by Lexi Aurora
It’s like the difference between night and day, seeing my normal friendly dog having briefly been replaced with some sort of feral beast. Truth be told, things could have escalated much more than they did in the brief exchange. If the man had tried to swing at me, I have no doubt that Blue would have tried to bite his hand off. I’m getting a bit too caught up in the what-ifs, though. What happened happened, and I could count myself lucky that things hadn’t turned out any worse for anyone involved.
Granted, I’m not quite sure how Ebony plans to deal with the meathead once they’re home alone. I can’t help wondering if he’s some sort of sicko, though I’d be hard pressed to explain why Ebony always looked like she’d been attacked by a wild animal. She didn’t carry the normal bruises or black eyes that you’d associate with a woman being abused. Ebony also doesn’t seem the type to stick around when a guy does wrong by her. I can’t imagine why she’d stay with that Malek guy unless he had a heart of gold in private, or something…
Maybe he just has a big pecker. It’s not a thought I care to entertain past its brief appearance in my mind. I shake my head a bit, bringing myself back to reality. I step through the door to the specialty pet store, smiling at the owner as he circles around the counter. He crouches down, reaching down to pat Blue on the head. Though most store owners prefer for the animals to stay tied up outside, Jackson is always happy to see the animals who receive his remedies. Blue is always just as pleased to see him as well, and today is no different. My happy hound’s tail wags frantically, and he moves to place his paws on Jackson’s stomach. He does a little doggy stretch, and the store owner obligingly scratches him behind the ears before nudging him away.
“Good to see you, Jasper. I saw Blue getting a bit worked up around that strange fella outside the drug store. Can’t say I’ve ever seen him before, though from the looks of it, I should count myself lucky,” Jackson chuckles. I nervously rub the back of my neck, not particularly wanting to put down Ebony’s beau.
“Well, Blue certainly picked up on some bad vibes,” I admit, stepping towards the counter and fishing in my pocket. With all the time in the world, now, I take a moment to pick out the exact change and hand it over. Jackson gets even less business than the drug store, and I don’t want him to have to rummage around in his wallet and whatnot to find some change.
“Can’t blame him there. Blue has a good sense about him; he’s a good ol’ dog. I can tell he gets a good read on people,” Jackson muses, taking the money from my hand and offering me the joint supplements, heartworm prevention, as well as some basic flea and tick treatment. I place the items into one of the bags I’m already carrying, tipping my hat to the man before turning to head out. “You be careful out there. Don’t go picking fights with men that have more muscle than sense,” the store owner calls out after me. I chuckle under my breath, pushing the door open and allowing Blue to step out in front of me.
“Don’t worry about me. I always got Blue here, and, well…,” I pause, glancing over my shoulder with a strained smile. “I always got my rifle if things get too prickly. You know, just in case,” I finish carefully. The older man looks somewhat troubled, but thankfully says nothing more as I step out of his store. Adjusting my grip on my bags, I take a moment to assess everything I’ve purchased. I don’t plan to come back to town any time soon, if I can help it at the very least. As long as I have all of Blue’s supplies, I should be set for the duration.
“Time to go home and take a load off, isn’t that right, boy?” I murmur, walking down the path that leads out of town. Better to get home before sunset, considering what kind of beasties might be roaming the woods after nightfall. It’s all well and good to go out hunting after dark, as long as you got your gun on you.
I allow the situation with Ebony and Malek to slip away from my mind, knowing that it’ll do little good to worry myself any more. For the time being, all I wanna do is go home and relax. As usual, Blue seems to share my feelings.
The day could have gone better, but it certainly could have gone worse as well. Guess I’ll just have to thank my lucky stars.
CHAPTER THREE
With the long day over and done with, I’m enjoying a good night’s sleep when a sudden baying seems to sound just outside my window. I jolt upright, fear shooting down my spine as I realize the sound is decidedly not Blue. It may sound crazy, but I could recognize Blue’s howl out of a line-up of three-and-a-half-dozen hounds. Which leaves little options for what could be making the sound, but a wolf or a coyote. Glancing around my bedroom, I’m filled with dread as I realize that Blue is nowhere to be seen.
“Blue?” I call out warily, only to be answered by that same mournful howl. I shift out from under my blankets, stepping barefoot on the cold hardwood floor. Slipping towards my gun case and retrieving my hunting rifle, I turn to try and catch a glimpse of whatever may be going on outside. I’m sure the ruckus of a fight would have woken me up, if there had been a scuffle. I can only hope Blue is safe out there with… well, whatever the hell has wandered onto my property.
As I step through the cabin, I can’t help but grow irritated upon seeing the screen door swinging freely on its hinges. I should learn to keep the damn thing locked, but it’s not like I’m expecting burglars in these parts. I also didn’t expect my dog to push through the thing whenever his heart desired, but live and learn. I step out into the chilly night air, goosebumps pebbling along my skin. The howling has stopped at least, but I take very little comfort in the fact while my dog is nowhere to be seen.
