by Eve Gaddy
He wanted to palm her breasts, feel the soft bare skin beneath his hands and against his own skin. Wanted to slide his hands up beneath her skirt, strip off her panties and…
Slow down, dumb ass. You’re moving way too fast.
He raised his head and turned her loose. With her arms still around his neck, she blinked at him. “Travis? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He cleared his throat and stepped back. Her arms dropped to her sides.
“Something obviously is.”
He ran a hand over his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t want to move too fast.”
She tilted her head and looked at him, clearly puzzled. “So you stopped moving at all?”
“Well…yeah.”
Tobi laughed and stepped closer to him. “That’s really sweet. But unnecessary.”
“Oh, really?” She apparently didn’t have a clue what he wanted to do to her. But she couldn’t be that naive. “I was about five minutes away from having you naked on your bed. Or your couch. Or against the refrigerator.”
She put her arms around his neck again and kissed him, long and slow. “What if I told you that’s exactly what I’ve been thinking about too?” she asked, her lips a whisper away from his.
Travis wasn’t sure how she’d gone from turning him down for a date to wanting to have sex with him, but he wasn’t going to argue about it. He boosted her up and she wrapped her legs around him. “Which way is your bedroom?”
“Through the living room and down the hall,” she said with a laugh in her voice.
They made it to her bedroom, stopping every few feet to kiss and run their hands over each other. He tossed her down on her bed and followed her down, her legs parting to cradle him. Fisting his hands in her hair, he kissed her.
Tobi started unbuttoning his shirt. Once she got a few buttons undone he rolled off of her and yanked it over his head. “Your turn,” he said.
She sat up and began to unfasten her buttons, slowly, holding his gaze. When she had them undone, she let her top fall off her shoulders leaving her wearing a pretty, nude-colored lacy push-up bra. Travis damn near swallowed his tongue. He reached out a hand and gently cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb over the nipple. It beaded beneath the fabric. She reached behind her back and unfastened the bra, letting it slide off her shoulders.
Travis groaned. “God, you are so beautiful.” He filled his hands with her breasts, smiling when her eyes closed and she moaned. He lowered his head and licked her nipple, then sucked it into his mouth. She gasped when he sucked harder then twirled his tongue around the areola.
Clutching his head to her breast, she said hoarsely, “Travis, do you have a condom?”
Oh, shit. He raised his head and looked at her. “No. Do you?”
“No,” she said regretfully. “I didn’t think about it until now. I hoped you’d have one.”
“I do. At home.”
“That’s not helping us now.”
He’d barely gotten her to agree to go out with him. Having sex with her hadn’t seemed to be an option. He’d been caressing her breasts as they talked but now he dropped his hands. “I can go to the store. It’s closer than my apartment.”
“It’s late. You said you had to work in the morning.”
“Not until nine.”
She picked up her shirt and put it on, leaving her bra off. “Do you mind? It’s kind of a mood killer.”
Travis pulled her forward and kissed her. “Tobi, there’s nothing that could kill my mood if I get to make love to you.”
*
She should have gone with him. Now she was having second thoughts. Not because she didn’t want him. She did, more than ever. But maybe they should have talked more before they took it this far. Laid down some ground rules. Of course, they could still do that. Especially since they hadn’t taken that step there was no going back from.
Tobi dithered about what to wear. Looking in her closet she found a filmy robe she rarely wore. She decided to wear it with a fire-engine-red bra and panty set beneath it. Leave a little mystery. She brushed her hair and debated about lipstick but decided to forego it.
She was beginning to think Travis had decided not to return when her doorbell rang. Smiling, she opened the door to see Travis, standing on her doorstep. Holding a…puppy?
“I’m pretty sure that’s not a condom.”
With his free hand he held up a paper sack. “No, but these are.”
She stood back and let him in. “What’s with the puppy?” She reached out and scratched it under its chin. It tried to lick her and she laughed. “Yes, aren’t you a friendly one? Travis, where did you get this puppy and why did you bring it here?”
