Page 84 of Fragile Sanctuary

Rho rolled her lips over her teeth to keep from laughing. “I sincerely apologize to your balls.”

“Don’t say that word. They’ve had enough abuse from you today.”

A pink blush stained her cheeks. “About that?—”

“Nope,” I said, cutting her off. “If we talk about that, I’m gonna get hard. I get hard right now, and I’ll rupture something. Talk about something else.Anythingelse.”

Rho bit her lip. “How about them Yankees?”

I sent her a sidelong look. “Are you a closet baseball fan or something?”

“I thought you all talked about sports when you were fighting off chubbies.”

“Good God,” I muttered.

“I’mtrying,” she snapped.

“You’re good at a lot of things, Reckless, but not turning me on isn’t one of them. Try being a little less fucking cute and not talking about my dick.”

This time, Rho let the laugh free. It swam around us, creating a sea of sound that was better than any song I’d ever heard. Biscuit must’ve thought the same because he tipped his head back and howled.

He kept it up for the next ten minutes until Rho pulled to a stop in front of the vet.

“Stay there,” she instructed. “I’ll come around.”

Rho rounded the SUV and opened my door. Biscuit made no sign of movement.

“Come on, buddy. It’s just an exam and one little shot,” she encouraged.

As if he knew what the wordshotmeant, Biscuit climbed me like a damn tree.

Cursing, I unfastened my seat belt and wrapped my arms around the dog. “This is embarrassing for both of us.”

I maneuvered my way out of the vehicle, half-blind as Biscuit held on to me for dear life.

“I’ll get the door,” Rho called, running ahead.

I did my best not to trip over anything as I carried the way-heavier-than-he-looked dog into the vet’s office. The moment the receptionist caught sight of us, her eyes widened comically. “Oh, dear. Why don’t you just come straight back? We’ve got a room ready.”

“Thanks, Ruby,” Rho said. “We appreciate it.”

“Dr. Lutz. We’ve got a nervous patient for you,” Ruby said as a red-haired woman stepped into the hallway.

“I can see that,” the middle-aged woman said, humor lacing her tone. “Why don’t I see him next? Right this way.”

I followed the vet into an exam room, Rho on our heels.

“Just set him right here,” Dr. Lutz instructed.

I tried putting Biscuit down, but he just jumped right back into my arms.

“Looks like he’s bonded to you,” she remarked.

“I think he’d bond to anyone who might get him the hell out of here,” I muttered but stroked the dog’s fur. “It’s okay.”

“Rho, why don’t you take this sweet boy’s front half? Your friend here can stand behind him so he doesn’t fall off the table.”

Rho moved in, taking Biscuit’s front legs. Together, we maneuvered him onto the table. Rhodes cooed and reassured, stroking his ears. He shoved his face into her neck as I held his back hips to keep him steady.

---