Shownotes
A stranger’s hand. A hidden door. A life long buried begins to stir. Some worlds only exist if you’re brave enough to enter.
Today’s story is the second and final part of “C’mon! No One’s Lookin’!” by TiberiusRings & Edouard You can find more of their individual works on BlueSky and Tiberius’ writing on SoFurry.com.
Last time, beneath the noise and lights of the city, Phil Deveraux discovered a hidden world few are meant to see. Drawn in by curiosity and something deeper, he followed a stranger beyond the threshold, uncertain of what waits for him on the other side.
Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/cmon-no-ones-lookin-by-tiberiusrings-edouard-part-2-of-2
Transcripts
You’re
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:Pride
Speaker:Month
Speaker:on
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “C’mon!
Speaker:No
Speaker:One’s Lookin’!” by TiberiusRings &
Speaker:Edouard
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:individual
Speaker:works
Speaker:on
Speaker:BlueSky and Tiberius’ writing on SoFurry.com.
Last
time,
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:noise
Speaker:and
Speaker:lights
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:city,
Speaker:Phil
Speaker:Deveraux
Speaker:discovered
Speaker:a
Speaker:hidden
Speaker:world
Speaker:few
Speaker:are
Speaker:meant
Speaker:to
Speaker:see.
Speaker:Drawn
Speaker:in
Speaker:by
Speaker:curiosity
Speaker:and
Speaker:something
Speaker:deeper,
Speaker:he
Speaker:followed
Speaker:a
Speaker:stranger
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:the
Speaker:threshold,
Speaker:uncertain
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:waits
Speaker:for
Speaker:him
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:side.
Please
enjoy
“C’mon!
No
Speaker:Ones Lookin’!”” by TiberiusRings & Edouard, Part 2 of 2
He
headed
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:curtain,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:followed
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart
Speaker:pounding
Speaker:so
Speaker:hard it
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:everyone
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:place
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:it.
Speaker:The
Speaker:closer
Speaker:we
Speaker:got,
Speaker:the
Speaker:louder
Speaker:the
Speaker:music
Speaker:became.
Speaker:Fiddle,
Speaker:drum,
Speaker:piano,
Speaker:voices.
Speaker:Heat.
Speaker:Motion.
Speaker:Life.
Jack
paused with
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:curtain
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:me. “Last
Speaker:chance to
Speaker:chicken
Speaker:out.”
My
breath
Speaker:shook. “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:not
Speaker:chickening
Speaker:out.”
“Good,”
Jack
Speaker:said,
Speaker:his
Speaker:grin
Speaker:widening. “Because
Speaker:this
Speaker:is
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:real
Speaker:fun
Speaker:starts.”
He
swept
Speaker:the
Speaker:curtain
Speaker:aside.
Speaker:Heat
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:stairwell.
Speaker:Music
Speaker:thumped
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:second
Speaker:pulse.
Speaker:Voices
Speaker:rose
Speaker:and
Speaker:fell
Speaker:in
Speaker:bright
Speaker:bursts.
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:change,
Speaker:thick
Speaker:with
Speaker:sweat
Speaker:and
Speaker:warmth
Speaker:and
Speaker:something
Speaker:like
Speaker:joy.
My
heart
Speaker:climbed
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:throat.
Speaker:I
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:down
Speaker:after
Speaker:him.
The
stairs
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:sub
Speaker:basement
Speaker:curved
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:left,
Speaker:the
Speaker:walls
Speaker:close
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that the
Speaker:warmth
Speaker:from
Speaker:below
Speaker:rose
Speaker:around
Speaker:us
Speaker:in
Speaker:steady
Speaker:waves.
Speaker:Each
Speaker:step
Speaker:made
Speaker:the
Speaker:music
Speaker:clearer.
Speaker:The
Speaker:fiddle was
Speaker:bright and
Speaker:bold,
Speaker:the
Speaker:piano
Speaker:quick
Speaker:under
Speaker:it,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:drum
Speaker:hit
Speaker:low
Speaker:and
Speaker:steady
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:ribs.
Speaker:There
Speaker:were
Speaker:voices
Speaker:too,
Speaker:laughing,
Speaker:cheering,
Speaker:calling
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:rhythm.
Speaker:The
Speaker:closer
Speaker:we
Speaker:got,
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:it
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:whole
Speaker:other
Speaker:world
Speaker:was
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bottom.
When
we
Speaker:reached
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:step,
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:opened
Speaker:wide
Speaker:to
Speaker:reveal
Speaker:a
Speaker:dance
Speaker:hall
Speaker:spread
Speaker:out
Speaker:before
Speaker:us
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:hidden
Speaker:festival
Speaker:tucked
Speaker:underground.
Speaker:The ceiling
Speaker:was
Speaker:low
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:intimate
Speaker:but
Speaker:high
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that
Speaker:no
Speaker:one
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:duck.
