by Shea Balik
Scowling at the dog, Spencer waved a hand back toward town. “Shoo.” Then he frowned as he glanced around and didn’t see Sammy’s owner anywhere. “Shouldn’t you be on a leash?” Spencer grumbled.
But Sammy just sat back on his haunches and tilted his head at Spencer.
“Go home,” Spencer told him. Then he rolled his eyes. Now he was talking to the stupid animal as if Sammy could understand what he was saying. He really needed to get out more. Working non-stop on building the resort had made him a bit crazy.
Then again, there wasn’t exactly a lot of activities. He and his friends had plans for excursions both in town and nearby towns during all four seasons, but that wasn’t until they opened. At the moment, it was work, work, work, with only the tavern, The Frosted Mug, as a place to escape to for a bit.
Not that it was much of an escape. The only people who went there were from the construction crew, who he spent all day with, his friends, who he lived with, or the few people that called Mystic Pines home, who tended to avoid Spencer and his friends as if they had the plague.
Anook wouldn’t tell his friends why, but by the evil eye they kept shooting Spencer and the others, he guessed they either weren’t happy about their tiny town being turned into a resort, or, and he really hoped this wasn’t the reason, they were homophobic.
Sitting back on the rock, Spencer ignored Sammy as he stared at the frozen landscape and let out another long breath. He really needed to figure out how to approach this presentation if he had any hope of getting his way.
“There has to be something that would convince the guys to my way of thinking,” he said to no one, but the whine from Sammy let him know even if it was only an animal, someone was listening to him. “I don’t see why Reese had to get involved anyway,” he said. “No one asked him to come to Mystic Pines and open a pet daycare. I’m sure there are plenty of other things he could do.”
Sammy yipped and Spencer turned to glare at him. “Oh, come on,” he argued with the dog. “You can’t tell me that Reese has no other skills.”
This time Sammy didn’t make a sound, but he turned his head away from Spencer. He would swear the damn animal was looking at him sideways as if he were letting Spencer know he was being an idiot.
“I am not,” Spencer told him as if Sammy had said the words Spencer had been thinking. “I just don’t think pets should be around to ruin other people’s vacations.”
This time, Sammy bowed his head and he would swear the dog was shaking it as if he couldn’t believe what was coming out of Spencer’s mouth.
“It’s true,” Spencer insisted. “Pets are nothing but animals, not family members.”
Sammy came right up to him, placing his snout inches from where Spencer rested his hand on the surface of the rock, and whined. He was sure if Sammy could speak he would be asking what had happened that made Spencer feel like that.
But he couldn’t speak. Hell, there was no way he could even be thinking those thoughts. He was a dog, not a human. Animals, not even Sammy, who Reese claimed was intelligent, couldn’t possibly understand what he was saying.
Yet knowing that, Spencer still found himself spilling his secrets. “I had a dog growing up. He was more of a work dog since we lived on a farm, but…” Spencer closed his eyes against the onslaught of memories, but that only seemed to make it worse.
A tongue licked his fingertips. Re-opening his eyes, Spencer looked down at Sammy’s sad, mournful expression. “My dad had him put down when Buster bit him. He’d only been defending me because my dad had punched me for not doing all of my chores, but that didn’t matter. He’d just shot Buster right in front of me.”
Sammy’s tongue bathed the tears Spencer hadn’t even realized he’d shed from his face. Nor had he been aware of when Sammy had climbed the rock to sit next to him. He did’t even question it for, like a dam breaking wide open, Spencer wrapped his arms around Sammy and buried his face against his fur. He had never been allowed to mourn Buster. His father had told him if he caught Spencer crying, he’d hit him a lot harder than he already had.
At twelve, that wasn’t something Spencer was willing to endure. Especially since he hadn’t been able to take a normal breath for nearly three weeks after that as the bruising along his ribs healed. When his father brought home another dog a week after he’d killed Buster, Spencer refused to have anything to do with it.
No way was he going to allow the dog to be killed because of him. And no way was he going to allow any other animal to be put down because someone got hurt at the resort. Pulling away from Sammy, Spencer found the resolve he’d been looking for when he’d come to his favorite spot.
“Thank you, Sammy. I know what I need to do now.” Spencer started to get up off the rock and head back toward town and his computer. It would take some major research, but he was hoping there were statistics out there of animals that had been put to death because of human injury.
Knowing Kip, that alone would stop his friend from allowing animals in the resort. The man loved all creatures too much to let one be killed because they had voted to allow animals into their resort.
It might even be enough to sway Axom and Cass.
CHAPTER 6
“Sammy,” Reese called, wanting to get back to his research on vacationing with pets. There were only two weeks left, which didn’t leave him much time.
From the back door of the building he had bought to house the daycare, Reese shook his head in dismay. Once again, Sammy had pulled a disappearing act. Reese was definitely going to need to make some changes before he could start taking in pets. The building was more like a big warehouse that, according to Anook, had been used to hold equipment and spare parts to run the copper mine his family had owned for several generations.
It sat on ten acres, with a chain link fence that surrounded most of the cleared land that extended out to the tree line. If he was lucky, it would hold up to a hundred dogs. Not all in one yard, because that would be dangerous, especially for the smaller breeds as well as older dogs.
