A New Leash on Life (22 page)

“I don’t have one grand. Where would I get five?”

“Who the heck is sending me five grand, then?”

“Maybe someone who saw the news segment?”

“Maybe.” I lingered on this thought, comforted by it. Every dollar helped. Especially five thousand of them.

~ ~

Chloe helped me bathe a white pit bull named Bumblelina. Mid scrub I asked her, “Did you send me a donation for five grand?”

“Someone sent you five grand?”

“So, you’re saying it wasn’t you?”

“Can’t claim that one.”

The bubbles rose above Bumblelina’s belly, continuing to inflate. They threatened to overrun the basin. “I’ve got to call the plumber,” I said to Chloe. “I keep forgetting.”

Bumblelina shook out her bubbles, drenching us. Chloe backed up and laughed. That’s when Bumblelina attempted to climb out of the tub. Chloe quickly jumped to the rescue and secured her in the foot of soapy water that smelled like a bowl of passion fruit, mango, and papaya.

“Once we’re done with her, I’m going to take a look at the drain,” Chloe said.

“I’ve already done that. I’ve poured gallons of liquid plumber into it. I’ve reached into it with a screwdriver and pulled out some gunk, but still, it clogs.”

“Which one of us grew up with a drunk stepfather incapable of anything more than fucking himself over and over again in front of the television set?” She swiped her hand down Bumblelina’s back, releasing another round of suds and water into the tub.

I reached in front of her to wipe suds from Bumblelina’s mouth. Chloe tugged at my ponytail and snuggled in closer to me. “You’re very cute in suds.”

I plucked up a pile of bubbles and plopped some on her nose. “So are you.”

We stopped bathing Bumblelina and stared into each other’s eyes, gazing past the suds and into that forbidden place. She touched my cheek with her soapy hand. I closed my eyes and drank up her feathery touch, drawing my hand on top of hers and caressing it.

“Why does this have to be so difficult?” I asked her.

She blinked, long and thoughtfully and then Bumblelina shook, spraying us in soapy water. We both jumped back and broke out into a fit of laughter, bent over at our knees, clinging to the light-hearted gift of distraction.

A few minutes later, and a whole lot more dazed and drenched, we managed to complete Bumblelina’s bath. Eventually, the suds and water receded. We bounced right back into our platonic roles. Chloe insisted on tackling the issue, and I stood back and let her. I walked away leaving her to work. I snuck a look back at her every few minutes and watched as she knelt below the big basin, her toned arms reaching above her, her butt resting nicely in the crook of her ankles, and her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth. She looked adorable and I wrestled to steer my gaze away from her.

A few minutes later, she called me back to her. She ran the water and it flowed right down the drain. No clog. No suds. Just flowing water. “First pickup trucks, now clogged drains. What can’t you fix?”

She arched her eye up and clicked her tongue. “More than I’d care to explain.” As she passed me, she tapped my lower back.

I wanted more.

“Hey,” I called out to her. “Care to help me give Fido his shot?”

She waved me forward. “After you.”

“It’s not going to be easy.”

“I don’t care,” she said, walking by my side towards Fido’s kennel, our arms brushing softly.

A few minutes later, Chloe braced herself over Fido as I stuck the needle filled with antibiotic through his tough fur and under his skin. He squirmed and Chloe pressed all of her one hundred and twenty pound frame on top of him, cooing and stroking his head. He didn’t like this and snapped at her. She jumped off just as I removed the needle. “I don’t get it. All Trevor has to do is play with his scruff and Fido melts like a lovesick hopeless romantic.” Her eyes watered up as if taking Fido’s behavior personally.

“Don’t you dare start crying on me,” I said, watching her chin quiver and her eyes start to brim with moisture. “I warned you this wouldn’t be easy. Yet,” I circled around her, closer than necessary, to get a treat for Fido. “You still wanted to come in here with me.”

She moaned and toyed with the string to my lab coat. “I love shots. How could I resist?”

I wanted to flirt. I wanted to enjoy her heat. I wanted to be wrapped up in her arms. I leaned in closer to her, breathing her air. “You’re playing with me now.”

“You must be mixing up my signals.” She chuckled and pulled away. She reached into the treat jar and plucked one out. “I just want the dogs to like me. I’m starting to get a complex.”

“Show it to him with your palm open, and let him take it when he’s ready.”

