by Tasha Black
“Ohh,” she sighed.
He did it again, and again, reveling in her response and his own.
Veronica removed one hand from his hair and used it to slide her shirt up to her neck.
He gazed down at her, admiring the tawny color of her skin, the shadow of her collarbone.
And the scrap of black satin that was all that separated him from her breasts.
He slid a finger across the top of one side, releasing one breast.
Veronica sucked in a breath.
He lowered his head, his instinct telling him to taste her.
She gasped as he ran his tongue over her nipple.
It was as stiff as the rest of her breast was soft. He was enchanted with the way it crinkled and pouted under his ministrations.
Veronica whimpered and sighed as he released her other breast from its containment and suckled and kissed them in turns, gently pinching and teasing those stiff little peaks until he noticed that her hips were moving in tandem with his toying.
Desire so intense it was almost like pain washed over him. He slid a hand over her belly, rested his palm lightly, so lightly, over her, cupping her sex.
Veronica stilled.
Oh.
He felt the heat of her, throbbing against his hand, and any sensation he might have previously confused with desire was forgotten as his need for her engulfed him like a flame.
16
Veronica
Veronica was drowning in sensation.
Her breasts were still singing from Lobo’s teasing and now his big, warm hand cradled her sex.
And there was something else, a connection, bone deep between them, though they had just met. She felt utterly safe in his embrace.
Lust pulsed through her and she didn’t care if she was moaning like a porn star, so wet he could probably feel it through her clothes.
He had just slid one finger under her shorts to stroke her through the thin satin of her panties when he suddenly stilled.
Instantly his finger was gone and he was pulling her t-shirt back down over her chest.
“Someone’s coming,” he whispered.
“H-how do you know?” She heard and saw nothing.
“Zeus,” he replied.
She looked up and sure enough the big animal had awoken from his nap under a tree and was on his feet, ears pricked forward.
But how had Lobo noticed that?
Zeus let out a warning bark.
Shit.
Veronica leapt to her feet, took Zeus’s leash off the tree and retracted it to normal length.
Across the field, she could see Brooke racing toward them.
Something must be wrong. Brooke was tearing across the field like the whole academy was on fire. Her friend had a chronic shoulder injury from a wound she got during her time in the service, but it didn’t slow her down when it came to running.
Veronica turned away and surreptitiously slipped her breasts back into her bra. Her nipples were still aching and she felt weak with need, though adrenaline had her on her feet.
She headed out of the trees toward her friend.
“Veronica,” Brooke shouted.
“What’s going on?”
“You have to come with me, quickly,” Brooke said hoarsely. “There’s a problem at the training area.”
Shit.
She’d left her phone back at the kennel. She wondered how long Brooke had been trying to reach her.
Veronica began to run toward the training area with Brooke by her side.
Lobo ran too. And although his long legs and fit body meant he could clearly have beaten them there, he kept pace with Veronica, trailing her slightly.
The image made her think of the dogs in her dreams, holding back to let her take the lead - choosing to follow.
As they grew closer, Veronica heard yowling.
Oh god, the dogs…
But something was off about the sound. Though she knew her charges’ every yip and growl, she couldn’t place which dog was making this terrible cry.
She opened the gate to the dusty enclosure and dashed inside toward the source of the sound.
The roof overhang shadowed the entrance to the kennels so at first she couldn’t see, but Veronica realized before she got there that the scream was not canine.
It was human.
“What happened?” she shouted.
Percy Reeves knelt outside Biscuit's kennel. He was yowling like a cat and bleeding all over the place.
“Grab the first aid kit,” Veronica shouted to Brooke.
“I did,” Brooke protested. “He won’t let me touch him.”
“Call 9-1-1,” Veronica barked.
“Already on their way,” Brooke nodded.
“It’s going to be alright, Reeves,” Veronica said in the calmest voice she could manage, kneeling down beside him. “You’re going to have to allow me to put some pressure on that wound.”
Percy snatched his arm away from her, hugging it to his chest.
“B-b-b-Biscuit,” he sobbed. “He attacked m-me.”
“What?” Veronica was aghast.
“Biscuit is cowering at the back of his kennel,” Brooke said quietly. “He looks… off.”
“That’s impossible,” Veronica said. “Are you sure it was Biscuit?”
But Percy only nodded and wailed in response.
17
Lobo
“It wasn’t Officer Biscuit,” Lobo said in his most commanding voice.
There was sudden silence in the kennels and even Percy Reeves stopped his moaning in response.
“How do you know?” Brooke asked.
“He’s frightened, but he didn’t do anything wrong,” Lobo replied. “Right, Veronica?”
Veronica bit her lip.
Lobo was momentarily surprised.
He closed his eyes and reached out to his mind to Officer Biscuit again.
Sure enough, cool fear flowed from the canine officer. He had certainly seen something terrible.
But there was no overshadowing guilt, and no anger either - only fear and confusion.
Biscuit had not harmed Reeves.
