He puts the car in park and turns to me. He takes off his sunglasses and traps me in his intense stare.
“What?” I’m tempted to squirm like a bug under a magnifying glass but keep still.
Derrick shakes his head. “Got it. No more excessive tips.”
Damn it, I wish he would say what he thinks. I’m not used to the secretive type. Feeling uncomfortable, once again I pull out some humor. “However, I expect no less than twenty percent.” I flip my wet ponytail dramatically, and it slaps against my back as I step out of the car.
The sound of his laugh follows me as I open the passenger door to retrieve my things.
He takes the backpack from my hand while I gather my stripped-off clothing. The scent of beer drifts up, and I remember the keg that sprayed on me when I tapped it this morning. Derrick says, “Prepare yourself for the beasts. They’ll be excited to see you.”
The moment he opens the door, a blur of bodies propel themselves through. Wiggling, they churn around us with too much energy. I squat down to pet them all. “Hi, guys. Are you excited to run?”
Derrick slips in the house, leaving the door open. I guess he’s happy to avoid the commotion, but I don’t mind. I revel in doggy love until they calm down.
Still wrapped in a towel, I enter the house, and Derrick is arranging a snack in the kitchen. Walking over, I say, “You read my mind. I’m hungry.” I reach for a piece of cheese. It’s cheddar, and the sharp taste is delicious.
A big smile covers Derrick’s face, and it makes me think he was testing me to see if I would eat. Snitching a grape, I grab my backpack. Juice explodes in my mouth when I bite it. “I’d like to change. Is the bathroom I used before good?”
“That’s fine. Want anything to drink?”
“Water would be nice, thanks. I’ll be quick.”
Curious about where I’m going, a clatter of nails on wood follows me. I realize I won’t be alone in the bathroom. A memory from my childhood warms my heart. I grew up with two labs that loved attention. Stepping onto the smooth tile, I say, “C’mon guys.”
Jake and Ollie follow me, but the brown dog, Cleo, waits at the top of the stairs. Derrick walks by and toward the other end of the hall with her behind him. Uh-huh, she’s claimed him. Smart girl.
Chapter 13
When I return to the kitchen, Derrick has a glass of ice water waiting for me next to the food. Condensation is wet on my fingers, and I grip the cup hard so it won’t slip. I nibble on another piece of cheese, and the sharp taste of cheddar is on my tongue when I wander into the living room. Curious, I pick up a coffee table book. It’s about Colorado hiking trails, and I thumb through the pages to look at the pictures.
A thunk of bones hits the floor as one of the dogs lies down with a sigh. Jake is sniffing my shoes, and I suspect he’s hoping for a romp in the woods. “Soon, little buddy, soon.”
Derrick’s footsteps distract me. “It’s their dinner time, so I’m going to feed them, and we can go in about a half hour. Sound good?”
“Sure.” I set my glass of water down and pick up a few crackers. I crunch them and slide onto a stool as I watch Derrick move with grace. He commands the dog’s attention and makes them wait until all bowls are on the floor before he says, “Eat.”
He comes around the counter and his gaze moves to my lap. An evil smile turns up the corners of his mouth. “I remember those shorts.”
It’s as if a switch has been flipped, my insides twinge and a flush heats my cheeks. My fingers threaten to touch him as he invades my personal space. The dank smell of lake water mixed with Derrick’s musk makes its way to my nose. I croak out, “Do you?”
He smiles and runs a finger along my lower lip. “Would you like to ask for something?”
What? Ballsy. I twist it around. “Would you like to ask me for something instead?” My mind quickly goes to thoughts of giving him a blow job, and I’m suddenly afraid of what he might want.
“Oh, Gretchen, careful what you say.” His voice is deep, and the sound strokes me like a gentle caress.
He traces the curve of my breast with his finger and stops at my hardened peak. A small sound comes from the back of my throat, and my body trembles. He removes his hand and leans down to whisper in my ear. “What do you want?”
I want him to touch every inch of my body and then to slam inside me and make me scream. I want to come around him while he calls out my name in ecstasy. But I can’t seem to ask for it because it feels like giving in. I say, “Kiss me, please.”
