Chapter 26 Duncan #2
“If anyone ever threatens you.” I slide my hands to her cheeks, leaning in close. “Have no doubt, Elowyn—I won’t hesitate. Won’t wait for them to strike first. I’ll slash their throats, burn them alive. Do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Every fucking time.”
Desire paints her face a deep red, quickening her breath.
“Yes, that’s definitely hot,” she groans, then rises on her tiptoes to kiss my chin. My lips. “Really hot.”
A knock at the door cuts me off before I can bend Elowyn over and take her right here.
“Yes.” On impulse, I turn to block the view of my half-naked woman from whoever it is and add, “Elowyn’s here with me.”
“Mr. Rourke, Miss Montgomery.” Mary’s head appears through the crack in the door, her gaze glued to the floor in case we’re not decent, I suppose. “We have your…package.”
Woof!
“Duncan?” Elowyn’s hands dig into my waist. I can sense her peeking from behind me. “Is that what I think it is? Is that a dog?”
My eyes squeeze shut. There goes my surprise.
“I’ll be right back.” I turn to steal another kiss, then stalk to the door and accept the leash from Mary. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “He’s as cute as he’s wild. Or, maybe he’s excited to see you again. Or to meet Miss Montgomery.”
The little pup’s wagging tail and impatient yips aren’t really about Elowyn or me. It’s got to be the new place. That and probably the treats and toys Mary and Herbert brought along when they picked him up from the vet.
I don’t tell any of that to Mary. She seems pleased with the idea that the dog and us have an instant connection, and well, so do I.
The little guy barks, then jumps on me. He doesn’t get very high up my leg, barely reaching my thigh.
He’s smaller than a retriever but built like one. Broad yet small paws. Tiny ears that are a little too floppy. And these soft brown eyes. They warm my heart down to my core. He’s perfect.
Elowyn’s going to love him.
“Hello to you too.” I rub the golden mutt behind his ear and tell Mary, “Thank Herbert for me.”
“Will do.” With one last loving gaze at the dog, she leaves us.
I open the door wider, loosening my grip on the dog’s leash without letting go completely. Though I was told he’s as friendly as can be, I still need to be careful. Have to monitor his first interaction with Elowyn. Just in case.
Not caring that he’s leashed, this dog doesn’t hesitate. He sprints toward her, and I’m right behind him.
“Come here.” Like him, she can barely contain herself.
She’s already squatting, arms outstretched, smile wide.
The expression on her face… Damn, I wish I could frame it. If I had my phone or the Polaroid with me, this is the moment I’d take a picture. A million of those.
“Oh my God,” she squeals a second before he leaps forward, taking her with him to the floor.
A sigh of relief escapes me when I see she’s safe with him. More than safe, actually. Elowyn and the pup look like old friends. Him yipping gleefully. Her laughing freely. Her gorgeous heart is on display as she rubs him all over.
That’s all I need to lean in and unhook the leash.
And no, no one can ever know that heat gathers behind my eyes. Ever.
“Would you look at that?” Her joy warms me from head to toe. “Aren’t you a friendly one? What’s your name? Where did you come from?”
The feral yet adorable dog doesn’t stick around to answer. As if he’s satisfied that she’s his now, he barks before bolting off to sniff anything and everything around my studio.
“A shelter.” I help her up, mesmerized by the happiness radiating from her face. “They found him in the street, said he’s mostly a golden retriever…probably. They couldn’t tell me the rest.”
“Oh, I don’t mind his breed. He could’ve been anything at all.” She levels me with a meaningful stare. “I would’ve loved him all the same.”
The double entendre doesn’t escape me.
Poor or rich. A saint or a murderer. Elowyn never cared; she just loved me.
“The real question is, can we keep him?” she asks when I’m silent, too lost for words. “Please.”
“We certainly can’t take him back.” I lean in to kiss her, loving how she smiles against . “He’s ours.”
“Ours? As in forever ours?” She throws her arms around my neck, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Seriously? We can have a dog?”
As if sensing Elowyn’s excitement, the dog doubles back. Tail wagging, he sits dutifully next to her.
“We can have as many as you like.” I gesture toward the little ball of energy and say, “But yeah, we can and are starting with him.”
Tears gather in her eyes. She blinks, flicking her gaze to our new dog, then to me. “What’s his name?”
Of course she knows the shelter already named him.
Fuck that.
He’s our baby now.
I draw circles over her back. “Whatever you decide.”
“Wow. Okay then. Hmm.” That grin, wide and radiating, I’ll never forget it. “Varn. Yes, I like Varn a lot. Short for Varnish.”
I grit my teeth. Goddammit, I have to stop getting emotional over this. Over Elowyn choosing to name the dog Varn because I work with varnish all the time.
“Varn.” I catch the backs of her thighs and lift her, her legs instinctively locking around me. “A beautiful name.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, chin wobbling.
Varn barks, as if thanking me too.
Ridiculous.
I’m the one who should be thanking them.
For coming into my life.
For being mine.
I’ll burn the world down before I let anything happen to them.
They’re mine. Always will be.