Page 14 of The Dire Reaction

SAM

Thorisjustopeninghis red-rimmed eyes when we make our way back to him. It takes him a little while before he tries to sit up.

It was like this last week, too. He was groggy for a few hours, lethargic another day after.

But, watching how he jumped into the truck this morning, I have hopes that this is helping. Maybe he’s enjoying his long snooze?

“Hey, big guy, how was your nap?” I scratch his ears while Dani removes his IV and unstraps him from the table.

Drool cakes the side of his face, dripping when he raises his head. Sliding his feet ahead of him, they rest on the ramp.

“Are you ready to go?” I snap the leash onto his collar, standing next to the ramp in case he gets wobbly.

His shaky legs work his heavy body down the ramp. Once he gets to the floor, he spreads his legs like he just came off of a ship on the ocean.

With a grunt, he shakes.

Drool flies in all directions.

“Oh! Thor!” Dani cries, laughing.

I catch stringers of it across my jacket and pants, some landing on my hands and face.

“Thanks, buddy.” Wiping the dog drool from my cheeks, I catch her apologetic look. She’s already digging out paper towels from the dispenser and dampening them in the sink.

“I’m sorry.” She hands me a damp towel, then begins wiping her own bare arms down.

“For what? Drool?” I think I get it all off of my face. “I’ve been covered in worse. And I know you have, too.” I can’t resist the gentle tease.

The blush that creeps up her neck is calling to me. I don’t know how much longer I can hold back wanting to chase it down with my lips. The throbbing in my pants keeps pleading its vote, urging me to pull her to me.

She’s had me hard all afternoon. I need to leave before I do something about it. As much as she blushes, I still don’t want to hurry her.

“Don’t forget next week. I won’t let you leave hungry next time either. See ya, Doc.” I toss her a little wink and tug Thor out of the office, leaving her staring after me.

Jenny is sweeping the waiting room when we cut through. “Hi, Thor! You’re a good boy!” She gives his head a pat, a horrified look coming over her face when her hand comes away wet.

“I should have warned you. Sorry, he slept hard.”

“It’s okay, have a good night, Mr. Downing,” she calls, wiping her hand on a kleenex she snags from the desk.

“Good night.”

Dusk has already settled, and it’s dark by the time I get home. I’m glad to see the driveway is empty. Not sure I could handle Becky right now.

After giving Thor a chance to relieve himself, I bring him inside the dark house.

His nails click on the floor when he wanders into Alexander’s room where the soft lull of the TV plays all the time. It’s cooler there than in the living room where the wood stove is. He knows I won’t let him sleep in my room. He snores too loud.

A cold beer tastes amazing and cools the fire raging through me.

I should have just kissed her. I should have just bent her over her desk and made her scream my name.

Sinking into the couch, the cold sweat of the bottle feels good on my forehead. My pulse is pounding in my ears and my cock. Neither are pleasant right now.

That woman is making me live in a perpetual state of blue balls and distraction.

Social media does absolutely nothing to drown out the memory of her biting her lip. Or her laugh.

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