He takes my face in his hands, and his lips nip me softly. Gently his tongue slips into my mouth, and he pulls my body against his. I begin to melt into him when Jake barks. A wet nose nudges its way between us, and it makes me giggle.
Stepping away, Derrick smiles and says, “I should have known the boys would get jealous.” He walks over to the door and lets the dogs out.
I take a deep breath and reach for my water. My hand shakes as I lift it to my mouth. Oh hell, what am I waiting for?
I walk to Derrick standing at the door watching the dogs. Placing my hand on his back, I move it slowly down toward his ass. “I want to taste you, to drink you in.” My fingers slide under the waistband of his shorts. “I want you to do the same to me until I can barely stand it.” Cupping his round ass cheek I say, “And then I want you to fuck me, hard.” I cradle his balls in my palm. “You should come inside me as I shatter, and we’ll both scream.” I squeeze him. “Rinse and repeat.”
Twisting around, so we’re pressed against each other and my hand has to pull away, Derrick grabs my hips and grinds his groin into my pelvis. His voice comes out as a low growl. “I’ll do all that and more. I’m going to blow your fucking mind.”
He steps back and I’m afraid my knees will buckle. He says, “But first, we run, shower, and eat.” A sliver of a smile forms on his face. “You’re definitely not like other girls.”
Don’t I know it? I open the door and let the dogs in.
***
Jogging across the lawn, the smell of cut grass tickles my nose and I assume they must have a landscape service. Noting the plush green carpet under my feet, I suspect they have irrigation too. I wonder how it is that twin twentysomethings can afford such luxuries.
Derrick leads the way but not for long. The dogs know where to go, and they take off in a full-out sprint. A small animal rustles in the underbrush, and they veer off the trail after it. Having seen this behavior when I ran with Nika, I don’t worry.
My breathing is loud and steady as we move swiftly. Derrick is a faster runner than I’m used to, but damn if I’m going say anything. Besides, I have a little pent-up emotion to release. I focus on lengthening my strides where I can while avoiding the roots and rocks in our path. The distraction helps keep me from staring at Derrick’s ass in his running shorts.
But it doesn’t seem to stop me from imagining what we’ll do later. Not much gets me hotter than dirty talk. Scratch that. The way Derrick looks at me practically turns on my faucet. This man invades my senses the moment I see him. Whether it’s lust or anger, he makes my blood boil. I’m in so much trouble.
Lost in my thoughts, I don’t notice the dogs haven’t checked in with us for a while until Derrick slows down to call them. But we don’t hear the familiar jingle of their tags. He stops and calls again.
I scan for any sign of movement and shout out too. I say, “Do you think they found something delightfully awful to roll around it?” The scent of dead animal on my family dog comes to mind.
Derrick scowls. “Yeah, and that’ll be a fun mess to clean up.” He shouts out their names again. After a moment he says to me. “We should turn back the way we came. This isn’t like them.”
Now I’m worried and start to jog. My eyes dart around the forest for any sign as we take turns yelling. A few minutes later a twig snaps, and I spot Cleo. She’s walking slowly and her head is down.
Derrick sees her, too, and sprints toward her. “Cleo, honey. What’s wrong?�
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As I get closer I discover the problem. Porcupine quills adorn her snout, chest, and legs. Her mouth is hanging open, and spikes are in her tongue too.
“Oh, poor girl.” I crouch down to comfort her. Her drool is warm on my leg. A blur of black catches my attention as Ollie and Jake run to us. Quills stick out of their bodies too, but not nearly as many as are in sweet Cleo.
“Oh man, guys, what’s the porcupine look like?” Jake wiggles as Derrick rubs his back. Ollie has come over to Cleo and is trying to lick the quills sticking out of her body.
“Derrick, there are so many in Cleo I think you’re going to have to go to the vet. The ones in her mouth look dangerous.”
His brown eyes are full of compassion as he coos to her. “Cleo, baby, we’ll take care of this.” He scoops her up in his arms and begins to walk back. His muscles flex as he moves, and I follow with the boy dogs close behind.
We’re about a mile in, and I’m guessing a fifty-pound dog is going to get heavy soon. But Derrick keeps up a brisk pace as he talks softly to the brown dog.
