Page 14 of Puppy Pride (Pride Camp 2025)

Chapter Fourteen

Demetrius

T he room, which had felt spacious when I was alone, now seemed positively claustrophobic.

Still, as Jai moved to the window and pulled back the curtain, I couldn’t help but admire him. His lithe body, his strong back, and his beautiful ass.

Over the years, when I thought about him, I’d remember two things—his puppy joy and his beautiful butt.

And now I knew why he’d disappeared. That made me so damn sad. And wanting to kill Gary the Gnat. What a monumental asshole.

I wasn’t clear whether Gary had simply outed Jai or if he’d said something about the puppy persona. Either way, the guy was a class A fuckwit douchebag whose ass I would totally kick if we ever met. I wasn’t a violent man, but every once in a while, I met someone who deserved a kick.

You would never.

Yeah…but I really wa nt to.

“So you can see Baker from here?” Jai pointed in the direction of the volcano.

“Yeah. You kind of have to angle yourself because there’s stuff between here and there…but yeah, you can see it. Just…stunning.”

“My parents don’t have a view. Just a ritzy house in an expensive part of town. Meant to show our family’s wealth. I much preferred Arnav’s home. So much happiness and laughter. Not austere. Not severe. Meant to show graciousness—not avarice.”

I winced. “That wasn’t any way to grow up.”

“I certainly would never want that. For any child, let alone my own. I mean, I’m never going to have kids—”

“Why do you say that?” The question kind of burst out from my chest.

He closed the drapes, then turned back to me. “As you pointed out—I don’t even have a home of my own. And although my salary is very generous, and I’m allowed to take on extra work during my off time, homes are still expensive. I’ve been working at camps—not exactly lucrative.”

“Not like what you were doing before Gary the Gnat.”

He blinked. “Who?”

“Your ex. I’ve decided he’s Gary the Gnat.”

“Oh.” He frowned. “You know, I try really hard not to think of him at all. I mean, I loved my work at the camp back in Nova Scotia—very fulfilling. But I could’ve made a life volunteering out here. I shouldn’t have had to go almost four thousand miles to outrun my demons.”

Jesus.

“But you’re back.”

He pursed his lips. “Am I really? I haven’t called my parents. Wouldn’t be in touch with Arnav, if not for you. I certainly haven’t contacted anyone from my old life… ”

Your professional life, personal life, or pup life? I didn’t ask.

“Well, you could do those things. Or you can move forward…which I think is what you’re actually doing. Alessandra has given you a chance to start fresh. So you can make new friends—and keep the old ones worth keeping. You can confront your parents for their homophobia. Oh, I assume—”

He nodded.

“Right. So you can confront them or you can choose to ignore them. Live a good life, and you’re already ahead of them.”

“They…” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“I want to say they’re just old school and old money, but they’re bigoted and racist. Irony that someone in the minority would be racist, but they are.

And terribly classist. I wish…” He ran his hands through his hair. “I wish Arnav’s parents had been mine.”

“Have you reconnected with them? Sounds like you were close to Arnav growing up. Did you have a relationship with his parents?”

“Yeah.” He bit his lower lip. “I did. They were awesome—as were his older sisters. I didn’t appreciate that at the time. I sure do now.”

“So make the first move. Through Arnav or on your own. Just say you’re back in town and wanting to reconnect.

Something about knowing you might run into each other at the grocery store, but you want the first time to be more meaningful.

Let them set the parameters. If they’re anything like their son, I think you’ll be welcomed with open arms.” God, please let me be right.

But if they accepted a gay son, surely they’ll accept his gay friend…

“I could do that. I mean, I think I still have their number in my phone. Do people still have landlines?”

I chuckled. “Some older people do. I do. For emergencies. These days, though, if I was starting fresh, I’m not certain I would.

Both my kids have cell phones. I thought Alaina might be too young, but she wants to go to and from school on her own.

At eleven, she’s earned that privilege. It’s comforting to know she can get in touch with me if need be. ”

Jai advanced toward me. “I can see what a good dad you are. You have doubts. I think most good parents do. They worry about screwing up their kids. Parents who know what’s best in all circumstances without hesitation…

I find they’re the ones who are often wrong.

Life is a series of negotiations. You want what’s best for your kids—but you’re also willing to listen to their side of any argument. ”

I rubbed my hand. “I just want to do right by Erlene.”