“Blue!” I shout again, a tad more desperately than I care to admit. I’m answered by the sound of a soft whimpering off to the side of my property. I can’t see what’s making the noise from where I stand, but for a moment it feels as if my worst fears have been confirmed. I dart in the direction of the whimpering, expecting to see my little buddy laid out in a pool of his own blood. However, I’m simultaneously relieved and startled when I see that he’s in one piece.
Well, I’m not upset to see him in good health, but the troubling part comes in when I spot Ebony, half-naked and trying to shoo Blue away from her. Her clothes are torn, deep wounds adorning every inch of her caramel-toned skin. There’s a distant look in her eyes as I approach her, and I wave a hand in her face to try and bring her back to reality.
“Ebony, what the hell happened to you?” I blurt, and her eyes focus on me for a brief moment. She doesn’t seem to recognize me, which is rather strange considering the whole town knows this is my property. Not to say I’m a dime a dozen anyway, but I could dismiss the confusion as being a part of the shadows obscuring my features.
“Hnn,” she groans, taking a wobbly step forward before dropping to her knees. It seems as if her legs are just too weak to carry her, and Blue seems to be working himself into a tizzy over her condition. He barks loudly at me, but Ebony flinches away, holding her arms up as if to protect herself from some wild beast. My little buddy whines softly, taking a step back to give her some space. As much as I want to demand to know what she’s doing on my property sometime after midnight, it’s pretty obvious that she couldn’t tell me if she wanted to. She’s just too hazy in the mind to elaborate right now.
This presents my dilemma. I wouldn’t feel right carrying her off into my home without her direct consent, especially considering what her boyfriend’s response would likely be. I’d take her home, but no one in town knows just where she lives. Hell, I didn’t even know she lived nearby. She’s in no shape to be sent out of here on her own, and I’d have to be a monster to just leave her in the shape she’s in. Swallowing my uncertainty, I take a step closer to her and move to scoop her up into my arms. She struggles a bit at first, a soft whine pulling itself from her lips as she tries to push away from me.
“Easy, sweetheart. Take it easy. I ain’t gonna do anything to hurt you,” I assure her, and though she still looks vaguely confused, she’s also too exhausted to argue. Considering it a temporary victory, I carry her back to my cabin and s
lip inside. I whistle loudly for Blue, belatedly realizing he’s already hot on my heels. He whines and whimpers, those big sad eyes watching my every move. Seems even he has a sweet spot for the woman clutched in my arms.
“J-Jasper,” she manages weakly, reaching out to brush her fingertips against my admittedly scruffy cheek.
“Yeah, honey. I don’t know how you got here, but I’m going to clean you up and put you to bed, alright? We can talk in the morning. You just relax for now, alright?” I murmur gently, carrying her to my bedroom. Before you get any ideas, I’m not the type of guy to take advantage of her weakened condition. I’m not the type of guy to take advantage of a woman under any circumstances, but especially not one I respect so dearly.
Her eyes flutter shut as I gently settle her on top of my favorite quilt, and her breathing begins to even out. It’s a huge relief, considering how erratically she was breathing when I first found her. Shuffling to my bathroom, I grab some antiseptic as well as some bandages. I don’t want to risk her choking on a pain reliever in her current state, so I can only hope she remains calm and relaxed as I clean her injuries.
Swallowing a lump in my throat, I lift the tattered remains of her shirt to get an idea of the extent of her injuries. Her entire body seems to be covered in deep…scratches? It looks like she’d gotten caught at the business end of a grizzly’s claws, to an even further extent than it had seemed earlier today. As much as I want to preserve her dignity, I have little choice but to see more of her than I’d ever planned to as I clean her wounds. The underside of her breasts peek out as I push her shirt up, wiping her injuries and dutifully cleaning them. She groans unhappily, trailing off into what sounds almost like a growl.
“It’s going to sting, but you’ll feel a lot better for it, tomorrow,” I assure her, moving down her body. Her skin is warm, almost hot to the touch. I can’t deny that the situation is getting to my head a bit, but I have to remain as close to professional as I possibly can.
She growls again as I dab at the long scratches along her thighs, trying to ignore how little the remains of her shorts leave to the imagination. I’d be foolish not to notice her beauty, even in her disheveled state. Her bottom lip is drawn between her teeth, and her hands fidget uncomfortably at her sides as I finish cleaning her up. I take a few moments longer to bandage her wounds, and she seems to relax as I draw away from her. Her eyes are still closed, her breathing is still as steady as ever. All indications point to her still being asleep, but it’s almost as if she can’t even rest peacefully, free of the fear of being injured.
Resigning myself to the fact that I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight, I tuck her underneath my blankets and gently brush a lock of hair away from her eyes. They flutter open briefly, and she breathes a sweet little sigh.
“Thank you,” she says weakly, though it’s obviously a strain for her to even get that much out. I continue to idly stroke her cheek, not quite realizing what I’m doing until she presses into my touch a bit. She draws the blankets closer around herself, settling in for what I can only guess is her first peaceful sleep in some time. Is this what has been happening on a nightly basis? Does her creep of a boyfriend kick her out of the house, essentially throwing her to the wolves? I don’t even mean that in a metaphorical sense; the wolves in these woods wouldn’t hesitate to tear into her.