Speaker:Lamps
Speaker:hung
Speaker:from
Speaker:beams
Speaker:overhead,
Speaker:casting
Speaker:everything
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:soft
Speaker:golden
Speaker:glow.
Speaker:The
Speaker:crowd
Speaker:was
Speaker:small
Speaker:by
Speaker:city
Speaker:standards
Speaker:but
Speaker:large
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:fill
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:with
Speaker:motion.
Speaker:I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:men
Speaker:dancing
Speaker:close,
Speaker:some
Speaker:hand
Speaker:in
Speaker:hand,
Speaker:some
Speaker:with
Speaker:arms
Speaker:around
Speaker:each
Speaker:other’s
Speaker:waists.
Speaker:A
Speaker:couple
Speaker:of
Speaker:women
Speaker:spun in a
Speaker:corner
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:third
Speaker:woman
Speaker:clapping
Speaker:in
Speaker:time.
Speaker:A
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:younger
Speaker:men
Speaker:kissed
Speaker:without
Speaker:any
Speaker:hesitation,
Speaker:one
Speaker:pulling
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:close
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:vest.
It
was
Speaker:lively,
Speaker:warm,
Speaker:and
Speaker:alive
Speaker:in a way I
Speaker:had
Speaker:not
Speaker:seen
Speaker:in
Speaker:fifteen
Speaker:years.
Speaker:My
Speaker:whole
Speaker:body
Speaker:tensed.
Jack
slowed
Speaker:beside
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:studied
Speaker:my
Speaker:face. “Hey,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:voice low
Speaker:and
Speaker:easy. “You
Speaker:went
Speaker:all
Speaker:stiff.
Speaker:What
Speaker:is
Speaker:it?”
I
swallowed
Speaker:hard.
Speaker:The
Speaker:heat
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:skin,
Speaker:and
Speaker:something
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest
Speaker:fluttered
Speaker:in a way
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:trust. “I...
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:know,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said. “I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:expect
Speaker:all
Speaker:this.
Speaker:It
Speaker:feels
Speaker:strange.”
Jack
stepped
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:closer,
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:curious and
Speaker:inquisitive. “Strange
Speaker:how?”
I
exhaled
Speaker:shakily.
Speaker:My
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:darted
Speaker:from
Speaker:one
Speaker:couple
Speaker:to
Speaker:another.
Speaker:The
Speaker:way
Speaker:they
Speaker:touched
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:so
Speaker:openly.
Speaker:The
Speaker:way
Speaker:laughter
Speaker:filled
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:without
Speaker:fear
Speaker:behind
Speaker:it.
Speaker:The
Speaker:way
Speaker:pairs
Speaker:swayed
Speaker:together
Speaker:with
Speaker:their
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:half
Speaker:closed.
Speaker:Nothing
Speaker:hidden.
Speaker:Nothing
Speaker:shameful.
“It
feels
Speaker:like…”
Speaker:I
Speaker:hesitated,
Speaker:forcing
Speaker:the
Speaker:words
Speaker:out. “Like
Speaker:being
Speaker:naked
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:public.”
Jack’s
mouth
Speaker:curved
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:slow
Speaker:smirk,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:and
Speaker:wicked
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:that
Speaker:tightened
Speaker:something
Speaker:low
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:stomach. “Well
Speaker:now,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:drawled, “that
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:mighty
Speaker:interestin’
Speaker:picture
Speaker:you
Speaker:just
Speaker:painted.”
My
face
Speaker:burned. “That
Speaker:is
Speaker:not
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:meant.”
“Maybe
not,”
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:said,
Speaker:tilting
Speaker:his
Speaker:head, “but
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:enjoyin’
Speaker:the
Speaker:thought
Speaker:anyway.”
I
glared
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:weak,
Speaker:because
Speaker:he
Speaker:chuckled
Speaker:and
Speaker:nudged
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:own.
“Relax,
Phil.
Speaker:Nobody
Speaker:here
Speaker:is
Speaker:starin’
Speaker:at
Speaker:you.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:gave
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:gesture. “Everybody
Speaker:is
Speaker:busy
Speaker:havin’
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Folks down
Speaker:here
Speaker:leave
Speaker:their
Speaker:worries at
Speaker:the
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:stairs.”
“Easy
for
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:say,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:muttered,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:anywhere
Speaker:but
Speaker:directly
Speaker:at
Speaker:him. “You
Speaker:walk
Speaker:in
Speaker:here
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:born
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:this.”
“Born with a
heartbeat,
Speaker:same
Speaker:as
Speaker:you,”
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:replied. “Difference is, I
Speaker:let
Speaker:mine
Speaker:run
Speaker:free
Speaker:sometimes.”
I
felt
Speaker:that
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest.
Speaker:Warm.
Speaker:Direct.
Speaker:Honest.
