by Jewel, Bella
Crap, look up.
Look up!
Polly cleared her throat. “I think I’ll finish supply ordering in the other office.” Scooping up her notes and scattered post-its, she gave me a not-so-secretive smile that clearly sad ‘bang him, you pussy’ and let herself out.
Damn her.
Did she have no kindness left?
I’m sick and now I have to deal with this terrible situation.
The moment she’d gone, Ryder ducked through the door and revealed two curled up tiny, tiny beasts trembling in his arms.
I can’t win with him.
First, he acted like an asshole to intrigue the stupid pubescent girl inside me that associated meanness with being liked, and then he wore me down by bringing in the cutest dogs I’d ever seen.
My head pounded as I did my best to shove aside my sickness and focus. “I see you’ve decided to give up on the wiener jokes and bring a different breed in today. I can’t wait to see how you’ll spin this one around.”
His lips twitched but concern for the two rescues never left his eyes. “Not sausage dogs but just as precious. And I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to apologise for what I said yesterday. I went too far.”
His voice fell to a husky purr. “I would never dream of hurting you in any way, Ms. Fairfax. I respect everything you do for me and it’s not my place to make you uncomfortable by crudely asking you to touch my cock or threatening you with a law suit.” He blinked with utmost sincerity—not one inch of mirth or crude joking. “Can you forgive me?”
Oh hell, who was I kidding?
This man was the perfect blend of standoffish and so compassionate, it made my heart sacrifice itself onto a plate because how could I resist alpha and puppy at the same time?
“Ugh, you don’t play fair.”
“I didn’t mean to fight dirty.”
I half-smiled. “But you kind of did.”
“I will admit, I kind of did.” His shoulders relaxed a smidgen. “If I promise never to do it again, will you accept my apology?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. I was just as much to blame.” I inhaled through a rapidly congested nose. “According to Polly, we were flirting.”
“Ah!” Ryder nodded. “So that’s Polly. The girl you said would gladly give me a personality change.” He lowered his jaw, watching me beneath hooded eyes. “So now you’ve accepted my apology, you’re saying you don’t want to change me?”
My heart pounded as hard as my head as I fell once again into his trap and imagined all manner of naughty, sinful, but oh so good things. “No. No improvements necessary.”
“Thank fuck for that.” He cuddled the fluffy pooches closer. “And just for the record, did Polly have any cure for the flirting diagnosis? After all, you are qualified to hand out medicines to stop such desires interfering with everyday life, right?”
My throat closed up.
He has desires.
For me.
Goosebumps scattered over my forearms that had nothing to do with my rising temperature. “She did have one suggestion. But it’s very unorthodox.”
“Oh?”
I forced myself to hold his gaze; to be as bold and brave as him. “She said the only way to stop such flirtation was to have sex.”
His neck contracted as he swallowed hard. “Is that right?”
“Yep. That’s what she recommends.” My eyes trailed from his eyes to his mouth. “But I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.”
“Why?” His voice turned to gravel.
“Because I don’t want it to affect our patient vet relationship.”
“Don’t I have a say in this?”
I shook my head, cursing the unstable room. “Not really.”
“Would it change your mind if I was honest about my true illness—tell you just how affected I am and in such fucking need of said medicine?”
My palms turned sweaty. I wasn’t mentally equipped for this heavily sexual conversation. My inhibitions were down. My brain rocking in the corner while the nasty flu hijacked my speech and motions.
I ran a hand over my forehead, trying to stay sensible and not let rampant lust incinerate common sense. “I think we should stay focused on why you’re here.”
Ryder growled. “Not until you answer me.”
I struggled to remember his question. “You want to know if I’ll change my mind if you tell me—”
“Tell you that I think about you all the time. That I hate that I’m excited when I get called to a rescue because I get to see you again, and it’s not right to be happy about another’s misfortune.” His foot moved, pushing him forward, coming closer. “Tell you that the past few months you’ve given me something that I haven’t had in a very long time. That I can be myself with you. I can play around and your snooty responses make me so fucking hard.”
He kept moving forward, pushing me back until my spine collided with the steel table. “Tell you that I haven’t been with anyone in a really long time and I can’t go the day without jacking off to images of you.”
He breathed hard, ignoring the squirming dogs in his embrace. “I’d say Polly’s recommendation is the best bloody medicine. And I want it. I’ll beg for it. Tell me what I need to do to get it, and I’ll do it a thousand times.”
His hips pressed against mine as he closed the remaining distance between us. My hands came up, automatically protecting the dogs from getting squished even though Ryder kept his upper body far enough away to give them room.
“Feel that, Ms. Fairfax?” He rolled his hips, blatantly showing me how hard and long and big he was. “That happens every time I’m in this tiny room with you. Do you have any idea how many positions I’ve taken you in my head in this room and just how sick I feel for indulging in them?”
I trembled as he pushed away, grabbed a towel like I always did, and spread it on the table. “But you’re right. Now is not the time to talk about that because we have two little lives depending on us and they come first.” He shot me a damn right dangerous smile. “But the minute they’re cared for, it’s time for my medicine.”
I didn’t know what to say.