Lobo was surprised Veronica could not sense this immediately herself.
Reeves began to scream again and Veronica bent over him, speaking in a low voice and holding out a bandage.
Lobo strode through the kennels, reaching out to each animal.
Without exception they were on edge because of the screams and the strange goings-on.
But none had attacked Reeves.
It was a puzzle.
Could Reeves be lying?
Lobo had thought that perhaps the small man had mistaken which dog bit him. But that might be too generous a view on the matter.
He did not really wish to share Percy’s emotions. The man was disrespectful to the canines, and often to Veronica, too. Lobo found him unpleasant.
But he was resolved to get to the bottom of this mystery.
He closed his eyes once more and reached out toward Reeves.
At once he was slammed with emotion. Percy’s feelings had none of the delicacy of the canines’.
A white-hot pain response was there, along with an undercurrent of fear that seemed oddly proportional to Veronica’s attempts to help.
But the pain and fear were overshadowed by a strange sort of glee. It was expanding so quickly it threatened to bubble over, like the time Dr. Bhimani had tried to make root beer floats on ice cream day at the lab.
Percy Reeves was wailing in pain, but he was also trying not to laugh.
Lobo opened his eyes and took a step backward, shaking his head to rid himself of Percy’s thoughts.
“Oh thank god,” Brooke said.
He looked up to find that men in white uniforms were approaching.
“What happened here?” one of them asked.
“He’s bleeding terribly—” Veronica began.
“Dog bite.” Percy stopped howling and interrupted Veronica to speak the words in a c
lear, loud voice.
Two of the medics were bandaging Percy’s arm already. He had surrendered it to them immediately.
“If that’s true, animal control will want the dog,” the medic said. “It will need to be put down.”
“We aren’t sure if the dog actually—”
“It did,” Percy said. “Biscuit is the dog, in the kennel behind me. He’s very dangerous, vicious. He should be put down immediately.”
Lobo knew what was about to happen before it did.
The wave of fury coming off Veronica was almost palpable in the air.
He managed to launch himself to her side just in time to hold her back from punching Reeves. Brooke already had her by one shoulder, but she wasn’t expecting such an outburst. Veronica would have twisted loose had Lobo not made it over in time.
He was at once horrified at the error she had nearly made, and grateful for her fierceness in protecting her own. She would be a remarkable mate and would guard their young admirably.
“Seems like the dog isn’t the only one that’s vicious,” a voice observed casually from the entry to the kennels.
“Captain Henderson,” Veronica whispered, going limp in Lobo’s hold.
“You’re suspended until further notice, Nunez,” Henderson said wearily. “The K-9 training program is on hold indefinitely.”
“Animal control will be here in the morning for the dog,” the medic said over his shoulder as he loaded Reeves onto the gurney and into the ambulance.
18
Veronica
Veronica lay on the floor of the kennel, gazing out at the band of sky visible over the door. The night was clear and she could see stars twinkling against the velvet darkness.
Biscuit lay beside her. He was running in his sleep, his paws twitched and he snuffled once or twice. The big Shepherd was at his most puppyish when he was asleep.
The sound of footsteps alerted her to someone entering the kennel.
“Veronica,” Lobo’s voice whispered.
“I’m in here, with Biscuit,” she whispered back.
“I brought us some pillows and a blanket,” he told her as he joined her on the floor.
Us.
“You don’t have to stay out here with me,” she told him over the lump in her throat.
“He’s dreaming,” Lobo observed, leaning over her to look at Biscuit.
“Yeah,” Veronica said with a smile. “He always dreams of running.”
“He is a good officer,” Lobo said with great respect. “He would never harm anyone.”
“When he was getting his shots last week he twisted his head out of my hands before I could stop him,” she said. “He turned and licked the vet in the face while the syringe was still in his hip. She said he was the sweetest tempered dog she’d ever met.”
“He has a kind heart,” Lobo agreed. “He loves all humans and wishes only to serve.”
The way he spoke - it was almost as if he had been in regular conversation with the dog.
“What will you say to the animal police when they come?” Lobo asked.
“I don’t know,” Veronica said. “But I won’t let them take him. I would rather lose my job permanently than see him put down.”
Biscuit wagged his tail in his sleep.
“Is that what would happen?” Lobo asked. “If you refused to let them take him would you lose your job forever?”
Veronica shrugged.
“I hope not. But I can’t worry about the consequences. I have to think about Biscuit first.”
“You are very brave,” Lobo said approvingly.
“Thanks,” she whispered back.
“Lean up, so I can put a pillow under you,” he suggested.
She lifted her head and he slid a pillow underneath. It felt good. She was still lying on her back on the floor of a dog kennel, but it was better than before.
Lobo put down another pillow for himself and stretched out on his side, facing her and Biscuit.
Veronica felt the tension begin to drain from her chest, just a little, between the warm bodies of her best friend and the man she was beginning to care about.
“You should try to get some rest,” Lobo said quietly. “I’ll keep watch over you.”
