Page 26 of Special Agent Joseph

“We can’t do this. You’re stoned on something, you’re not yourself. You’ll be sorry tomorrow, trust me baby. I want you so much, I can barely stand it, but we can’t. Come on. Let me help you up. ”He tried prying her legs from around him, rolling to the side to get away, but she followed, pushing him over, now more in charge and determined to get her way.

While he’d tried explaining everything to make her see sense, she ignored him, working at his belt, undoing the buckle, and easing her hand inside his pants to hold him in her hot grasp.

“Goddammit, Meggie. Stop. Lord help me here… I don’t think we should.”

“Shut up. I’m burning, Joe. I need you.” Wriggling against his hardness, she tried forcing his pants open even wider so she could angle him to where he could enter her body. Giving up when she couldn’t get her way, she muttered, “You do it.” Then she pulled at her thong, ripping it off so she would be ready for his entry.

Afterward, he admitted it was her calling him Joe that made him lose reason. Like she knew who he was and still wanted him. Or maybe he weakened when he smelled the erotic wetness of her body and like a dog in heat, he lost all reason.

Working fast, he quickly lowered his jeans and entered the paradise waiting for him. Megan cried out with glee, calling his name over and over, pushing him toward the heaven he knew hovered above them both. Sweating, panting, ecstasy in sight, he took over, covering her body with his while he plunged into the most beautiful abyss of tight, hot, mind-blowing delight he’d ever experienced.

Both bodies stiffened as they orgasmed together, and her scream of happiness ignited the same feeling in him.

“Oh – my God. Joe. I love you. Again, please.”

Hearing those words woke him from his happy little dreamworld. What the hell did he just do?

Chapter Eighteen

It took a lot of convincing, slow stroking, and soft kissing, but eventually Joe was able to calm Megan and trick her into falling asleep. As soon as she faded, he dressed her and carried her out through a back alley the same way he’d gotten inside.

Then he took her back to his house where Jack raced from around the side and met him at the front, growling his disapproval at seeing Joe with a body in his arms. “It’s okay, boy. I didn’t hurt her. Quit messing around.”

But Jack didn’t like the scenario and wouldn’t stop his aggression. Worried his barking might wake Megan and scare her, he swore and then commanded. “Goddammit, Jack. Back off.”

Not sure what he said that made the dog listen, he still took it as a win. Whatever magic he’d used, the noise stopped. Careful not to jiggle Megan too much, he forced his way past the threatening beast and carried her to the front door. There, he fiddled to push in the combination, went directly to the livingroom sofa, and gently lowered her. Leaving her, he went to a hall closet and found a blanket.

Watching all this happening from a distance, Jack suddenly stepped toward Megan and sniffed, then sat, his nose aimed toward her face. Joe could have sworn the dog was telling him something. Not knowing what to do, but understanding Jack waited for his input, he approached carefully and tried saying, “Good boy, Jack.”

As if he’d heard the words he expected, the dog relaxed and laid down on the floor next to the body. When Joe approached with the warm throw to put over Megan, Jack suddenly shot to his feet and unmistakenly delivered a warning. Stay back came out loud and clear.

“Hey, idiot. I just want to cover her.” When he forced the issue, Jack’s guarding of the passed-out woman turned violent. Basically, he let Joe know if he approached, it would be at his own risk.

Stunned and furious at the same time as being stubborn, Joe decided this would be the hill to fight on. He would cover that woman or get chewed to death trying. Ignoring the warning, he stomped right past the hound, ready for the coming attack.

When it happened, he wound the blanket he had ready over Jack’s face and neck and wrestled him to the ground. Wrapping his legs and arms around the creature, he used brute force to get his way. Seconds later, laying with his dog in his arms, the canine body rigid, the growls nonstop, he froze and waited. Finally the dog’s struggling slowed. During this whole procedure, Jack spoke softly. “Jack, it’s me boy. It’s Joe. I won’t hurt you. But Megan will get cold. I need to cover her, man. Stop fighting me, dude. I’d never hurt you. We’re buddies, right?”

As if the words were finally getting through to the animal, Jack quieted. Now they lay together, both exhausted. Joe felt like he’d just wrestled an elephant, and Jack seemed limp fromhis workout too. After a while, the quiet easing of the tension took over and Joe loosened his hold to see what Jack would do. During the whole time, he still whispered, praising Jack over and over. “Good boy, Jack. Good boy. You got it buddy, right? I would never hurt you. Never, dude. We’re friends. You okay now?”

By this time, he’d pretty much lowered the blanket enough that their faces were on the floor angled toward each other with Joe’s arm still under Jack’s neck. “Hey. You good?”

Jack’s rigid form slowly began to relax, his muscles no longer tense. His stare seemed calm but watchful, as if he wanted to believe the man was his friend but wasn’t sure he should lower his guard. They stayed that way for some time, both observing the other, neither looking away. Joe swore later it was in that moment they formed a connection… a bond that involved his heart.

Eventually, he began to run his hand over Jack’s side, gently but firmly. Thrilled to be petting the beast he hadn’t been able to touch for days, he smiled. Remembering how the skitzy animal had begun to take food from him but only if he left it and walked away, he knew it would be different going forward.

A huge shift in their dynamics had happened, and it thrilled Joe. Somehow, deep inside, he just knew he loved animals, and all this nonsense about the horrible treatment of his own dog had never rung true. How could any man purposefully abuse an animal and still call himself a man? It was just fucking wrong.

Chapter Nineteen

Megan woke up on the couch with the warmth of a blanket making her feel cozy, and her body more relaxed than usual. But then she opened her eyes and unrelenting nausea hit hard.Where the fuck am I?Lifting her head took more strength than she could believe, but she needed to look around. Seeing the large, spacious, obviously expensive surroundings didn’t help whatsoever.

The dog that approached, easing his way close to her couch, didn’t ring any bells either. Moving hurt but she still reached out to pet the beast’s head close to her and whispered, “Hey, pal. Where are we? And where’s the truck that hit me?”

Whining, the German Shepherd’s reply made her grin but even that movement caused trouble and didn’t solve her immediate dilemma.

Then she saw the man standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching her from a distance. Joseph… no. Joe. There was something strange about him, something sheshould remember, but it fried her brain cells when she tried to concentrate. Instead, she fell back against the pillow and said, “Ow.”

He stepped closer and presented her with two pills and a glass of water from one hand and a steaming, delightful smelling cup of coffee from the other. “Hey. You’re awake. How do you feel?”

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