"I wasn't allowed to have a pet growing up," he says into his lap. "I like dogs, though."
"Do you have a favorite animal?"
"Not really," he says in that same, low voice. "I like kitties and dogs. And I went to the zoo once and saw the lions. They were pretty cool."
"Lions, huh?"
"Yeah. The zoo workers just gave them a new toy to play with so we got to watch them play. They were just like big cats." His voice is deep for his age. I don't suspect he's older than twenty-three, but his voice and the whisper of a beard make him appear older. "I was only ten and didn't know that they are technically just big cats."
"Did you know chickens are long distance relatives to dinosaurs?" I blurt the fact out, still bewildered by it. Luke told me that fact earlier today. I had to look it up to make sure his cheeky Little side wasn't messing with me.
"That can't be true," Orion says.
"It is," I insist. I turn into my neighborhood without much thought. "Look it up."
"Oh, uh— My phone doesn't work right now."
"Is it dead? What kind of phone is it? I might have a charger at the house."
Oh yes, that makes sense Garrett. Take a guy home from the club and offer to charge his phone for him. Bringing him home with me feels different though. Usually, I'd discuss limits and scene negotiations with the guy, expectations. Not talk about favorite animals. It's a different pace and I'm not hating it.
"I don't actually have internet on it," he says with that same low tone. "It's one of those cheap phones that just has the phone calls and texts on it."
He sounds embarrassed. I pull into the driveway and look at him when I put the car in park. I don't expect to see his mouth agape and eyes wide. He's bent forward slightly, looking at the house through the windshield. I look at it as well, realizing that yeah, it's a fairly large house for one man and his dog. It's a light gray color with white shutters and a covered porch. There are four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a basement that I've converted into a game-slash-media room. My bedroom has an en suite attached to it.
"Lets get inside," I say after a moment. "I'm sure Riley would like to go outside for a bit."
"Okay." I can see the underlying excitement. He gets out and shuts the door carefully. I meet him at the front of the car, where he's waiting with his hands in his pockets. He's such a contradiction between his physical appearance and demeanor.
I'm aware that nothing is going to happen between us tonight. That's not the vibe I'm getting from him. I'm okay with that, too. Something I should probably look into because I've never just brought someone home before. It always ended in a hookup. I walk to the front door and unlock it, hearing a whimper coming from the other side.
Riley went through obedience school and knows all the tricks but it doesn't stop him from jumping excitedly and wiggling his butt when I open the front door. It also doesn't stop him from giving Orion one of his famous sniff-licks across his hand.
"Riley, down boy." Riley listens on the first try, but I can tell he's fighting back the excitement at a new person. "Orion, this is Riley. He's friendly and you can pet him."
Orion holds his hand out and this time Riley's nose twitches madly, taking in Orion's scent. If riding in the car is any indication, he is smelling a soft, warm scent. I can't quite place it, but it's nice. Inviting. Orion bends down, kneeling on the floor. His hands reach up and scratch behind Riley's ears. He lets out a small giggle when Riley gives an approving groan deep from his doggy chest. Orion's eyes flick to mine and he's smiling.
"He's cute," Orion says simply. "And soft."
Riley takes the moment of distraction to lick Orion's cheek. I almost admonish my dog, but Orion's laugh fills the foyer of my house.
"Let's take him out to the backyard," I suggest. "He'll only take a minute to go out and then we can…"
I don't actually know what his plan is. He came home with me but for what? I didn't get the vibe that he wants to play or even have sex.
"Um." The way he's so unsure makes him appear smaller and younger than he is. He stands and kicks out of his shoes, lining them by the wall.
"We don't have to do anything," I assure him. "I actually think that's for the best. How about I take Riley out and you can head upstairs? There are two guest rooms to the right. A bathroom sits between them."
"Okay." I turn to head through the house, but Orion's voice stops me in my tracks. "Thank you. For letting me come here. I— Honestly, I was just trying to find a place to stay tonight. A warm place."
"Are you homeless?" The question is out of my mouth before I can think how rude that sounds. I open my mouth to backtrack, but Orion speaks.
"No. I have a place. It's just— Cold. Old. Old and cold."
It's the end of November and the weather is getting colder by the day. I don't know where he's living, but the thought of him going to a club just to go home with someone so he could be warm? That doesn't sit right with me. It leaves a physical weight in my stomach about the trouble that he could have gotten himself into.
"Orion." I deepen my voice. When he doesn't look up at me, I repeat his name a little more forceful. His head whips up and his eyes lock on mine. I can see he's embarrassed about his confession. I'd smelt the alcohol on his breath when we were talking earlier. Drinking and going home with a stranger is dangerous. "Promise me that you'll never do that again. If you need a place to stay, you'll call me, okay?"
