It could have been because Lucy was a cat rather than a dog or because of the difference in size between the two pets or simply because Rose was far more settled this time in comparison to when Bucky had arrived. Whatever it was, Rose had spent a good three hours following Lucy around as she acclimatized to her new home, sniffing every nook and cranny in each room until she was comfortable enough to move on to the next one.
Bucky had been beside himself with excitement when he realized that he had a new playmate. After the lengthy kitty tour of the house, we’d endured several more hours of Bucky responding to each hiss and snarl from Lucy with nothing more than a lolling tongue and a playful wiggle of his butt.
Rose had been there for all of it, gently chastising Bucky whenever he got a little too enthusiastic with the new member of the household and quietly cheering whenever Lucy rumbled with a content purr, until it was well past midnight and Lucy washeadbutting a tired Bucky’s snout before kneading and curling into his side.
Marshall had been there for it all, supervising everyone while I caught up on some well-overdue chores.
I was busy folding towels in the family room when an exhausted Rose shuffled over to wish me a good night.
“Patriarchal Marshall is putting Puppy Bucky and Spooky Lucy in the laundry,” she mumbled whilst giving me a tight hug. “I’ll leave my door open tonight to keep an ear out, but I think they’ll be okay.”
“Thanks to you,” I said, kissing her on the top of her head before letting her step back. “You did well with them today.”
A pleased flush bloomed over her cheeks. “I think it helped that Lucy Suzuki already knew me from the shelter.”
“Mm, you could be right,” I agreed, although I secretly believed that it had a lot more to do with who she was growing into as a person. Generally, she was a whirling dervish of excitement, but her time volunteering at the shelter had taught her how effective quieter moments could be. She’d used that knowledge well tonight.
I was so proud of who she was becoming.
She let out a jaw-cracking yawn, then slow blinked at me. “I’m so glad I don’t have work tomorrow. I feel like I could sleep for the next month.”
I chuckled and nodded down the hall toward her room, relieved when I saw Marshall heading our way. “Go on, then. Night, Rosey.”
“Night, Daddy Danny,” she muttered before she stumbled toward her room. “Night, Party Marshy.”
“Night, Rose,” he said with a raised eyebrow in my direction and a mouthedthat’s newover her shoulder when he hugged her.
Smiling at the sight of them together, I shrugged in response and refocused on the fitted sheet I was absolutely failing to fold correctly before giving up and scrunching it into a ball. It was clean, which was what mattered. Any creases would get stretched out when it was next used.
Marshall wrapped his arms around my waist as I tossed the clump of material on the neat pile of towels sitting on the sofa, waiting patiently to be put away in the linen closet. I felt him vibrate against my back before he smothered a snort against my shoulder. “You have a thing against fitted sheets?”
“They’re evil.”
“I can’t say that I disagree.” He squeezed my middle before turning me around and planting his lips against mine, humming softly. “I’ve been wanting to do that for hours.”
“Mm,” I agreed, letting my fingers trail up his sides. My thumbs dipped beneath his shirt to skim over his pebbling skin, pleased beyond measure when I felt him tremble. “I’ve been wanting a lot more than that for days.”
“Have you, now?” An amused exhale puffed over me as he nipped at my bottom lip. His hands dropped to my ass before he squeezed and pulled me against his rapidly filling cock. “Maybe we should do something about that, then.”
“Yes. That. Let’s do that.” Leaving the towels and sheets precisely where they were, I blindly backed away from the sofa and toward our bedroom, dragging him along with me. My hands flexed against his waist as we moved, keeping as little space between us as possible.
He nosed against my jawline before nibbling at my earlobe, purring against the feel of my beard, then chuckling when I stumbled in response to him biting down a little harder. “Maybe I should lead this waltz.”
A long groan rumbled from me when he used his grip on my ass to guide me backward, our lips sipping gently at eachother as he swayed us from side to side and slow danced our way through the bedroom door, stopping only when I felt the mattress bump against the backs of my knees.
Humming, Marshall slid his hands up to my shoulders and applied the slightest pressure to get me to sit down. Once he was satisfied that I was where he wanted me, he stepped back and held up a finger in response to my whine. “Get naked while I lock the door.”
My fingers twitched in desire as I watched him shut the door, then flick the lock that I suspected would never keep Rose out if she was determined enough to gain access to our room before my brain registered what he’d instructed me to do. As soon as it did, I tore off my sweater and shirt at the same time and tossed them to the side, then abruptly stalled when he turned around at the door and did the same.
My mouth watered at the expanse of skin on display in front of me before I licked my lips and let out a shaky exhale when his hooded eyes traced the movement.
“Do you like what you see?” Letting out a low moan, he tweaked his nipples before he slid his palms down his torso until his fingertips met the waistband of his jeans, toying at the button. “Do you want me to continue?”
Holy fuck, did I ever. Licking my lips again to catch any errant drool, I nodded rapidly.
He flicked the button free but held steady at the zip. “Then you need to finish doing what I told you to do.” Marshall lowered his eyes enough to peer at me through his lashes. “Every piece of clothing you lose, I’ll match.”
Groaning, I hurried to undo my jeans before lifting my ass to wiggle them and my boxers off.
