Read Online Only for the Night (If Only Book 2) by Ella Sheridan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ella Sheridan
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surrender, demanded he use his strength to command his partners in bed and out. Demanded he be in charge. He’d seen where that road led, all too clearly, and he’d be damned if he’d ever allow himself to come close to that. Never again. He couldn’t let go, and yet Sage… Every time he looked at her, he wanted to break through the walls between them until they were tiny little pieces and she had no choice but to trust him. To let him control her.
Just the thought nauseated him. That’s why he hadn’t kissed her the other night—because he couldn’t risk it. He just couldn’t. This afternoon he’d found himself standing outside the bathroom door listening to the hot water run over Sage’s body, his angry hard-on throbbing in rhythm to the sound, fists balled against the wall on either side of the door as he fought the urge to demand entry. Demand, not ask. Not coax.
He was losing it.
Flirting he could do; laid-back, lighthearted Hank, that was him. No one else. He wouldn’t allow it.
He stared down the cliffside steps. What had he come down here for, anyway?
Right, workout. He’d brought Knight to the beach for a workout.
He slid his backpack from his shoulder as he stepped out of the flip-flops he favored for the walk down to the beach. There was nothing like the sand between his toes to make him feel at home, but the rough surface would bloody his feet if he ran on it bare. Shoving thoughts of Sage to one side wasn’t as easy as shoving his big feet into his socks and Nikes, but he told himself it was and ignored his psyche’s lack of enthusiasm. Both he and Knight needed fresh air and to expend some energy. If he couldn’t get hot and sweaty any other way, Hank would take the workout.
At the sight of Hank’s running shoes, Knight’s ears went up.
“Ready for a run, buddy?”
With a happy woof , Knight danced ahead of him on the sand, glancing back as if to see whether Hank would follow. When Hank retrieved a tennis ball from his backpack, Knight darted back toward him, tail in the air, eyes bright with pleasure.
“Thought you might like that.” Hank grinned, waiting until the shepherd came close before sending the ball sailing down the beach. While Knight retrieved his toy, Hank began calisthenics, pushing his muscles to warm up for the long run ahead.
The salty breeze swept away the cooped-up feeling as he and Knight played on the rocky stretch of coast. Waves rushed toward them, playing their own game of tag before retreating into the ocean, now a deep blue in the afternoon sunshine. Hank let the peace sink into him, wipe away the past few days’ frustrations, and focused on the buzz of strength in his muscles and the joy in the lines of Knight’s body.
The second Hank pulled Knight’s leash from the pack, the shepherd came to attention. The shepherd had plenty of power and aggression, but Hank had learned to control him. He’d adopted Knight as a puppy and trained him using tactics similar to those his friends in the LA K9 unit had used. The training kept Knight in good physical condition and kept Hank on his toes, as well as assuring them both that the shepherd wouldn’t snap in crowds when Knight traveled with Weekend. He guarded Hank better than an armed escort, able to take down an attacker without hesitation, but he was also highly intuitive about people and their intentions. It was why Hank hadn’t been too apprehensive when he’d heard Sage yell that first morning.
Hank clipped the lead to Knight’s collar. As he moved forward, Knight paused, glancing back toward the path as if looking for something. Or someone.
“You like her too, don’t you?”
Knight lifted his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side, a look that said of course I do; why would you ask me a stupid question like that? better than actual words.
“Right.” Hank sped up. “Well, she’s not here, so let’s go.”
He and Knight both had plenty of energy pent up, and as their legs moved in sync,
Just the thought nauseated him. That’s why he hadn’t kissed her the other night—because he couldn’t risk it. He just couldn’t. This afternoon he’d found himself standing outside the bathroom door listening to the hot water run over Sage’s body, his angry hard-on throbbing in rhythm to the sound, fists balled against the wall on either side of the door as he fought the urge to demand entry. Demand, not ask. Not coax.
He was losing it.
Flirting he could do; laid-back, lighthearted Hank, that was him. No one else. He wouldn’t allow it.
He stared down the cliffside steps. What had he come down here for, anyway?
Right, workout. He’d brought Knight to the beach for a workout.
He slid his backpack from his shoulder as he stepped out of the flip-flops he favored for the walk down to the beach. There was nothing like the sand between his toes to make him feel at home, but the rough surface would bloody his feet if he ran on it bare. Shoving thoughts of Sage to one side wasn’t as easy as shoving his big feet into his socks and Nikes, but he told himself it was and ignored his psyche’s lack of enthusiasm. Both he and Knight needed fresh air and to expend some energy. If he couldn’t get hot and sweaty any other way, Hank would take the workout.
At the sight of Hank’s running shoes, Knight’s ears went up.
“Ready for a run, buddy?”
With a happy woof , Knight danced ahead of him on the sand, glancing back as if to see whether Hank would follow. When Hank retrieved a tennis ball from his backpack, Knight darted back toward him, tail in the air, eyes bright with pleasure.
“Thought you might like that.” Hank grinned, waiting until the shepherd came close before sending the ball sailing down the beach. While Knight retrieved his toy, Hank began calisthenics, pushing his muscles to warm up for the long run ahead.
The salty breeze swept away the cooped-up feeling as he and Knight played on the rocky stretch of coast. Waves rushed toward them, playing their own game of tag before retreating into the ocean, now a deep blue in the afternoon sunshine. Hank let the peace sink into him, wipe away the past few days’ frustrations, and focused on the buzz of strength in his muscles and the joy in the lines of Knight’s body.
The second Hank pulled Knight’s leash from the pack, the shepherd came to attention. The shepherd had plenty of power and aggression, but Hank had learned to control him. He’d adopted Knight as a puppy and trained him using tactics similar to those his friends in the LA K9 unit had used. The training kept Knight in good physical condition and kept Hank on his toes, as well as assuring them both that the shepherd wouldn’t snap in crowds when Knight traveled with Weekend. He guarded Hank better than an armed escort, able to take down an attacker without hesitation, but he was also highly intuitive about people and their intentions. It was why Hank hadn’t been too apprehensive when he’d heard Sage yell that first morning.
Hank clipped the lead to Knight’s collar. As he moved forward, Knight paused, glancing back toward the path as if looking for something. Or someone.
“You like her too, don’t you?”
Knight lifted his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side, a look that said of course I do; why would you ask me a stupid question like that? better than actual words.
“Right.” Hank sped up. “Well, she’s not here, so let’s go.”
He and Knight both had plenty of energy pent up, and as their legs moved in sync,
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