Chapter Four
Cole
I was searching aimlessly online trying to decide what I wanted to do with the rest of my life when my phone dinged on the coffee table. Tyler’s name flashed across the screen before the notification went dark and I smiled. Last night had taken a turn I had not expected, but damn if I wasn’t happy with the result. Truly I had not planned on sneaking into the bathroom while Tyler showered when I invited him to do so, but I just couldn’t stop myself from thinking about what he might look like under the spray in my shower once I heard the water kick on. I’d managed to stay on the outside of my bathroom door for ten minutes before my body took over and I walked in, and when I saw his dick was as hard as mine…fuck. I had to have him.
We’d had a quick bite to eat before Tyler had to head home to let Max out, and we agreed to have dinner together tonight at his place. He said he was pretty good at frying chicken. Honestly, I didn’t care about the food. I was just looking forward to spending more time with him.
Unlocking my phone, I pulled up Tyler’s message.
I’ve got to cancel dinner. Someone just brought in a matted dog and I’m going to be late getting out of here. What do you say we meet in town and grab something and a beer?
I text him right back.
That works for me. I don’t care where we eat as long as I get to see you.
Tyler sent a smiling emoji and said, I’ll meet you at The Burger Hut around 7:30.
I’ll be there.
***
Tyler was waiting for me when I got to The Burger Hut. He was already seated with two beers and a basket of fries in front of him when I walked in and he motioned me over to the table. He was sitting at one of the round booths where the seat is just one curved bench, and I slid in and scooted over so I was sitting next to him. He smiled at me and I couldn’t help myself, so I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. I pulled back slightly and grinned at him. “You smell pretty damn good for a guy who’s been washing dirty animals all day.”
He laughed. “Thanks, ass. I took a shower before I came out to eat. I might work with animals, but I don’t want to smell like one. Not while I’m eating.”
The waitress came over and we both ordered a burger and more fries. “So, why was the dog that came in matted so badly?” I asked Tyler after she left to put in our orders. “I mean, was it a stray or something?”
Tyler’s eyebrows drew together, and I saw anger in his eyes for the first time since I ran into him after moving back home. “No, that’s the worst part. Jamie brought him in. He was taken from his owners by animal rescue for neglect and animal cruelty. He’s been living outdoors without shelter or clean water for a long time apparently and being a long-haired dog, all of that hair just matted together over time. Poor guy was like a new pup once I got that shit off him.”
I reached over and squeezed his hand. “People are assholes. It’s a great thing you’re doing helping the shelter with the animals. The world needs more people like you.”
Tyler turned his hand over and linked his fingers with mine. It felt like our hands were meant to be this way; like they were made with the very intention for us to hold hands. “I just give the dogs baths. It’s nothing, really. You are the example to follow.”
I shook my head. “I’m not even working right now, let alone volunteering to help anyone out.”
Tyler squeezed my hand and smiled. “You served our country, and then you came home and volunteered to help out some guy who used to stare at you in high school. You’re pretty great in my book.”
I gave him a small smile and looked away. Luckily the waitress showed up with our food right then because the last thing I wanted to be reminded of was what I’d done while I was active duty. If Tyler really knew what I was capable of he wouldn’t think so highly of my time away, and he definitely wouldn’t be calling me a great guy. We spent the next several minutes silently eating. I could feel Tyler’s eyes on me, but I acted like I didn’t notice.
After Tyler finished eating he angled himself in the booth so he could face me easier, and he reached over and ran his hand from my shoulder down to my elbow. I closed my eyes for a moment and just focused on the comfort his touch brought before I turned to face him. He gently squeezed my arm and met my eyes when he spoke. “Look, I know that there is shit you’ve gone through, and shit you’ve probably had to do while you were in the military that you probably have no interest in talking about. I’m not asking you to. Just know, that no matter what you did it was because you were a Marine and I will never judge you for it, no matter how fucked up you think it was in your head.” Tyler moved his hand to my chest and placed it over my heart. “All that matters is who you are in here, and I’ve got a pretty good feeling about your heart.”
I blinked because, fuck, it was like he’d read my damn mind, and I wasn’t someone who got emotional and started crying every time somebody said something nice to me, but I felt tears welling up behind my eyelids. I grabbed his face and pulled him in until our mouths were only an inch apart. “You’ve got no fucking idea how much that means,” and then I kissed him. It wasn’t a soft kiss, but it wasn’t a needy kiss either. I kissed him slow, molding our mouths together as I tried to show him just how much his words had meant to me.”
“Hey! There’s kids in here. Nobody wants to see that shit!”
Some half-bald guy at the bar, with a gut that had clearly been fueled by years of too many beers, had turned around on his stool and was glaring in our direction. “Yeah, I’m talkin’ to ya. You’re making me lose my appetite. Why don’cha get the hell outta here.”
I was out of the booth so fast the table wobbled when I nearly knocked it over. When the guy realized I was heading straight for him his eyes bugged out as he took in my size. Apparently, he hadn’t noticed I was big enough to kick his ass from behind the table. “What the fuck’d you say to us?” I basically growled at him when I got to the bar.
The guy held up his hands like he wanted to surrender, and I smacked them back down. “L-look, man. I didn’t mean nothin’. I was just messin’ with ya.”
I grabbed him up by his shirt, but before I could do anything else I felt a hand on my arm. It was gentle, not like someone trying to push me out of the restaurant, but like someone who cared. Tyler gave me a small smile when I turned to look at him. “Cole, let’s go home. He’s not worth our time.”
Home. He said let’s go home, like we would be going together. I liked the sound of that. I let the asshole’s shirt go and Tyler took my hand. Before we walked away he winked at the jackass and planted a loud kiss on my lips, effectively wiping away my anger, and telling the guy to fuck off without using his words.
We were both laughing when we got to the parking lot. I’d managed to get a spot next to Tyler when I arrived, so we headed to where we were parked. I pushed Tyler against my truck and planted my hands on either side of him. “So, you said something about us going home.” I brought my lips to his jaw and kissed across his stubble enjoying the rough feeling against my lips until I was at his ear. I whispered, “Were you thinking your house or mine?”
Tyler was breathing heavier now, and he surprised me when he grabbed my arms and quickly turned us around so that he had me pinned against my truck. “Oh, I’m taking you home with me. I’ve been thinking about fucking you in my bed for days now.”
My dick sprung to life beneath my jeans. I was a big guy, okay, a really big guy, so men always assumed I wanted to be in charge. In reality, I wanted a man who would give just as good as he could take. Hearing Tyler tell me he planned to fuck me was the hottest thing anyone had ever said to me, and the few minutes it was going to take us to drive to his house suddenly felt like a lifetime. I gave him a quick kiss before I pushed him back gently and pointed at his car. “Drive. I’m right behind you.” Tyler smirked and walked around to his driver’s side. When he opened the door, I called his name before he could get in. “Drive fast.”
“I’ve got this,” Tyler said with a smirk, then he ducked inside his car and I quickly jumped in my truck and started it up.