Speaker:My
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:twitched at
Speaker:my
Speaker:sides.
Speaker:Excitement
Speaker:buzzed under
Speaker:my
Speaker:nerves
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:that
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:feel
Speaker:unsteady,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:one
Speaker:wrong
Speaker:movement
Speaker:might
Speaker:send
Speaker:me
Speaker:tumbling
Speaker:straight into
Speaker:the
Speaker:middle
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:dance
Speaker:floor.
Jack
watched
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:longer,
Speaker:his
Speaker:expression
Speaker:softening
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:teasing. “Look,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said
Speaker:quietly, “you
Speaker:are
Speaker:allowed
Speaker:to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:all
Speaker:twisted
Speaker:up
Speaker:over
Speaker:this.
Speaker:First
Speaker:time
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:like
Speaker:this
Speaker:hits
Speaker:folks
Speaker:different.
Speaker:But
Speaker:you
Speaker:are
Speaker:safe
Speaker:here.
Speaker:Nobody is
Speaker:lookin’
Speaker:to
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:you. Nobody is lookin’ to judge
Speaker:you
Speaker:neither.”
My
voice
Speaker:came
Speaker:out
Speaker:barely
Speaker:above
Speaker:the
Speaker:music. “I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:know
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:remember
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:myself
Speaker:around
Speaker:this
Speaker:many
Speaker:people.”
Jack’s smile
warmed
Speaker:even
Speaker:more. “That is all right.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:help
Speaker:with
Speaker:that.
Speaker:You
Speaker:trust
Speaker:me,
Speaker:Phil?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked.
I
hesitated.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:once,
Speaker:slowly.
Jack
offered
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand,
Speaker:palm open, steady and sure. “Then come on,” he said, voice low
Speaker:and
Speaker:coaxing. “Let
Speaker:me
Speaker:show
Speaker:you
Speaker:the
Speaker:fun
Speaker:side
Speaker:of
Speaker:bein’
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:naked.”
The
heat
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:face
Speaker:flared
Speaker:almost
Speaker:painfully. “Jack.”
“What?”
he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:all
Speaker:innocence
Speaker:except
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes. “You
Speaker:said
Speaker:it
Speaker:first.”
Against
my
Speaker:better
Speaker:judgment,
Speaker:against
Speaker:every
Speaker:wall
Speaker:I had
Speaker:spent
Speaker:years
Speaker:building,
Speaker:I
Speaker:reached
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:took
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand.
Jack’s
fingers
Speaker:closed
Speaker:gently
Speaker:around
Speaker:mine,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:and
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:stiffened
Speaker:the
Speaker:moment
Speaker:he
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:guide
Speaker:me
Speaker:forward.
“Wait,”
I
Speaker:whispered. “I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not…
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:not…”
Speaker:The
Speaker:music
Speaker:thumped
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:floorboards
Speaker:and
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:feet,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:itself
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:pull
Speaker:me
Speaker:in.
Speaker:My
Speaker:heart
Speaker:hammered
Speaker:far
Speaker:too
Speaker:fast
Speaker:for
Speaker:comfort.
Jack
paused,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:his
Speaker:thumb
Speaker:brushing
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:hand. “Easy
Speaker:now.
Speaker:I
Speaker:ain’t
Speaker:draggin’
Speaker:you,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:voice
Speaker:soft
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that
Speaker:only
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:it
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:fiddle. “Just
Speaker:walk
Speaker:with
Speaker:me.
Speaker:That is
Speaker:all.”
My
feet
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:move.
Speaker:Men
Speaker:swayed
Speaker:close
Speaker:all
Speaker:around
Speaker:us,
Speaker:some
Speaker:chest
Speaker:to
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:some
Speaker:laughing
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:spun.
Speaker:A
Speaker:pair
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:center
Speaker:waltzed with
Speaker:such
Speaker:soft
Speaker:intimacy
Speaker:it
Speaker:made
Speaker:something
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:ribs
Speaker:ache.
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:naked
Speaker:just
Speaker:watching
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Naked
Speaker:and
Speaker:exposed
Speaker:and
Speaker:burning
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:edges.
Jack
leaned
Speaker:in
Speaker:slightly,
Speaker:his
Speaker:breath
Speaker:warm
Speaker:near
Speaker:my
Speaker:ear. “You
Speaker:are
Speaker:thinkin’
Speaker:too
Speaker:hard,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:murmured. “Ain’t
Speaker:nobody
Speaker:starin’
Speaker:at
Speaker:you
Speaker:but
Speaker:me.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:promise
Speaker:I
Speaker:ain’t
Speaker:judgin’.”
That
only
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:face
Speaker:hotter.
Speaker:I
Speaker:shook
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:and tugged
Speaker:weakly at my hand, but he
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:let
Speaker:go.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:tightly.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:me
Speaker:there
Speaker:with
Speaker:him.
