Page 21 of How to Trust a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #4)

I hummed in agreement. “Aiden likes her very much, and if you would feel comfortable doing that, then I agree. You can always tell me anything, too, although I certainly don’t have the same expertise as her.

” She was, after all, a fury, and I was a hellhound.

I didn’t add that, though, since I wasn’t sure Josh was up for the full afterlifer explanation .

“I just… I feel stupid for what happened with Rick. But I’m also so angry at the same time.”

I hugged Josh tighter. “You are not stupid, and I do not want to hear you call yourself that. You’re strong, brave, and resilient. You have a giving nature. You want to please others and take care of them. Rick took advantage of that, and your goodness kept you from seeing what he was doing.”

Josh snorted, and I could tell he didn’t agree.

I squeezed him tightly for a moment, adding, “Hey, no disagreeing over your good nature.”

“It isn’t that.” He sighed. “I mean, maybe I do have a giving nature or whatever, but that isn’t what attracted me to Rick.”

“What attracted you to him?”

Josh seemed uncomfortable, and he shifted in my grip a bit. I pulled him tight again, and that seemed to settle him. I made a mental note that he seemed to enjoy being held tightly.

“We, uhh… Rick was into… Well…” Josh seemed unable to get out his thoughts.

“The stuff under your bed?” I asked.

Josh burrowed into my chest even more, and I could smell his embarrassment.

“Oh my god, you saw that stuff?” he asked.

“Did you enjoy the toys? Or was that something Rick enjoyed that you just went along with?” I asked.

The distinction was important, and I needed to know. I wanted nothing more than to give Josh whatever pleasure I could, and I wanted to know what he liked.

“I, um, well, I liked them, I guess,” he murmured.

“What did you like?” I asked.

Josh sighed. “You’re not gonna let me out of answering, are you?”

“Nope,” I answered, kissing his head again.

“I’ve enjoyed all types of things during sex, and I don’t have a problem with anything I saw in your toy collection.

I want you to get pleasure from whatever we do, and I have to know what you enjoy in order to do that.

I have a feeling that if you think I’m enjoying it, you might not speak up about it.

It would ruin my pleasure if I realized you didn’t like something and were just doing it because you thought I liked it. ”

He pulled away and looked at me. “But I like giving my partner pleasure and doing things they like. That’s what gives me pleasure.”

I hummed in agreement. Josh was definitely submissive.

I wasn’t sure if he even realized how submissive he was when it came to sex, because he wasn’t submissive in his friendships.

I had seen that time and time again, and I had thoroughly enjoyed him putting the boys in their place.

He had done that because he was a caretaker, though, and he wanted what was best for people.

“Documentary?” he asked, changing the subject.

I nodded my head. Josh had obviously had enough heavy conversation today, and we had plenty of time to figure out the physical.

The trick would be to figure out what my mate enjoyed in his submission.

I already knew he liked a little sting when we were kissing—he had loved when I’d bit his lip.

It definitely wouldn’t be a hardship to explore, and if he couldn’t talk about it now, then I’d see if he was more open to answering questions during sex.

I really did enjoy talking to my partner.

That could wait, though. Josh needed to relax, and I was happy to cuddle and watch something with him. I reached over and grabbed the remote off the side table, handing it to him.

“Any particular documentary you’re interested in?” he asked, turning on the television.

“Show me some that interest you, and we’ll pick one together,” I said.

He happily settled in and clicked on a streaming service.

We went through documentaries, discussing ones that he liked and didn’t.

We finally settled on one about an evil human who was hunted down by other humans that looked interesting.

Humans dealing with evil in the world on their own was always admirable and interesting.

Unfortunately, before we could get too far into the program, my phone rang.

“It’s Thea,” I said, recognizing the ring tone I had set for her. I was loath to break the moment between Josh and I, even if it was my delicate side project.

“You said she’s like the boys, and that she had some trouble. You’re thinking of bringing her into your work with the guys, aren’t you?” he asked.

I nodded. She was already a hellhound, but yes, I would feel better if she learned from our guidance.

“Then you better take the call,” he said, pausing the show.

I picked up the phone. “Yeah.”

Josh laughed at my greeting.

“Who’s with you?” Thea asked suspiciously.

Josh must have heard her, because he whispered, “Do you want me to go?”

He didn’t realize Thea would be able to hear a whisper.

I shook my head no, putting the phone on speaker. “Thea, this is Josh. He’s my mate.”

Josh laughed again. “He’s using Toby-speak. Toby is my friend, and he’s a paranormal suspense writer, so he phrases things in an interesting manner. I’m Wilder’s boyfriend.”

He blushed when he said it, looking at me, and I smiled at him reassuringly.

“You a hellhound, too?” she asked.

“Um, no. I’m a financial advisor,” Josh answered.

“Huh. I figured you’d all be…” she trailed off.

“In the same line of work?” Josh asked. “No. I mean, I guess the Smiths are, but the boyfriends aren’t.”

“Boyfriends? What, is it some kind of reverse harem thing there?” she asked .

I didn’t sense any judgement, but Josh turned red.

“No! We all date different Smith men. I mean, I’m dating Wilder.

Aiden is a pastry chef, and he’s dating Atlas, and Q works in the same coffee shop, and he’s dating Liam.

Dexter is dating Toby—he’s the paranormal writer, so don’t mind some of the crazy stuff he says,” Josh answered.

“So, we’re all pretty normal. Well, Q is snarky as hell, and Aiden was actually held captive for a year by a stalker, and Toby gets lost in plotlines…

Okay, maybe we’re not normal normal, but we’re normally abnormal. ”

Thea laughed, and I looked at the phone, surprised. I don’t think I’d ever set her at ease enough to get a laugh out of her.

“Are you coming to visit the Smiths? Wilder said you’re kind of in the same line of work as him, and I’m sure he’d be a great mentor. He’s really kind and understanding,” Josh said, looking at me.

I grunted. I wasn’t sure if I was agreeing or disagreeing, but I felt a bit odd having him praise me to Thea.

“I don’t know, Josh.” She sighed.

“You should. Our town is great, and it’s also totally normal,” Josh said. “A pretty boring town, just the way we like it.”

“I might make my way there, then. It was nice talking to you, Josh.”

She hung up before Josh or I could answer.

“Yeah, she’s got the same manners as the guys,” he laughed. Then he picked up the remote and looked at me. I nodded my head, cuddling him back in as he unpaused the show.

Somehow, Josh seemed to have convinced Thea to come here when I hadn’t been able to. Of course, he’d also said Paradise Falls was boring and normal, and really, it was probably the furthest thing from either of those.

I’d explain all the afterlifers in town later, though. After all, we had a documentary to watch together.