Page 27 of Downward Dawg
Her stomach rolled. The things she needed to tell him would be hard to get through. But understanding the past was critical to creating a future.Got that universe? I want to create a future with this man. Please, and thank you.
“Dinner when you close the shop? You’ll still come over, right?”
His fingers gave hers a squeeze. “Absolutely” was his immediate response. “Always and any time. Any time at all.”
“Good.” She wondered if he could feel her palm sweating. “Real talk, I’m nervous about telling you some of my—history.”
“Already told you the deal breakers for me. And baby, you don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for, Ella. I like who you are, and as you’d put it, I like the vibe between us. It’s real and honest, and I really like that.”
“I think it’s something I need to do, Dom.”
“Then we will. But you don’t have to feel like you’re alone. I’m an open book, and I’ll answer any questions you have for me. Anything.” He patted Chicken, who wiggled wildly in ecstasy. “I’ll be at your place. Don’t be surprised if I close early.”
Elodie laughed softly and pushed up to one elbow, looking down at his face. She traced his brows with a fingertip, then bent close for a soft kiss, a connection between them that started with their mouths and grew by leaps and bounds. Hand on his chest, she could count each quick beat of his heart, thudding in sync with her own.
“I’ll see you then.” Looking around the studio, she took in a heavy breath and held it for a count of four before blowing it out. “And thank you for helping me take back this space. I was worried about coming here. Worried how it’d feel. And it was scary.”
“I’d think it was more weird if it wasn’t frightening. Something terrible happened here, an invasion of your sense of safety. I expect there will still be times when it’s got a sense of something off.” He reached up, fingers tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m gonna be here any time you want me. We can put in an intercom if you want, make it easier for you to check in that you’ve got backup.”
“There are some dark emotions here, for sure.” Elodie looked left to right, studying the angles the mirrors gave to innocent objects like the rolling tray she kept for the yoga blocks. “I think I’ll smudge the place. Help cleanse it before I reopen Monday.” Leaning her cheek into his touch, she looked down again to find Dom staring at her. “I’ve already posted on social media that I’ll be back. Can’t disappoint those serenity seekers.”
“Yoga makes you happy. I think it would be good for you to continue to share that with your class members. Just look at you now. Half an hour coaching me, and you’re glowing and settled.” His palm cupped her throat, thumb pressing in on her pulse for a moment. “You’re way steadier than me. But I think this helped me, too.”
“I’m glad. It’s not a panacea for everything, but it can help with a lot.”
He pushed up to a seated position, fingers absently ruffling Chicken’s fur. “I should get off the floor before I can’t.”
Elodie smiled at him, feeling the stretch of her lips as the pleasure painted her face. “Can’t have that. Let’s get you up, then.” She unfolded gracefully, planting her feet wide as she reached down a hand. “Come on, you. Up, up.”
He took the offered help with a smile, coming to his feet a little slower. Once upright, he didn’t stop moving, but leaned into her and dragged Elodie into an embrace. Her arms wrapped around his upper back and neck, and she held on tightly as he did the same.
“I’m glad I met you, lady.” His words were muttered softly against her neck, each movement of his lips causing a ripple of gooseflesh to rise on her arms. “Real fuckin’ glad.”
“Me too.” Her murmur was eclipsed by Chicken’s rising whine, and when she glanced down, his mismatched eyes were dancing with doggie humor. “Nuggie agrees, I think.”
“Thank God. I’d hate to hear what he’d have to say if he didn’t approve.”
She started laughing, clinging to Dom’s shoulders to hold herself upright.
His lips on hers silenced the sound but didn’t take away the sense of rightness and pleasure she felt in his arms.
***
Mad Dawg
From the few hints Ella had dropped earlier, Mad Dawg assumed the talk she felt compelled to have would be about an ex. Whether that was husband or boyfriend didn’t matter. As long as theexpart of the equation was no longer in the picture.
Don’t matter. She’s mine and we both know it.
As he’d promised, he’d closed the shop nearly three hours early, just so he could be here with her. When he rolled to a stop in front of her house, he’d already planned and discarded a dozen ideas to make this easier on her. It was causing her so much anxiety that he just wanted it over, whatever it was.
He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. There was a message from Rocker, so he unlocked the device, navigating to the message app. The text was brief, just asking for a call later tonight. Mad Dawg heard a sound and looked up in time to see the door swing wide, Ella and Chicken framed in the doorway. Making a mental note to call his brother back, he locked the phone and shoved it deep in his pocket, moving around the bike and up the sidewalk.
Ella met him with open arms, wrapping herself around him so there wasn’t room for a whisper between them. She held him tight, and he stroked up and down her sides and back, soothing her.
“I didn’t know how much longer you’d be.” She pulled back, linking their fingers together as she drew him into the house. “I’ve got a casserole ready to pop into the oven. Once I do, it’ll be just less than an hour before we eat. Is that okay?”
“That sounds perfect,” he assured her, moving with her easily. Chicken beat them to the couch, paws hanging over the back as he watched them approach. “Who’s a good dog?” Chicken’s tongue lolled out, his bright eyes wide as he wiggled in place. “What’d you do this afternoon?” Surprised when Elodie didn’t pause at the couch, he kept pace with her into the bedroom.