“Jack…
I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:to…
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:ridiculous.”
He
smiled
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:slow,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:way of
Speaker:his. “Good
Speaker:thing
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:right
Speaker:here
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:you
Speaker:look
Speaker:less
Speaker:ridiculous.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:gave
Speaker:my
Speaker:hand
Speaker:a
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:tug. “C’mon.
Speaker:No
Speaker:one’s
Speaker:lookin’.”
My
breath
Speaker:stopped.
Speaker:Something
Speaker:inside
Speaker:me
Speaker:fluttered
Speaker:painfully.
Speaker:And
Speaker:against
Speaker:every
Speaker:instinct
Speaker:screaming
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:hidden,
Speaker:my
Speaker:feet
Speaker:finally
Speaker:moved.
He
led
Speaker:me
Speaker:gently
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:dance
Speaker:floor.
The
room
Speaker:shifted
Speaker:around
Speaker:us,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:bodies
Speaker:and
Speaker:swirling
Speaker:colors
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:bright
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:fiddle
Speaker:weaving
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:steady
Speaker:beat
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:drum.
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:placed
Speaker:one
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:and
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:our
Speaker:joined
Speaker:hands,
Speaker:then
Speaker:slid
Speaker:his
Speaker:other
Speaker:hand
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:waist.
“All right,”
he
Speaker:said
Speaker:quietly. “Just
Speaker:breathe.
Speaker:Follow
Speaker:me.”
I
tried.
The
first
Speaker:step
Speaker:was
Speaker:all
Speaker:wrong.
Speaker:I
Speaker:moved
Speaker:too
Speaker:early,
Speaker:bumping
Speaker:the
Speaker:tip
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:boot.
Speaker:The
Speaker:second
Speaker:step
Speaker:I
Speaker:hesitated
Speaker:too
Speaker:long
Speaker:and
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:threw
Speaker:us
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:rhythm
Speaker:entirely.
Speaker:My
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:were
Speaker:locked tight,
Speaker:my
Speaker:jaw
Speaker:clenched,
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears
Speaker:burning
Speaker:so
Speaker:hot
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:certain
Speaker:everyone
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:them
Speaker:glowing.
“Easy,”
Jack
Speaker:murmured,
Speaker:steady
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:metronome. “Ain’t
Speaker:a
Speaker:test,
Speaker:Philly.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:a
Speaker:dance.”
I
swallowed
Speaker:hard,
Speaker:nodding
Speaker:too
Speaker:quickly. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:not
Speaker:done
Speaker:this in
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time.”
“Yeah,
I
Speaker:can
Speaker:tell,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:teased
Speaker:lightly,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:bite in
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Only
Speaker:warmth. “Good
Speaker:thing
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:strong
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:us
Speaker:upright.”
My
face
Speaker:went
Speaker:even
Speaker:hotter. “Jack.”
“There
you
Speaker:go,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:not
Speaker:letting
Speaker:me
Speaker:retreat. “Talk
Speaker:to
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Stay
Speaker:right
Speaker:here
Speaker:with
Speaker:me.”
We
took
Speaker:another
Speaker:turn.
Speaker:My
Speaker:feet
Speaker:stumbled
Speaker:again,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:steadied
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:simple
Speaker:shift
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:waist.
Speaker:He
Speaker:moved
Speaker:like
Speaker:he had
Speaker:been
Speaker:born
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:dance
Speaker:floor,
Speaker:confident
Speaker:and
Speaker:smooth,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:contrast
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:fumbling
Speaker:only
Speaker:twisted
Speaker:my
Speaker:nerves
Speaker:tighter.
“You are
doin’
Speaker:fine,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:voice
Speaker:low
Speaker:and
Speaker:gentle. “Just
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.”
I
forced
Speaker:myself
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:him.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:warm,
Speaker:steady,
Speaker:framed
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:lamplight
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:that
Speaker:made
Speaker:him
Speaker:look
Speaker:carved
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:something
Speaker:strong
Speaker:and
Speaker:familiar. His
Speaker:smile
Speaker:was
Speaker:small
Speaker:but
Speaker:certain.
Speaker:It
Speaker:made
Speaker:me
Speaker:feel
Speaker:less
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:drowning.
The
music
Speaker:carried
Speaker:us
Speaker:into
Speaker:another
Speaker:turn.
Speaker:This
Speaker:time,
Speaker:when
Speaker:my
Speaker:steps
Speaker:faltered,
Speaker:he
Speaker:guided
Speaker:me
Speaker:through
Speaker:it
Speaker:so
Speaker:easily
Speaker:I
Speaker:barely
Speaker:realized
Speaker:we
Speaker:had
Speaker:recovered.
Something
inside
Speaker:me
Speaker:loosened.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:all
Speaker:at
Speaker:once.
Speaker:Just a
Speaker:little.
Speaker:A
Speaker:notch.
