Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
He blinked at me, giving me a long thoughtful look, then barked. He blushed and looked down at the floor, then peeked up at me through long lashes and watched my reaction. He was clearly reaching out, but fuck if I knew where it was going.
“Shh. Stay.” I gave him a look I hoped was encouraging. I waited a few more heartbeats. Finding the fine line between helping him navigate the world of puppy play and abusing his trust was… frustrating, to say the least. “Okay,” I said with a beckoning gesture. “Come.”
Adrian moved forward awkwardly, getting closer to me then stopping and waiting for a second before moving toward me again. It took longer than it should have for him to reach me, but by the time he was kneeling in front of me, I could almost see his ass twitching like there really was a tail to swing back and forth.
I wouldn’t want to see a mask, though; I wanted to see his face as he watched me, wanted to see the anticipation and the bliss and the awkward fear that was fading by the second.
“Such a good boy,” I said again, scratching behind his ears. He responded so beautifully to those words, gave in so easily. I wished I had something to reward him with, but all I had was this.
All I had were words, and the hope that I didn’t shatter his trust in me. The longer we went on, the more relaxed he became, and I could see the effect it was having on him. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted this closeness, this trust, to go on forever.
Chapter 7 Adrian
I wasn’t sure how we’d gotten to this point, but I didn’t want it to end. It was… peaceful. There was nothing else to worry about — no bills waiting to be paid, no homework to finish or dishes to do, no future to plan. All I had to focus on was listening to Master’s voice and following his instructions.
It was so easy and so perfect. When Master finally reached down and took off the leash, it made me freeze. I whined low, trying to make him understand. Master just looked at me, cocking his head to one side.
I wasn’t ready to let go of whatever it was I’d found.
Master straightened, the leash in his hand. “Do you still want to play?”
I wanted anything that kept Master there and let me soak up the praise and soothing touches he gave out so generously. I backed up hesitantly, afraid he’d leave if I went too far, then crawled over and took the ball I’d set out earlier into my mouth.
Cautiously, because Master had only said we’d practice with the leash, I crawled over and laid down. I tucked my arms and legs under me awkwardly, holding the ball in my mouth.
“Good boy.” Master’s voice was soothing when he repeated the words, and I drank them in as eagerly as I had every other time he’d spoken them. They didn’t lose their luster, their appeal. It was easier to slip deeper into the peace of the moment and quiet the voice in my head that always warned of everything.
He crouched down in front of me, coming face-to-face with me. There was something startlingly intimate about the moment. If we were anything other than master and puppy, it would’ve been impossible to tell in that moment. He reached for the ball, and I bit down on it a little harder, tugging a little.
It felt natural when a peal of laughter escaped him, relaxed and rich, and he tugged a little more — not hard, but enough to be insistent. “Is that the game you want to play?” he asked, a smile lingering on his lips.
I pulled back a little and shook my head, teasing him and tugging on the toy again. Master laughed and sat down on the floor, legs crossed, just shaking his head. “I can’t throw the ball if you won’t let go, Pup.”
He would throw it?
I let go and crouched back, happiness flooding through me, and I watched as he waved the ball back and forth. When he finally tossed it across the room, I scrambled to chase after it. Master was playing with me. Nothing else mattered and nothing else intruded on the moment.
There was just pure joy as I watched it bounce and heard him laugh. When I finally caught it, I quickly crawled back over to him and dropped it in his lap. Master reached out and stroked my head, running his fingers through my hair and down around my collar. He traced the edge of the leather. I could see him looking at it, but I wasn’t sure what he was thinking.
I didn’t want to think at all. I wanted him to laugh, and I wanted to simply be his pup and have nothing else matter. Lying down in front of him, I stretched my head and nudged the ball with my chin before looking up. Master looked worried, and his hand stilled. Had I done something wrong?