Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
What?
That was what he’d gotten from it?
“Um, no?” I tried to walk through the conversation in my head. “I don’t think so. It wasn’t a here’s my number baby kind of situation. He wanted me and my Handler to come hang out with some of the people he knows.”
Yes, there’d been no sexual overtones even if he had offered to help me with my tail. But since I wasn’t sure how that would go over, I didn’t volunteer that part.
“But…but you might need to know that somehow I ended up telling him about the art stuff, and he said I probably had a pretty dick? I’m not sure how that happened, but it wasn’t sexual.” Just saying it sounded ridiculous. “I don’t think it’s anything special. I’m not bragging. I just didn’t want you to be surprised at dinner if it comes up.”
No, that hadn’t made it any more reasonable.
But Leif started laughing, so I probably didn’t need to worry about his reactions. “I can’t decide if I should’ve seen it in person to be even funnier or if it’s the retelling that really makes it perfect.”
He was such an asshole.
“Both.” Definitely both. “But he was nice? And he seemed genuine?”
Had that made any sense?
“So, it was a bit overwhelming but he wasn’t scary or mean?” Leif seemed to know the answer before I nodded, but I liked it when he sat down beside me on the couch and pulled me against him. “Come here. I’m glad he was nice, but I’m sorry I wasn’t with you to make it easier.”
“You were working.” I still thought it would’ve been silly to interrupt him, but I was starting to think I just should’ve bugged him anyway.
“My job is flexible enough that stopping to take a break would’ve been fine.” He grunted and let out a chuckle as I wiggled onto his lap. “I needed caffeine and a snack anyway.”
The best thing about the change from just friends to friends that are pup and Handler was that I could climb on his lap and he was just expected not to question it any longer. He simply hugged me and snuggled me tight and just kept going.
“So are we clear that next time a situation feels like it might be overwhelming, you need to let me know?” He nuzzled against me, chuckling when I just sighed. “Do you really want me following you around all day just to make sure I’m around if anything stressful happens?”
He’d do that too just to prove a point.
“I’ll ask for help next time.” I knew I should’ve done it but I’d let my worries talk me out of it entirely too fast. “It just seemed silly.”
He scoffed. “I don’t think it would’ve been silly. It’s my job to take care of stressful things, or at the very least, be there to support you through it. That’s basic Dom and Handler 101.”
He was very confident about the rules for someone who’d never been a Dom.
“I’ll remember next time.” I must not have sounded that believable because he made another rude sound. “I will.”
His voice dropped as he called me out. “If you don’t, our next debrief will end with us coming up with a punishment to make sure you remember.”
I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the good kind of punishment, so I nodded. “I understand.”
Feel silly or make him upset?
I’d feel silly.
“Good boy.” Leif decided my reward for behaving was another tight hug and long snuggle because he wiggled deeper into the couch and shifted me around so I was lying on his chest and down the couch…still safely hidden.
He was a really good Dom.
“You also did very well by immediately telling me about the problem when I asked you.” Rubbing my back, he made me yawn even though I wasn’t tired. “You didn’t make me guess or refuse to answer. It was difficult, but you did your best to make the issue clear.”
I had?
Huh.
I had.
“I knew I needed to tell you even if I was kind of dramatic.” And since I wasn’t ready to stop being dramatic yet, I didn’t feel the need to apologize or move. “Thank you for cuddling me.”
“Any time.” More snuggles had me relaxing into him and letting out a deep breath as the stress seemed to fade. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I knew that tone.
“You might not be going anywhere but you’re going to tell me what’s in the box, aren’t you?” I wasn’t surprised when he chuckled, but I was kind of surprised at how sexy it was.
“Yep.” He sounded very sure of himself and very Dommy. “And it’s going to make you all cute and squirmy too.”
Ugh.
He might’ve been sexy but he was a pain in the butt when he was right.
Chapter 10
Leif
I still wasn’t sure I was allowed to think he was adorable when he was panicking, but he kind of was. Part of that was definitely because he was still covered in the blanket, but the bigger piece was the way he’d climbed in my lap and just made himself at home.