Page 22 of How to Trust a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #4)

Josh

“ S o you know how Toby is always going on about them being hellhounds? Well, apparently that’s what they’re named,” I said into the phone.

Sebbie had called, and he’d barely gotten a hello out before I’d burst out with my news.

“Josh, did you hit your head? You’re the rational one,” Sebbie answered.

I laughed. “Not hellhounds like Toby is always saying. You know how he is—everything gets a little twisted. No, apparently it’s their job.

They’re like special forces or something, or hitmen, and they’re called The Hellhounds.

But they work for the government or something, and they really do only go after bad people. ”

“Huh. Like a motorcycle club? The Hellhounds?” Seb asked.

“Yeah, except without the motorcycles,” I said. “I didn’t ask too many questions, because I don’t know if I really want to know, but Wilder told me last night.”

“Ohhhh. Wilder told you last night?” Sebbie said, drawing it out.

I smiled. “Yeah. He kind of asked me to date him. ”

Seb gasped. “Josh! That’s so exciting! I could tell you were totally interested in him, even when you were still with the dickbag.”

I laughed at Sebbie’s name for Rick. “Yeah, I was. I just hope I’m not jumping into something too soon. Seb, he’s really amazing, and I don’t want to ruin this because I have so much baggage from Rick. And it is soon.”

“You and Rick have been done for a while,” Seb stated. “You stayed because he was a manipulative asshole, and now you’ve had some time to process everything that happened. I think you and Wilder are a great idea.”

I was glad to have Seb’s support, but I was still worried. “A week or two after a break up is not a lot of processing time. I’m thinking of maybe going to see Aiden’s therapist.”

“That’s a good idea. It sure can’t hurt.” Seb paused, adding, “Just be careful of your heart, Josh. Wilder seems like a great guy, and I’m sure he wouldn’t hurt you, but once you invest in someone, you give them your all. Sometimes more than your all.”

“Eh,” I answered.

“It’s true! Josh, you are, like, the most supportive guy I know. You have always been there for Toby and me, and you give every relationship you’ve ever been in so much attention. You remember that guy in college, don’t you?”

I groaned. Yes, I remembered Mike. He was a sweet guy, and we really didn’t match up well, but we’d ended up dating for almost a year because neither of us wanted to hurt the other one.

It was kind of comical when we’d actually had the break-up talk, and we’d stayed friends until he started dating someone new who thought it was weird he still talked to an ex.

“Exactly. So just… I don’t know, Josh, maybe try to put yourself first for once,” Seb said. “And call the therapist. I think it would be good.”

“Yeah, I will. But how are you?” I asked. I didn’t want to monopolize the conversation .

“I’m good. Nothing on the dating front, unless you count the birds,” he answered.

I chuckled. Seb had befriended the local crows, and he was sort of fascinated with them. “What did they do now? Still leaving you shiny rocks?”

“Yeah, and other shiny things. Plus, and this is really wild—they left me a stuffed crow. How funny is that? It’s small and light, so it wouldn’t have been hard for one of them to carry, but it’s so funny that they would give that to me.

And it’s kind of hysterical to think of a crow carrying a stuffed crow and someone seeing that. ”

I laughed. “You have to tell Toby. He’ll totally put that in one of his books.”

“Oh, he definitely will!” Seb agreed. “I have to call and check in with him next. You should go make that appointment. And when are you seeing Wilder next?”

“I’ll call the office as soon as we get off the phone,” I answered, feeling determined.

“And Wilder is coming by when I’m done with work today.

I’m working from home for a couple days.

Which reminds me that I need to talk to Liam about paying rent.

I’d like to stay here, although not having a road to the cabin is a pain.

Wilder said they’re having that done soon, though.

The Smith property is really pretty, though. ”

Seb agreed, and we made small talk for a few more minutes before he got off the phone to call Toby, promising not to give away my news about Wilder. Not that I minded if he did—Toby, Seb, and I shared pretty much everything and had since college.

That thought made me feel bad for shutting them out when everything was happening with Rick. They were the best, though, and I knew they didn’t hold it against me.

I called Aiden’s therapist, Helene, and made an appointment with her.

She seemed really nice on the phone, and she ended up having a few moments to talk.

