Page 65 of Knot A Chance

“Well, fuck,” he said, tossing the paper back into the box.

“Do you have a problem with dogs?” I asked. “Because I am already very attached to this guy.”

Bennett bent down and let the dog sniff his hand. The puppy immediately lowered his nose in a sign of submission.

“Seriously?” I asked. “Do all dogs do that with you?”

He smirked. “Most dogs recognize an alpha when they see one. If they don’t, they’re usually terribly behaved.”

“A lot of experience with dogs?”

“We had one growing up. He was terribly behaved.”

I laughed while Bennett pet the puppy and kissed my temple. “If you’re attached to him, then he’s ours. We can stop at the pet store after we visit your sister.”

I gave Bennett the most charming smile possible. “Babe, what about Marley?”

He shook his head at me. “The puppy can live with me. But we need to get him and Marley used to each other for when they inevitably have to live together.”

“She’s going to hate that.”

“Well, she’s going to have to come around or I don’t want a dog after all.”

The puppy wiggled in my arms and I smiled at Bennett. “I can’t believe you want to live with Marely so badly.”

“Something like that,” Bennett said, taking the puppy from me. “I was kind of hoping Marley would want to move in with me eventually, and maybe she could bring her owner too.”

“I’m sorry, do you think I’m her owner? Have you met that cat? She owns me.” He held out a hand for me and helped me stand, rising with me. “Marley would probably like your house. She’s really not going to be a fan of you, or this dog, but I’ll help her adjust.”

Bennett kissed me with a sly smile. “Good, start warming her up to the idea, will you? I’m taking home a stray puppy for you, and if you don’t make the other side of my bed yours soon, I can’t promise you this cutie won’t lay claim to it.” Bennett held up the dog with outstretched arms. “And look at this face. Are you going to kick him out of his own bed?”

I laughed and took the dog back from him. “You can use my side until my lease is up in six weeks,” I said to the dog before looking at Bennett. “Does that work for you, alpha?”

Bennett’s smile filled his whole face, and I melted at the affection in his eyes. “Do you really mean that?”

I grinned at him. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Bennett. Why wouldn’t I want to move in with you?”

“What I am is stupidly fucking in love,” he said, cupping my face and giving me a soft, slow kiss. He pulled back. “You don’t have to say it back. I don’t want to pressure you. I am just so in love with you, Felix. I can’t keep it to myself anymore.”

The words were right there, on the tip of my tongue as I let his love wash over me. Him saying it out loud felt nice, but I’d already known. I’d probably known from the beginning that Bennett loved me, and I no longer cared if that made any sense. Bennett and I were connected in a way that I didn’t even know was possible, the depth of our feelings from the first time we saw each other transcended logic, and I was starting to think there was only one explanation that really made sense.

Bennett is my true mate, and I’m pretty sure he knows it. I’m almost certain he’s known since the moment he saw me. It would explain his confident persistence and the way he dropped to his knee in the bar that night when I felt afraid of how he’d respond to my arousal.

“You can tell me that as many times as you want to,” I said, kissing him softly. “I will never get tired of hearing it.”

I knew Bennett meant it when he told me we could take this relationship at my pace, which is why I knew it was okay that I didn’t say those three words back to him. I had something I needed to take care of first, and then I’d be his.

Forever.

“Can we name him Benny?” I asked, still grinning as I held the puppy between us.

“Why on earth would we name him that?” Bennett softly stroked the dog’s head.

“Because he reminds me of you,” I said proudly. “And I think he’s a Newfoundland. Don’t they call them Newfies sometimes?”

“I still don’t see how you got to Benny. My sister calls me that sometimes. Which, for the record, I don’t love.” Bennett sighed, gazing adoringly at the puppy.

Bennett in love with a puppy might be even better to witness than Bennett in love with me.