She waited to breathe while Fido’s large snout sniffed her hand and moved in for the treat. She giggled at his touch. “See I’m not going to bite you, you big, silly thing you.” She patted the top of his head and he pulled away.

I moved in to Fido and petted the underneath of his neck. “Most dogs don’t like to be petted on the head. They much prefer under the scruff.” I opened my stance and welcomed her into my and Fido’s bonding moment. “Try.” I rested my hand on the small of her back as she attempted my move. With great care, she circled her fingers against his scruff and he raised his head and relaxed his tail a bit.

“See!”

“Ah,” she said so low I barely missed it. She leaned back against my hand and I left it there, cradling her in the bond, not wanting to let go of her and this innocent opportunity to be close to her without worrying of a mixed signal.

“Remember the time we pet-sat Mr. Mercer’s cat and she spent the entire time clawing at our ankles?” she asked.

“Correction. Your ankles. Mine were perfectly fine.”

“That was a fun night.” She turned to me, and back came the smolder in her eyes.

That night we had sex under the stars of their patio while Sinatra crooned in the background. “Indeed, it was.” I slipped into her spell so easily.

Chloe must’ve read my signal correctly because she left town right after Fido’s shot, citing something about needing to take care of something important. When I asked her what was so important, she shrugged and said she’d fill me in soon enough.

~ ~

Chloe arrived back in town the same day a family came in and adopted Max, our Rottie. Chloe and I bawled as the family strolled out of the front door, walking their new family member by a shiny leash and collar bedazzled with silver and emerald jewels, handcrafted by his new sister, Desiree. She latched onto his leash and skipped down the front walk with him and he trotted alongside of her like a brother always meant to be by her side. He adored her already, and I just knew before that little girl closed her eyes to sleep that night, Max would be snuggled up to her, happy to be alive and happy to be loved by such a beautiful family.

No more nights spent alone in his kennel. He trotted with his head high and a happy skip to his step.

Chloe stepped in and cradled me, and I allowed several months’ worth of anxiety over Max to unleash. She swooned and cuddled me closer. “Come on. Let’s get you a hot cup of tea.”

I walked with her, sniffing and carrying on like a mother sending her child off to college. “I’m going to miss him,” I said as we got to the pharmacy area and stood beside each other at the counter staring at a box of Advantix Flea and Tick medicine.

She touched my hand. “That’s what I admire most about you,” she said in a whisper. “I don’t know anyone with as much compassion as you.”

Exhausted from the emotions, I fell into her comforting embrace. “It’s so hard sometimes.”

She massaged my shoulders. “You’re awfully cramped.”

I moaned. Her deep kneading relaxed me.

She circled behind me, warming my neck with her hot breath. “I can’t promise Melanie’s magic healing power,” she whispered, “but I can promise to try.”

I melted under her feathery touch. “Melanie wouldn’t approve of that being a chakra point.”

Chloe closed in tighter, her breath bathing and tickling the side of my neck. “Well, it’s a good thing she’s not here, isn’t it?” Her voice strolled out all flirty and seductive, a sound I welcomed. “You’re starting to relax.”

I swayed, delirious from her light fragrance. Her seductive touch swept me away again, just as it did years ago. Her delicate touch, her sultry voice, her light-hearted vibe combined to form a spell over me. My toes and legs numbed, and I could barely manage a breath.

She cradled my shoulders in her strong hands and massaged down my arms, flinging nervous energy off of me like she was clearing rainwater from the hood of a car. My defenses disappeared along with my resolve to stay strong. Then, she circled me towards her, cradled my face in between her two soft hands and stared deeply into my eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”

What was I doing?
I could hear Josh’s echo of how I needed to be careful. I didn’t care. I wanted to give in to her. I wanted danger. I wanted to stand on that ledge with my feet half-dangling. I wanted to lose focus if only for an hour, staring into her pretty eyes, getting lost in her shiny hair, inhaling her delicate scent. My heart twirled around in a gazillion circles. For just one moment, I wanted to be free.

