Searching for Always(46)

Stone was gonna take retribution.

And it would be sweet.


ARILYN REFUSED TO SHOW fear. It wasn’t the type of fear she’d experience if a stranger threatened her with violence. No, this was the uneasy, sick feeling in her stomach when she realized the man she was really attracted to was severely pissed off. At her.

What surprised her the most was the hard twist of excitement ramping her up. Her skin tingled, and an odd arousal pounded between her thighs. Was his anger turning her on? She’d heard about things like make-up sex, role play, and all sorts of darker kinds of sexual elements that intrigued her but she’d never experienced. Her lovers abhorred rough treatment or bringing negative emotions into the bedroom. She’d thought the same, though the occasional fantasy cropped up.

Now she was living one.

He practically oozed alpha male and sex. Jeans cupped his powerful thighs and rear, and the washed-out cotton of his hunter-green jersey clung to those meaty biceps and pecs. He glared with hot, dark eyes, devouring her with his gaze. Hands propped on hips. His full lips tightened to a thin line. His jaw locked. Stubble roughened his cheeks.

Her nipples rose and begged for attention. Arilyn squeezed the small, frightened dog a bit tighter for security. She needed to be calm and explain why he had made the right decision. He’d saved a dog’s life, and Arilyn owed him gratitude. Now she just had to show him the danger was over and ease his temper.

Why, oh why had Stone found her? The plan was supposed to be simple. Arilyn never intended on kidnapping a dog. The intention was to scour the area one last time so she could find proof of an actual animal.

Until she found the Chihuahua.

Definitely abused. The poor thing lay in filth, with no water or food. She approached cautiously, ready for a giant pit bull or German shepherd to come out, but it seemed the doghouse had only one broken resident. The dog never moved, just stared at her with flat, emotionless eyes. Open sores bled on its starved body. She had no idea what the dog was being used for—it didn’t seem like a breeder situation—and the breed was a bit small for a bait dog. But the dog served some purpose for its sick owner.

There was only one thing to do.

She climbed the gate. Blinking back tears, she slowly lifted the dog. A quick check confirmed it was female. When Arilyn cradled her against the warmth of her jacket, a shudder wracked the tiny body.

Arilyn had always felt an affinity for animals, and her parents loved taking care of a wide menagerie before her mom got sick. She’d grown up sharing her bed with dogs, cleaning up cat hair on a regular basis, and playing with reptiles at a young age. Connection with the creatures in God’s world made her happy and helped her believe in something bigger. Like with children, an animal’s soul was pure. There was a reason dogs were used for therapy and helped children with a variety of issues such as autism spectrum disorders. They reminded people of love, devotion, and the simplicity of giving.

The last Chihuahua she’d met was named Pinky. She had a pink glittery collar, wore pink ribbons in her hair, and walked with a haughty dignity that reminded every other dog she was a queen. Arilyn’s heart squeezed at the broken creature in her arms. This dog deserved what Pinky had. Love and security made dogs confident. Maybe with Arilyn’s help and the name of a dog who had been well loved to remind her she was worth everything, there’d be a glimmer of hope. Sometimes it started with the basics. Safe shelter. Food. A bath. A name. All the things both animals and humans deserved in this life.

“I’m gonna get you out of here, Pinky,” she whispered. Then, tucking her close and zipping up her black jacket, she took her prize and jumped over the gate.

Right into Stone’s path.

Arilyn refocused on the scene before her.

“Put down the dog.”

He may be hot, and he may be pissed, but there was no way she was giving up Pinky. Besides being her protection, Arilyn wasn’t sure how the dog was going to handle being in her home. “She needs some time to transition.” The excuse sounded lame to her ears, and Stone didn’t buy it either.

“Trust me. Pinky will be safer on the ground right now.” His low growl reminded her of his intent to throttle her. Maybe this would be a great time to introduce some other skills to control anger management?

“Let me settle her on the dog bed.” He didn’t answer, so she took her time placing the dog down on a thick fuzzy mattress she kept in the corner. Arilyn grabbed two bowls, filling one with clean water and the other with dry dog food. She lay the bowls close to the bed.

The dog lay listlessly, staring into space. Her heart broke, but her next task was to get Stone Petty calm. She straightened up to full height, breathed from her belly, and reminded herself to radiate serenity. After all, she was his teacher.