Page 113 of Reckless Harmony

“Isaac,” she whispered.

He bent his head and kissed her, a gentle brush of his mouth against hers. She moaned and leaned into him, her body going soft against his, her tongue already seeking entrance inside his mouth. Before they could deepen the kiss, her phone alarm went off, a harsh bray that made them both jump.

She sighed before smiling at him. “Sorry, I need to go to the house of horrors to feed the dogs.”

She slid out of the bed, giving him a look of surprise when he said, “I’ll go with you.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to do that,” she said. “The smell is horrendous. Also, I have, like, two hundred errands to run for the rescue today.”

“I don’t care,” he said. “I’m going with you, Rayna.”

Her smile turned warm and soft. “Thank you, Isaac.”

CHAPTER 38

“Bea, I swear to God, if you don’t stop farting in the kitchen, I’m banishing you from it for good.” Stark glared at the beagle.

If her wagging tail was any indication, Bea didn’t seem all that concerned by his threat. Or, more likely, she couldn’t hear it. She let out another long braaaap before sitting and staring hopefully at him.

Waving his hand in front of his face to dispel the smell, Stark said, “You don’t get a treat for farting, Bea.”

She whined, and he sighed before opening the treat jar and taking out a treat. Bea’s tail thumped happily, and Stark said, “To your bed, Bea.”

She immediately jumped up and ran to her bed, moving pretty spryly for her age. He gave her the treat. “Funny how your hearing becomes remarkably better when there’s a treat involved.”

His phone buzzed, and he checked his text before heading toward the front door. Hollis had shown up earlier than expected. He opened the door, smiling at Hollis, who stood on Rayna’s porch with a bag in one gloved hand. “Hi, Hollis. Come in.”

“Hello, Mr. Stark.” She joined him in the hallway, and he shut the door behind her.

She handed him the bag, and he said, “Thank you, Hollis. I appreciate you working on a Saturday. I thought I would have time myself, but the day’s gotten away from me.”

After he and Rayna had finished feeding the dogs, they’d gone to the gym for a workout before running the errands for the rescue.

“You’re welcome,” she said.

Although she had to have found it odd that he was in Rayna’s house, she didn’t mention it or ask any questions. He also knew she wouldn’t say a word to anyone about him being here. Her refusal to speculate or participate in gossip was another quality he appreciated about his assistant.

Freddie walked into the hallway, his tail held high and the usual suspicious look on his face. To Stark’s surprise, Hollis immediately crouched and held out her hand, making a soft clicking noise with her tongue. “Hi, kitty.”

“He bites,” Stark said quickly as Freddie stalked toward Hollis, no doubt thrilled at the chance to meet a new victim.

Freddie sniffed Hollis’s fingers, and Stark’s mouth dropped when he made a soft meow before rubbing against her hand. Hollis smiled and petted his body, her hand stroking his fluffy tail. “Oh, aren’t you the cutest boy? Yes, you are.”

“Holy shit,” Stark said when with another meow, Freddie jumped into Hollis’s arms. She straightened, holding him against her chest as Freddie butted his forehead against her chin.

“I wouldn’t let him that close to your face,” Stark warned. “Seriously, he bites.”

“No, you don’t, baby,” Hollis cooed to Freddie. “A big handsome boy like you would never be a bad boy and bite, would you?”

A low rumbling filled the hallway, and it took Stark a minute to place it. Freddie was… purring?

“Oh, you are just the sweetest boy,” Hollis said, her voice a soft, sweet pitch Stark had never even imagined she was capable of. “Don’t listen to him saying you’re a bad boy. You aren’t. No, you are not, my big, handsome boy.”

Freddie’s purrs grew even louder, and he kneaded and headbutted Hollis repeatedly as Stark continued to stare at them. Had he fallen into some alternate universe? It was the only explanation for both Hollis and Freddie’s behaviour.

“Isaac? I thought you were meeting me upstairs. I’ve been naked for nearly fifteen minutes, and my cooch is severely disappointed she’s not being pounded by your lovely thick cock.”

Rayna’s hand slapped him hard on the ass, making him jump, and a high-pitched squeak escaped his lips.

---