Better Than People

by Roan Parrish

  “Only vaguely,” Jack said.

  “Oh. Well, we did.”

  Simon sent Jack a concerned look and patted Charlie on the arm.

  Rachel’s car was in the drive when they got home.

  “Can you take them inside?” Jack asked. “That’s your present.”

  “My...okay.”

  “I’m gonna take off,” Charlie said. “Leave you guys to your night. Merry Christmas. I left you something in the kitchen.”

  He clapped Jack on the back, then bent and kissed Simon very softly on the cheek.

  “Merry Christmas,” he said again, then hurried to his truck.

  “Merry Christmas,” Simon said.

  He shot Jack an inquiring look and Jack shrugged, then he ducked inside as the dogs began to whine.

  “Hey,” Rachel said, opening the door just wide enough to wiggle out of the car, then closing it quickly. “Special delivery.”

  “Thanks for doing this, Rach, especially on Christmas.”

  “Well, you know it’s the Jewish friend’s job to play Christmas angel and facilitate all of your surprise gifts.”

  “I hope it’s a good surprise. She okay in there?”

  “She’s asleep and so far she hasn’t peed in my car, so that’s a good surprise for me, anyway. How’s your guy?”

  Jack smiled. “Good. Perfect.”

  Rachel looked awed, then vaguely disgusted. “Good for you. Okay, I gotta return to headquarters before Van finds her present.”

  She eased the door back open slowly and pulled a cardboard box from the passenger seat. Jack peeked inside and couldn’t help going gooey eyed at the little ball of cuteness inside.

  “Thank your friend for me,” Jack said.

  “She was just happy someone wanted the last one, but I’ll pass it along.”

  Jack cradled the box to his chest as Rachel drove away.

  “Hey, bud. You’re gonna live here now. Hope you like it.”

  The puppy stirred and blinked open wide brown eyes at Jack, then yawned. Jack’s heart turned to mush.

  “Wanna know a secret?” Jack whispered. “I’m really hoping someone else is gonna live here with us too.”

  The puppy yipped, then collapsed in the bottom of the box with her legs in the air.

  Jack decided to take that as a positive sign.

  Inside, the animals had been fed and Simon was standing by the fire, holding a bowl.

  “Look what Charlie gave you. Isn’t it beautiful?”

  It was a large, hand-turned wooden bowl, polished to a soft shine. Jack had seen smaller ones that Charlie had done, but he was getting very good.

  He nodded in agreement and walked over to Simon. The dogs scented the air.

  “Can I give you your present now? It’s a bit time-sensitive.”

  The puppy picked that moment to poke its little head out of the top of the box.

  “Oh my god.”

  Simon reached out a shaking hand and ghosted it over the puppy’s tiny head. She sneezed. Simon’s face lit with a look of pure joy.

  “She’s yours, if you want her,” Jack said. “I know Jean’s allergic, so she could stay here for...”

  Jack trailed off because it was clear Simon wasn’t listening to a word he was saying. He reached into the box and pulled out a small black puppy with a white belly, floppy ears and paws too big for her body.

  “Oh my god,” Simon said again.

  He cradled the puppy to his chest and closed his eyes when she licked his chin and then yawned. Simon looked at Jack with love in his eyes and the puppy in his arms and Jack thought his heart might burst from his body.

  “I thought since, you know, since Jean’s allergic, she could stay here. And maybe... Um, maybe when you’re ready, you could stay here too. Live here, I mean. With me.”

  Simon’s eyes were electric blue, shimmering with tears.

  “You want me to... You’re asking if... I...what?”

  He was cradling the puppy to him like a security blanket and Jack took them both in his arms.

  “Move in with me, darlin’. Come live here with me. With us. We’ll have Jean over for dinner all the time so she’s not lonely. Whenever you’re ready. It doesn’t have to—”

  Simon silenced him with a salty kiss and pressed their foreheads together. Jack closed his eyes in relief, then felt a tongue that he was fairly sure wasn’t Simon’s licking at his chin.

  Simon laughed and cuddled the puppy closer.

  “That a yes?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yup.”

  “Then...yeah. Yes. Hell yes.”

  Simon’s smile was goofy and soft and he was bouncing—almost dancing—with the puppy.

  “I’m moving in with Jack,” Simon told her. “Did you know that? Yeah!”

  Tears flooded Jack’s eyes. He knew it was fast. Knew they still had things to figure out. But he also knew, in his guts, in his balls, in his bones, that it was right. That however many days he had on earth, he wanted to spend them with Simon as close by his side as he could get him.

  “Are you crying?” Simon said, instantly attentive. “What’s wrong?”

  Jack shook his head.

  “I’m so fucking in love with you.” He wiped his cheeks. “So when do you think you might wanna—”

  “Now. I live here now.” He turned around the room, addressing the animals. “Pack! I live here now!”