Slowly, telegraphing his movement, he grasped my hand. “I can tell you do. That you are. You’re here, right? That says a lot about the kind of man you are. Many parents wouldn’t have brought their kids to Pride Camp—let alone stayed close in a hotel to be nearby if anything bad happens.”

“Like racoons.”

“Like racoons.” He smiled. “Vicious little shits.”

“Uh, yeah.” I squeezed his hand. “Watching Keegan have a hard time and not being able to do more than show up and insult racoons in support is so hard.”

“I know.” He squinted. “Okay, I don’t actually know.

I just see kids who are in pain and I want to solve all their problems. I can only imagine how their parents feel.

Camp isn’t just for kids—it’s giving a respite to the parents as well.

Vigilance takes a lot from a person. A few moments of peace can be worth a lot. ”

“I think you’d make a great parent. And before you argue, parenting comes in a lot of different forms. I essentially parented my sisters.

As I said, I was eighteen, and they were fifteen when Nan died.

I didn’t see Erlene coming—and now I’m raising her two amazing kids.

Arnav and Foster are looking into options of becoming parents.

Aaron and Noel—who I told you about—are looking into fostering options.

And you’ve got your camp kids, if only for a short time. ”

“But I’m not working directly with them. I was before.”

“Do you miss that part of it?”

“Sure—”

“Then find something similar in the offseason. Find a place to volunteer. There’s got to be something in Mission City—some kid out there who needs guidance.”

“You’re right, of course.” He met my gaze. “You seem to be often right.”

I chuckled. “Running the odds. If I spout enough advice, something’s bound to land.”

“I think more lands than you realize.”

“Well, that’s the hope.” A warmth spread through my chest at his shy smile.

Then something happened. His pupils widened, and he cocked his head. “I feel like…” He shook his head.

“Feel like…?”

“Like I know you. Which is ridiculous, because of course I know you.”

Ah, recognition. Finally.

“You’ve been around for more than a week, and we’ve seen each other several times. We just spent three hours at a restaurant together. Best time I’ve had in a long time. A very long time.”

Crap. Say something now or let it ride? Does it matter if he never puts the pieces together or will me broaching the subject make him feel more comfortable to be himself?

Oh, what I wouldn’t do for a crystal ball that would let me see into the future.

“I had a good time as well. I’m glad you were able to relax. ”

Except I was anything but relaxed with him holding my hand .

“I want…” He swallowed.

“Want,” I prompted.

“To kiss you.”

Oh thank Christ. It’s not just me. “That would be perfectly acceptable—thank you for asking.”

He smiled that boyish smile that always dazzled me.

That still brought a hitch to my breathing. My pup was still in there. I was certain of it. Maybe someday I could help him find a new home. Somewhere secure and far away from harm.

He went up on tiptoes.

I bent my neck. My eyes drifted shut.

Our lips brushed.

As soft as I’d imagined.

He let go of my hand, grasped my cheeks, and tugged me closer. He opened his mouth and ran his tongue along the seam of my lips.

I opened for him on a sigh. A week of wanting. Six years of waiting.

Finally.

I slid my hands down his sides then over the globes of his perfect ass. I squeezed.

He moaned.

I dragged him against me.

Our erect cocks brushed.

Yes. This. One hundred times this.

He pressed against me—trying to bring us as close together as possible.

I had no argument for this and melded our bodies together so I couldn’t tell where he left off and where I began.

My immediate reaction was to drag him to bed.

Three things held me back. First—supplies.

I didn’t have condoms. He might…or I might be able to get some from the front desk…

but that didn’t feel right. Secondly—I worried he w asn’t in the right headspace.

We’d talked a lot about some pretty intense subjects tonight.

I didn’t want him hopping into bed with me to alleviate some of the pain I’d witnessed.

Finally, I hadn’t come clean with him. I’d yet to tell him I knew about his true self.

But if he’d hung up his pup costume forever, he might not want that reminder.

I was making excuses because I didn’t want to drive Jai away, and bringing up the past might do just that. “Can I give you a blow job?”

He giggle-snorted. “Not where I expected this to go.”

“Is that a yes?” A grin split my face.

He held my gaze. “Yeah, that would be…okay.”

“Just okay?” I wanted to feign hurt, but he didn’t always seem to get the joke.

