I kicked one of the little pebbles.“I’ve never thought about it.I don’t usually come out here barefoot, you know.Paws are better for running.Scratch that.It’s having four legs that does that.”I closed the distance between us, and Ell easily switched positions with me to keep an eye out.I put an arm around Marcus.“But I can only hold you like this.”
Dom raised his head to watch us.Marcus turned to face me, and like that, this was very nearly romantic rather than casual.I hadn’t been angling for that.Marcus raised his arms, hesitated for a moment, then put them around me.Then he stepped on my shoes with his bare feet.
“That’s better,” he said, his mouth very close to mine.
“Yes.I like it too.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re really tall?”
My fingers curled against his back.“Probably.”
“I think I like it.I have a really tall boss.”He looked up, his chin almost brushing against my chest.His moonstone eyes caught a ray of sunlight and shimmered.“Kiss me?”
The request was barely loud enough to hear, and he sounded uncertain.Not afraid, but…like he wasn’t sure he wanted me to.
I moved slowly, giving him time to pull back or turn away.He did neither.
Our lips met, and we kissed.It wasn’t like the electrifying and needy exploration from yesterday.There was need there, yes, but also tenderness.Something in Marcus’s demeanor reminded me of dry earth waiting for rain, and I thought, let me be the water you crave.Let me soothe every crack and every lack you’ve suffered.
I had no idea whether it translated, but I knew we held each other tightly.Before too long, the kiss was everything I cared about, everything that mattered.
Except then Ell started growling, and Dom jumped out of the water and came to us.
I pulled away, and the world around me flooded back into my awareness.Marcus was still blinking up at me as if he wasn’t sure what had just happened when I heard them.They were coming our way, though they were on the other shore.
Branches cracked and leaves rustled.
“Well, well, well,” someone said.
I pulled Marcus to my side.The voice had jolted him to cling to me anyway though.I turned to see Steven across the water from us, a leer hiding the sour, jealous expression on his face.
Ell and Dom were on either side of us, eyes on Steven.They kept quiet.A big dog growling was more suspicious than just a big dog.
I cupped the side of Marcus’s head, pressing his face to my chest.“I hope you aren’t lost, but I’d be happy to point you in the right direction.”
Steven bared his teeth in challenge.Next to him, another man came into view, then a second.
“Isn’t that your man?”the second one asked.
I was barely paying Steven any mind now.The first of the two men, smaller and wearing a blue and white cap, was eyeing Dom and Ell.
“Are those sheepdogs?”
I nodded, my other hand stroking Marcus’s back.“Yup.Old French breed.”
Steven’s lips curled into a sneer.“That what you like now, Marc?For that guy to ruin your ass in the woods?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dom flatten his ears and almost go into a crouch as if he wanted to jump at Steven.He stopped halfway through, raised his ears back up, and moved a pebble with his snout, pretending to be a regular dog.
Marcus’s breathing was shallow, and he tensed against me.
I forced myself to smile at Steven.“Marcus mentioned you work for a university.I didn’t know the tone in academia had shifted this much.I’ll have to check in with my research friends and ask them about it.What department are you in again?”
Steven gasped.It was utterly satisfying.He also, unfortunately, looked like he wouldn’t mind doing something stupid if only it could make him feel powerful again.Marcus had done the right thing breaking up with him, and leaving town had been even better.Whether he knew it or not, our mate had good instincts.
“You,” he started, clearly wanting to insult either me or Marcus or the both of us.He reconsidered.“You shouldn’t go running your mouth about me, Marc.I might start doing the same.”
I turned just enough to have a better view of everyone.“That sounds threatening.I’m sure you don’t mean it that way, of course.If you all aren’t lost, you’ll have to excuse us.We were just heading home.”