My
grip
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand
Speaker:eased.
Speaker:My
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:dropped.
Speaker:My
Speaker:breath
Speaker:came
Speaker:out
Speaker:less
Speaker:tight.
Speaker:The
Speaker:room
Speaker:no
Speaker:longer
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:pressing
Speaker:in
Speaker:on
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Instead,
Speaker:it
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:opening
Speaker:around
Speaker:me.
Jack
noticed
Speaker:immediately. “There
Speaker:he
Speaker:is,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said
Speaker:softly. “Knew
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:in
Speaker:there
Speaker:somewhere.”
I
let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:weak
Speaker:laugh,
Speaker:surprised
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:it. “I
Speaker:feel
Speaker:like
Speaker:I am going to
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:fool
Speaker:of
Speaker:myself.”
“Good,”
Jack
Speaker:said. “Means
Speaker:you
Speaker:are
Speaker:havin’
Speaker:fun.”
I
was.
Something
warm
Speaker:spread
Speaker:across
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:something
Speaker:unfamiliar
Speaker:and
Speaker:achingly
Speaker:gentle.
Speaker:The
Speaker:floor
Speaker:moved
Speaker:under
Speaker:us
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:circle.
Speaker:The
Speaker:fiddle
Speaker:climbed,
Speaker:bright
Speaker:and
Speaker:playful,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:drum
Speaker:kept
Speaker:us
Speaker:steady.
Speaker:For
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:all
Speaker:evening,
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:feel
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:hide
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart beat
Speaker:or where
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:went
Speaker:or
Speaker:how
Speaker:close
Speaker:another
Speaker:man
Speaker:stood
Speaker:beside
Speaker:me.
I
was
Speaker:just…
Speaker:here.
And
I
Speaker:was
Speaker:free.
The
smile that
Speaker:crept
Speaker:onto
Speaker:my
Speaker:face
Speaker:felt
Speaker:strange
Speaker:at
Speaker:first,
Speaker:like
Speaker:it
Speaker:belonged
Speaker:to
Speaker:someone
Speaker:I had
Speaker:forgotten
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
Speaker:But
Speaker:the
Speaker:longer
Speaker:I
Speaker:held
Speaker:it,
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:it
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:mine
Speaker:again.
Jack’s own
smile
Speaker:widened
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:saw
Speaker:it. “There
Speaker:you
Speaker:go,
Speaker:Phil.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:dancin’.”
I
let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath
Speaker:that
Speaker:trembled
Speaker:on its
Speaker:way
Speaker:out.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:I
Speaker:let
Speaker:myself
Speaker:lean
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:movement,
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands,
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:music
Speaker:humming
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:blessing.
And
for
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:in
Speaker:fifteen
Speaker:years,
Speaker:I
Speaker:let
Speaker:myself
Speaker:imagine
Speaker:this
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:life.
A
life
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:laugh
Speaker:without
Speaker:checking
Speaker:who
Speaker:was
Speaker:listening.
Speaker:A
Speaker:life
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:touch
Speaker:someone
Speaker:without
Speaker:flinching.
Speaker:A
Speaker:life
Speaker:where
Speaker:being
Speaker:myself
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:danger,
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:relief.
The thought
shook
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Softly.
Speaker:Deeply.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:pull
Speaker:away.
I
kept
Speaker:dancing.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:kept
Speaker:smiling.
The
music
Speaker:shifted,
Speaker:rising
Speaker:into
Speaker:something
Speaker:fuller
Speaker:and
Speaker:faster, a
Speaker:waltz
Speaker:that
Speaker:took
Speaker:on
Speaker:heat
Speaker:with
Speaker:every
Speaker:measure.
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:felt
Speaker:it
Speaker:first.
Speaker:His
Speaker:hands
Speaker:tightened
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:waist,
Speaker:guiding
Speaker:me
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:quicker
Speaker:turn.
Speaker:My
Speaker:heart
Speaker:lurched
Speaker:to
Speaker:match
Speaker:the
Speaker:beat,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:stumbled
Speaker:once,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:steadied
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:firm
Speaker:grip
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:warm
Speaker:breath
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:cheek.
“There
you
Speaker:go,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:murmured. “Just
Speaker:let
Speaker:go.”
Something
in
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:pulse
Speaker:jump.
Speaker:I
Speaker:followed
Speaker:him,
Speaker:step
Speaker:for
Speaker:step,
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:circling
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:crowded
Speaker:floor
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:blurred
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:edges.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:other
Speaker:dancers.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:their
Speaker:movement
Speaker:around
Speaker:us.
Speaker:But
Speaker:they
Speaker:grew
Speaker:distant,
Speaker:washed
Speaker:out
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:rising
Speaker:heat
Speaker:between
Speaker:us.
All
I
Speaker:saw
Speaker:was
Speaker:Jack.
