Freya squeals again as we’re led through a door that reveals rows upon rows of kennels.
“Oh my god. Where do we even start?” Freya asks as Lilah continues walking.
“I’ve already chosen the perfect pair for you,” she explains.
We walk past breeds of all kinds. From the very smallest dog I think I’ve ever seen, to one of the largest, which I’ll admit, looks a little terrifying. It doesn’t stop Freya from reading his name—Bruce—and wishing him a good morning. The way he glares at her makes me think that he doesn’t consider any mornings to be good, but it doesn’t deter my girl.
“Here we go,” Lilah says, stopping in front of a kennel. “This is Buddy. He’s a labradoodle. He’s two years old and very, very playful. Isn’t that right, Bud?” Lilah asks as he practically throws himself against the kennel door in the hope of getting out to see us.
“Oh, you’re a beautiful boy, aren’t you, Buddy?” Freya coos, making him go even more mental.
“And then we have his partner in crime here,” Lilah says, stepping to the kennel beside Buddy, where we find a golden retriever. “And this is Charlie. He’s only one and a half, with just as much energy as Buddy. The two of them should keep you busy for quite some time.”
Charlie stares back at us with his tail wagging so hard his entire body follows the movement. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone this excited to see me. I think I quite like it.
“Shall we get them out?”
“Yes, please,” Freya says, barely able to contain herself.
We stand and watch as Lilah slips into Charlie’s kennel first, puts a leash on him, and then leads him out to us.
He bounds straight to Freya, who drops to her haunches to greet him, while Lilah hands his leash to me.
“Oh my goodness, look at you,” Freya starts. “You’re such a beautiful boy. Oh, yes you are.”
Charlie stands there, his entire body still swinging from left to right with his excitement as he gazes at Freya with nothing but love in his eyes.
I’m so lost watching the two of them that I don’t notice that Lilah has gotten Buddy out of his kennel until he jumps up and one of his paws lands right in my junk.
“Oh fuck,” I cry, half in pain, half in shock.
My eyes instantly water as I take a step back and bend over, my hands covering my dick in case he decides to take a second shot.
A couple of dogs start barking, while Freya, Lilah, and Charlie turn to look at me.
“I’m okay,” I huff, but the second I speak, I turn Buddy’s attention back to me, and the little asshole drags his sloppy tongue up my face.
I bolt upright and wipe at my wet cheek while Freya and Lilah attempt to smother laughs.
“I’m so sorry,” Lilah says. “Buddy can get a little excited, meeting new people.”
“So it would seem,” I grunt, staring down at the assailant.
He stares up at me with his big, glassy eyes. I swear the little fucker is smirking at me.
“Okay, shall we head out to the exercise area?” Lilah asks, her voice all high-pitched as if we’re both about to walk out and leave her short-handed.
“Yes, let’s go,” Freya says happily, Charlie’s leash clasped tightly in her hand. But despite her excitement, there is concern in her eyes when she looks up at me. ‘Are you okay?’ she mouths while Lilah fiddles around with something in Buddy’s kennel.
I nod once. Hopefully, it’ll take more than a labradoodle’s paw to the dick to stop it from working.
“Right, let’s go. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that these two boys need plenty of exercise.”
“Why are they in here?” Freya asks. It’s a dangerous question. If either, or both, of them have a sob story, she’s going to fall in love even harder.
“Buddy only came in recently; his family had a baby, and he was just a little too much for them to handle.”
I can understand that. The asshole nearly took me down on the first meeting. I can only imagine what he’d do to a baby.