  Bernard howled, which made Dandelion bark. Rat jumped up to see what was happening, which stirred the cats. Puddles trotted in from the bedroom with Louis and sidled up to Simon.

  Very slowly, Simon crouched down and held the puppy where Puddles could reach her. Puddles sniffed her small form, then licked her face. The puppy wriggled toward him to try and return the favor but Simon held her fast. He sat down with her in his lap and called the animals over, introducing her scent to them.

  In his head, Jack ran through what they’d do over the next few days to make sure she was safe and welcomed as Simon worked his magic.

  Pirate peered suspiciously at the puppy over Simon’s shoulder for a few minutes before jumping into his lap and licking her from toes to nose. Rat ran in excited circles around Simon and the puppy. Dandelion approached the new addition with as much chill as he approached everything else. Pickles didn’t care at all, and Mayonnaise sniffed her politely then went to the kitchen in search of food. Bernard nosed her curiously but when a friendly lick nearly sent her rolling across the room, Jack called him away.

  Puddles lay down on the floor next to Simon as if he’d appointed himself the guardian of the new puppy and Jack realized that had been Simon’s intention all along. Louis, the least welcoming to all but Puddles, in the face of his protection, sniffed the puppy, stared her down, then wandered into the kitchen after Mayonnaise.

  Jack got out the puppy food he’d hidden under the kitchen sink and made a bowl for her. He put it in the opposite corner of the kitchen from the other animals’ bowls and called Simon in.

  The puppy attacked the food the second Simon set her down, all paws and ears and fumbling.

  Simon pressed close to Jack and slid an arm around his waist.

  “What are we gonna call her?”

  “Your choice,” Jack said. “She’s yours.”

  “She’s ours,” Simon said diplomatically. Then, “Actually that’s good, because given your naming habits you’d want to call her Jesus, or Santa.”

  Jack secretly thought Santa was a great name for a dog, but he just smiled at Simon.

  “Or, god, you’d want to call her Box.” Simon giggled, then frowned. “Wait. Is Box actually a really cute name? No, right? Why am I asking you.”

  Jack listened to Simon list every word that could be associated with the nature of the puppy’s arrival, unbothered.

&nb
sp; He didn’t care about names. He’d started calling Bernard “The Saint Bernard” because that’s what he was, but that was too long to say every time. Mayonnaise and Pickles had arrived within days of each other and in his mind he called them “The cat the weird color of mayonnaise and the cat that ate a pickle off my plate.” He’d found Dandelion, injured, in a patch of dandelions. Rat looked like a rat. Et cetera.

  “Box,” Simon announced.

  “Hmm?”

  “Box. It’s actually really cute, right?”

  “Um, yes?”

  “Is your name Box?” Simon cooed to the puppy. She yipped. Simon looked pleased with himself.

  They spent the next hour playing with Box, getting her settled, and making sure the other animals didn’t terrorize her. Jack had a crate that he’d used for each new dog upon arrival set up in his studio for her for the night. She really was an adorable puppy and she instantly declared her loyalty to Simon, jumping onto his lap and flopping over his knees. At one point she climbed into the bowl Charlie had given them and Jack snapped a picture and sent it to his brother with a note of thanks.

  Sprawled on the couch, the puppy snoozing between them, they watched the fire and Jack gazed at the lit-up tree. When the ground thawed, he was going to plant it in the back of the house, a reminder of their first Christmas together.

  “Jack? Can we go to bed now?”

  They got Box settled and Jack encouraged Louis out of the bedroom, getting a glare for his trouble.

  When the door closed and they were alone, Simon said, “Were you serious?”

  “What?”

  “About me moving in?”

  Sometimes Jack felt what it must be like in Simon’s head with a pang of sadness.

  “Of course. Did you think I was just being polite for the sake of the animals?” he teased.

  Simon dropped his forehead to Jack’s chest, a move that meant he needed comfort. Jack wrapped him up tight and they swayed together.

  “I can’t wait to live here with you,” he said softly into Simon’s hair. “Wake up with you every morning. Fall asleep with you every night.”

  “Mmm,” Simon said with his face hidden. “Juschecking.”

  They swayed a little longer, then got into bed, throwing clothes off from under the covers for warmth.

  Usually when Simon was feeling a little unsure Jack loved nothing more than to touch him, tease him, bring him to the edge with hands and mouth and cock until he was begging, until he was taken out of himself and merged with Jack in every way possible. Then Jack would look into his eyes and give him that one touch that would shatter him, and hold him as he shook apart.

  Tonight, though, all Jack wanted was to be here with Simon. To know they had infinite nights left to do with what they willed.

  They came together slowly, kissing softly, hands roaming, just enjoying. They stroked each other as they kissed, hips grinding, until Simon clutched Jack’s hip and rolled onto his stomach.