I grabbed her hand and led her back past the kennels, past the free roaming cat room where cats were hanging out together on carpeted podiums, past the exam rooms, past the colorful mural of dancing doggies and hopping rabbits and straight towards my office. I turned back to her, a familiar smile spread across her face, danced on her lips, played on her eyes. The spark in her eyes intensified as I lifted my free hand to her soft cheek. I caressed her face, longing for more. She closed her eyes and drew a visible breath. Her chest bellowed in and out, an obvious heartbeat in check. Her eyelids fluttered and her hand trembled in mine. When she opened her eyes, I moved in closer wanting her breath to wash over my face. I closed my eyes now, sealing in this moment when love tickled my core. Her soft skin, her delicate summer scent, her strong fingers caressing mine, a sweet combination that lured me to seek more. Just as she had done to me so many times, I drew her to me this time and kissed her with a new hunger, one that stirred every nerve in my body to full attention. She placed her hand on the back of my head and pressed me harder against her, vying for that control that raised her to a level unparalleled to anyone of her stature, her beauty, her grace. She backed up towards my futon, never taking her lips off of mine, pulling me along with her, past the file cabinet, past the printer, past the floor lamp with an oil ring that smelled of vanilla and clove. Once at the futon, we tore off each other’s shirts, shorts, and bras, hungry to feast, famished from years of starving ourselves from each other.

We landed on the futon couch and tossed aside leashes and collars and dog toys. I caressed her, cradled her to me, and grazed her in kisses, wrapping her in love. I pulled her tight low ponytail out of her hair and let it flow. My fingers laced in her sleek black mane. I twirled it round and round my finger, staring at it, mesmerized by its shine, its vibrancy, its strength. I twirled a piece and slid my finger to its edge, then gently down to her breast. I circled her nipple, aroused by the way it hardened. I reached out for her hair and placed it atop both of her shoulders, cradling her like a stole. “Why don’t you wear your hair down like this anymore?” I whispered into her mouth.

She kissed me sweetly, her tongue lingering on mine. “If I would’ve known you liked it like that I would’ve worn it this way more often.”

I couldn’t kiss her hard enough now. I pressed her to me, stroking her back, enjoying the tickle of her bare breasts against mine. I melted into her embrace, savoring her delicate, sweet taste. I couldn’t press against her hard enough. My hunger for her overpowered my ability to control the intensity.

Chloe commanded the scene, rolling me over on my back and grazing my skin with her lips, soft caresses planted carefully and gingerly from my neck to my shoulder to the curve of my breast. She swooned her way down my cleavage and onto my belly button, circling it with a reverence she’d yet to show me. I moaned, unable to keep the pleasure to myself. She responded with a stronger grip on my hips and a firmer, more seductive kiss traveling down past my bikini line and into a place of extreme highs. I clung to her thick hair, twirling it and stroking it between my fingers as she planted her tongue, her love, in me, taking me to new heights, new pleasures, new ecstasy.

Chapter Fourteen

Chloe

We had dozed off for an hour after making love. When I woke up, Olivia’s arm was draped around me, her leg entwined in mine. I kissed her hand, and she stirred, moaned, and pressed closer into me. I pulled her arms tighter around me, not wanting this moment to get away from us. I wished I could’ve sealed us into a cocoon, not permitting the rest of the world and all of its hurtful truths from entering. Josh popped into my mind. Then Ayla. Then I saw Olivia taking her love back from me. I clung tighter.

“You’re trembling,” Olivia said, brushing wisps of my hair away from my neck. “Are you cold?” She caressed my neck with her warm lips, cuddling up closer to me.

“I’m not cold,” I said. “Just really happy right now.” I turned and faced her, brought her hand up to my lips and kissed it, staring deep into her loving eyes. If only I could keep this love intact.

She kissed me. We lingered on our lips, each teasing the other with a flick of our tongues. She giggled and I squeezed her. She giggled more, and I tickled her belly. She kicked and wriggled out of my arms. I didn’t stop. I pressed on with my tickles to her flat tummy. She responded with a bold grip of my wrists and a wrestling stronghold with her legs. Paralyzed beneath her now, I convulsed into laughter, squirming, kicking, and pushing against her grip.

We giggled and lost ourselves in each other all over again.

A few hours had passed since we had first sealed off from the rest of the shelter. We emerged back out to the kennel area, a bit disheveled. Trevor took one look at us and a lopsided grin propped up on his face. Natalie couldn’t meet our eye. She danced around the obvious with a pressing request to work with a new collie who had just arrived and needed some guidance on how to sit and stay when one of us entered her kennel. Olivia turned right back into serious mode, fully taking back command of her shelter and any suspicion that she had just let her hair down and gone a little wild for once.