Page 20 of The Attercop

“You are not getting away without giving me a morning treat,” Charlie demanded.

Declan capitulated and rolled onto his back.

Charlie looked up at his Greek God, then slid down his boyfriend’s torso, and devoured Declan’s sizeable morning wood.

Charlie may not have had a lot of sexual experience before he began his relationship with Declan, but in the intervening months, he had certainly been able to master a few essential skills. He took Declan’s full length down his throat and worked it until his boyfriend climaxed.

Declan lay there, panting, like he’d run a marathon. Charlie looked up at his face, smiling at a job well done.

“My turn,” Declan said.

Charlie resisted. “I promised Mrs B that I’d pick up a new batch of magazines for the office waiting room, and she’s going to be in soon.”

“I’ll be quick,” Declan replied, then went to work on Charlie.

Once Declan was finished, Charlie slipped out of bed. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He scooped up his clothes, got dressed and headed out for his morning errand.

As Charlie tried to push through the street-level entrance he discovered there was a dog leaning against the door. It was a mid-sized mutt with brown fur, mottled with patches of grey. As Charlie gently pushed the door open, the dog tried to squeeze by him to get in.

“Oh, no you don’t,” he said as he gently coaxed the dog away from the door long enough to close it. “Now, shoo… Go away. Go home.”

The dog moved down the street a bit, then sat down with its back to the wall and stared out into the street.

Charlie continued on to the convenience store at the end of the block. He scanned the rack of magazines and picked out a selection that seemed to be what Mrs B had purchased last time, includingRocky Mountain Leisure,Maclean’s, a magazine about cars, and another one focusing on home renovations. He threw in a copy ofMen’s Healthfor Declan, then checked his phone. The entire errand had taken only ten minutes and he would have the new magazines in place in plenty of time.

As he left the shop and walked back toward the office, he spotted Mrs B in the distance carrying several large bags in one hand, and a box under her arm. She was early. As she walked past the dog he’d previously encountered, the hound fell in line behind her like he was joining a parade. And as she opened the street-level door the dog moved quickly, following her into the building, sneaking in just before the door closed.

“Why that sneaky little…”

By the time Charlie reached the upstairs office, Mrs B had disappeared into the staff washroom. He looked around. No dog.

“Here, boy,” he called out. He made what he thought were appropriate tongue clicking sounds, ones he was sure all dogs knew. Nothing happened. He tried again. This time he got a response.

“You called?” Mrs B said as she exited the washroom, straightening her skirt.

“No, um. I was just looking for a dog.”

The moment he said it, he knew it sounded crazy. She raised her eyebrows as she took the dust cover off her computer and keyboard.

“Perhaps you might consider going to the pound. That’s where you’re sure to find one.”

“No, honestly. I saw a dog,” Charlie protested. “Outside. It followed you in.”

“In here?” she said. “I don’t think so. Are those for me?” she said, pointing to the magazines in his hand.

Charlie gave up. “I’ll just swap these out for you.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

As Charlie gathered up the old magazines, he kept his eyes open for the four-legged intruder. Maybe he’d only imagined he had seen the dog enter the building. Charlie discretely scanned the room one final time and headed back to his office. Mrs B called out, “Don’t forget, Jules Slate will be here for a meeting at nine-thirty. Are you doing the intake interview or is Declan?”

Charlie shook his head. “I am…I think.”

“Decisive,” she said and went back to her computer. “I’ll let the two of you know when she arrives. I’ll also let you know if I find your stray dog.”

He wasn’t sure if she was serious about the last part, or if she was poking fun at him. Mrs B’s tone was hard to read.

Charlie went up to the apartment where he found Declan in his robe, fresh from his shower. He stood in the kitchen mixing up one of his vile health shakes.