Page 13 of Submitting to the SEAL's Protection

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Rita finally had something to be excited about for the Friday meeting. After two weeks of being shut down, she had received the report that there were negative findings for lead, and the asbestos turned out to be a non-issue. The city planning and permit office had approved the foundation repairs, and except for the reporter coming on Monday for the interview that Travis had arranged, everything was back to normal. Work could resume…and she would get to see Jared again during daylight hours. They’d gotten a few nights together during the shutdown, and she found that the more she spent time with him, the more she thought about him.

Or rather, she couldn’tstopthinking about him.

As she got out of her car at the jobsite, she opened the door for Casey. Since there weren’t any workers on the site currently, she’d gotten permission for Casey to come to work with her. When Rita wasn’t working or with Jared, she and Casey were relatively inseparable, and Rita was thankful for every day she had with her. She knew that without Casey, she would never have found the end of her rope, so to speak, and discovered the courage to actually leave Tuck. She might have let Tuck keep escalating the violence against her until he finally killed her, but she couldn’t let him do that to her dog.

Rita climbed the steps to the mobile office to find that Jared and Brian were already there. Brian lit up when Casey came barreling into the office around her. “Come here, girl,” Brian called, and Casey ran at him full tilt, the way labs were wont to do. While Brian claimed to be a cat person, he went out of his way to give Casey the attention she loved.He’s a big softie.

When she spied Jared, Casey halted. Dropping her head, she looked at him with suspicion and made a low growl. Jared instantly dropped down in a crouch and held out his hand several inches away from the dog, giving her space to decide to come to him. Slowly, Casey stretched out her neck, sniffing. Brian was known for carrying dog treats with him, and Rita watched as he slipped one to Jared. As Casey walked closer to Jared, she recognized the scent. Tentatively, she wagged her tail and took the treat. She allowed Jared to pet her while she munched on the crunchy dog biscuit. Before long, her hackles had dropped, and her tail was back up in her happy curve. Relieved, Rita bent down to hug her dog.

“Good girl, Casey,” Rita crooned to her best friend. “Not all men are bad.” She looked up at Brian, who was smiling, and Jared, whose face had twisted into a complicated expression. Straightening up, Rita put on a smile and gestured for the two men to take their seats again. “Shall we get started?”

* * *

After the meeting, Rita was gathering her things together to leave when Casey began wagging her tail. That was her only warning before Jared’s arms came around to hug her from behind, and Rita smiled as her heart flip-flopped in her chest.

“Hungry?”

Rubbing her back against his growing hard-on, she let out a happy sigh. “Mmm, yes.”

Nipping at her ear, Jared chastised her. “I meant for food, woman.”

Rita chuckled. “Oh,” she breathed out with mock innocence. “I guess I could eat. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, something entirely different now,” Jared grumbled and kissed her neck. “How about if we pick up something to go, and the three of us head over to my place?”

Looking down at a still-wagging Casey, Rita smiled. “Sure, I think that’s a great idea.”

Agreeing to meet at his place in an hour, Rita finished what she needed to do at the office and locked up. Jared had offered to pick up dinner, and since Rita always kept extra food in the car for Casey, she didn’t have to stop anywhere. “You did so good today,” she crooned to Casey while they drove. “I know meeting men isn’t your favorite thing, but…Jared’s different, right?” She looked at her dog, who was panting happily as she stared out the window. “You can see that, can’t you? That he’s different?” Rubbing Casey’s head, Rita couldn’t believe how quickly the dog had taken to Jared. It had taken Brian weeks to win the pup over, and that was with the constant application of treats.

“Looks like we both like him, don’t we, girl?” Rita asked. As Casey thumped her tail in response, Rita continued to talk out loud. “He is very sexy. And smart. Kind, too. He listens.” Rita ticked off Jared’s different positive points as Casey continued to thump her tail agreeably. Rita pitched her voice lower, whispering, “I don’t know about you, girl, but I think he’s a keeper…but let’s not tell him, yet, ok? He can be a bit arrogant at times.” Laughing to herself, Rita pulled up at Jared’s home to find that he was already there. As she got out of the car, she reached for Casey’s leash and doggy go-bag as Jared came out to meet her.

He greeted Rita with a kiss. When he pulled away, he said, “I hope you’re hungry. I bought a lot of food.” Reaching down to rub Casey’s head, he took the bag from Rita and winked. “And I’m hoping you’re up for a game.”

“A game? Will that be before or after dinner?”

Jared pretended to think it over for a moment. “I was thinking of making you part of the dinner.”

As they walked inside, Rita couldn’t help chuckling. “So, should I take a shower first?”

“Nah, I like you salty.”

That shouldn’t be as hot as it is, damn it.

Once inside, Casey was quick to begin exploring, but she didn’t make it far. Tail wagging, she trotted over to a nest of blankets and pillows on the floor with a giant rawhide sitting on top. She plopped down, happy to have something to chew.

“Hope you don’t mind,” Jared told her. “I want both my girls to feel at home here.”

Thatmade her smile, and she hugged him. “I don’t mind at all.”

“Good,” Jared said as he kissed her. “Because I’m hungry.” Reaching in his back pocket, he pulled out a bandana and held it in front of her face. “You game?”

Apprehension and excitement sparked in her belly. Rita nodded. “Yeah, I’m game…but do it quick before I chicken out.” Smiling, Jared tilted Rita’s head up and captured her lips in a slow, sensual kiss.

“I’m not really interested in quick,” he teased. As he kissed Rita, he folded the bandana before he stepped back. Turning her around, he pulled her up tight against him and began kissing her neck. Rita sighed, and he placed the bandana over her eyes and tied it in the back. “Comfortable?” At Rita’s nod, Jared continued. Still holding her up against his chest, he reached for the buttons on her shirt, exposing more and more skin with each button he plucked open. With each exposure came more gentle kisses that sent tingles down her spine. Shivering, Rita tilted her head to give Jared more room. Leaving her shirt tucked into her waistband, he pulled it off her shoulders, pinning her arms to her sides. Sliding the straps of her bra down, he released her breasts. Cupping them, he held them in his hands as he played with her nipples. Nestling her head against his shoulder, Rita arched her back and pushed her breasts more firmly into his hands.

Rita found that her trapped arms had just enough range of motion to reach around behind her. Finding Jared’s erection, she cupped him through his jeans. A nip from him let her know that she had his attention. She continued her own exploration, letting out a satisfied chuckle when Jared hissed. Stepping forward, Jared closed off any space between them, effectively pinning her hands between them.

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