Pawliday Love

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

GRAY

I stare at the numerous volunteers in pairs, hopping on their motorcycles and into their cars, pairing up for the neighborhood pet outreach we are assigned on. The lot soon became scanty of volunteers except me.

I lean against my car, folding my arms under my chest while I wait for my partner. On cue, the door to the animal shelter swings open, revealing her lithe, slim frame. My breath seizes harshly, my heart picking up a dramatic pace once my recent object of obsession comes into view.

It's only been three days since I started the volunteer service at this shelter, and I haven't found myself getting used to how breathtaking Raven is. She waltzes out through the door, and my entire world stops spinning until she's the only thing I can fucking see.

Her dark tresses are unconsciously tucked into the collar of her coat, creating a messy halo on each side of her face. Her honey brown eyes glint with softness and a pool of other emotions that I can't bring myself to decipher. Her cheeks are deeply flushed red—a reaction I'm beginning to realize naturally pops out whenever she's around me. Her full, plump rosy red lips are parted slightly, looking overly sensual and inviting.

Raven is a fucking vision. There's no disputing that.

“Sorry I didn't mean to keep you waiting.” Her shy voice brings me out of my thoughts. Those doe eyes are fixed on me as she bites her lip in unconsciously like she doesn't know what she's fucking doing to me.

She doesn't even have to do too much to make my blood burn hot. If this is sorcery, then it makes me feel so alive.

“There's no need to apologize. You didn't keep me waiting.” A shit eating grin crawls up to my face. She inches forward, her delicate throat working slightly but all I can focus on is her addictive scent—soft, sensual and floral—aa it hits my nostrils.

“Are you ready?” I ask huskily. Raven makes it so hard to hide the fact that I'm into her. Heck, I have known since I laid eyes on her three days ago. She has had me in a chokehold since then. “Can I?” I gesture at her fur coat.

She gulps, nodding her head. My arm greedily reaches for her, snaking around her. Her small body flushes against mine, crushing her breasts against my chest in the process. She gasps, the tiny sound kissing my skin in a heated breath.

“I'll…just get this off.” I speak up to quell the heated tension between us.

I shrug off the coat off her body, leaving her in her shirt. It seems tighter today, molding against her upper torso and enhancing her high, perky tits. My eyes dart to her face again, holding her now-dim gaze before she allows me to get it off her body completely.

Her fair skin is flawless. It makes me wonder how easily it'd bruise and how perfect my marks will look on them. My cock jerks to life and I cuss under my breath, frustrated.

“Thank you,” she clears her throat awkwardly. “We should get going.” She adds in a whisper.

I nod, wordlessly, stepping aside to open the door for her. Raven scrambles into the car like she's trying to run from me. It makes me chuckle before I get rid of my black leather coat and get in too.

“Oh, there's a good girl.” I stroke the puppy, Lulu’s fur to distract her as Raven pops her vitamins into her mouth. She whines a little, but she's quick to shake it off.

Animals and humans are no different, after all. It's so similar to a human being wary of drugs. It makes me smile.

“You did so good!” Raven squeals like a little girl and that catches my attention. The way her eyes lit up with ease tugs at my heartstrings, filling me with the obsessive urge to make her as happy as I can.

“You two have no idea how happy you have made me and Lulu today.” The voice of the older woman—Lulu’s mom fills the cozy living room, syncing with the crackling fireplace.

Raven and I look up to see her strolling towards us with two steamy mugs of hot chocolate. I rise to my feet, cradling Lulu to my chest and caressing her fur.

“It's our pleasure, Ma'am.” Raven responds. “I think she's just sensitive to the weather and needs extra attention. You can just turn up the heaters by a notch, make sure she takes warm meals and sleep in a warm space. She'll be perfect in no time.”

The older woman's eyes crease with softness and admiration as she hands Raven a mug.

“I have been wanting to take her to the nearest clinic to get some tests done to find out what's wrong with her. Lulu has always been a happy dog. She just became withdrawn, now, because of you two superheroes, she's fine again.” She hands me a mug.

I can see how much our intervention and presence means to her. It makes me feel more genuinely happy that a system like Atlantic Animal Hospital’s Animal outreach was put in place just to go round and check in on the animals belonging to the people in the neighborhood. Our timing couldn't have been more right for Ms. Juliet.

“I'll have Lulu. You two, make yourself comfortable. I'll be in the library just around the hallway if you need me.” She slips me a knowing glance that makes me fight back a smile before she takes Lulu from my hand.

She disappears into the hallway, leaving Raven and I alone.

“She's so happy.” She sighs dramatically. “I think she's the kindest out of all the five people we have visited today.” She grins, making her way towards the mint sofa.

The walls of the room are coated in ivory paint and the mint furniture and some black touches doesn't only give the space a cozy appearance, it makes it look minimalistically luxurious.

I set my mug on the table almost at the same time she did hers and I inwardly thank Ms. Juliet for giving me an alone time with Raven.

No measure of time seems to be enough when it comes to her, even when we work closely together since I have met her. It's as though every passing second I spend around her, she sinks her claws so deeply into me and I become more obsessed with her.

I want to know what makes her tick. I want to know what makes her happy. I want to know everything about her.

“You okay?” her small hand grabs onto my bicep, squeezing it softly. Shivers course through my veins at the soft, raw contact.

“Yeah, I'm perfect.” I murmur huskily. “Everything is perfect.” My eyes trail the contours of her delicate facial features, the thickness of her lashes, the curves of her nose, lips, chin and jawline. Everywhere my eyes meet make my breath hitch.

“I didn't think someone like you would be volunteering at a shelter.” Her eyes widen when it dawns on her what she just said.

She looks so adorable. It makes me grin. “How do I look?”

She looks away from me for a moment, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. “Um…laid-back, charming, rich, an athlete…not to mention, hot.” She adds the last part in a whisper.

I smirk, my frame dwarfing hers in a flash. “How hot?” I can't resist asking her, my voice riding low as my eyes linger on her lips.

She bites them again, subconsciously giving into her desires.

“Really hot. Scorching hot, even.” Her voice is soft, sultry, even, hitting my skin with goosebumps and hardening my cock.

Damnit. The little seductress.

“Is that so?” I catch the chocolate stain hovering on the water drop dip atop her top lip.

“Yeah…”

As she trails off, I can't resist bringing my fingers up to her lips. I swipe the pad of my thumb against it to wipe off the stain, eliciting a swift part of her lips as she gasps. I grin, fighting back a harsh swallow because of how worked up I am.

“I find you really hot too.”