She asked me what was bringing me to therapy, and next thing I knew, I was pouring out my story about Rick.

She was very easy to talk to, and I felt really good about going to see her.

It was also nice that I’d given her some of the backstory before we met in person.

It felt good to know she didn’t judge me for what happened, and she was reassuring about it not being my fault. I could see why Aiden liked her.

I passed the rest of the afternoon with numbers and spreadsheets, and time dragged while I waited for the work day to end so Wilder could come over. Maybe things with him were all kinds of fast, but Wilder was just such a good person.

I’d always known that Rick was kind of an asshole.

He had plenty of red flags, but the sex had been really good at first, and I had kept making excuses for his bad behavior.

I always wanted to believe the best of people, and I guess sometimes that didn’t work out in my favor.

Next thing I knew, we were living together because Rick had hinted that he needed a cheaper place to stay, and I, of course, had been helpful.

Then it had just seemed really complicated to break things off.

I sighed, finishing up the last spreadsheet for the day.

Enough thinking about Rick. I had Wilder to look forward to.

He was sweet and kind, and it didn’t hurt that he was also sexy as sin.

Who knew that an older guy was my type? The bit of gray in his hair really did it for me.

He was in amazing shape and built just like his sons, too, which made sense considering he was in some secret military organization or something.

And yeah, that was a little worrisome. What if he got hurt? What if something happened to him? Did he get, like, deployed on jobs or anything? I guess those were things we would need to talk about.

Mostly, though, I hoped there was more kissing. And maybe more than that. It had been a long time since I’d had intimacy, and I was craving it.

As if that thought conjured him up, I heard a knock on the door, and I knew it was Wilder. I yelled for him to come in as I closed my laptop and got up, stretching .

Wilder came into the living room where I’d been working for the last hour (I alternated between the kitchen table and couch—I didn’t have an office set up yet), and he made a sound of appreciation. I felt my face get warm, but I didn’t stop stretching. It was nice to think he thought I was sexy.

I also wasn’t sure what to do next. Did I go over and kiss him hello? Hug him? Do an awkward Toby wave? Luckily he walked right in and pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around him, sighing at the contact. Being in Wilder’s arms made me feel safe.

He smelled so good, like the outdoors and man.

His arms and chest were firm and muscled, and I couldn’t help thinking about the kiss yesterday.

I was getting turned on just from being in his arms, and it would have been embarrassing if I didn’t know he returned my interest. He growled low in this throat, which was crazy hot, and then his lips were on mine.

Thank god. The man was a freaking amazing kisser. He led the kiss, licking at my lips until I opened up, his tongue playing with mine and licking into my mouth. When he nipped at my bottom lip, drawing it between his teeth, I couldn’t help the sound that escaped me.

Wilder put his hands under my ass and lifted me up.

Holy shit, that was fucking hot, and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. He continued to kiss me, our mouths slanting together, his teeth lightly nibbling on my lips between kisses.

He walked with me and rested my ass on something, and I vaguely realized from the height it had to be the kitchen table, because we were pretty even.

Wilder bit down onto my lip hard, and the zing went through my entire body, making me gasp. I jerked my hips into his, desperate for some friction, and I felt his hardness against mine. I leaned my head back and groaned at the contact.

“Do you like that? Do you like a little bite with your pleasure?” he rumbled, and he kissed his way down my neck, lightly nibbling.

His light nibbles felt like a tease, and I wanted more .

“Answer me, Mei Ume,” he growled.

“Yes!” I gasped.

In reward his teeth sunk into the space between my shoulder and my neck, the feel of it making my entire body jerk. He pulled off and licked at the spot, and I hoped he’d left a mark. The idea of it was such a turn on.

“What do you want, Mei Ume?” Wilder asked.

“I want to make you come,” I answered. “I want to please you.” I wanted to show Wilder I could bring him pleasure, too. I wanted to make him happy.

“Mmm, you do please me. All your beautiful sounds please me.”

He reached down and squeezed my nipple beneath my shirt, and I pushed into him as he increased the pressure. I couldn’t help grinding against him as he squeezed tighter, sending waves of pleasure through me, and I let myself groan loudly, wanting Wilder to hear me.

“What do you want to do to me?” he asked.