My mouth hung open, and the flu plaited with the lust he’d just caused and made me so brain dead, I wanted to plop onto the floor and have him tell me more honest revelations as a bed-time story.
Even sick and dirty after a long shift, he made me feel utterly desirable.
“Wow.” I licked my lips. “If you aren’t one already, you should become a lawyer. Your persuasive skills are impeccable.”
He grinned. “I’ll keep that in mind if I fancy a career change.”
“What exactly do you do?” I peered at his paint-decorated jeans and navy t-shirt. “Tradesman?”
“I’m currently renovating the house I bought just out of town.” He winked. “Perhaps, if you agree to giving me a dose of the recommended sex-drug, I’ll show you sometime.”
“So much for no more blatant innuendo invitations.” Rubbing my face, I moved around the table and forced myself to think about the two tiny dogs and not about what would happen if I ever turned up at his house. “I don’t know about any sex-drug, but how about we restart at the basics?”
“Basics?”
I stuck my hand out. “I’m Vesper. And you can call me Vesper. Drop the Ms. Fairfax business.”
He chuckled, looping his fingers with mine and making my body betray me a thousand times over. “Okay…Vesper. In return, please drop the Carson and call me Ryder.”
Our grip lasted a second too long, giving me yet more goosebumps from the sudden urge to kiss him and the freak out of finally admitting how much I was attracted to this man.
I’m in so much trouble.
Pulling my hand away, I reached for the dogs. Instantly, they scurried forward, their little bodies wriggling as they wagged emaciated tails. “Oh, poor poppets, what happened?”
Ryder’s hands fisted as I scooped one up, rubbing the tiny warm head with the tip of my stuffed-up nose.
I couldn’t smell a thing, which was probably good judging by the dried faeces on their fur and conjunctivitis around their eyes.
It was times like this that made me so disappointed in the human race. I hated that people could mistreat an innocent animal so callously.
“I don’t know. All I know is the council called me to pick them up and when I got there, the fuckwit who’d done this had been arrested.”
“Because of cruelty to animals?”
Ryder’s face darkened. “No, because of illegally selling marijuana. They couldn’t give a shit about these two pups.”
“That’s not true.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe that. I’m sure they’ll take evidence and add the charge to his record.”
He snorted. “You have a much better view of the law system when it comes to preventing animal cruelty than me.”
I wiggled my nose with the back of my hand as the stuffiness grew worse. Blinking back dizziness, I tucked the little body under my arm and headed toward the cabinet drawers that held syringes, gauze, and a camera for instances such as these. We were required by law to record any injury that looked human caused and report it. Regardless if the owner seemed concerned when bringing in the pet.
Once I’d grabbed the camera, I turned to grab a fresh towel.
But Ryder had already pre-empted me.
He’d spread an additional wash-faded orange one and already plonked a little tan, black, and white critter onto it, ready to hold him firm for close-ups.
I swallowed my thanks and positioned the matching fluff ball to inspect them side by side. I squinted, trying to decide what breed they were. They were tiny—a miniature breed—but their markings were that of a Dachshund.
“They’re apparently called a Chiweenie.” His voice was rather disgusted.
I smiled, smug that he didn’t like the breeds name and not yet sick enough to ignore a prime opportunity to rib him. “Something about that you don’t like, Mr. Car—I mean, Ryder?”
I just called him Ryder and my stomach flipped.
God, I needed help.
“I think it’s insulting to the dog. Chiweenie.” He pulled a face. “What sort of name is that?”
I shrugged. “Same sort of name like the made up mess of Yorkipoo or Bogle.”
“What the hell is a Bogle?”
I ran my hands over the spine of one of the Chiweenies. “I believe it’s a Boxer crossed with a Beagle.”
Ryder rolled his eyes. “Well, I think they deserve better titles.”
“What like Butch and Bite Me?”
“No, like Perfect Handful or Pocket Best Friend.”
And there he went again; infiltrating my heart and making it betray me.
I didn’t let him see my heavy sigh or the stupid girlish swooning inside. Such simple and sweet names—highly unpractical and made no sense whatsoever—but things didn’t need to make sense when chemistry and flirtation was this strong.
Hell, Ryder could tell me he was homeless and killed a person or two and my heart would still skip like a giddy idiot.
What’s become of me?
I hate myself.
But I didn’t really. I rather liked being pursued and told he had to strangle his snake once a day because he wanted me.
There was power in that.
Pity that power didn’t have the skills to take away my flu so I could think clearly.
The urge to zing him again was too strong to ignore, especially now my inhibitions were stuffed up with phlegm. “So, it’s nothing to do with the fact that it has the word ‘weenie’ in the title and you’re afraid your own weenie is wee like these dudes are? And by wee, I mean…tiny. If you didn’t get my drift.”
“Oh, I get your drift.” He gritted his teeth, fighting a laugh. “Believe me, it’s not wee. And here we were having a civilised conversation before you once again brought it back to my cock.”
“Your cock seems so big it just naturally gravitates all topics around it.”
He chuckled. “You can see it if you want? Make up your own mind?”
“Wow, first you offer me to touch it and now you’re giving me permission to look at it?” I gasped loudly. “Whatever will be next? The generous opportunity to suck it?”