  He was all graceful spine and luscious ass and miles of soft skin and Jack dropped kisses on his shoulders as he fingered him open. He knew he would never get over the shock of lust he felt as he slid inside his man. The way Simon’s breath hitched and he shook his head against the mattress like he almost couldn’t believe the way he felt.

  It was dark and quiet and Jack moved languorously, eyes half closed, enjoying every sound and clench and sigh. He urged Simon up onto his knees and found his cock, hard and leaking against his stomach. He was so fucking beautiful. Jack kissed his neck as he thrust inside him, every movement as natural as breathing.

  “I love the fuck out of you,” he gasped as Simon started moaning and pushing back against him. Simon sobbed out his name and came over his hand, muscles clenching around him. The feel of Simon’s tight ass was the end of Jack and he pressed Simon into the mattress and lost it inside him, every muscle clenching as the pleasure spun through him and he spilled.

  Jack collapsed on top of Simon, groaning into his hair. They lay there, tangled together, until Simon jerked away.

  “Shit.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I didn’t give you your Christmas present.”

  Jack buried his face in Simon’s neck.

  “Gimme it tomorrow,” he mumbled.

  “No.”

  Simon wiggled out of bed and rummaged around in the closet. He slid back into bed and turned on the bedside lamp.

  “Wake up,” he said and kissed Jack’s cheek, then pressed an envelope the size of a notebook into his hand.

  Simon bit his lip and Jack turned his attention to the gift. It wasn’t wrapped, just sealed with the envelope’s clasp at the top. When he reached in, he found the edge of a piece of thick paper and slid it out.

  The drawing was in pen and, even before he registered the familiarity of the animals, Jack recognized the style. Fluid lines that started and stopped in unpredictable places, the sense that everything was resisting gravity just the tiniest bit, light falling almost magically on the forms.

  “Is this...?”

  Simon was nearly vibrating with excitement on the bed.

  “Corbin Wale drew it. For you.”

  Reverently, Jack flipped the drawing over, looking for a signature. In crabbed writing it said, I got your email. More soon. Your animals are very truthful. So are your animals. Here they are. Simon said you’re the best thing to happen to him. Corbin.

  Simon leaned in to read it too and made an embarrassed sound when he got to the end.

  “I can’t believe you did this,” Jack said, fingers hovering over the words.

  “I sent him scans of your books so he’d know what an amazing artist you are. And pictures of the pack.”

  Jack imagined the email Simon might have sent, what he would have asked for, what he said to get it done.

  He flipped the drawing back over and examined it more closely. The animals all looked amazingly like themselves though the style wasn’t realistic exactly. That is, he could tell Bernard was Bernard because Corbin Wale had captured an essential Bernardishness in the drawing, even though a stranger might not have been able to match them. It was extraordinary. He’d even conveyed the fierce love Louis had for Puddles with one line of his paw, though he doubted Simon would have been quite that thorough in his description.

  “I can’t believe it,” Jack said again. He slid out of bed and put the drawing on top of the tall dresser where none of the animals could possibly get to it.

  For a moment, he stood and took in the scene before him. Simon, the love of his life, naked in his bed, hair tousled and cheeks flushed, smiling at him softly. Their bed. Naked in their bed.

  A year ago, Jack had stood on the precipice of having his trust crushed to smithereens. Now he felt so full up with love and trust that the whole cabin seemed to pulse with it. He had ideas. Convictions. The pack. A future and someone to share it with. He had everything.

  As if he could read his thoughts on his face, Simon reached out a hand to him.

  Jack got back under the covers and switched off the light. Simon came back into his arms like they were magnetized at the heart.

  “Our bed,” Jack said, kissing him.

  “Ours,” Simon echoed. Then, “I live here now.”

  “We live here now.”

  They murmured to each other in the dark, pressed together tightly. In a few hours, Jack would get up and check on Box, make sure she was settling in all right. But for now, they just held each other in their bed, in their cabin, with their pack, as the snow fell on the roof and the trees and on all of Garnet Run, Wyoming.

  * * *

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&nbs
p; To purchase and read more books by Roan Parrish, please visit their website at www.roanparrish.com.

  Acknowledgments

  Many thanks to Jenny and Anni, whose thoughts on this book were invaluable.

  Thank you to Wyoming, which made me fall in love with it, and the chipmunks, moose, dogs, fish, and other beasties that graced me with their presence.

  Thanks to my agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan, who makes magic behind the scenes, and to my editor, Kerri Buckley, for shepherding this project so generously.

  Thank you to my sister, as ever, for listening to me ramble as we amble.

  To all the animals I’ve loved over the years, even the ones I tried to hug in Iceland that ran away from me. And my tenderest thanks of all to Dorian Gray, my little furry heart.

  About the Author

  Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

  When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

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  And you can find her online in all the usual places:

  Twitter: Twitter.com/roanparrish

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  RITA® Award–winning author Elia Winters delivers a sexy, playful frenemies-to-lovers road-trip romance in Hairpin Curves, now available from Carina Adores!