A few more hours put behind me, a few more bugs fixed and once again my body’s screaming at me to stretch and take a shower, though thankfully non-dog induced this time.

I lean back in my chair and scrub my fingers through my hair, grunting and groaning as my stiffened limbs spring to life once more. God I’m exhausted, yet I can’t get my mind to focus on what I’m doing. All I keep seeing is Joy... that cute little lip bite as I closed the door, that look of helpless yearning.

I really have been putting myself through hell with that woman. Part of me thinks I should just man up and tell her, let her know in no uncertain terms that she’s mine, claim her like the beast within me wants to. And yet....

Shutting down my computer, I head downstairs to grab a drink from the kitchen. I sigh as I look at the time and I see that it's already eleven o'clock. Jesus, I’ve been working longer than I thought I had, my growling stomach also reminding me that I’ve not eaten properly since breakfast.

Just as I finish my drink and start to think about food, there’s a knock at my door. Who in the hell is knocking on my door this late? Ignoring the fact, I’m still in the same hastily thrown on clothes from earlier, I open my front door to see a very worried Joy on my porch.

She’s changed clothes since our earlier encounter, she’s wearing a silky pink tank with matching shorts covered in sugarplum faeries. At least she was sensible enough to throw on shoes, I muse, trying to focus on that fact and not the fact that seeing her again is making my pulse gather speed. But something’s not right. She’s twisting her hands and has a distraught look on her face, which is so completely out of character for her it looks almost wrong.

Immediately, I’m concerned. “Joy? What’s wrong?” I ask as I take her by the arm and bring her into the house and out of the cold.

Taking her into the living room, I turn on the gas logs in the fire place to help warm her up, sitting down next to her on the battered but oh-so-comfy sofa and taking her shaking hands in mine, rubbing them to warm them from the cold.

She’s pulled her long hair into a bun on top of her head and strands of it fall all over the place, giving her tired, worried face an even more desperately haunted look. I yearn to kiss the cold from her lips, but I know that isn’t why she came over here – she’d never come this late unless it was something serious.

“I’m sorry to bother you Kris, really I am. It’s just....” She apologizes as she pulls her hands from the clasp of mine. “Jolly’s gone missing, he somehow managed to slip open the latch on the dog door while I was in the shower.”

I shake my head in frustration. Therefore, I don’t do small dogs – at least bigger dogs make a racket that you can hear when they try and escape. But that dog, I swear to god if she didn’t love him so fucking much….

“I’ve checked all over my yard for him and he isn’t coming when I call, I didn’t want to walk all over the neighborhood this late and I don’t know what to do.” She says in a rush of words, her voice cracking and warbling with fear and nerves. I pull her into my arms and she relax against me, shivering from the cold and the anxiety.

Familiarity hits me like this is something we do every day and I sigh as she melts into me. After this morning’s little encounter, I’d already made up my mind that I am done watching her from afar. She’s mine and I’m going to make sure she knows it.

I kiss the top of her head, smiling as I hear her whimper, “Don’t worry, baby, we’ll find him. Let me just grab my stuff and we’ll take my car around the neighborhood. Too cold to be walking tonight and we’ll cover more ground this way.”

* * *

I wait as Kris grabs his coat and slips it on, grabbing his keys from the hook by his front door and ushering me out in front of him. I feel so silly, coming to him for help, but I honestly didn’t know who else to turn to.

Leading me towards his black and silver mustang with his hand low on my back, he opens the door for me. Muscle car for a muscle man; the cliché almost seems too much for words. I suppress a giggle as I slide down into the cold leather seat, shivering. I really should have put on something warmer.

Kris closes my door, then heads around the back of the car before getting in on his side. He starts the car and puts the heated seats on before turning to face me, the deep purr of the engine almost reflected in his eyes and manner. Yeah, cliché or not it fits.

“Put your seatbelt on, baby.” He instructs, and I find myself blushing ever so slightly. This is a side of him I never knew existed; I’d always thought him the gruff, unfeeling type. I’d never have thought he could be so. . . caring.

I snap on my seatbelt as he backs out of his driveway and we head down the road slowly, searching, looking in between the houses and the yards that are full of decorations and lights. Despite the merry colors and festive cheer, I’m scared. For the first time in my life, I’m not feeling the Christmas spirit.

“Do you have any idea where he might have gone?” Kris asks, his voice so heavy with concern that I blush. “Somewhere you take him for walks? Other people he’s friendly with?”

I shake my head, fighting back tears. “No, I have no idea where he would have gone. He’s never gotten out like this before.”

