“There’s no free fluid. This is good so far. You must have got there in time before their rumble could turn into an all-out brawl.” I double check everything absolutely vital before I scanthe less threatening areas. “Nothing internally damaged that I’m seeing. He may have some bruises and will definitely need stitches. This is seriously the best outcome we could’ve hoped for.” Dex’s shaking was beginning to ease up. I pet the pooch’s head and tell him what a good boy he is.
“I’ll get the stitches done. Just keep a tight eye on him over the next couple of days. No crazy acrobatics or running. I’ll also leave my number with you in case you need me or should have any questions over the weekend. I’d like an update from you on Monday, and bring him later in the week for me to remove the stitches. Brynleigh will set you up while I work on him.”
“Thank you so much, doc.” The man looks so relieved. I know I would feel the same way.
“It was my pleasure.” I give him a curt nod and look back down, assessing what I’ll need for the stitching. The pup is all groggy from the mild sedative I had Brynleigh give him a few minutes ago so that I could work. A little over half an hour later, Dex is on his way back home.
???
An hour later, I’m finally stepping out the door of the clinic. It has been a very, very long day. I’m ready to curl up with my girl.
When I get inside, I holler to make my presence known but see that she’s nowhere to be found. I switch into comfortable shorts and a tee before I go searching for her. Amy and Bitsy greet me in the kitchen, getting their dose of love before Amydecides to chase after Bitsy when she rubs gently up against my leg. On the table, there’s a note for me. I reach down and snatch up the paper with a smile.
If you see this, I’m on the dock watching the sunset. Bring wine. X. -Sydney
She even leaves me kisses with her notes. I rub my hand across my heart at the tug a simple note gives me. I reach up in the cupboard for two wine glasses and grab a bottle of the chilled sweet red she likes from the fridge. Grasping the stems upside down in one hand, I leisurely make my way down to her, ditching my flip flops when I meet the sand. Looking down toward the dock, I spot her long legs dangling over the edge, mid-dock, facing the sunset. As I get closer, I admire the sun glinting off of her gorgeous, long locks, gently blowing with the slight breeze. She’s leaning back lazily on her palms, soaking up the last of the day’s rays which shimmer across the supple skin of her legs. Her toes dip into the water a little before swinging again.
“Hey, gorgeous. Brought the wine,” I say smoothly as I step onto the dock. She turns just her head, resting her chin on her shoulder and smiling at me with such joy that I’m rendered speechless.
“Hi, baby,” she draws out. I grin back as I find my seat next to her, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her lips. She hums happily in response. I then pour our wine, handing her her glass first and enjoying the sensation of our fingers brushing against each other and lingering. She gives a soft smile before taking a sip.
“Mmm, that’s good. How was your day? You had to stay later than I thought.”
“It was a busy day. A beagle came in last minute just as I was getting ready to walk out the door. A dang racoon decided to tango with him. He was okay though. I just had to give him acouple of stitches and some antibiotics. He was up to date on his rabies vax, so I’m not too worried.”
“Poor thing. I’m glad he’s okay.”
“Me too.”
We sit in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying each other’s company and the pretty sunset turning the sky a set of brilliant oranges, pinks, and purples, shimmering across the top of the water toward our feet. I lace our fingers together, reveling in the little sigh of happiness that escapes her slightly parted lips.I need those.
“Does the idea of watching sunsets with me forever make you as happy as it does me?” she asks, facing the sun, and if I thought she had me speechless earlier, I’m lost now.
My breath stills in my lungs, and all I can hear is the thrumming of my blood whooshing within my ears. Audibly gulping, I glance over at her. I actually think she’s nervous to hear my answer, as if she’s scared I’m not on that wavelength with her. I raise our laced fingers to my lips, kissing her knuckles with reverence.
“A lifetime of sunsets with you will still never be enough.”
She sucks in a breath and turns to me with wonder- filled eyes.
“The feeling’s mutual.” She smiles softly as she sets down her glass and crawls into my lap, settling her thighs on either side of me as I lean back onto one palm. I comb my fingers through her hair, loving the silky feel against my skin. Her eyes search mine.
“Do you ever feel like we’re moving too fast?”
My eyes search hers back. I’m suddenly nervous with the direction she just took.
“Yes and no. Yes, I know our relationship has moved quickly, but no, I don’t feel like it’s too much too soon. I wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t want to waste precious moments trying togo by what society deems a proper timeline. I know that it could all be over in a blink. I won’t make that same mistake twice. Not with you. I won’t look back and regret anything. I feel it in my gut. This is the only place I want to be, Sydney.”
“I love you so much, Colin.”
My breath catches again.This woman.I NEED her.Sweltering emotions swirl inside me to a breaking point.
“Fuck,Ineedyou,” I blow out in a harsh breath, just before sitting up and tangling both of my hands in her hair, crushing my lips ferociously against hers. She wraps her arms around my neck, cocooning me in her warmth while her hair tumbles around us, shrouding us in our own little world. Her lips capture mine, matching the savagery of my mouth with her own. I groan against her lips, squeezing the back of her neck with a hand possessively as the other travels down to the buttons of her blouse, fumbling and ripping them open, not caring if I break them off. I’ll buy her a new shirt if need be.
I pull my lips away so she can catch her breath while I suck a hot line down her neck to her collarbone. She hums her approval, shimmying her shoulders to help as I rip the shirt over her shoulder blades, baring her pretty shoulders to me. She’s braless. I groan again and inwardly praise God for making such a beautiful woman for me.
“I love these tits,” I puff out on a labored breath before bending to suck a nipple into my mouth. She gasps and pulls her arms out of the shirt the rest of the way, tossing it down on the dock beside us. She’s reaching down to the hem of my shirt, tugging to pull it up. I let go of her nipple to help pull it over my head, then lean back down to capture her other nipple in my mouth, lavishing it with the same deserved attention. She tilts her head back, moaning my name while running her fingers through my hair. She tugs at it tightly, pulling my head back and causing her nipple to slip out of my mouth with a smacking pop.She claims my lips again, swirling her tongue into my mouth, tasting and teasing me. Her actions blind me with an ever-rising need.
Thumbing a wet nipple, I use my free hand to grab her ass and press her core against me, showing her just how badly I need her. She moans wistfully into my mouth, and the sound is…everything. I reach to the side and blindly fumble to spread the clothes out so she doesn’t get a splinter. Using the strength of one arm, I hold her to me while I use the other arm to turn us over so I can gently lay her down. I unbutton her shorts and pull them down along with her panties as I kiss a path down the center of her belly. Leaning up on her elbows, she scissors her legs to help me slide them off of her feet then splays her legs wide to offer herself to me with a wicked smile.Wow.The sun has gone down. The moonlight now smatters a pretty glow across her naked skin.
