“Hmm, you like this?” I say, scratching the top of his head softly.
His mouth splits into a smile and he tips his head back, savoring the feeling.
“He’s never responded like this before,” Dom says. “That’s… how the hell did you do that?”
He softly releases Lucky, letting him pad closer to me. I move my hand around his body, tickling his side, and then he flops onto his belly and grins up at me.
“That’s amazing,” Dom says, getting as close to a smile as I’ve seen yet.
I scratch Lucky up and down his belly, delight moving through me when he lets his tongue hang from his mouth and lets out a happy panting noise. Something like love flurries around my chest, the love I feel for all animals, the feeling that has possessed me ever since I was a little kid and I decided they were simpler than people.
“He never reacts like that, with anyone,” Dom goes on, his gruff voice contrasting sharply with the wonder beneath it, as though he’s as captivated by me as I am by him.
I inwardly force that notion down, stamping roughly on it, silently roaring that I need to keep my thoughts in something like reality so I don’t overstep and make a complete fool of myself.
Lucky rolls over and sits up, nuzzling my hand, and then grins up at me as he pants.
“Is this where he stays?” I ask, nodding at the door. “All day?”
Dom must sense something accusatory in my tone because his near-smile falters and turns into a tough grimace. I get that he doesn’t want me to accuse him of animal neglect, but the thought of locking Lucky in a room and ignoring him makes me want to scream in outrage.
“This is where he sleeps,” Dom says. “If he wants. Sometimes he takes himself for walks. Sometimes he’ll find his ways into other parts of the house.”
“I don’t understand.”
Dom smirks and nods toward the door, patting his leg. “Come on, boy. Let’s show her.”
I stand up and follow behind Dom and Lucky, resisting the desire to flit my eyes over his broad back again, over his throbbing shoulder muscles, and the way his arms threaten to erupt from his silver suit jacket at any second.
We walk through the door and I let out a gasp.
We’re not standing in a room.
This is a cavern, a massive function-hall-sized place that looks like a doggie heaven. There’s dog agility equipment on one side, an intricate tunnel system, a large bed, a whole floor full of toys of various sizes, bowls in the corner, and then a big dog-sized flap at the back that leads to the garden.
“I guess that’s what you mean when you say he takes himself for a walk,” I murmur, gesturing at the dog door.
“Exactly.” Dom nods. “I had this room converted from my theater when I found him. He’s been through enough. I think he deserves the best.”
Tingles move up my spine, followed by a smashing contact of guilt when I think about the assumption I made. Dom’s face brims with protective impulses as his eyes flit over Lucky, and then they move to me and for a moment I feel the same impulse shivering through me. Like he wants to protect me.
I bite down, letting out a shivering gasp. I can’t help myself when his dark intense eyes consume me like that, as if there are a hundred things he wants to say to me – steamy, meaningful things – but he’s holding himself back.
I’m getting so tired of pushing thoughts away, but I have to because my mind is taking me down some truly ridiculous avenues right now.
It’s like I’m a shiny piece of metal and he’s a magnet, pulling me in with more and more force each time he looks at me, but if we finally collided I’d realize I’m reading the situation all wrong.
He’d push me away with fire in his eyes, roaring at me that I’m a silly naive girl and he’d rather die than do anything with me.
Lucky wanders over to me again, nuzzling my leg.
I bury my hands in his fur, stroking softly.
“So do you want the job?” Dom asks, moving close, bringing his musky male scent with him.
“I…” I let out a giggle, unable to stop myself. “Yes, I want the job. I can’t believe it. Are you serious?”
He smirks, gesturing down at Lucky as he rubs against my thigh. “Lucky’s made his choice. It took him several weeks to warm to my staff. It took him even longer to warm to my brother. The only person he’s ever reacted like this with is, well, me.”
“He was friendly with you right away?” I murmur, finding something calm and meditative about moving my hands through his fur, over and over, stroking up and down from the top of his head to the back of his neck as he makes soft noises of satisfaction.