Page 97 of Spark

She looked back down at the puppy as it barked in the box, wanting out. It was a purebred twelve-week-old female Rottweiler that I’d personally selected from the breeder in Anchorage yesterday afternoon. It was the first pup that came up to me while all of the siblings continued to play within a safe distance of the mother. But this one was brave as it barked at me, and it immediately reminded me of Jaden. Easy pick.

Jaden timidly reached into the box to lift the puppy and held her in her arms. And there was the swoon I was looking for. I felt triumphant as Jaden finally revealed the smile she had been concealing, and it made me want to kiss her until I couldn’t feel my lips anymore.

“So this is my dog now?” Jaden asked, her eyes almost hopeful. “Like a pet?”

I nodded. “She is your responsibility to take care of, but yes. She is your dog.”

“It’s a girl?” she asked. Now, she was even more excited. I nodded. Jaden needed more estrogen in her life, and the female dog would be easier to train anyway. “How old?”

“Twelve weeks. Do you like her?”

Her mouth wanted to say no. She didn’t want to like or appreciate my gifts and generosity, but denying how pleased she was with the dog would be a lie, and she knew that was against my rules.

“Yeah… I do,” she finally admitted, her eyes never leaving the pup. Swoon.

“Good. Now, what do you say?” I didn’t care if she didn’t want my gifts or attention. She’d be grateful for them because I didn’t have to be this way with her. This was a privilege; one that she needed to respect.

“Thank you,” she eventually said, turning her head to look me in the eyes like she was supposed to.

“You’re welcome.”

I watched Jaden for a moment as she petted the dog in her arms. This. Was. Adorable.

“What are you going to name her?” I asked.

She squinted for a moment as she looked at the dog. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I’ll have to think of something.”

“You should know she won’t be just a pet. That dog will also be your guard dog. When we go home, she will undergo specific training not only to protect you but also to kill your would-be attackers. She’ll learn discipline, basic and advanced commands, and she will learn to anticipate danger in all forms.”

Jaden turned her eyes back to me, her brows furrowed as she took in my words.

“Jeez, will she still know how to play, at least?”

“Of course, but your safety takes precedent. If she senses a threat, she will react accordingly and get you to safety.”

“Don’t I have enough babysitters?” she complained. I almost laughed because it was almost true.

“No such thing,” I responded. Jaden could have an entire army with her, and I still wouldn’t feel like she was safe enough. But once the dog was full grown and trained, there would be one less shadow in the room.

Jaden’s face remained the same until something seemed to click in her eyes.

“She’s for all the places Clive and Owen can’t go,” she stated, like she already knew the answer.

“Correct,” I answered with a nod.

The dog started to struggle in her arms, and Jaden released her, setting her down on the couch, but she wanted to play and jumped down to the floor, taking off down the hall.

“You’d better go get her,” I ordered, nodding toward the direction the pup ran off to.

“Dammit.” Jaden cussed under her breath and went off to find the dog.

I decided to let Jaden have some fun with her new companion and headed to my office to finish some work. The staff would take her gifts and put them in our room where all the dog toys and things were being set up.

I passed Romero and Alex in the hall, giving them the nod to pursue their watch over Jaden and headed for my office. It didn’t matter that it was Christmas; something always needed to be done, and sometimes, I was grateful for it. Some days, I wanted to immerse myself in my work because I honestly loved it, but Jaden would never understand it. If it wasn’t work or Jaden preoccupying me, it was training or the occasional tune-up of my bikes or cars.

Sid was the one who convinced me to get Jaden the dog in the first place, more specifically a puppy. The dog would not only provide her the companionship she needed without compromising her safety, but it would also serve as another source of protection for her, which was really the only reason I agreed. She could focus on something else that would more than likely bring her joy rather than plot her revenge against me. She’d have another purpose besides making my dick happy, but she always managed to do more than that, especially when she wasn’t even trying.

I appreciated the times when she did try, when she’d put effort into listening to me and making me happy, but it was only because she didn’t want to piss me off instead. Whatever worked. Eventually, she’d learn that keeping me happy would essentially keep her happy. The more she obeyed, the more I would reward her, though I had to admit there were those special days when I wanted a fight. I did want her happy, though. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered with the trouble of all this shit for the holidays.

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