Unexpected

 

It was a dark and stormy day

In the pacific northwest

In other words, it was a day much like any other

Autumn leaves coating the wet streets

Fog and mist hanging just below the tops of the trees

Making the skyline look like the lost city of Avalon was appearing from the mountaintops

The soothing sounds of the rain and the river nearby, carrying the rain on its endless cycle

Then he appeared…the lost stray puppy by the side of the road

Big brown innocent eyes

Long thick curly black fur that my fingers itched to pet

Long lanky limbs that made him look even more puppyish

All I wanted to do was pick him up and snuggle him and keep him safe and warm

Insert Elmyra giphy here…

So I did what any rational, sane person would do

I pulled over to the side of the road, opened the car door, and coaxed him inside

My smile grew as he shook his head, letting the gathered rain droplets fly off and land on my leather seats

On my windshield

On my skin

He settled into the car seat like he’d been there forever

I drove around, talking out loud about everything and nothing

Hoping to coax a response or spark spontaneous affection or at least a sense of comfort from his nervous puppy eyes

As I passed the park, he whimpered and scratched at the door

So I turned in

Thinking he wanted to go outside

Reluctant to open the door

I parked next to the river, shut off the engine, unhooked my seatbelt

Safety first, after all…

And turned to address him

To my surprise and delight, he sprawled out on the seat and made himself comfortable

Enjoying the sights of the trees, the river, the mist in the distance

I watched him for a bit, wondering what was going through that shaggy head of his

He was so very quiet, but peacefully so

I began talking of inane things – the latest book I was reading

Just prattling on, letting him get used to the sound of my voice

His head cocked to the side a few times, in response to some tone of voice I used or whatnot

His big black eyes never left mine

But the wariness left his big black eyes, leaving nothing but curiosity in its wake

When he shivered a bit, I turned the heater on, and moved the center console up

I moved half into his seat and cautiously ran my fingers through that shaggy black mop

It was softer that I imagined, and I may have purred

He may have purred as well

He turned his head toward my caress, and I let my hand wander

Stroking over his face, his neck, his shoulders and back

Feeling the shiver of delight from each soft caress just under his skin

I stretched out beside him, my body resting against his side, seeking warmth

And mutual comfort

He just snuggled in closer and laid his head on me

And we lay like that, in companionable silence

No sounds but the occasional low purr or sigh-like utterance of comfort

For the space of several lifetimes

Or perhaps only several minutes

Depending on your point of view

His nose was nuzzling my hair

My hand was rubbing his leg, and his knobby knee

When his lanky body stiffened, as though in pain

I immediately moved my hand, concerned I had hurt him

Or brushed against an old injury perhaps

Or maybe the rain and cold was weighing on his young joints as they were my old ones

I raised my head, moving back a bit, and turning his head to look into his soulful eyes

Trying to sense the reason for his response

That’s when his eyes darkened even more, deepened,

Deep enough to drown in, like a whirlpool or a maelstrom preparing to suck anything near enough into its depth and never relinquish its hold

I felt a shiver run through me, snaking up my spine

When I heard the low, deep growl uttered from his mouth

From between his nearly bared, suddenly feral teeth

The shiver changed directions

I wasn’t sure – still am not sure, even after all this time – if it was fear or excitement that caused that shiver

Likely some strange mixture of both

In that split second, my eyes darted to the windows, seeing them fogged up from our breath

Seeing the rainy park empty of all signs of life, except us

Seeing no signs of civilization within screaming distance

I swallowed convulsively as my eyes darted back to his growling mouth

I’m not sure even now who moved first

I just know that we collided in the middle

In a hard, dangerous, terrifyingly wondrous meeting of lips, teeth, and flesh

In that one instant, expectations were shattered

Boundaries were obliterated

Recklessness and disinhibited desire ruled the moment

His lanky limbs wound around my shoulders, tipped by long nails that dug into my skin

In the most delightfully deliciously wicked way

Pulling a growl from my own mouth nearly to match his own

This stray might just be a wolf in puppy’s clothing…

And this just might be my lucky day…