“He was hanging around the convenience store. I asked the clerk if he’d seen his owner and he said the pup had been there all day. No collar, no tags. If there is an owner, which I doubt, they’re crappy.”
“It’s too late to take him to the shelter. Bring him to the kitchen. I don’t suppose you bought dog food at the convenience store?”
He grinned. “I’ll go get it.”
The puppy gazed at her with adoring eyes and wagged its tail. She found a couple of bowls, filled one with water and set the other out for food. “Don’t get too comfortable,” she told him as he lapped up water. “I can’t have a dog.”
“Why can’t you have a dog? I thought you liked them?” Travis asked, entering the kitchen with a bag of dog food.
“I do. I like them fine. When they’re someone else’s. My hours…”
“I thought your hours were better now?”
Damn. “That’s beside the point. You’re the one who found him. Why don’t you keep him?”
Travis opened the bag and poured dog food into the bowl Tobi had gotten out. “Because I live in an apartment and the landlord has a policy of only allowing small dogs.” He set the bowl down and the puppy immediately pounced on it, tail wagging madly. “I think he’s going to be a big dog. Look at his paws.”
She looked at his paws—huge, not big—and frowned. “I don’t have a fence.”
“Have you called Harlan yet? I’m sure he can add that on. I can have him put up a fence for you in no time.”
Tobi was fast running out of excuses. And she wasn’t about to tell him she couldn’t have a pet because she didn’t want to get too attached to it.
He must have read her expression because he said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll find him a home.”
Now she felt like a shit. “Are you going to take him to the shelter?”
“Only as a last resort. Black dogs are hard to adopt out.”
“He’s not all black. He’s got a white star on his face.”
Travis just gave her a look. “I’ll take him out and then I’d better get going.”
“But…what are you going to do with him tonight?”
He shrugged. “Sneak him into my apartment.”
Impulsively she said, “He can stay here. Until we find him a home, anyway.”
Travis had crouched down and was rubbing the puppy’s tummy but at that he looked up. “Are you sure? You didn’t seem too thrilled with the idea.”
“It’s fine. But promise me we’ll look for a permanent home for him tomorrow.” Surely she wouldn’t get too attached to the thing if she only kept him long enough to find him another home.
Tobi found a terrycloth belt to use as a leash and an old blanket for a bed. Travis took him out while she got the laundry room ready for her unexpected guest.
After they got the puppy settled she walked to the door with Travis. They were in unspoken agreement that the mood was officially broken and tonight was not the night for them.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Travis asked her.
“Yes, I told you I was.”
“I feel like I coerced you into it.”
“You didn’t. But I know I seemed hesitant. I haven’t had a pet since I was a kid.” But she’d wanted one after she went off to college
. She’d planned to get a dog once she had a place for it but her plans had changed in a major way after the plane crash.
“This isn’t exactly the way I wanted to end the evening,” Travis said.
“It’s not what I had in mind, either.”
“There’ll be other nights,” he said. “Won’t there?”
Chapter Eight
It was almost a week before Tobi saw Travis again. Work kept one or the other of them busy. But she did talk to him. A lot. And discovered the more she talked to him the more she just plain liked him. Friday night and they were finally going to get together. It had been one of the longest weeks she could remember, waiting and anticipating being with him.
Tobi had the afternoon off so after leaving the clinic, she stopped by the grocery and picked up some steaks, potatoes and salad. Last, she went to the liquor store to buy red wine.
She took Lucky, the name she’d chosen for the dog, out when she got home and after she prepped the food, she took him out again to play ball. At first she’d worried he might run off, but apparently he’d decided he had it good where he was and came back to her each time she threw it. Getting him to drop the ball wasn’t nearly as easy.