“More than okay. But only if you want.”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I hadn’t wanted to. I don’t tend to do anything I don’t want to.” Unless it came to the kids. Sometimes I had to do what was right—not what I wanted.

“Uh, okay.”

I pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose.

Then, as graciously as I could, I sank to my knees.

No easy feat—I was a big guy. But I’d done this a couple of times before.

Not a lot, but enough to know what I was doing.

Once I was as comfortable as I was going to get, I undid the button on his khakis.

I slid the zipper down and then carefully pulled down both his pants and his boxer briefs.

His erection sprang free.

I licked my lips and gazed up at him.

He gently ran his hand across my short, curly hair. Then he offered a heartbreaking smile. Slowly, he nodded.

I grasped the base of his cock and brought the tip to my lips. I licked the slit, taking in the drop of precum.

“Oh, Jesus. ”

Fair. I planned to make him say a whole lot more than that before our time together was over. Slowly, I licked my way around his tip.

He swayed.

I pulled his crown into my mouth and swirled my tongue around him.

He let out a little groan.

Well okay, then. I sucked him in farther, continuing to run my tongue up and down his length.

His taste was perfect. His scent was intoxicating.

His little sounds of pleasure had me hardening further in my jeans.

When I swallowed him down whole, nearly gagging, he jerked in me.

I kept sucking and holding his thighs steady even as his breath stuttered.

He didn’t give me a verbal warning, but his hands tightening against my scalp gave me enough of a hint of what was coming. He spurted into my mouth, and I continued to suck as I swallowed greedily.

“Demetrius…” He elongated the s .

My cock pressed painfully against my jeans.

His phone rang.

“Shit.” He yanked out of my mouth with a pop, and drool dribbled down my chin.

As I still, somehow, had my wits about me, I found his phone in the back pocket of the khakis and handed it to him.

“Shit.” He swiped. “Hey, Cody, what’s up?”

Since I pegged the psychologist as a pretty responsible guy, this call worried me. Carefully, I pulled up Jai’s boxer briefs and tucked him into them. Then I worked his pants up. Wouldn’t do for him to try to walk and then trip and hit his noggin.

“Oh God. How are they?”

My ears perked as I zipped his pants and secured the button .

“You absolutely did the right thing in calling me. Are they headed to the Mission City or Abbotsford hospitals?” A pause. “I’m glad they’re going to Abbotsford. Bigger hospital and more staff. All that’s good but…” Another pause. “You’ve called their parents? Right, up north. I forgot.”

Ah. Chris. At least they meant just one person and not a group, although by Jai’s rigid demeanor—and the fact a camper was on their way to the hospital—this couldn’t be good.

My erection, now waning, was no impediment to me standing—although I used the bed to rise faster. A bit of a head rush, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

“I’m in downtown Mission City right now.

I’ll head to the Abbotsford hospital. All good.

” Another pause. “You did the right thing, Cody. Sounds like you worked as a team. I’ll text—” He frowned.

“Oh, of course you want to be there. If Grey and Makenna can watch—” More brow furrowing.

“Right. I’ll see you shortly.” He ran his hand through his hair.

“Good work.” Then he stabbed the phone—clearly to disconnect the call.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Oh God, I’m going to be fired. And I shouldn’t even be worrying about that because Chris is in an ambulance on the way to the hospital and I need to get there. My car! Jesus. I can run. I need to go. Like, right now.”

“Jai.” I needed to calm him, because him taking off in this state wasn’t going to help. Yes, he needed to get to the hospital. Him crashing his SUV on the way wasn’t going to help anyone—least of all Chris.

“You don’t understand. I should’ve been there tonight. I never should have left. If something happens—”

“Jai.” Again, calm and authoritative. Like when Keegan was spiraling.

“Their life was in danger. I might’ve prevented what happened. I mean, if something happens—”

“Jai.”

Still with the wild hand gestures, as if beseeching me to understand.

I did. If Keegan had been hurt, I’d be beside myself. But my mind worked differently than Jai’s clearly did. Bad things helped me focus on the essential and block out all the noise. I’d deal with the crisis and push all the noise—including self-recriminations—to the background.

Jai was obviously the opposite. Panic was sending his mind skittering all over the place and obviously nothing I said was going to calm him.

So I did the only thing I knew to do. “Stop! Sit!”

He plopped his ass onto the bed.

I took a short-lived breath of relief.