I scour my brain for where a veterinary office might be. I recall an emergency pet hospital in Silverthorne. “Derrick, did Nika leave the vet’s number for you?”
“Yeah, she left it by the phone in the kitchen.”
“I’m going to run ahead and call. Okay?”
“Sure, take the boys with you. Nika would kill me if anything happened to her babies.”
The power of urgency fuels my muscles as I take off in a sprint and yell over my shoulder. “Got it.”
Chapter 14
This isn’t an emergency, but knowing Cleo is in pain gives me an adrenaline surge and I push myself to run hard. Within minutes I’m in the kitchen searching for the vet’s number. Sweat drips down my nose, and I blow off a droplet as I listen to the phone ring. It makes me think Derrick will be thirsty, and I search for water bottles to fill.
The vet’s office directs me to the emergency pet hospital, and I call to let them know we’re on our way. Finding the laundry room, I gather old towels from a shelf. The familiar scent of clean cotton wafts up when I drop them by the door with our water.
Unfazed by the incident, Ollie and Jake chase me as if we’re playing a game. Their wet noses smear moisture against my legs when they shadow me as I jog up the stairs to the guest bath. I remember seeing tweezers and grab them in case I have time to remove a few quills while we wait to be seen. When I get outside to the car, Derrick is emerging from the woods.
I lay out the towels to protect the leather seat and pat it to get the boys in. Jake is hesitant, and his coat is soft on my fingers when I lift him up into the car. Derrick sets Cleo down on the asphalt and says, “Nika has seat belts for them.” His face is flushed, and I notice his shirt is stuck to his back with sweat. I ask, “Do you want me to drive so you can hold Cleo? I know where I’m going and can fill you in on the way.”
“Thanks.” He throws two dog harnesses at me. “Unclip the carabiner and use it with their collar. It’s not perfect, but I don’t think the harness will feel good against any quills.”
I nod. The cold metal loop of the carabiner opens with a spring-loaded section that snaps back into place. It attaches a nylon loop to the harness. I remove the loop, and it clicks easily onto Ollie’s dog collar ring. Sliding the seat belt buckle through the loop will keep the dog on the seat and contained if we stop fast. Clever.
The engine of the Land Rover hums as I maneuver it out of the driveway. It’s a beautiful machine to drive, and I enjoy the smoothness as I shift gears. I’ll be getting another beater to get me by, and a pang of longing for a nice car makes me sigh.
Derrick says, “I’m sorry, the dogs definitely ruined our run.”
“Oh, that’s not why I’m sighing. I’m more concerned about Cleo than a run.” I steal a glance his way, and Cleo’s golden-brown eyes look back at me. So big and sad, they tug at my heart. “Oh, my gosh, those eyes just kill me.”
“I know. Something about Cleo makes everyone love her.” Derrick leans down and nuzzles her with soft words only she can hear. I smile, realizing he’s such a softie.
The blinker clicks steadily as I slow to turn right. “I know she looks pathetic now, but she’ll be okay in a few days. We had chocolate labs when I was a kid, and they managed to find more than one porcupine.”
I glance quickly in the rearview mirror to check on Ollie and Jake. Cuddled together they don’t seem to be too concerned about their predicament.
Derrick says, “I guessed you had dogs before. You’re good with them.”
“Just be grateful they didn’t find a skunk.” I crinkle my nose, remembering the odor.
Derrick smiles. “I can imagine. It probably ruins Bloody Marys forever.”
Happy he’s found his humor, I don’t bother to correct his assumption that tomato juice is what we bathed our dog in and launch into a story about the skunk my pups tried to befriend at the expense of my dad. By the end he’s laughing, and my worry for him dissolves.
Cleo is panting, and the acrid odor of her fear cuts through the salty sweet smell of her. The quills in her mouth have probably worked their way deeper, and I’m sure she’s in agony. Derrick holds a towel under her mouth as she drools.
The car’s wheels crunch over gravel, and I put the car in park. I say, “You get her inside, and I’ll follow with Jake and Ollie.”
The interior of the emergency center is softly lit, and while done in tile with varnished wood benches, the atmosphere is warm. I guess it’s intentional, considering the state of most people that arrive here.