But Reese planned on sectioning off the nearly three acres of cleared land into smaller areas where the dogs of similar size and age could play freely. Unfortunately, as he’d been learning since coming there with Sammy, a chain link fence was too low to the ground to keep breeds like huskies from jumping it.
Hell, with a husky, who should have been named Houdini, Reese wasn’t entirely sure any fence would keep him from escaping, but he planned on trying. Unfortunately, to do that, he would need to wait until the ground thawed so he could excavate down far enough that the diggers wouldn’t be able to get out by going under the fence.
He’d talked with one of the men working on the hotel, who had recommended ten-foot high sections along the perimeter to stop anyone from going over. Inside the outer barrier, he could still set up chain link fencing for easy access for him and any employees, as well as being able to see what each of the groups were doing.
Sammy might be family, but he was still an animal and behaved as such around other animals. It was like having a mischievous child ranging from toddler to teenager at any one time. He had to find inventive ways to keep the younger version from getting hurt, and the older version from doing something he shouldn’t. Talk about the ultimate kid antics.
Sammy was a handful on the best of days, leaving Reese exhausted by the end of the day. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. Yeah, it might not always be curling up by the fire, or that happy to see him excitement, but not even when Sammy dug a six foot hole in his yard when he was less than a year old, causing Reese one night to trip and sprain his ankle, would he have changed a thing.
The holes were still a problem, although Sammy was finding it much more of a challenge with the frozen ground, but Reese had learned to watch where he was going, a good rule to have in Alaska where he could easily walk up upon a bear or moose if he wasn’t careful. The only time Reese truly got upset by Sammy’s antics was when he pulled a disappearing act, which had been
happening a bit too often the past couple of days.
He hated the thought of something happening to his best friend. When he lived in Seattle, his only concern had been that someone would call animal control. In the wilds of Alaska, there was no telling what could happen to Sammy.
Reese went through the warehouse to the front door, hoping to find Sammy out there. He opened the door and sighed at not seeing grey and white fur anywhere. “Sammy,” he yelled again even as he pulled out his keys from his pocket and headed outside.
Locking up behind him, Reese put on his gloves and started walking toward the tree line. He’d found a path the day before that led to a nice river. Sammy loved water. Worried, Reese rushed down the path, although he had to be careful as there were several patches of ice and he didn’t want to slip and fall. He would be no good to Sammy if he broke his neck.
“Sammy,” he called again as he stepped into the forested area. Following the path, he was partly relieved to see dog prints and partly terrified. Sammy’s love of water could have caused him to fall into the freezing river.
Pushing himself a bit faster, Reese tried to make sure he didn’t step on any ice. It wasn’t easy, but he kept going.
He was just about to call for Sammy again when the sound of the rushing water of the river reached him as well as a male voice. Slowing down, Reese made his way down the path. The closer he got, the more words he could hear.
“There aren’t as many pets killed because they hurt humans as I thought there would be.” Reese couldn’t be sure, but he thought it might Spencer. “But people like my dad never would have reported killing our dog.”
Reese slowed even further, trying his hardest to not make too much noise as he listened in horror.
“I know you don’t understand, but I’m not about to let any more dogs be shot because of me.” Now Reese was sure it was Spencer, not only did he recognize his voice, but he could see him sitting on a large rock with Sammy sitting next to him and Spencer’s hand stroking his fur. “If I have to, I’ll burn the hotel down.”
Reese came to a dead stop hearing that. “It’s not good to become too attached to any animal,” Spencer said even as his fingers seemed to bury themselves into Sammy’s thick coat. “Then again, it might be better to not care for anyone.”
Sammy whined and licked Spencer’s chin.
“Yeah, I know. It makes life pretty lonely, but even now, when I thought I’d found a group of people I could trust, my friends are ready to vote against me.” Spencer leaned sideways, resting his temple against Sammy’s. “Lonely would be better than having to lose those you love.”
Reese’s heart broke. He wasn’t quite sure what had happened to Spencer in the past, but it was obvious he was hurting. A lot.
Wanting to help, Reese opened his mouth to announce his presence when Sammy’s ears suddenly pinned back to his head and he let out a warning growl that had Reese freezing as he scanned the terrain. They may have only lived in Alaska for a few weeks, but he’d learned that growl well in such a short time.
There was something out there that would hurt them if they weren’t careful. Reese just wished he could see it. Returning his gaze to Sammy, he noticed that Spencer was also peering out into the surrounding forest.
Both Spencer and Sammy’s gaze were staring across the river. Sammy’s was fixed as he kept growling menacingly. Spencer, like Reese, wasn’t able to see the threat. Reese refocused on the area that Sammy seemed to be watching. He still couldn’t see a thing. The only good news, whatever it was, was on the other side of the river.
The river wasn’t exactly large, but it was wide enough that it would hopefully slow down whatever was there. At least he sure as hell prayed it would.
Speaking just above a whisper, so Sammy and Spencer would hear him above the rushing water, Reese said, “Slowly move back toward me. I have bear spray. I’m not sure if it will actually do anything, but it’s better than nothing.”
