Page 21 of Downward Dawg
She was tousled, warm and sweet, with her beautiful face showing a quiet pleasure at his presence.
He marked the moment when she remembered what had happened that morning, but any concern was fleeting, followed quickly by a deeper, knowing expression of affection.
“I feel better. You were right about the resting thing.” She stretched an arm up, then angled herself across his lap, one hand propping up her head. “You are one comfy pillow, Dawg.”
“And you’re fuckin’ gorgeous, Ella.”
The smile she gave him was brilliant, shining with joy. It filled him with satisfaction, knowing she’d aimed it at him.
“You’re not half bad yourself, mister.”
“Hungry? Need anything? There’s still some water here.” He reached for the bottle, but her hand intercepted him, bringing his palm to her cheek.
She turned her head to press a kiss to his hand, then settled, looking at him. “I could eat.” Her voice was low, quiet, private. “But what I’d like more than food is to feel like we’re back to normal. Maybe make out with you a little.”
He blinked slowly in surprise. “I can make that happen.” Cradling the back of her head, he pulled her towards him as he leaned forward, their lips meeting for a tender moment. “Here, or?”
“Bedroom,” she said without hesitation, pushing herself up a little. “Definitely need a door between us and Nuggie.”
The dog’s head popped out of the covers when she said his name, the lopsided puff between his ears lending the dog a comical look. He woofed quietly, then whined.
“See what you mean,” Mad Dawg said with a chuckle. “Let’s get you upright. I’ll check in with my brothers quick, and then meet you in there.”
“Thanks, that’ll give me a minute to hit the necessary room.” She folded in half and swung her legs over the side of the couch, palms to the floor, lifting her ass off the cushions. “Oh, man. That stretch is good.” She gathered the blanket and rumpled it on the couch cushions, making a nest for the dog. “There you go, Nuggie. Be a good boy.”
From the dog’s betrayed expression, Mad Dawg wasn’t sure he appreciated the gesture.
Ella disappeared down the hallway and he went to the kitchen, grabbing a fresh bottle of water as he looked at his phone. A quick text exchange later, he was reassured things would remain quiet. The entirety of the threat had been eliminated, according to Tinder.
*Many thanks*
He grinned when he got a thumbs-up in response.Understated, as always.
As he walked past the couch, the dog lifted his head, a grumpy glare directed towards Mad Dawg.
“I know,” he said softly, ruffling the dog’s ears. “Promise not to hog all her attention all the time. But tonight, I need this.” Chicken whined, pressing his nose against Mad Dawg’s hand. “Maybe more than she does, right.” With one last tousle, he left the dog to his unhappy grump, grinning as the whine came again.
Turning into the bedroom, he stopped in surprise. Ella was already in bed, covers pulled up to her chin. Even swaddled as she was, he could see her shivering from here. He pulled the door closed behind him.
“Oh, honey,” he crooned, divesting himself of his leathers and jeans. The socks were dropped at the bedside, and he crawled in beside her, wearing his tee and briefs. Reaching across to pull her closer, he was shocked to find her naked. Hot, bare skin formed an endless canvas underneath his wandering hands. “Sweetheart.”
She curled against him, head to his shoulder, thigh thrown over his hips. He had to struggle not to thrust up against the warm pressure.
“Today was shit.” The toneless quality of her voice along with the proclamation was frightening, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders a little tighter. “Total, absolute shit.”
“Yeah, it was. Scared the fuck out of me, them taking you like that. Not knowing if you were okay. Fucked with my head, Ella. Big time.”
She stirred restlessly, cheek skimming across his chest. He felt the hot gust of her breath a moment before she pressed a kiss to the soft cotton. “Can you lose this, Dawg?” Her fingers plucked at the fabric. “I’d really like to feel you tonight. I need the contact. It’ll ground me, I think. Make me less scattered to the wind.”
He did a half crunch, hand reaching behind him to grab the shirt by the collar and drag it off. Settling back to the mattress, he pulled her against him again, then arranged the blanket around them. “Better?”
“Much,” she whispered, her lips finding his skin this time in a gentle kiss. “So much better.” Her palm glided down his belly, then back up. She trailed a touch through the hair on his chest, patting it down, then fluffing it again. “Everything about today was terrifying. Except one.” Her voice tried to adopt the unmoved tone, but it shook a little this time. “The only thing good was seeing you. Knowing that I was right. I’d told myself over and over that you’d move heaven and earth to find me. I was right. That? That was good.”
“Felt good getting my hands on you. Holding you in my arms.” He traced the edge of the bruise on the side of her head with one finger. “Wish it hadn’t happened at all. Hate like fuck you got hurt.”
“Why did they come for me?” She scoffed and shook her head. “I know what they chattered on about, but they couldn’t know for sure that you and I had a connection.” Her hand hovered above his chest, fingers wavering. “Even if it’s so solid I can nearly feel it here. They didn’t have that certainty.”
Mad Dawg pulled in a slow breath, letting the faith behind her words sink into his heart.One in a million, right here in my arms.“My boss in the club, the president of the whole shebang, he’s got a theory he’s pursuing right now.” How much to tell her was in question, but he had to give her this much.She’s more than earned it.“He thinks there was a member of my club who may have fed them info. I’ll know more by tomorrow, but he’s gonna plug that leak with prejudice.” Tinder’s text on the topic had been brief, but the anger and betrayal had burned through the few words. Those emotions were matched by his own.Took my Ella.Bending his neck, he kissed the crown of her head gently once, twice, a third time, reassuring himself she was here and safe. “I’m the one who put you at risk. By talking about how much I liked you, they took that info and ran with it.”
