Page 31 of Something Unavoidable

Keegan echoed it. Dammit.

“Ugh,” Izzy said, too loud in the quiet hallway. “You’re doing this on purpose!”

Keegan turned in time to see Izzy, stripped down to a T-shirt and boxers, making his way toward him. Damn, his legs were long. Keegan’s palms itched to slide them under the loose hem of Izzy’s boxers. Even his T-shirt wasn’t long enough for him, skin peeking through the enticing gap. Keegan needed to keep his distance.

“Doing what on purpose?” As if the fates were reading Keegan’s mind, Izzy caught his foot on the edge of the hallway rug and staggered straight into Keegan’s chest.

Keegan let out an “oof” as his back hit the doorframe, but he managed to stay on his feet, gritting his teeth against a pained groan.

A moment later, he was resisting a different kind of sound as Izzy’s hands slid over his skin, mapping out the planes of his chest. “Isaac, behave.” He caught Izzy by the shoulders, easing him back.

“Isaac, behaaave,” Izzy mocked, then stuck out his tongue, blowing a raspberry.

Keegan mimed biting it, making Izzy jerk back with a gasp, unbalanced until Keegan righted him again. All right. That was enough. “Bedtime,” he ordered, pointing to the guest room.

“Woof,” Izzy shot back, then paused. “I thought you had three dogs.” His unfocused gaze was on Lucky, still sprawled across the bed.

“I do. Riley and Chance are down the hall. I try not to overwhelm my guests, even when they’re attempting to kick the door down in the middle of the night.”

“I’m gonna meet them.”

Keegan cursed as Izzy pulled away and stumbled to the only other door on the hallway. “Izzy, wait.” He tensed for an explosion, but none came.

Inside the room, Riley was curled into a tight ball at the end of the bed, fast asleep with her nose tucked under her tail. Chance was in his bed in the corner, head on his paws but eyes alert.

Izzy didn’t seem to have noticed him. He beelined—well, as straight as a line could be after however much he’d had to drink—for the bed. “Awww…”

“Careful,” Keegan warned, then stomped his foot on the floor hard enough for Riley to feel the vibrations and crack open an eye. When she saw they had a visitor, she lifted her head, her tail thumping and her tongue lolling in a doggie smile.

Izzy paused and cocked his head, unintentionally mirroring her. “Is he deaf?”

“She,” Keegan corrected. “And yes.”

Izzy nodded and slowed, approaching more carefully, his hand out. “Most white animals with blue eyes are,” he told Keegan, as if Keegan—the veterinarian and owner of said dog—wasn’t aware. Izzy crawled onto the bed and settled with his feet tucked under him. “What’s her name?” he asked, stroking a soft white ear.

“Riley.”

Izzy nodded. “You’re the best girl, aren’t you, Riley? Yes, you are.” He bent down, pressing kisses to the top of her head, his long fingers buried in her thick scruff.

Riley’s tail thumped faster.

Keegan melted. Damn brat was winning him over just as fast as he was the dog.

He could feel Chance judging him from the corner.

“Izzy,” Keegan said, trying for patience. “It’s late. I’m tired. Can we please go to bed now?”

“Mmph,” Izzy said, slumping sideways until he was curled around Riley, his face still buried in her fur. “Wanna sleep here.”

Keegan swore under his breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. Fuck it. He was too tired to fight. He kicked off his boots and turned off the light, making his way to the far side of the bed in the dark.

Once he was in bed, he shut his eyes and waited. Sure enough, less than a minute later, Izzy wiggled his way up the mattress, stripped off his tee, and snaked himself under the covers, his head landing on the other pillow.

Keegan listened to him breathe and wondered if he was asleep already. Passing out as soon as his head hit the pillow wouldn’t be surprising, considering how drunk he was.

His assumption was proven wrong when the mattress shifted a few times. Then a hand slid across the sheets until it bumped into his arm. He sighed. Now what was the brat up to? “Izzy—” he started.

Izzy cut him off. “Do you really want to sleep?” The bed moved as Izzy inched closer. “’Cause I could help you with that.” His searching hand traced along Keegan’s bicep, aiming south. Keegan caught his wrist, but that didn’t stop him. He wiggled closer, until his warm, minty breath was fanning against Keegan’s neck. “Orgasms are great for relaxation.”

---