“We have a lot to talk about when you’re feeling better,” I mutter, though she’s sleeping soundly and can’t hear me. Drawing my hand away from her, I linger at the side of the bed for a moment longer before sighing and slipping into the living room. The ratty little couch is less than comfortable, but it’ll have to do for the night. Even with the boundaries I’ve already crossed, I’m not willing to take things any further and potentially ruin our friendship.
As much as I’d like to curl up in bed with her, I know she’s already spoken for. I hate the sicko, especially seeing what’s happened under his watch, but I have to respect Ebony’s wishes. We’ll discuss Malek and his role in this whole situation when day breaks. For the time being, I simply settle on the couch, shivering a bit as I realize I’ve left all of the blankets in the other room. I don’t want to disturb her, but I’m sure I won’t be able to sleep with how frigid it feels in here.
My dilemma is soon solved for me, as Blue jumps up on the couch and settles against me. A warm dog to snuggle up to is better than any blanket, and I wrap my arm around my little buddy’s side before beginning to drift into a surprisingly restful slumber.
As sure as I am that there will be some measure of drama tomorrow, for tonight, the three of us will enjoy a moment of peace. I can only hope that Ebony feels as safe as I do, at least for a little while.
CHAPTER FOUR
I wake early the next morning, raising my arms above my head in a stretch. The scent of coffee wafts through the air, and I sit up with the faintest hint of trepidation. I can hear Blue padding around the house, his nails clicking against the hardwood floors. Swinging my legs off of the couch, I rise to my feet and shuffle into the kitchen area. I’m somewhat surprised to see Ebony busying herself near the stove, cooking up some eggs while coffee brews. Before I can clear my throat, she seems to clue into my presence, wheeling around to face me.
“Jasper,” she breathes, sounding relieved. I smile a bit nervously, stepping further into the room and considering the wounds that I’d so dutifully tended to the night before. They seem to be healing remarkably well, and I can only assume my touch is more of a healing one than I might have thought. “Sorry for…well, I don’t really know how I ended up here. I’m sorry, just the same,” she utters, fidgeting with the handle of the frying pan.
“Heh, don’t sweat it, girlie,” I answer, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. I step up behind her, vaguely aware that she’s just as scantily clad as the night before. It’s no surprise, considering she doesn’t have any other clothes to slip into. She glances over her shoulder at me, lips curled into a coy smile. Her eyes are hooded, and she considers me for a long moment before turning her attention back to the stove. “I can’t really answer as to how you got here. Don’t much know, myself. You’re welcome to drop in any old time, though,” I insist and smile.
She rumbles a laugh, plating the eggs and turning to place the warm food on the dining table. She shuffles to the coffee pot, a noticeable sway in her step as she moves. Her hips are impossible to ignore, her perfectly round bottom filling out her torn shorts in all the best ways. I swallow a thick lump forming in my throat, moving to sit at the table before my arousal becomes too evident. When she looks towards me again, her nostrils flare just slightly. She fills my coffee cup, not bothering to ask how I like it.
“I guess I owe you some sort of reward, what for taking care of me and all,” she hums softly, pushing the filled mug across the table towards me. I feel my cheeks redden, knowing I must be reading into the situation incorrectly. There’s no way she would be this forward, especially when her boyfriend could very well be looking for her. Malek seems to be the last thing on her mind, however, her eyes fixed on me as she sips from her own cup.
“What sort of reward did you have in mind, Miss Ebony? I assure you, it’s not necessary,” I begin, falling silent as she leans over the table and sets her own cup down. Her breasts nearly spill from her top, and I feel my mouth grow dry as my manhood begins to swell in my pajama pants. Fortunately, the table obscures my growing bulge well enough.
“Oh, I’m sure we can come up with something. Maybe some nice dessert, after this breakfast I cooked for you?” Ebony all but purrs, watching me push my food around with my fork. I realize it has to be obvious that the food is the last thing on my mind, but I owe it to her at least to try and eat a bit. “Unless you’d prefer to change the main course up a bit,” she continues slyly, ghosting her lips against my ear.
Nearly jolting out of my chair, my knee slams into the bottom of the table as she clears out a spot in front of me. With little further preamble, she grabs me by my shirt and pushes
me on top of the table. I’m surprised at her strength, but moreover, I’m embarrassed by the telltale straining of my flannel pajamas. She smirks, cupping me through my pants and pressing her palm firmly against my clothed length. A shuddering breath pulls itself past my lips, and I try to stammer out some reason as to why we shouldn’t do this. Her boyfriend will probably kill me, but even that seems like a piss poor reason to stop her.
“Are you sure you wanna do this, Ebony?” I murmur, reaching out to caress her cheek. She presses into my touch, her eyes fluttering shut for the briefest of moments.
“For once, I want to feel like I’m not being used,” she whispers, eyes popping open shortly after she speaks. She’s obviously surprised that she had allowed the words to slip out, but now that it’s out in the open, I can do little but oblige her. I lean in close, hesitating when our lips are but a breath apart. She’s less patient than I am, closing the final distance and kissing me fiercely.