Back at home it took her a while to decide what to wear. Lucky curled up on his blanket and watched her. Finally she settled on skinny, ankle-length jeans and a deceptively simple white top. “What do you think?” she asked the dog. He wagged his tail. “I think so too.”
Half an hour later she heard Lucky barking and then the doorbell rang. She had to grab Lucky’s collar before opening the door. Not because he’d run away but because she thought he’d jump on Travis.
“Hi,” he said, handing her a bottle of wine and bending down to pet the dog. “He looks better.”
“I’ll put this in the kitchen. He’s been eating well. And he’s had two baths and been to the vet.”
“How much did that cost?”
“Why?”
“So I can pay you back, of course.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do. I foisted him on you.”
“Regardless, I’m not taking your money.” He gave her a look that said they hadn’t finished this discussion but he didn’t argue. Yet.
“Something smells good.” He tugged her to him. “You smell good too.” He kissed her, nice, leisurely, and tingle inducing. Their tongues touched, retreated, touched again in a slow, sexy dance. He left her lips and kissed her jaw and then her neck. Nuzzled it, giving her goose bumps.
“I was about to start the steaks. Dinner is almost ready.”
“I’d rather have you.” He covered her breast with his hand, massaging it through her shirt and bra.
She gave up trying to think clearly. Putting her arms around his neck, she pressed up against him and kissed him. Soon they were both panting. They left a trail of clothes from the kitchen to the bedroom. When they reached the bedroom, Travis kicked the door shut, backed her up against it and kissed her ravenously.
Lucky barked. On the other side of the door.
He pulled back. “Really?” he asked her.
She stifled a giggle as the dog barked again. “He likes to be with me.”
Travis set her aside, opened the door and shut it after Lucky trotted in. “Tell me you don’t let him sleep on the bed.” He took her in his arms and started walking her backward toward the bed.
“I tried keeping him in the laundry room but he barked. So now he sleeps on his blanket on the floor.”
“Thank God for that.” Travis tumbled her onto the bed and followed her down. “I’ve thought about this all week. About you. About holding you in my arms again and making love to you.”
“I’ve thought about it, too,” she admitted. “About you and me together.” She wouldn’t tell Travis but she’d tried to resist, telling herself that the interruption in the form of Lucky was a sign.
That hadn’t worked.
The rest of their clothes went flying. Travis sat up partially, leaning on his arm, and looked at her, running his hand slowly over her bare skin. “You have pretty skin,” he murmured. “Soft, silky—” His hand slipped down to cup her, then he slid a finger inside her.
Tobi arched toward him, groaning. Travis continued to play with her, teasing her until she nearly exploded.
“You’re soft down here too. Soft. Wet. Swollen.”
Tobi couldn’t stand it any longer. She rolled away from him to open her bedside table drawer and pull out the box of condoms Travis had bought the other night. He started to pick up one but she forestalled him by stroking his length. He groaned. Let her continue until he grabbed her hand and kissed her. She smiled, took a condom packet, opened it and handed it to him. He sheathed himself and she opened her legs to welcome him. He drove inside her, stroking deeply. Pulling out and sliding inside her in a slow rhythm, building faster and faster. She spiraled higher, higher still and when he drove inside her for a final thrust, she exploded, and so did he.
“I’m crushing you,” he said long moments later.
“A little,” she admitted. “But I like it.”
He grinned and kissed her nose, then got up and went into the bathroom. When he returned she took his place. She came out and said, “Are you hungry?”
“Starving. But if you cook naked it will be a long time before we eat.”
Tobi picked up his T-shirt and put it on. “Better?”
“In what way?”
“Less distracting.”
“Marginally. Knowing you’ve got nothing on beneath that shirt is blowing my mind, though.”
She laughed. “That’s the point. Let’s go eat.”
*
“I found the dog a home,” Travis said later, while they were eating. “One of the ranchers around here said he’d take him.”
