“Don’t take it personally,” she said.
“What?”
She looked up to see that he was intensely staring down at her. The dog wasn’t even on his mind, it felt like his entire focus was solely on her.
“Are you okay?” she asked. He blinked once, slowly, as if he was having a hard time forming words. “Arthur?”
His hand tightened on hers as he leaned in closer. The artificial lights in the alley made his eyes glow.
“I need to kiss you,” he said. “If you don’t want it, tell me no.”
His masculine scent filled her nose as his face hovered over hers. Saying no wasn’t an option. She needed his lips on hers. It was imperative.
He moved slowly, as if giving her plenty of time to object. With her free hand, she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him the last inch to her.
The moment their lips met, electric sparks shot down her spine. He swallowed down her gasp, then deepened the kiss.
Heat filled her body. Their fingers were still tangled, so when he moved that arm behind her back, her hand went with his. She didn’t fight against his hold, she wanted it. In fact, she wanted to grip him back.
Her other hand was still at the back of his head. She tightened her fingers in his hair, making him shudder.
She pressed her body hard against his, desperate for more contact. Layers of clothes kept their skin from meeting, making her want to weep with frustration. She’d never wanted to be naked with someone so badly in her life.
The sound of traffic and drunk, laughing pedestrians on the nearby street disappeared. Her world narrowed down to Arthur.
“Um, hello?”
The hesitant voice was like getting hit in the face with a stream of cold water. Beatrix’s first reaction was embarrassment at being caught making out in a public place like a teenager. Arthur’s reaction was much stronger.
He pulled away from her and swiftly stepped between her and the voice.
“Stay back, wolf!” he growled with enough menace to make her shiver, and she wasn’t even the one he was talking to.
And why did he call the newcomer wolf? Did he know the guy?
She peered around Arthur’s body to find one of the biggest men she’d ever seen standing with his hands up, trying to look harmless. He had a backpack hanging off one shoulder and a dog leash in his hand.
“Are you Titan?” she asked, trying to step out from behind Arthur. He moved sideways to keep himself in front of her so again, all she could do was lean to the side to look around his bulk.
The guy gave her a cheerful smile and pointed to himself with his free hand. “Yeah, that’s me! I’m Titan, from Big and Small Animal Rescue.”
“I’ve heard of you guys,” she said, excited to have a highly respected local rescue here to take the dog. “You pulled Miff a few weeks ago. How’s he doing?”
This time when she moved to stand next to Arthur instead of behind him, she grabbed his hand in hers. That seemed to keep him at her side instead of trying to get between her and a non-threat.
Titan’s eyes shone with happiness. “He’s with a family that doesn’t mind giving him medicated baths every week. His hair is growing back, but he’s still mostly bald.”
“You know this man?” Arthur asked. He didn’t look relaxed, but at least he wasn’t threatening Titan any more.
She gave Arthur a reassuring smile. “This is the first time I’m meeting Titan in person, but the shelter I volunteer at works with the shelter he works for. Big and Small Animal Rescue takes a lot of medically fragile dogs that would probably be put down otherwise.”
“And that makes you happy?” Arthur asked.
What a strange question! “Of course it does. Miff was a sweetheart, and Titan’s group got him the medical attention he needed and a loving home.”
That seemed to make up Arthur’s mind about Titan. He turned his attention to the large man and gave him a single nod. “You have my permission to approach.”
Titan smiled and stepped closer. He held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
