to keep her off the couch. She was going to have to apply deep pressure therapy once she was trained to do so, no matter where he was.
Cece jumped up beside him, then whined and wriggled into his lap on the couch.
“That’s right,” Jaden smiled at her, scratching her belly. “Hello there, girl. We’re gonna be an awesome team, aren’t we? Yes, we are.”
The pressure on his lap already soothed him from the exhausting experience of another trip outdoors. It made him breathe a deep sigh of relief—but better yet, hope.
Jaden rested with Cece on the couch, falling into an easy rhythm of stroking her soft fur as he closed his eyes. It seemed like just moments later that there was a knock on the door.
Cece barked once and jumped to the floor, but then she sat and looked at him.
“Good girl,” Jaden praised. Even with her harness off, she wasn’t supposed to cause mayhem every time someone knocked on a door. “Sit. Stay.”
He tried to walk calmly to the door so he didn’t encourage her to run after him, but it was hard. By the time he got there, Jaden was wriggling with more excitement than Cece.
“Hi!” Jaden exclaimed as he pulled open the door.
Henry stepped inside and set a bag down. Then, he swept Jaden off his feet and planted a kiss on his lips. “Helloooo there, handsome.”
Jaden giggled and batted at Henry’s chest. “Put me down, you brute.”
“Right away. As soon as I take care of important, outstanding business.” Henry pressed Jaden against the wall and kissed him again, softly, before kicking the door shut. Then he returned to the important business.
His lips were soft and wet, and the musk of him made Jaden go a little dizzy. When Henry set Jaden on his feet again, he leaned on his boyfriend for a moment, his knees weak.
“Jesus. I’m going to invite you over multiple times a day if you keep that up.”
“That’s the secret plan,” Henry winked at him. “So, where’s this supposed hound?”
“Sitting and waiting like a very good girl.” Jaden beamed and took Henry by the hand to lead him to the living room. “This is Henry,” he told Cece. The two of them sat on the couch. “Up, girl. Come meet him.”
“Cece? What a beauty!” Henry gasped, scratching her ruff and kissing the top of her head. “Oh, she’s too sweet.” Then he glanced at Jaden. “She is off-duty, right?”
“Yes. Don’t worry,” Jaden assured Henry with a smile, squeezing his knee.
Henry breathed a sigh of relief. “Phew. Glad I didn’t instantly fuck up. Give it time. Don’t listen to Uncle Henry’s filthy mouth, darling,” he added, scratching her as she gazed adoringly at him.
Well, they were getting along like a house on fire already. Jaden laughed and shook his head, watching his new dog bonding with his new boyfriend.
For a moment, it felt like… they were a family unit. All three of them against the world.
That was crazy. It was way too soon. None of them were ready for that yet. Right?
Distracted by his thoughts, it took Jaden a minute to notice her signals. “Oh, I think she needs to go out.” Cece cocked her head and looked interested. “Let’s see,” Jaden said and stood up. “You can wait here if you want.”
“Nah. I came here to see you.” Henry stood up, his eyes bright.
Jaden snorted with laughter. “Not in an overgrown field watching the dog go potty.”
“Wherever you go, I go. Well… not literally.” Henry’s lips twitched into a grin. “Unless you’re into that.”
Jaden shook his head. “Well, that’s a discussion to have someday,” he laughed.
It took all his focus to use the right words as commanded Cece to heel as he clipped her leash back on. This time, she just had her collar. He twitched two fingers at Henry, signaling him to follow.
“So all those words mean different things?” Henry asked as they got into the elevator.
“Yep. And I have to keep them all straight,” Jaden said with a sheepish grin. “Or I’ll undo weeks of training.”
Henry whistled and shook his head, holding the elevator door once they arrived. He followed the others out. “She won’t listen to me, though, right? I don’t have to be careful not to say…” He looked at her askance. “Like, c-o-m-e. When we’re… you know… right at an inconvenient moment…”
Jaden burst out laughing. It was all he could do not to stumble as he led Cece out to the side of the building. He could hardly