Already? He’d already found Lucky a home? Tobi had assumed it would be weeks before Travis found someone to take him. She’d barely had him one week. “Are you sure he’ll take good care of Lucky?”
“He’s got several dogs. I’m sure Lucky will be fine.”
“When does he want him?”
“Anytime. I can take him tomorrow if you want.”
Tomorrow? But…but… She tried to think of a good reason why he shouldn’t go yet. She struck out. “No, no. I’m off tomorrow. I’ll take him then.”
“Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, why would you ask?” She avoided looking at Lucky who was sprawled on the kitchen floor snoring. The last thing she needed or wanted was an animal to take care of. To greet her when she came home in that way they had, like you were the most important person in their whole world and they were happy just to be with you. What if Lucky got sick? Or run over? And even if he didn’t, dogs didn’t live as long as people.
No, she was definitely better off without him.
“I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. If he wasn’t a dog I’d be jealous. He’d sleep in the bed with you if you let him.”
“You’re exaggerating. He’s a puppy. He needs attention, that’s all. I’d do it for any dog.”
“So you don’t think he’s special?”
“I think he’s a nice dog,” she said, exasperated. “And I’ll take him tomorrow. Write down the directions to the ranch. Now, can we please drop the subject?”
The next day Tobi gathered up Lucky’s things, surprised to see how much the dog had accumulated in such a short time. It took her a while to round up his toys since whenever she put one in the box, Lucky took it out and ran off to play with it.
“We are not playing tug-of-war,” she told him as she wrestled the stuffed dragon out of his mouth. The poor dragon’s tail was about to fall off, but it was one of Lucky’s favorite toys.
Once she’d packed up everything she drove out to the ranch with Lucky in the back seat. Not seeing anyone or knowing where anyone was, she rang the doorbell of the farmhouse. A middle-aged woman with short dark hair and a harried expression opened the door. “W
hat’s wrong—are you lost, honey?”
“I’m Tobi Robinson. I brought Lucky out.” At the woman’s blank expression she added, “The dog Travis Sullivan talked to you about?”
“Travis?” she asked, looking even more mystified.
“Am I at the Wiltshires’ ranch?” Maybe she’d gotten the directions mixed up.
“Yes, I’m Helen Wiltshire. But I don’t know anything about a—” She broke off abruptly. “I’m gonna skin that man!”
“Travis?”
“No, my husband. I take it he said we’d adopt a dog?”
“Yes. But if that’s a problem—”
“No, that’s fine. But he should have told me. Let me put on some shoes and we’ll take him down to the barn.”
“The barn? You mean he won’t be in the house with you?”
“Lord, no,” Helen said with a laugh. “I’ve got two small dogs and a cat in the house. Any new animals go to the barn.”
“How many animals do you have?”
“Lord, honey, I don’t know. Pete probably does. We’ll ask him.” She gave Tobi a sharp look. “Don’t worry. I’m sure the dog will fit right in. I’ll be back in a second.”
The barn. Lucky would be banished to the barn. He was just a puppy. He needed attention. And love. Helen seemed nice enough but it was already clear that Lucky would be just another dog and wouldn’t receive any special attention.
Tobi walked back to the car and opened the back door. Lucky greeted her exuberantly, licking her face and wiggling his whole hind end. She climbed inside and sat beside him, petting him until he calmed down. “You’re a good dog, aren’t you?”
Screw this. I’m not abandoning him.
It’s a ranch. He’ll be with a bunch of dogs. He’ll be fine.
But I won’t.
She got out and went around to the driver’s side. As she opened the door, Helen came out to the porch and waved at her. “Where ya goin’, honey?”
“I changed my mind. I’m taking him home with me.”
Helen laughed. “I’m not surprised. You didn’t seem any too sure about leaving him.”
“Thanks for your trouble.”
“No trouble a’tall.”
Travis was going to think she’d lost her mind. She didn’t care. She felt lighter than she had since he’d told her about the home he’d found for Lucky.
