Page 11 of Downward Dawg
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she whispered against his throat, her mouth moving against his skin in a way that had his cock waking up to say hello. “That was amazing, Dawg. I freakin’, freakin’ loved it.”
“I’m glad, Ella. Means a lot to me.” He held her close, his palm stroking up her back until he realized the helmet was still in place. “Here we go. Let’s get this off you.” She pushed away slightly and lifted her chin, and he chuckled as he unlatched the straps. He twisted to hang it off the handlebars, and when he turned back, she pulled close again. This time her cheek rested against his chest, arms loose around his shoulders. “With that kind of gratitude, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you didn’t hate it.”
“God, no. I freakin’ loved it.” Pulling back, she yanked the tie out of her hair and shook her head once, fluffing it, then grabbed his hand and threaded their fingers together as if the gesture were the most natural thing. “Also, I love, love, love eating at this place. You picked good, Dawg. All the way around. Real good.”
With that reassurance, they walked inside and he took the opportunity to wrap an arm around her shoulders as they waited for the host. She leaned against him, head swiveling to look around the restaurant.
“Name on the reservation, please?” The host didn’t look up as she thumbed through a book on the stand near the door.
“Dominick Roberts,” he said, and Ella immediately shifted closer. He looked down to see her still smiling.
“How is it I just learned your real name right now?” The whisper came with a shimmy of her body. Ella kept her place within the circle of his arm as they started across the dining room. She leaned closer and continued, “Oh wait, it’s because I didn’t stalk you based on your website.”
“Oh, man. I’d argue the point, but that’s the unvarnished truth, isn’t it?” He pulled a chair out from the table the host indicated, letting her take a seat as he slid it in. “Guilty as charged, ma’am. You caught me. And yeah, that’s my government name. My ma calls me Dom, but I like Dawg better. In my eyes, it’s more real, as you called it.”
“I’m going to need that story one day.” She lifted a menu, glancing at both sides before placing it back on the table. “Is it going against every bit of feminism to ask if you’d mind ordering for me?”
“Not that I know,” he said, puzzled. “But why? What if I get it wrong?” This seemed like some kind of test, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
“Because I think you’ll get it right.” Folding her hands on top of the menu, she glanced around the room. “You’ve got all the clues you need, and I’m confident you’re one smart cookie. You pay attention, and you’ve gotten to know me. Just follow your gut. In my experience it never steers a person wrong.”
With her reassurance he didn’t let his nerves get in the way, instinctively picking out a chicken and pasta dish for her when the waiter came over to take their orders. For his side of the table, he asked for a steak and potatoes meal, which made her smile.
“How’d I do?” Her hands had returned to the table after giving up the menu to the waiter, and he reached out to cover them with his. With her expression, he wasn’t foreseeing a negative response, but it’d be nice to know for sure. “Did I get it right?”
“Exactly right. As I expected.” She was smiling as she turned one hand over to fit it within his palm. “Now, tell me everything I need to know about you, Dominick Roberts. I feel like I’ve got some catching up to do.”
Their conversation flowed smoothly over dinner, and Mad Dawg was pleased at all the subtle reminders of how easy it was to talk to her. No awkward silences, and she talked as much as he did, which meant it didn’t feel like an interrogation. Also, she clearly didn’t judge, just listened, and then would add her insights on whatever the topic was. Given their different natures, he found it remarkable how often her viewpoint lined up with his, and he held that knowledge close to his chest.
My do-right-by-people and her karma rules seem to be the same thing. Good to know.
After dinner, they were back in the parking lot, and he waited for her to put her hair up again then secured the helmet for her. He leveraged the excuse of checking the strap to caress her tender throat and she purred, leaning into his touch. Ella climbed on the back of the bike like a pro, slipping up right behind him without a single reminder.
Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
He followed the same route back to town, taking the curves slower, stretching out the time they’d spend together a little longer. They’d barely hit the city limits when a car roared up behind them, bright lights shining in his mirrors. He angled his head to see around the glare and motioned the car ahead with one hand.
Instead of passing him cleanly, the car sped up beside them, slamming back over into his lane with a lurch. Mad Dawg instinctively hit the brakes and pulled the clutch, downshifting as he dropped behind the car. The out of state license caught his eye as the brake lights flashed on, and the car came to a near stop in the middle of the road.
“Sonufabitch,” he growled. “What the fuck are these assholes doing?”
With a final squeal of the tires against pavement, the car suddenly took off, the driver giving it a hefty dose of gas.
Picking up speed again, Mad Dawg was careful to keep the bike at a slower than normal pace and turned his head. “You okay?” He looked over his shoulder to see Elodie’s pale face.
“I’m okay.” She nodded and he patted her hands, still wrapped tightly around his middle.
“Let’s get you home.”
At the curb in front of her house, he waited for her to dismount before killing the engine and standing. She was removing the helmet with shaky hands and held it out for him to take.
“That whole thing was slightly terrifying. Does it happen often?” She’d taken a step back and he leaned on the bike seat to see what she might do following the traffic encounter.
Might not want anything to do with me now.He hoped he was wrong.
“Not often, no. Those were assholes out to cause trouble.”
She gestured at his vest, which had the club’s colors proudly displayed on the back. “Was it because of your affiliation? Were they enemies or something? Unscrupulous scoundrels?” Her voice was gradually becoming more certain as she shook off the shock. He was glad to see how quickly she was recovering.Bodes well for me. Maybe.
