Page 46 of Finding Noah
The smell hit me right away.
One puppy had actually peed on the puppy pad while the other had missed almost entirely.
Despite our proximity to precisely no neighbors, for propriety’s sake, I yanked on my boxer briefs before scooping up the wriggling bodies and heading down the stairs.
Stormy was hard on my heels, and I had everyone outside and searching the grass within just a couple of moments.
The back door opened and, as I turned, Noah tossed a bathrobe at me.
I caught it easily and shrugged it on. The air nipped this morning, and my nipples turned to nubs. Nipples Noah had definitely enjoyed nibbling on last night.
Which brought a smile to my face.
“Could you make some coffee? I need help waking up.” I had a regular shift today, and after coming home a little late last night, and the blow job, my mind was still a little fuzzy.
“Sure, I can put on a pot.” He arched his eyebrow. “Would you like to learn how to give a hand job in the shower?”
I was almost late for work.
In the end, however, I was at work on time, and I greeted Dillion with a huge smile.
He eyed me as if not quite certain what to make of me.
I didn’t blame him—I came to work every day with pep in my step, worked my ass off, then went home just as happy. From what I could see, his life was more interesting than he let on. Since that was none of my business, I moved right along.
My week with Noah went much better than I ever could’ve imagined. More blow jobs, more hand jobs, more sleeping in the same bed.
Except, clearly, he wasn’t willing to admit anything more was going on between the two of us. I’d always figured I would be happy being with Noah in afriends with benefitsrelationship. But I wasn’t. I wanted more. I wanted way more. I was getting greedy, because as much as I was enjoying thebenefitspart of our relationship, I worried the friendship part might start to slip.
Every day Noah secured new clients, trained our puppies—although Stormy didn’t need much work—and every night we came together.
Late Sunday morning, as the lab puppy owners all arrived, I fretted.
Noah was standing with Junior—a clearly anxious Bruiser at their feet—when Soren approached. Tibby was actually walking beside him on a loose leash. I grinned. “Well done.”
A bit of color rose in his cheeks. “Tibby’s amazing. We do the training in small increments—but do several a day. She’s really taken to it.” He smirked. “T-R-E-A-T-S definitely help.”
“Yes, they’re great motivators for the first few rounds of training. Noah’s advanced classes work on praise and encouragement rather than food.”
Soren nodded. “Don’t tell Tibby—she’ll be quite upset.”
“Generally, the dogs tend to be nine or ten months old before they’re ready to start that.”
“Will Stormy do that training?” He glanced over at my dog who sat quietly in the heel position beside me.
“Formally? I’m not certain. Noah’s already doing most of those things with her all the time. I don’t think she realizes she’s being trained.” I tilted my head. “I’ve wondered if dogs feel appreciation. Generally it can take a rehomed dog about three months to feel truly comfortable. Trusting that their lives won’t be upended again. We’re Stormy’s third home in her short life—at least that we know of. But she seems to be settling.”
“You and Noah appear to be a calming presence in her life.” He eyed me speculatively. “And how are things going otherwise?”
Heat crept up my neck, and I knew, from long experience, that a blush was overtaking my cheeks. Damn my pale-skinned ancestors.
“Oh, that’s interesting.” Soren grinned. “Malcolm and I figured you two should be together—whether you’re both smart enough to realize it is another story. Well, let me rephrase. You seem to have figured it out. Whether Noah gets his head out of his ass to figureout what he’ll lose if he doesn’t make a move, is an entirely different situation.”
“He won’t lose me.” Said quietly and with some ferocity.
“I hope not. I mean, don’t pine after the guy forever, by any means. You deserve happiness as well.”
“I am happy.”
