across Alicia's lower body, resting her paws on the older woman's hip. It's not kinky, she reminded herself. Not kinky at all.
"Hey," Alicia muttered as she woke up. "I said I wasn't into threesomes."
If she could have, Ari would have rolled her eyes.
"That's okay. I don't think she's too impressed with you."
Alicia rolled onto her back and scratched Ari's side. "Snob."
Rebecca looked at the clock. "Babe, I have to get to class. Can you set up the meeting with Dale?"
"Sure. I kind of hate to give the girl up."
Rebecca pushed herself up against the headboard and chewed her bottom lip as she looked at Ari. "You know, I was thinking about it last night. Your idea that we should get a puppy or something. I think... it would be a good thing."
Alicia turned to her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," Rebecca said. "I know you thought that my hesitation was because I didn't want to be tied down to you, or whatever. The whole age difference. But I just really wanted to be sure we were both ready. And I think we are."
Alicia pulled Rebecca to her for a kiss.
"We'll go check out shelters after you get off work." Rebecca said. "Say five?"
"Yeah. Then we can get dinner while we're out, too."
Rebecca nodded. "Okay. I have to go shower before class." She kissed Alicia again before she slipped out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom.
Alicia waited until she heard the water start before she wrapped her arms around Ari's neck and hugged her in an almost violent manner. Ari resisted the urge to yelp and squirm away, willing to submit to the woman's happiness. Alicia chuckled and kissed the side of Ari's head. "Looks like you're my lucky charm, Princess. Thank you."
#
Ari was grateful that Alicia didn't have a leash, and she obediently followed her down the street to the same diner where she'd met with Dale the night before. Dale was waiting outside and smiled brightly when she spotted Alicia coming toward her. "Hi! Oh, my God, you're such a life safer. I was so worried about her."
"I don't know why," Alicia said. "She is an amazing dog. Quiet and no trouble whatsoever."
Dale crouched in front of Ari and petted her. "Hey, girl. Did you miss me?"
Ari licked Dale's face, and Dale narrowed her eyes at her.
"You have to let me reimburse you," Dale said. "You must have bought food, or taken the time to walk her or... let me give you something."
"No, please. It was a pleasure. And she kind of helped me win a stand-off with my girlfriend or something. I feel like I should pay you for letting me borrow her for the night." She reached down and stroked Ari's back. "Thanks for coming to see us for a little while, Princess. You're a good pup."
"She's definitely one in a million. Thank you again."
Alicia finally let Ari go, possibly only because she was due at work, and Ari followed Dale away from the diner. They went down an alley and Dale waited until the foot traffic died down before she nodded for Ari to go ahead and change. Thirty seconds later, Ari was slumped against the brick wall and Dale had a jacket wrapped around her shoulders.
"It's all right. Just breathe."
"Phew... God."
Dale pushed Ari's hair out of her face and watched her eyes. "You really spent twenty hours at a time as a canidae when you were with Evangeline?"
"Yeah," Ari said. "I was much younger then."
Dale smirked. "Not that much younger. What was that lick about?"
"Princess?"
"Sorry," Dale said. "I couldn't help myself. It was either Princess or Miss Snuggles."
When Ari could stand on her own, Dale opened her backpack and handed out the clean clothes she'd gathered from Ari's apartment. Ari dressed quickly and pushed her hair out of her face. She led Dale out of the alley and looked in the direction Alicia had gone. "Mrs. Sampson paid us for three days, but I really don't think it'll be necessary to follow them that whole time. There's a miniscule chance I caught them on the most loving day of their lives, but... I really don't think you can fake that."
"What do you want to do instead?"
Ari sighed. "Let's try the truth."
#
The dogs paraded to the front of their cages and peered up at Ari, trying to figure out her scent. She bared her teeth at a few of them, but they were too cute for her to get too angry. She was crouched in front of one cage,