the canine life.”

  My eyebrows climbed up my face. “Knit? You think I can knit?”

  He shrugged. “You’re a girl. Isn’t that like a prerequisite?”

  “Holy wow, you’re a sexist.”

  That’s what’s wrong with him. I knew there had to be something.

  His face darkened. “Am not.”

  “Let me guess. You believed girls played with Barbies and boys with diggers and hammers?”

  He leaned in with a leer. “Actually yes. I still play with my diggers and hammers. If you agree to a date with me, I’ll show you if you like. I have tool belt and everything.”

  I stiffened, partly due to the shock of his proximity, but mostly because of the image of him shirtless on a digger with a hammer hanging from a tool belt, framing the impressive package between his legs.

  Oh my God, get a grip.

  “If I had a pair of knitting needles, I’d stab you with them.”

  He held his chest, faking wounded. “Ouch, and that’s after I spent the night nursing you back to health and keeping you entertained with my witty text messages.”

  I huffed. “Fine, you get a free pass because of that.” My finger came up. “But that’s it. No more sexiest comments.”

  The Chinese Crested took that moment to stretch and lick my ear lobe.

  My knees literally trembled. I’d been licked many times by thousands of different breeds but this lick…it wasn’t just a lick. It was a plea for help, a thank you for the hug, and just because she could.

  I didn’t know if I was over tired or still suffering from flu dregs but my eyes pricked with tears. I couldn’t help myself; I snuggled my nose into her bald little neck and inhaled.

  She smelled of must and garbage and her ribs stuck out. Her claws were too long and a red cut lashed her muzzle as if she’d been gagged with wire for so long her skin had sliced beneath it.

  Rage shoved aside my instant love for this little thing. “Where did you find her?”

  Ryder visibly trembled with anger. “The council called me. She was given as a gift to a girl who went off to boarding school and left it with her step-mum. Apparently, the yapping was too much and the bitch wired her jaw closed. She hasn’t eaten properly in weeks because she couldn’t get her mouth open enough.”

  The dog whined, licking my cheek again as if she knew exactly what we were talking about. It was a hazard of the job—getting close or feeling too compassionate toward a dying or in pain creature. I went into this profession because I had compassion and far too much empathy and needed to use that in aiding those who couldn’t speak.

  But it was also a curse.

  Visa had been a single cat for too long. It looked like she might have a new sofa buddy.

  Unless, what does Ryder do with all these rescues?

  For the first time, I dropped my guard, stopped joking around, and looked at him with proper eyes. He was stupidly handsome with rugged square jaw and unruly dark hair. A poster child for bad decisions and dirty sex. But beneath the dusty grey t-shirt and paint-splattered jeans, was a heart the size of Jupiter and I wanted to know him.

  I wanted to do more than just touch the weapon he wielded in his trousers. I wanted to talk to him. Laugh with him. Create happiness with him.

  “You’re very generous, Ryder.”

  The sincerity in my voice rang sweet and true.

  He jolted on the spot, narrowing his eyes as if looking for a motive. “Okay…who are you and what did you do with my snippy veterinarian?”

  I smiled, jiggling the dog in my arms into a better hugging position. “Our services aren’t cheap, yet you spend a small fortune on animals you’ve only just met. What do you do with them once they’re better? Do you have a farm and just let them run free?”

  He grinned. “Ever heard of the expression ‘doggy heaven?’”

  I gaped. “Please don’t tell me you get them better and then kill them.”

  He held up his hands, laughing. “What? Hell, no. I meant I hope living with me is like doggy heaven. They have their own house and fellow flatmates and when they’re happy and healthy, I find them the perfect human match and they go on their merry way to their new family.”

  “How many have you rescued?”

  He frowned, tapping his lips as he did a quick estimate. “I dunno. I lost track at thirty-five. But I don’t do it to feel good about myself. I do it to replace some of the badness they’ve been through.”

  I couldn’t. He was too much.

  “And what about this little girl?” I kissed her nose, earning another tentative but super grateful lick on my cheek. “Will you rehome her or keep her?”

  His eyes softened. “Well, she’s kinda wormed her way into my heart already. She’s ugly as sin but there’s something about her, you know?”

  My heart tuned to a gooey mess as I looked into her large pleading, black eyes. “I do know what you mean.”

  We stood staring at this magical mutt who’d somehow stolen both our hearts. I guess, that’s it then. He’ll keep her. He should. He’s the one to rescue her. I’m just the nasty doctor who’s about to prod her with needles and cut her claws and stress her out.

  She wouldn’t love me after that.

  Sighing, I placed her back onto the table and did my best to get into business mode.

  But Ryder saw through me. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her?”

  “What? No, don’t be ridiculous.”

  “If you have, you can keep her. She belongs to no one.”

  “She belongs to
you.”

  He shook his head. “No, she doesn’t. She’s yours if you want her. However, I don’t know how your cat will cope.”

  “Oh, leave Visa to me.”

  “Ah ha!” He put a finger in my face. “So you have been thinking about it?”

  I hung my head. “No, I told you, it’s ridiculous.”

  “It’s not ridiculous to fall in love instantly.” His voice dropped to honey. “I’m a firm believer in first sight magic kinda things.”

  I sucked in a breath.

  Silence fell awkwardly as I kept my hands busy by checking her body.

  After a few seconds, he murmured, “I call her Barb, by the way. Just in case you change your mind.”

  “Barb?”

  He swallowed hard, reliving things I didn’t want to know. “Yes, for the barbwire that was around her muzzle.”

  I gasped. “Oh my God, how did you not murder the woman when you picked her up?”

  “Believe me, it was hard.” His knuckles popped as his hands fisted. “But that’s in the past. She has us now.”

  “Us?”

  He nodded. “Us.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Ryder

  I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT MADE me say it.

  There was no us.

  She still refused to answer my question about a date.

  But I wanted an us so fucking badly.

  We remained quiet for a few minutes while she inspected Barb’s injuries and applied topical cream to her red snout. Vesper made me hold her while cutting her claws and then headed out back to grab some antibiotics.

  While she was gone, I murmured to the Chinese Crested. “You think third time’s the charm? Think she’ll finally say yes?”

  She licked my hand as if she knew exactly what I asked.

  “That’s good enough for me.” I scratched behind her ear. “If this backfires, I’m holding you responsible.”

  I rubbed her head as Vesper returned.

  She tapped the syringe, making sure no air bubbles remained then pinched Barb’s scruff. “This will sting a little.”