Page 67 of The Step Bro Situation
He comes back quickly. Way quicker than it usually takes to settle our bad little boy down. I immediately realize why that is.
“It’s just this one time, Jess,” he mumbles. “Just tonight and then never again. It won’t be like the sofa, or the human food, or letting him jump up, or…”
A deep rumble leaves my chest as I curve my body around Adrian and face Luke. I can make out the outline of him in the dark. I reach between us and find Adrian lying flat on his back, soft, round belly fully exposed. Happy as a clam. Comfortable as can be. I stroke him gently and he lets out a growly little sigh. I search for the pads of a paw and find Luke’s hand doing the same thing. I breathe in and I’m flooded by the sweet smell of puppy breath, sea air, and total contentment.
“Oh, Blue,” I sigh, “he’s here for life.”
“No. There’s still hope. I mean not much, but a little…”
“There’s no hope at all.” I wind my fingers tightly around Luke’s and lean over, dropping a light trail of kisses along his jaw until I find my way to his lips.
“Sorry,” he says. “I can take him back if you want.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it. Can’t be helped, can it? Our little boy is like us.”
“What do you mean?”
I smile and kiss him again, pulling him as close as we can get without crushing Adrian.
“He knows what good feels like.”