Our
bodies
Speaker:drew
Speaker:closer
Speaker:with
Speaker:every
Speaker:turn.
Speaker:My
Speaker:chest
Speaker:brushed
Speaker:his.
Speaker:His
Speaker:thigh
Speaker:slipped
Speaker:against
Speaker:mine
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:sway
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:waltz.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:breath
Speaker:tangled
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:narrow
Speaker:space
Speaker:between
Speaker:us,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:and
Speaker:uneven. The
Speaker:lamps
Speaker:overhead
Speaker:made
Speaker:our
Speaker:fur
Speaker:shine,
Speaker:turning
Speaker:the
Speaker:sweat
Speaker:along
Speaker:his
Speaker:jaw
Speaker:into
Speaker:silver.
His
hand
Speaker:slid
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:back,
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:curling
Speaker:lightly
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:fabric
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:blade.
Speaker:The
Speaker:other
Speaker:lingered
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:hip,
Speaker:warm
Speaker:and
Speaker:firm.
Speaker:As the
Speaker:music
Speaker:swept
Speaker:us
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:quicker
Speaker:spin,
Speaker:he
Speaker:drew
Speaker:me
Speaker:closer
Speaker:still,
Speaker:until
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:hardly
Speaker:any
Speaker:space
Speaker:left
Speaker:between
Speaker:us
Speaker:at
Speaker:all.
My
breathing
Speaker:hitched.
Speaker:My
Speaker:pulse
Speaker:hammered.
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:every
Speaker:point
Speaker:where
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:touched
Speaker:his,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:his
Speaker:heat
Speaker:and
Speaker:strength
Speaker:and
Speaker:want
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:he
Speaker:held
Speaker:me.
And
I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:pull
Speaker:away.
My
own
Speaker:hands
Speaker:found
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders, then
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:then
Speaker:the
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:ribs. The
Speaker:heat
Speaker:under
Speaker:his
Speaker:shirt
Speaker:made
Speaker:my
Speaker:palms
Speaker:damp.
Speaker:My
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:curled
Speaker:there,
Speaker:clinging
Speaker:without
Speaker:meaning
Speaker:to.
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:inhaled
Speaker:sharply,
Speaker:a
Speaker:sound
Speaker:that trembled
Speaker:right
Speaker:through
Speaker:me.
We
turned
Speaker:again,
Speaker:faster
Speaker:now,
Speaker:the
Speaker:fiddle
Speaker:climbing
Speaker:higher,
Speaker:the
Speaker:drum
Speaker:pushing
Speaker:harder.
Speaker:My
Speaker:breath
Speaker:grew
Speaker:ragged.
Speaker:Jack’s
Speaker:did
Speaker:too.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:it
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:cheek,
Speaker:hot
Speaker:and
Speaker:uneven.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:foreheads
Speaker:brushed
Speaker:once,
Speaker:then
Speaker:again,
Speaker:closer
Speaker:this
Speaker:time.
Speaker:His
Speaker:nose
Speaker:grazed
Speaker:mine.
Speaker:My
Speaker:knees
Speaker:weakened,
Speaker:but
Speaker:his
Speaker:hold
Speaker:kept
Speaker:me
Speaker:steady.
It
felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:being
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:fire
Speaker:I had
Speaker:spent
Speaker:half
Speaker:my
Speaker:life
Speaker:pretending
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:see.
The
music
Speaker:surged, the
Speaker:final
Speaker:swell of the
Speaker:waltz
Speaker:rising
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:tide,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:me the
Speaker:last
Speaker:inch
Speaker:forward.
We
collided
Speaker:softly,
Speaker:chest
Speaker:to
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:hips
Speaker:aligned,
Speaker:breath
Speaker:catching
Speaker:in
Speaker:unison.
The
world
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:point.
Heat.
Breath.
Speaker:Him.
The
dance
Speaker:ended
Speaker:with
Speaker:both
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:standing
Speaker:still
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:center
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor,
Speaker:our
Speaker:bodies
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:together,
Speaker:sharing
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:thin
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:air.
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest
Speaker:rise
Speaker:against
Speaker:mine,
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:tremble
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:exhale.
Speaker:My
Speaker:hands were
Speaker:still
Speaker:on
Speaker:him.
Speaker:His
Speaker:hands were
Speaker:still
Speaker:on
Speaker:me.
Speaker:Neither
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:moved.
For
a
Speaker:long
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:breathing,
Speaker:deep
Speaker:and
Speaker:hungry,
Speaker:mingling
Speaker:between
Speaker:us.
Speaker:We
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:kiss.
Speaker:We
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:need
Speaker:to.
Speaker:The
Speaker:closeness
Speaker:burned
Speaker:hotter
Speaker:than
Speaker:any
Speaker:kiss
Speaker:could
Speaker:have managed
Speaker:just
Speaker:then.