There’s a silence between us as we search for Jolly, but it isn’t uncomfortable or awkward, if anything I feel safe with Kris. I look over at him and somehow, I don’t know how, I just know he’s in his element, his natural state. He’s in control, he’s the one in charge and as stupid and as crazy as it might seem, I can’t help but believe him when he says everything will be okay.

A thought hits me and I figure this is as good of a time as any to ask. “Kris, why do you hate Jolly so much? Is it really him you hate or is it having me as a neighbor that is really the problem?”

He looks over at me with surprise on his face. “What in the hell would make you think I have a problem with you? I can promise you, Joy, you may frustrate me, but I can think of much better words to describe how you make me feel.” His voice low, warming almost, in the confines of his car feels strangely comforting and arousing.

Even in the dark interior of the car, I can see the heat in his eyes and it makes me blush. “Um, and what words are you thinking of?”

* * *

This woman, I take her in from head to toe and still never get tired of looking at her. She looks so innocent and fragile beside me, like a lost little girl. Oh, I know she’s far from fragile, and God knows I want to prove that so damn badly, but I want to wrap her up and protect her from the world all the same.

Her words hang between us, the car slowly rumbling onward as I turn to look at her. I can’t ignore the question in her eyes and I level with her. “Joy, you are, without a doubt, the most frustrating, cheerful, sexy, funny, quirky, and not to mention drop dead gorgeous woman I have ever seen.”

The expression of shock on her face is almost comical, it takes every ounce of willpower I have not to laugh. But I take advantage of her shock and continue, “I have watched you every day these past two years, every time you’ve waved as you’ve taken Jolly out, when you’ve been checking for the mail, when you’ve had gentlemen over and yeah, it’s been hard. It’s literally taken every bit of strength I have not to throw you over my shoulder and give you the spanking and fucking I have been dying to.” I tell her, part of me relived to have it out in the open, part of me instantly regretting my choice of words.

* * *

I’m stunned into silence.

Is he serious?

I can honestly say I had no idea Kris felt this way about me. Attraction, sure but that’s all I could guess. But the way he acts, the confidence in his voice, the way his words spark something deep within me... this is all so new.

I watch out the window still looking for Jolly during our talk. I’m trying to put into words my response when what I really want to do is climb onto his lap and kiss him all over. How do you respond to something like that? With shock? Honesty?

My mind’s reeling.

Kris reaches over and takes my hand in his and squeezes it. “Are you going to say something? I know that all sounded a little stalker-esque, but I have to say this is the first time I’ve actually seen you speechless since we met.”

His words pull a smile from me.

“I never would have thought that you would feel anywhere close to what I do for you. I’ve crushed on you since you opened your front door and yelled about Jolly being in your yard!”

Kris laughs as he takes the road that leads back to our houses and I melt further still; his laugh is so rich I could sink into it like a bath of warm honey.

“No, no, baby, it was more me being mad at the fates for putting something as beautiful and full of happiness as you in front of me. I tried as hard as I could to keep my grumpiness up to keep you at a distance, so I could work so I....”

I interrupt him before he can say more.

“Kris, that is about the craziest thing I have ever heard you say. If I thought for one minute you were all wrong for me I wouldn’t have went as far as treating Jolly for tearing up your yard just to get your attention.”

I slap my hands over my mouth as I realize what I just said, eyes wide and cheeks flushed with color. Kris’ eyes widen then narrow on me, the scowl heavy and obvious; full of shock and something else, something darker yet exciting.

“You were doing what?!” The tone of his voice is low and demanding, gruff and irresistible, drawing the answer from me before I have a chance to think. I slide my hands from my mouth and bite my lip, “I, err... may have given Jolly a treat every time he found his way into your yard.” I tell him in a quiet voice.

Kris turns into his driveway and puts the car into park, letting it idle with the heat on. We both sit in silence for what seems like the longest minute ever. Slowly, he reaches over to me and unhooks my seatbelt, then he grabs my waist, making me gasp as he pulls me over the console and onto his lap so quickly that my head’s spinning.

I chance a glance into his eyes. They’re burning hot and dark like coals, full of heat and emotion; a worrying mix of annoyance and desire.

“Oh, shit, you’re mad, aren’t you?”

He slides his hand along my cheek, gentle yet I can sense the firmness, the strength he’s holding back. “Let me get this straight, you have been giving that dog treats every time he comes into my yard and makes a mess and raises my blood pressure?”

I nod my head, unable to speak, a wonderful mix of anticipation and nerves rendering me speechless. He grins, his teeth glinting in the light before lowering his head and kissing me hard. When he breaks the kiss I’m breathless, the passion and desire in the act leaving me craving more.

“When we find that missing angel of yours, you are getting that spanking I’ve been promising you.” He whispers before giving me a quick, firm kiss, the growl in his throat melting every wall within me.