Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
We settle, relaxing, Frankie’s head on a pillow and mine on his arm as I look up at him.
He’s eyeing me like he has something on his mind.
“What?” I ask. “You’re thinking about something.”
“I used to be better at keeping surprises from you. I was going to wait and give this to you a little later, but I think now’s as good a time as any.” He hops up and heads to his closet. When he returns, he has a small box, wrapped up in blue wrapping paper with black trim and a bow.
“I couldn’t get it to match the hood exactly,” Frankie says.
“It’s definitely close enough,” I say, feeling like I might cry just because he even thought of that. “It’s not even my birthday.”
I crawl to the edge of the bed as he approaches and hands it to me. “No, this is a special gift. Go ahead. I want to see your face when you open it.”
I open the packaging, curious as fuck about what kind of toy he might have gotten me.
I wonder if it’s a chew toy that we were talking about last week.
When I open the box, I see a small padlock attached to a thin, matching chain-link necklace. It’s dainty, perfect for me but also looks as though it’s a chain like I’ve seen other pups wear.
“Remember when we were reading about that?” Frankie asks.
“Of course I do,” I say.
It’s what pups wear to signify they’re in a relationship…or “locked.”
“Frankie,” I say, in awe.
“Well, if we’re doing this tonight, I want all those pups and their alphas to know you’re mine.”
“I am yours,” I say.
“And I’m yours, Evan. Here.” He pulls the padlock and chain necklace out of the box and puts it on over the collar.
He leans back, assessing his handiwork.
“You’re always hot, but I think you’re hotter being my pup.”
I beam before throwing myself at him and wrapping my arms around him. “Thank you, Frankie.”
We kiss again, and he hooks an arm around me and pulls me close. I relax into it.
Frankie snickers as he pulls away. “People will never get us,” Frankie says, shaking his head.
“But we get us,” I tell him.
“Yeah, we do.” He plants another kiss on me.
That’s all that matters.
34
Frankie
I stop about a hundred feet or so before we get to the building where the mosh is being held. Leaning against the wall, I turn Evan to face me, running my hands up and down his arms. “Are you nervous?” This is a big deal. This is his first step toward officially being Pup Runt. The first time—other than PupStravaganza, which is a much more low-key event—that he’ll get to play with other pups and be part of a community that I think Evan has been searching for his whole life. Maybe it wasn’t always the pup community but just people who understand him and accept him for who he is.
“Yeah, but I’m excited too. I’m ready. I want to do this with you.”
“I want to do it with you too.” I finger the lock around his neck. “I like seeing this around your neck. I like the idea of everyone knowing you’re mine.”
“I’m yours? I didn’t know that’s what this meant. Now I’m not so sure,” he teases.
“Someone’s being a very naughty pup.” Putting my arm around him, I say, “You’ll be great tonight. Come on, we need to go. Someone arranged meeting up with Mom much too early on the day after our first pup mosh.” He was nervous the first time he saw Mom after the whole fiasco, but she was good about pretending it never happened and treating Evan just like she always did. I’m still working through my thoughts on how I feel about my dad. Evan mentioned maybe going to see a therapist again and it’s something I’m considering, just to help me figure shit out.
Tonight isn’t about that, though. It’s about us.
Evan’s body feels tense against mine as we wait in line and then head inside. I’m wearing a pair of leather pants that Evan talked me into and a tight black shirt. Handlers, daddies, and masters are dressed similar to me but there are more pups here, by far. From what I’ve read not all pups have a handler and some have more than one pup—packs, even. As much as I love our play, that’s a bit much for me. I don’t want anyone except my little runt.
“Come on.” I find the restroom and slip into a stall before taking the bag off my arm. “You ready?”
“Yeah…yeah, I am,” he replies.
“Get naked.” I wink, earning myself one of Evan’s perfect smiles.
His fingers work slowly as he takes his pants off, leaving himself in nothing but that sexy-ass jock. When I grab the pants from him, Evan tugs his shirt off, his chest bare except for the black harness and my lock hanging from his collar. “Christ, you are so fucking sexy. I might be doing a little growling myself tonight if anyone gets too close to my pup.”