Jack’s
forehead
Speaker:rested
Speaker:against
Speaker:mine,
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:low
Speaker:and
Speaker:rough. “Phil…”
Speaker:he
Speaker:whispered,
Speaker:almost
Speaker:a
Speaker:prayer more than
Speaker:a
Speaker:name.
My
breath
Speaker:stuttered
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:answer.
Speaker:I
Speaker:closed
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:my
Speaker:whole
Speaker:body
Speaker:trembling
Speaker:from
Speaker:something
Speaker:too
Speaker:big
Speaker:to
Speaker:name.
It
felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:fall
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:release
Speaker:and a
Speaker:beginning
Speaker:all
Speaker:at
Speaker:once.
The
music
Speaker:faded.
Speaker:The
Speaker:room
Speaker:returned.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:step
Speaker:back.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:yet—not
Speaker:from
Speaker:him.
And
not
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:myself
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:finally
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:running
Speaker:from.
___________
Morning
sunlight
Speaker:spilled
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:thin
Speaker:curtains,
Speaker:bright
Speaker:enough
Speaker:that it
Speaker:cut
Speaker:across
Speaker:my
Speaker:closed
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:and
Speaker:warmed
Speaker:my
Speaker:face.
Speaker:I groaned
Speaker:and
Speaker:shifted,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:the
Speaker:softness
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:mattress
Speaker:under
Speaker:me.
Speaker:A
Speaker:real
Speaker:mattress,
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:bedroll,
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:bunk,
Speaker:not
Speaker:the
Speaker:stiff
Speaker:cot
Speaker:back
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ranch.
Speaker:Sheets
Speaker:brushed
Speaker:over
Speaker:my
Speaker:bare
Speaker:legs, light
Speaker:and
Speaker:cool.
Speaker:I felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:miles
Speaker:of ache in
Speaker:my
Speaker:body,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:pleasant
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:ache,
Speaker:the
Speaker:kind
Speaker:that
Speaker:came
Speaker:from
Speaker:something
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:not
Speaker:let
Speaker:myself
Speaker:have
Speaker:in
Speaker:so
Speaker:many
Speaker:years.
My
clothes
Speaker:were
Speaker:scattered
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:room,
Speaker:draped
Speaker:over
Speaker:a
Speaker:chair,
Speaker:piled
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor,
Speaker:tossed
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:bedpost
Speaker:like
Speaker:some
Speaker:whirlwind
Speaker:had
Speaker:passed
Speaker:through.
Speaker:My
Speaker:shirt
Speaker:lay
Speaker:halfway
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:ledge,
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants
Speaker:crumpled
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:foot
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:bed,
Speaker:my
Speaker:hat
Speaker:tipped
Speaker:onto
Speaker:its
Speaker:brim
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:door.
Speaker:Everything
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:room
Speaker:said
Speaker:how
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
Speaker:had
Speaker:been,
Speaker:without
Speaker:me
Speaker:having
Speaker:to
Speaker:remember
Speaker:every
Speaker:detail.
I
lay
Speaker:there
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:longer,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:soft
Speaker:gold
Speaker:light
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ceiling,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:breathe
Speaker:slow
Speaker:and
Speaker:steady.
Speaker:Last
Speaker:night
Speaker:came
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:pieces.
Speaker:Heat.
Speaker:Laughter.
Speaker:Hands
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:skin.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:ear.
Speaker:That
Speaker:first
Speaker:time
Speaker:he
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:me
Speaker:in.
Speaker:The
Speaker:way
Speaker:I
Speaker:let
Speaker:myself
Speaker:fall.
I
felt
Speaker:something
Speaker:warm
Speaker:slide
Speaker:around
Speaker:my
Speaker:middle.
A
strong
Speaker:arm
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:over
Speaker:my
Speaker:stomach
Speaker:and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:me
Speaker:gently
Speaker:back
Speaker:against
Speaker:a
Speaker:broad
Speaker:chest.
Speaker:Thick
Speaker:fur
Speaker:brushed
Speaker:my
Speaker:back.
Speaker:A
Speaker:warm
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:nuzzled
Speaker:the
Speaker:space
Speaker:between
Speaker:my
Speaker:neck
Speaker:and
Speaker:shoulder,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:slow,
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath
Speaker:warmed
Speaker:my
Speaker:skin.
My
heart
Speaker:fluttered
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:way
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:last
Speaker:night,
Speaker:sudden and
Speaker:foolish
Speaker:and
Speaker:alive.
“Mornin’,
Philly,”
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:murmured
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:voice
Speaker:rough
Speaker:from
Speaker:sleep. “Sun’s
Speaker:bein’
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:rude
Speaker:today.”
I
smiled
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:meant
Speaker:to. “Feels
Speaker:like
Speaker:it.”
He
tightened
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm
Speaker:a
Speaker:little,
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:trap
Speaker:me,
Speaker:just
Speaker:to hold
Speaker:me
Speaker:close.