I approach the woman behind the counter. “Hi. I’m here with two more porcupine victims. Did Derrick already go back with Cleo?”
She pulls on the shirt of her blue scrubs and says, “Yes, we’re ready for you. She’ll probably be sedated. Your boyfriend will be out shortly.” Boyfriend? My insides tingle. The brunette comes around to check out the black dogs. “Let’s take a look at you two.”
She squats down and opens Jake’s mouth. “Good boy.” She repeats the process with Ollie. Glancing up at me, she says, “These two should be easy. We can remove their quills in the examining room. Follow me.”
Bright light shimmers off a stainless steel table set next to a counter with a sink. Another wooden bench is against the wall and is cold under my bare legs when I take a seat with the two dogs. Removing their leashes, I let them roam freely while the vet tech opens a computer to deal with the paperwork.
“I’m sorry. These aren’t my dogs. My boyfriend has all the information.” That slipped out way too easily.
“Oh, that’s okay. I’ll get him in here to answer the questions.” She steps out and leaves us to wait. Jake and Ollie are busy sniffing around, and I move about the room.
It’s too small to pace effectively, so I sit down on the floor. I immediately become interesting to the canines, and they both come to sniff my face. Jake’s rough tongue tickles as he licks my arm. I’m sure my salty sweat tastes good, and I pull him into my lap. I absently stroke his smooth coat and wonder what’s keeping Derrick. Ollie climbs on me too to get his share of attention.
The click of the door opening has all eyes on Derrick when he walks in, and I’m struck by how disheveled he appears. My model boy could use a cleanup in aisle three. I say, “Hey.” The dogs scramble over to him, and I stand to touch his arm. “They sedated Cleo?”
“Yeah.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “She looked so pathetic, you know?” A half smile covers his face, and I’m tempted to take him in my arms and tell him it will be okay.
“She’s in good hands. It’ll be fine.” We both sit on the bench to wait for the tech. Derrick’s musky smell wraps around me while his voice seeps into my pores. This guy has a good heart if he’s so worried about a dog.
He says, “I know I shouldn’t have a favorite, but ever since she was a puppy, I’ve been in love with Cleo.”
“She’s claimed you as hers. I don’t think she let
you have a choice.” He tilts his head in response like the dogs do and gives me his trademark stare. Strangely I’ve gotten used to it, and I’m not unsettled.
A slow smile forms on Derrick’s face and he says, “I think someone else is doing the same thing.”
Elizabeth, the vet tech, enters before I can reply, but my brain scrambles wondering how it is he thinks I’m in control here.
She takes Jake first and positions him between her legs. Squeezing tightly with her thighs to contain him, Elizabeth alternates between plucking a quill out with tweezers and feeding him a dog treat. He quickly figures out the game, and his tail thumps on the floor as he barely flinches when she pulls them all out.
“That was pretty easy. I’m impressed.” Derrick pats Jake and turns to me. “Hopefully we won’t need to, but we now know what to do if this happens again.”
I smile as I think about the tweezers sitting in the change tray of the Land Rover. We watch as she repeats the technique with Ollie.
Elizabeth says, “Cleo should be done in about an hour, but we’ll want to watch her for a bit to make sure she’s okay after the anesthesia. Would you like to go home and come back?”
Derrick shakes his head. “No, I’d rather stay.” He stands slowly. “We should find something for dinner. It will be late by the time we get back.”
My stomach grumbles at the thought of food. “I know a pretty decent sandwich shop just around the corner. We could get some and find a place to sit with the dogs.” Jake pants while I clip a leash on him and Derrick puts one on Ollie.
Walking out of the examining room, Derrick slips his arm around my waist and leans against me. “Take me. I’m at your command.”
Yeah, my mind went there, and I flex my core around my evil thoughts.
The orange tint of light surrounding us when we leave the hospital tells me it’s later than I thought. But without a pocket in my running shorts, my phone is in the Land Rover, and I’m not sure of the time. “There’s a sandwich Casey and I get every time we go to the Sunshine Cafe. You might like it.” I close my eyes for a moment and let out a small moan, thinking about the taste. “It’s cranberry-orange bread with walnuts, grilled with turkey, goat cheese—what?” Derrick is chuckling.
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