Page 52 of Needing to Fall
My breath caught in my throat as my nerves came on high alert, sending every one of them into electric overstimulation. I pulled my hands together in hopes of stopping the shaking, but it did nothing except pull attention to them as Lynx set his hand on mine.
“Babe, look at me.” His voice was calm and gentle, and my eyes went to his. “As soon as I unlock the door, I’m giving you my truck keys. At any time, if you feel you need to go, you go. But I ask that you talk to me before you take off.”
I let out the huge breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and nodded.
“That’s my girl. You have nothing to fear from me.”
My words came out whispered, “I know.” I really did.
He gave my hands a squeeze, parked the truck, and hopped out.
I reached for the handle, willing my hands to quit shaking. I wasn’t scared; I was nervous. Not that I believed he would hurt me, but that he would kiss me. I felt like such a child. What woman at twenty-one would be nervous about a hot guy kissing them? I shouldn’t have all these newbie jitters, but I did, and they scared the ever-loving shit out of me.
My door swung open, and Lynx held out his hand to me, something he had been doing much more of lately. Not only that, but simply holding my hand all the time, which I liked, too.
I took it, and he helped me out of his monstrosity of a vehicle. He held my hand, leading me up to the front door.
I was so on edge that, when a large, black animal started running toward us, I screamed and clutched Lynx for dear life.
“What is it?” I yelled, burrowing myself into Lynx’s back, knowing that, whatever it was, he would protect me from it.
I heard a bark then Lynx’s deep voice. “Pepper, sit. Stay,” he commanded.
That was when it clicked. A dog. He had a dog.
I slowly peered around his shoulder.
“Babe, it’s fine. Reign, meet Pepper. Pepper, this is Reign.” He introduced us like Pepper was a person.
I cautiously stepped out from behind Lynx, noting a striking, black dog sitting on his bottom, his front legs tall and straight. Its tongue was out, panting. He didn’t look mean, but more excited to have humans around.
“Do you like dogs?” Lynx asked when I didn’t say anything after the intro.
I paused. “It’s not that I don’t like them.” I sucked in deeply. This would be more of letting Lynx in. “When I was out on the streets, there were many dogs fighting for the same scraps of food I needed. Some were mean and won out because I couldn’t afford to get bitten and sent to the hospital. There was one dog, a bull dog, I later learned. He became my buddy.” Thoughts of Bullet spun in my head. I hadn’t thought of him in a really long time. It was strange how something so simple could be scrounged up.
I continued, “Bullet was his name. The other dogs would pick on him because he wasn’t as big as them. I took him in and kept him with me. I did the best I could, but Bullet was sick, and I had no way of helping him. He ended up dying.”
Lynx’s arm came around my shoulders, and he pulled me to him. It took a moment for me to relax, but I was getting so used to his touches it didn’t take nearly as long as before.
“Oh, babe. Sorry about that. I’ve had several dogs and gone through several of them dying. I get it.”
He whistled and Pepper came closer, but before he got too close, Lynx yelled, “Sit. Stay.”
Pepper listened.
“Pepper here is a black lab.Shegets very excited when new people come around. Since I know you have a slight fear about it, we’ll take this nice and slow,” he said just before he put his hand up to the dog’s nose. “I want you to do the same so she can sniff you, know you’re good people.”
Tentatively, I did. It tickled when her cold nose touched my palm, and I smiled. “Hi, Pepper,” I called out just as she stuck out her tongue, giving my hand a lick. “All righty then.” I chuckled, wiping the dog drool on my jeans. “That’s kinda gross.”
Lynx smiled at me, even giving me a soft chuckle. “Seeing you smile is like watching the world light up. You have no idea the power you have in that one little act.”
My insides flipped, warming uncontrollably. With his arm still around me, he leaned down and kissed my temple. I took it, but deep down, I wanted more.
“Come on. Let me make ya somethin’ to eat.” He gave a soft squeeze, called Pepper, and just like he had told me he would, he handed me the keys after unlocking the door. I set them by my purse. I didn’t think I would need them.
Pepper stayed close. Every time she tried to jump up on me, Lynx would be right there, blocking her, to the point he told her to go lie in her bed. With a sad whine, she did.
I felt bad. This was her house, not mine. She should be able to move around without having restrictions. Besides, she seemed like a good dog. She listened to Lynx every time he told her to do something. That gave me the confidence to do what I did next.