Spencer slowly dipped his head in acknowledgement. Sammy didn’t move at all. Except his hackles rose up in sharp definition. Whatever was out there had Sammy terrified. Never a good sign in a husky who was always ready to defend his territory, or humans, in this case. But the way his tail was tucked down between his legs, it was obvious that even though Sammy would stay and fight, he was scared.
It took Spencer a full minute to get off the rock as he clearly didn’t want to startle whatever was on the other side of that river. When he took three steps back and Sammy still stayed in position, Spencer stopped and whispered, “Sammy, come.”
But he didn’t. The protector in Sammy wouldn’t allow him to leave his post until the humans he had decided to care for were safe. Not about to let his best friend get hurt, Reese used the command he’d been teaching Sammy since the day he’d brought him home. “With me.”
Sammy’s ears twitched. He’d heard, but he also wasn’t sure if he was going to obey. It was the only bad part about a husky. Well, bad might be harsh. Challenging, maybe.
Huskies had been bred to be independent thinkers. They understood and followed commands so long as they thought it was in the best interest of their human. Otherwise, they would do as they thought was right. Some called it obstinate. Those whose lives had been saved by that trait, called it heroic.
Reese called it terrifying. No way was he going to let Sammy risk his life for him.
“With me.” This time his tone, although still soft so as not to spook whatever Sammy was watching, still rang with authority.
On soft paws, Sammy backed off the rock.
Reese wasn’t sure what to make of the way Spencer’s shoulders sank as if he were relieved. Maybe there really was hope for the man after all. The fact that Spencer waited until Sammy’s butt literally bumped into his legs, as if Sammy was urging Spencer to move, made the conflicted emotions he was having about the man that much more… well, conflicted.
He had actually waited to make sure Sammy was with him. That wasn’t something most people would do. Not even for another human. He’d seen others trample another to get away from danger, not stick around to ensure an animal didn’t get harmed.
It wasn’t until the pair were just two steps from him that Reese saw it. He let out a gasp, unable to stop it from exploding from deep within his body.
There, about thirty feet away from the other side of the riverbank were a pair of dark, soulless eyes where there shouldn’t have been any. Now that he saw them, Reese could make out a figure that dwarfed that bear he’d seen the other day.
Standing at least ten feet tall was a hairy creature on two legs. It was difficult to discern the actual size of the body, for it was partially hidden by a tree, but if his height was anything to go by, Reese feared it would easily crush them without even trying.
Sammy’s hackles rose even higher until it appeared as if his fur was standing straight up off his body. Another growl rumbled from his chest, this one even more menacing than before. The creature had to have moved, which was why Reese could suddenly see it, causing Sammy to feel even more threatened.
“Do you see that?” Reese whispered, his voice barely a sound over the rushing water.
Spencer’s head moved slowly down, then up as if nodding. Just as quietly as Reese, he said, “Please don’t tell Axom about this.”
Frowning at the odd request, Reese ignored it and said, “We need to get out of here.”
With care not to startle whatever creature was watching them, the trio continued to walk backward. Reese had to admit to feeling relieved when Sammy kept with them instead of standing his ground.
But it wasn’t until they’d made it the half mile back to the tree line that he took his first full breath. Without any thought, he threw himself against Spencer and held the man close. “I don’t know what that was but thank you for not leaving Sammy and me back there.”
When Spencer’s arms went around him, Reese’s cock hardened in seconds flat, leaving him a bit dizzy. He wasn’t sure if it was the danger they’d es
caped, or the man himself, but suddenly any and all reservations he had about Spencer fled as he did what he’d envisioned doing the moment they’d met.
His lips crashed over Spencer’s in a searing kiss that had them both breathless and needy.
Taking Spencer’s hand in his, Reese pulled him until they were running toward his home on the edge of town. He wasn’t sure if this was wise. Who was he kidding? It most definitely wasn’t, but in that moment, Reese didn’t care. All he knew was that he wanted to feel Spencer’s body beneath his as he fucked him.
Anything else could wait.
CHAPTER 7
The lust that surged through Spencer was like being hit by a freight train. It was the only explanation he had to describe why suddenly he was willing to overlook their differences as he followed Reese into a cabin that had all the charm of Alaska, including large windows with spectacular views.
Not that he noticed them, for the instant the door was shut, he’d pushed Reese against the hard surface and reclaimed his mouth. He’d never thought the phrase ‘make my toes curl,’ was real, but in that moment, as Reese sucked on Spencer’s tongue, he experienced it firsthand.
It was as if the sensation of Reese’s strong frame against his, with his tongue in the man’s mouth, was felt all through his body, including his distant toes. It had to have been the best singular kiss of his entire life.
But he needed more. More of that mouth. More skin. Just… more.
They had way too many layers on, which Reese must have felt too, for they both had reached for the other’s zipper and stripped off their coats. But it was the several layers below that coat that had them laughing. With just their sweaters, their arms got tangled and Spencer’s head got stuck within the knitted material.
“I think we need to move into the bedroom,” Reese suggested once they’d managed to divest Spencer of his cable knit garment. “And take off our own clothes.”