And although she was already surrounded by nearly a dozen Schutzhund-trained police dogs, Veronica did feel safer.
She didn’t think sleep would come for her, but eventually, it did.
Veronica awoke to the sounds of the birds singing in the monastery field and the hum of a car’s engine.
She opened her eyes and sat, blinking in the sunshine until her eyes adjusted.
Morning already?
Between her nervousness and the hard floor, she was stunned that she’d been able to sleep at all. Thank goodness for sweet Lobo.
She turned to thank him, but he wasn’t beside her anymore.
And neither was Biscuit.
She leapt to her feet.
They weren’t in the entry either.
She ran outside, kicking up dust in the enclosure.
The engine she’d heard earlier hadn’t been a car.
The animal control van was driving away. It passed the old academy building and turned out onto the main road.
Veronica’s jaw dropped as she stared after it, horrified.
Lobo had sold her out. He’d taken Biscuit away without even waking her.
Her heart felt like it was ripping itself out of her body. Dry sobs heaved her chest, and her empty stomach lurched.
How could I have been so stupid?
She should have known better than to think she could trust anyone. She had a lifetime of experience to teach her better than that.
And now her best friend was going to pay the price for her weakness.
19
Lobo
Lobo sat patiently in the back of the van, with his arms around Officer Biscuit. The dog’s ears were pricked up. He was curious about where they were going, but he wasn’t frightened. He trusted his friend, Lobo.
The drive seemed to go on forever, turning around corners and jostling over bumps.
Lobo missed Veronica already. He hoped she would sleep peacefully for a long time before she learned of his treachery.
At last the van stopped.
The driver stepped back, past the freezers, to address Lobo.
“Are you alright, my friend?” Ajeet asked.
“Yes,” Lobo answered. “We are fine. Thank you for your help.”
“It was my pleasure,” Ajeet replied. He was smiling, but his dark eyes looked worried.
“We will be okay,” Lobo assured him. “I just need to clear Officer Biscuit's name and then I can return.”
“Who is Officer Biscuit?” Ajeet asked, sounding fascinated.
“This is Officer Biscuit,” Lobo replied, indicating the dog.
“I see,” Ajeet said slowly. “Well, I wish you both good luck. May I offer you some ice cream for your journey?”
“You have already done too much for us,” Lobo said. It would be wrong to accept the treat, even though he was sorely tempted.
“I insist,” Ajeet said, opening one of the freezers with a flourish.
Lobo watched as his friend whipped out a glorious popsicle in the colors of the United States flag, and then a small paper cup.
“What’s that?” Lobo asked, accepting the popsicle.
“Dog ice cream,” Ajeet said with a grin.
“Did you hear that, Officer Biscuit?” Lobo hoped his own delight would be communicated to the dog.
Officer Biscuit grinned up at him, his tongue drooping out of his mouth to the side as if he understood Lobo’s pleased reaction.
“Call me again if you need me,” Ajeet said earnestly.
“I will,” Lobo said. “I only wish I had a telephone so that you could call me if you ever needed my assistance.”
“That’s okay,” Ajeet said, his smile telling Lobo his friend felt better. “Take care of yourself, Lobo. You too, Officer Biscu
it. Take care of each other.”
Lobo climbed carefully out of the van and Biscuit leapt out as gracefully as a shooting star.
They watched together as the van drove away. Ajeet had turned on the music. The charming, tinkling tune was a perfect match for Lobo’s optimism.
He looked down at Biscuit.
The dog’s tail had lowered and his tongue was back in his mouth.
“Do not worry,” Lobo told him. “We will figure everything out. But first let’s have some ice cream.”
He led the dog to the side of the road and peeled the paper lid off the cup, then held it down.
Biscuit sniffed at it delicately, gazing up at Lobo with his beautiful amber eyes.
“It’s good, I promise,” Lobo told him.
Biscuit took a careful lick, then another.
Lobo put the cup on the ground and Biscuit enjoyed his cold treat, chasing it up and down the roadside with his tongue.
Lobo carefully unwrapped the popsicle.
The sweet taste made him think of kissing Veronica.
His running away with Lobo would make her very unhappy.
And it was against the rules of the academy.
Lobo had done a wrong thing.
But it would be more wrong to see Veronica throw away her career, or Officer Biscuit lose his career and his life.
The dogs needed Veronica. And she needed them.
No, he had taken the only action that could save them all. He would now find out what had really happened yesterday. Officer Biscuit would help him. He was sure of it.
And if they did solve the mystery, maybe Veronica would forgive him for running off.
He hoped desperately that she would.
Lobo felt his heart, stretched taut like elastic between himself and the kennel where Veronica slept. He had chosen her as his mate even though he had not yet spoken the words.
But even if she never forgave him, he would rather be ripped out of his body and sent back to Aerie, unmated and in disgrace, than allow her to risk losing her happiness.
Officer Biscuit looked up at him expectantly, a bit of ice cream dripping from his whiskers.
