Page 48 of Leashed

“Definitely some ugly-ass bastards in that group,” he muttered, remembering the last Pirithous they’d taken down.

“But the dog…” She went quiet and he could feel the faint ghosting of her fingers across Ryan’s hound form. “This one is so proud of it, isn’t he? The middle one. He just has that look of complete satisfaction from a job well done, like he knows he’s made his master proud.” He felt her touch Alex’s image. “But this one looks so resigned, I guess. Like he could take it or leave it. As though he obeys out of obligation only.”

His shoulders tensed a fraction as she ran her hand over his own image, her skin on his electrifying every nerve.

“And he looks hungry. Agitated. Like he wants nothing more than to break free, almost as though the only thing keeping him there is some invisible leash.”

Tossing his shirt back over his head, he yanked it down and stood, a flash of something akin to guilt passing through him when Sage jumped back. “And my hour’s up,” he said, picking up the empty bag and balling it in his hands. “Don’t stay up too late tonight, okay?”

She rose to her feet slowly and followed him to the front door. “Thanks for coming by. And for the food. I needed the break. Bad.”

Crouching down to tie his laces and avoid looking at her, he grunted. “Yeah, well, you’re welcome. Text me later if you need me to send you inappropriate pictures or cat memes and good luck tomorrow.”

He could see her standing in front of her patio doors when he got into his truck. Pulling away, he tore out of the neighborhood, desperate to put some distance between them before he said or did something stupid.

Or, rather, something stupider.

---