He shuddered, groaning low. “Careful what you say, Vesper. I’ll hold you to it.”
My entire body jerked with white hot desire as my name fell from his lips. It took all my control to remain coy and light-hearted rather than get on my knees right there—stuffed-up nose or not. “You’d actually force me to suck your cock?”
His eyes blackened. “Only if you get off on that. I’m not into forcing anyone to do anything. But if it’s another game between us…then, I’m open.”
Holy crap, did he just hint at role-play?
How had this escalated so quickly?
And how the hell do I slow it down?
I kept my hands busy, massaging the Chiweenie so I didn’t do anything else stupid.
He laughed low and so damn sexy, I think I blacked out for a second. “This chat really veered into R18 territory.”
“When do we not take a detour down that route?”
“Oh, I dunno. Whenever we’re not talking about my cock or you’re face planting into it.”
My cheeks flared pink. “One time. One time and never bring it up again.”
He smiled triumphantly, highlighting his insanely gorgeous cheekbones and god-chiselled features. “I plan on bringing it up again and again—in fact, every time I come in here—which you know is a lot—I’m going to remind you of the sexual harassment suit I could use to make you go out with me.”
I waved him away, sneezing as the flu attacked me fiercely. “Whatever. It was an accident. And that threat doesn’t work anymore. You already took that back—about the same time as you begged me to sleep with you.”
“I didn’t beg.”
“Oh?” I snatched a tissue from the box by the scales and blew. “I seem to recall the word beg in there somewhere.”
“Would it change your mind if I did it again?”
“Maybe.”
Probably.
Ryder smirked, moving around the table. “Okay. Vesper, I’m hard and never been this attracted to anyone before. Please will you consider allowing me the pleasure of sticking my cock in—”
I sneezed again.
Not just a quaint achoo but a full on fog horn.
The room swam as tears streamed from my eyes.
“Holy shit, are you okay?”
I held up my hand as Ryder tried to grab me. “Yes, I’m fine. Just…I’m not feeling all that well.” Blowing my nose again and wiping away the irritating tears, I said, “As much as I’m enjoying the flirting, can we just focus on the Chiweenies? I really need to get home.”
I clamped a hand over my mouth as a sudden rush of nausea and hot flashes attacked me.
“You really aren’t looking so hot.” Ryder ignored my need for him to stand back and took my elbow, keeping his body blocking the convenient jumping exit just in case the Chiweenies got any ideas.
Not that they were moving. They’d snuggled up into one fur pretzel with their snouts burrowed into soft tummies.
Poor things really needed tending to but I could barely stand now the shakes had started.
“Here, sit down.” Ryder guided me away from my patients, but I fought him.
“No, let me go. I’m fine.”
Reluctantly, he did as I asked but hovered annoyingly close.
“Don’t talk to me. Don’t touch me. Don’t do anything but stand there. Let me get this over with, make sure they’re okay, and then we’ll finish the flirting another day when I’m not swimming in mucus.”
“You say the hottest things.” He laughed quietly but did as he was told, fading into the background.
I shut everything off apart from the stored medical education in my head and grabbed a few syringes to flush out the Chiweenie’s eyes before assessing what medical drops to administer for their conju
nctivitis.
I also pulled out a small infant bathtub that I’d bought from Bouncing Beautiful Babies (could they pick a more cheesy business name?) and turned on the tap for warm water. The sound of splashing caused two terrified pairs of black eyes to lock on me.
One Chiweenie whined in fear.
I hated when this happened. When caring and making them better caused them horror.
I swallowed back the terrible scratch in my throat, ready to console them. “It’s okay, poppets. It’s not going to hurt you.” I sneezed again, sounding more and more like a wicked witch than a soothing vet.
Ryder bent over and placed his forearms on either side of them, caging them in but giving them a safe haven to huddle under. His murmur was as delicate as velvet. “It’s all right, Corn. You’ll be fine, Chip. Just a little bath to make you feel better. Trust me, okay?”
He tickled under the chin of the closest one who’d pressed against this arm, seeking salvation. “Remember the long drive together? I didn’t let anything happen to you, did I? I even shared my lunch with you.”
While I poured antiseptic shampoo into the warm water and did my best to stop my teeth chattering as more chills made me break out in a cold sweat, I said, “Please tell me you didn’t call them Corn and Chip because you gave them pieces of corn chips.”
He gasped in fake horror. “However did you get that conclusion?”
“You know human food is bad for dogs.”
“Correction. I know chocolate is bad. Everything else, they’re omnivores—just like us. Besides, they’ve just been through hell. I think cutting them some slack and letting them eat a few nacho corn chips isn’t gonna kill them.”
“Famous last words,” I muttered as small suds formed in the bath. “I’ll report you if I smell cheese on their breath.”
He ducked conspiratorially over the Chiweenies. “Don’t tell her our secret, guys. Otherwise, she’ll take you away from me.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” I plucked the smaller of the two from his embrace. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
I sneezed again.
The poor dog yelped.
Ryder quickly stole him from me and pushed me away a little. “How about you just rest up, sicky? Let me give this pooch a bath.”