Speaker:His
Speaker:nose
Speaker:nudged
Speaker:my
Speaker:neck
Speaker:again,
Speaker:slow
Speaker:and
Speaker:affectionate. “You
Speaker:alright?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked
Speaker:quietly. “Ain’t
Speaker:too
Speaker:sore, are ya?”
My
face
Speaker:warmed. “I am
Speaker:fine,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:though
Speaker:my
Speaker:voice
Speaker:came
Speaker:out
Speaker:softer
Speaker:than
Speaker:usual. “Better than
Speaker:fine.”
Jack
chuckled
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder,
Speaker:low
Speaker:and
Speaker:pleased. “Good.
Speaker:Be
Speaker:a shame
Speaker:if
Speaker:last
Speaker:night
Speaker:wore you
Speaker:out
Speaker:too
Speaker:much.”
I
swallowed,
Speaker:remembering
Speaker:the
Speaker:heat,
Speaker:the
Speaker:closeness, the
Speaker:way
Speaker:neither
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:had
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:lamps
Speaker:burned
Speaker:low
Speaker:and
Speaker:dawn
Speaker:began
Speaker:creeping
Speaker:in. “It
Speaker:has
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said
Speaker:quietly. “Since
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:anything
Speaker:like
Speaker:that.”
Jack’s
hand
Speaker:smoothed
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:middle
Speaker:and
Speaker:rested
Speaker:flat
Speaker:over
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:right
Speaker:where
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart beat. “I
Speaker:guessed
Speaker:as
Speaker:much,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said. “You
Speaker:let
Speaker:go
Speaker:real
Speaker:slow.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:all
Speaker:at
Speaker:once.”
I
huffed a
Speaker:small
Speaker:laugh. “I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:I
Speaker:did.”
“Could
watch
Speaker:you
Speaker:relax
Speaker:like
Speaker:that
Speaker:every
Speaker:night,”
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:said, voice
Speaker:warm
Speaker:and
Speaker:lazy. “Never
Speaker:seen
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:fight
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:happiness
Speaker:that
Speaker:hard.”
I
nudged
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm
Speaker:lightly. “I
Speaker:was
Speaker:nervous.”
“Yeah,”
he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:nuzzling
Speaker:my
Speaker:jaw
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind. “I
Speaker:could
Speaker:tell.”
We
lay
Speaker:there
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:sunlight,
Speaker:quiet, warm,
Speaker:and
Speaker:tangled
Speaker:in
Speaker:one
Speaker:another. His
Speaker:breathing
Speaker:matched
Speaker:mine,
Speaker:slow
Speaker:and
Speaker:steady.
Speaker:The
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of
Speaker:peace
Speaker:I had
Speaker:forgotten how to feel
Speaker:settled
Speaker:low
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:stomach,
Speaker:spreading
Speaker:through
Speaker:me
Speaker:like
Speaker:something
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:starved
Speaker:of
Speaker:without
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:it.
After
a
Speaker:long
Speaker:moment
Speaker:Jack
Speaker:spoke
Speaker:again,
Speaker:a
Speaker:teasing
Speaker:lilt
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice. “So, Phil,” he drawled, “what’s it like… bein’
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:naked
Speaker:in
Speaker:public?”
Heat
rushed
Speaker:straight
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:face. “Jack.”
“What?”
he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:laughter
Speaker:coloring
Speaker:his
Speaker:tone. “You
Speaker:said
Speaker:it
Speaker:first.”
I
smirked
Speaker:despite
Speaker:myself
Speaker:and
Speaker:finally
Speaker:turned
Speaker:over
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms.
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:different
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning
Speaker:light,
Speaker:softer
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:orange
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:that
Speaker:shone
Speaker:brighter
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning
Speaker:sun,
Speaker:his
Speaker:fur
Speaker:rumpled
Speaker:from
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:and
Speaker:from
Speaker:me.
Speaker:I
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:touched
Speaker:his
Speaker:cheek,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:the
Speaker:warmth
Speaker:of
Speaker:him
Speaker:under
Speaker:my
Speaker:hand.
“It
feels,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said
Speaker:quietly, “like
Speaker:being
Speaker:alive
Speaker:again.”
Jack’s smile
softened. “Good
Speaker:answer.”
I
leaned
Speaker:in,
Speaker:slow
Speaker:at
Speaker:first,
Speaker:then
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:and
Speaker:kissed
Speaker:him.
This
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “C’mon!
Speaker:No
Speaker:One’s Lookin’!”
Speaker:by
Speaker:TiberiusRings and Edouard, read
Speaker:for you
Speaker:by
Speaker:Rob MacWolf,
Speaker:Werewolf
Speaker:Hitchhiker.
As
always,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:thevoice.dog,
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Happy
Speaker:Pride,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.