Chapter 9 JR
JR
The moment I stepped outside, that damn dog was waiting for me. It had been like this for two weeks now, and not once had I fed him.
Yet, he kept coming around.
“Go away.”
The dog sat on his haunches, wagging his tail as he looked up at me like I was his best friend.
“I have no food.”
He barked twice, then ran down the stairs to his bowl that was already filled with food. That damn woman was a menace.
Stomping across the yard, I let my fist fly, hitting the door hard enough to wake the dead. When she answered, those gorgeous eyes batted playfully at me as she pretended to not know a thing about why I was here.
“Yes?”
I momentarily forgot what I came over here to say to her the moment my eyes slid over those curves. Dressed in short shorts and a thin tank, she looked like she was ready to head out for a trip to the beach rather than whatever the hell she was doing inside on this cold day.
And while she stood there and the cold started to seep into her house, her nipples pebbled under her shirt, giving me a spectacular idea of just what she was hiding under that tank top.
Visions of her dancing around the house in her barely-there clothes flashed in my mind, along with a few fantasies that included her in her bed, on her knees, and in the shower.
None of which were helpful when I was trying to lecture the woman on keeping to her own property. Not when I wouldn’t mind pushing her up against the wall right now and slipping my hand under her shirt just to feel those plump breasts.
But that wasn’t why I was here.
“Stop it,” I barked out harshly.
“Stop what?”
“You know what,” I ground out, my teeth clenching so hard that I could break a tooth.
“Actually, I don’t know.” Leaning against the doorframe, she smiled at me so sweetly that she could melt butter. And a little of my anger subsided with it, which was really bad.
“You’re feeding the dog.”
Her eyes dropped beside me and she smiled. “Hey, buddy!”
I did a double-take, wondering why I was even surprised that the little devil was right by my side. “He’s not mine.”
Dropping to her knees, I could see down her tank top as she talked to the dog through the screen.
“I think he made himself yours. Who’s a good boy? Huh? Who’s a good boy?”
“You don’t know if he’s a boy or a girl,” I snarled. “And if you do, that must mean he’s yours.”
“Well, he doesn’t sit outside my house. He always sleeps on your doorstep, which seems kind of harsh considering how cold it is outside.”
“Not my problem.”
“Really?” As she stood, the smile dropped from her face, replaced by the first signs of anger. “The poor dog is just looking for someone to love him. You know what that is, don’t you, Tennessee? What is your real name, by the way?”
“If he needs someone to love so badly, why don’t you take him in?”
“Because he doesn’t want me. He only wants his grumpy master.”
“I’m not his master,” I ground out.
“Really? So why did I see him riding around in your truck the other day?”
I had no answer for that. No matter where I went, the dog followed. Whether he jumped in the bed of the truck or somehow found his way into my cab, he was always there. It was infuriating.
“Look, if you like him so much, feed him on your property, but stop putting food out for him by my porch. You’re attracting raccoons.”
“Well, raccoons deserve to be here just as much as you and I.”
“In what way?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
“In the way that they were here long before us, and probably will be long after.”
“And you’re a raccoon expert, are you?”
“Not exactly, but—”
“Then you really don’t know how long they’ve been around.”
“Well, I’m sure—”
“Because the thing is, they might have been around longer, but I can and will take them out if they keep coming on my property.”
She gasped, her chest heaving with the movement. And damnit, it was sexy as hell. Not that I was really paying attention.
“You wouldn’t!”
“I would.”
Her eyes flashed indignantly, but she still didn’t give in.
“Fine. I won’t feed him on your property.”
“Thank you.”
“On one condition,” she said just as I started to turn away.
Gritting my teeth, I faced her once again. “And what’s that?”
“I want your name.”
It was something I liked holding over her head for whatever reason, but that was something I could easily give up. People at the bar knew my name. It was only a matter of time before she found out anyway. Besides, I’d had enough of her calling me Tennessee.
“JR.”
Her eyes lit with fascination, quickly replacing the anger that was just there. “JR. What does that stand for?”
I turned and stomped off her porch. I’d made a deal, and now that we were on the same page, the dog hopefully wouldn’t be an issue any longer.
“Is it Junior?” she called out, rushing after me in her slippers. “I mean, frankly, that’s not very unique!”
The dog followed me across the property, but at the line between our houses, I pointed at the ground on her side. “Stay.”
The dog sat down, cocking his head at me expectantly.
“It’s Junior, isn’t it?” she beamed triumphantly. But when I didn’t answer, her smile dimmed. “Okay, so it’s not Junior. Jack! It must be Jack. You definitely look like a Jack.”
I continued to my house, walking up the steps, but the moment I heard her shuffling behind me, I spun around and grabbed her by the arms, halting her in her place. Her lips were just a scant inch from mine, so close, so lickable. Fuck, I just wanted one taste.
But this woman was insane. I didn’t need to invite any more crazy into my life. Hell, if I gave this woman an inch, she’d take a mile.
Still…my eyes dropped to those plump lips, to the way the tip of her tongue darted out, getting just a taste of whatever shade she had painted on her lips.
I wanted to be her tongue, damnit. I wanted to know what she tasted like, what it would be like to have that tongue sliding in my mouth…and over various other parts of my body.
Even if she was insane.
She swayed forward ever-so-slightly, just enough for her nipples to brush against my chest, and damnit, I lost it.
Crushing my lips to hers, I kissed her hard. I slid my hand around the nape of her neck, pulling her closer as I took what I wanted, relishing every fucking taste that exploded on my tongue.
She was perfect, so fucking perfect. And as her tongue danced with mine, I shoved my door open, ready to haul her inside and bury my cock deep inside her. But then the damn dog barked, breaking the spell I was under.
Tearing myself from her body, I trained my eyes on hers, refusing to let them wander to her heaving breasts or that pussy that I so desperately wanted to taste now.
“Go away.”
And then I slammed the door in her face.