He groans my name into my breast just as I start to come down from my high and the sensation of his breath on my heated skin is enough to make me go off again and this time I bring him with me and I shout his name in pleasure throwing my head back as he thrusts once more inside of me, filling me with his thick, hot seed with a toe-curling roar.
As we float down from our lusty cloud, gently kissing and trying to recover our breath, we hear a hissing sound, followed by an outraged yowl and then all three of my cats shoot into the room and onto the bed, followed by Didar as he gives chase at breakneck speed, his paws sliding on the parquet as he too jumps on the bed between us barking happily and licking our faces.
We roll away from the furballs, laughing and holding each other as we resign ourselves to once more lose dominion over our bed.
“Well, at least this time they let us finish in peace,” Axe grumbles, making me giggle.
“You’re starting to sound as grumpy as Snap… you’re definitely spending too much time with that old tortoise.”
“That’s harsh, Tess…”
He pinches my hip, mock-glaring down at me and then kisses my protests away.
I smile into the kiss. “Love you, Axe.”
He nibbles on my lips, scooting away from the scuffling pets. “Love you too, baby.”
Epilogue 1
PART 1
AXE
Four years later…
I open the back door of my jeep and softly whistle to catch Didar’s attention.
He runs in fast circles around the car, stopping from time to time to bark and jump in excitement, making Tess giggle and shake her head in the front seat.
“Come on, boy! Get in!”
He hops into the back seat and drops on his hind legs, his fluffy tail thumping up and down madly.
“We’re going to Phoebe’s house. Are you happy, buddy?” I ask him, scratching behind his pointed ears.
He lets out a joyful bark at the mention of his little owner’s name, panting and letting his tongue out as he tilts his large furry head to look at me, happiness shining in his ice-colored eyes.
We have been working with little Phoebe for the last four months and they are just perfect for each other.
Phoebe is only seven and was born blind with no hope to ever recover her sight, she’s been living in darkness all her life and the Brennans, her parents, told me she rarely smiled or played, but since we paired her up with Didar she’s a new little girl, actually beaming and laughing and no longer afraid of unseen dangers around her now that Didar’s gonna be her eyes.
We’ve been working full time together in the training pen so that little Phoebe could learn all the right commands and to gain not only Didar’s friendship, but his loyalty, love and respect and now the day is finally here: I’m taking him to his forever home where he’s gonna spend the rest of his life helping Phoebe take on the world.
This day is bittersweet for me, letting go of the dogs I train is always a little sad, but it makes me love my job even more and put all the passion that I have in it.
Sometimes I can’t believe it’s been almost five years already since the first time I saw Didar.
So much has happened since that first day, so much has changed.
I almost lost Didar to a senseless accident and his bright future as a guide dog hung in the balance for so long and then we had to work hard and fight tooth and nail to restore him those first months to make sure he recovered completely; Pawfect Friend found new benefactors and the funds started to flow back in and we have been fully staffed for the last couple of years and I’ve been able to work here full time and let go of my other job and most importantly, I found the love of my life and was lucky enough to have her love me back and a few months after we got together, she made me the happiest of men by agreeing to be my wife.
Every day I wake up with a smile on my face because of her and I can’t wait for all the ‘firsts’ still waiting for us. The future has never been more bright.
I get behind the wheel and lean to kiss her fully on her soft, tempting mouth until I feel her smile grow under my lips.
Her hands come up to grip my shoulders and she pulls back to look at me.
“Are you ready, love?” she asks, knowingly; her honey-colored eyes staring right into my soul.
I nod, smiling. “I think so. I can’t wait to see Phoebe’s face.”
Tess suggested to her parents we keep the actual homecoming date a surprise and the little girl has no idea it’s today.
“Me too,” she says, clutching my hand in hers as I turn the car around, feeling the weight of Didar’s head on my shoulder.
Epilogue 1
PART 2
TESS
I smile, holding my husband’s hand in mine as we stand to the side with the Brennans, watching Phoebe rolling on the pristine green lawn, her little arms wound around Didar’s powerful frame as the dog plays with her with a gentleness and a care we could only wish to see in most people.
They stand up at the same time and Phoebe runs toward us, her tiny hand clutching Didar’s harness.
They stop in front of us and Axe crouches down
“Now, remember, Phoebe: whatever you need, you have my number, alright?”
“Yes, Mr. Constant. Thank you for bringing Didar home!” she says, throwing her arms around my husband’s neck.
He hugs her back. “My pleasure, Phoebe. Happy birthday!”
The little girl beams up at him and then steps back, once again her small hand reaching out for Didar.
The dog immediately senses he is needed and stops jumping and running around to sit at her feet, pushing his back under her arm until her fingers are grasping the handle of the harness again.
Axe turns to Didar and pats him over the head. “Be a good boy, buddy, okay? Look after her.”
Didar gives a single bark, almost as if to answer and then he licks Axe’s hand once before turning to the side to lick Phoebe’s pretty little face, making her giggle.
Then we’re stepping away, leaving the family to enjoy this moment together.
As we walk toward our car, I see tears glisten in my husband’s deep blue eyes and I smile.
I love how committed he is and I’m proud of him.
He doesn’t simply trains his dogs: he leaves a piece of his heart with each and every one of them and that’s exactly the thing that makes him the best at what he does, but it comes at a price: he loves these dogs, they are his friends and every time he has to break the bond and say goodbye to them.
Service dogs need to be completely loyal to their owners and this means no one else can show them much affection, give them treats or play with them, not even the other members of the families of the kids.
Axel explained to me that sometimes the very lives of these children depend on the absolute closeness, exclusivity and strength of their bond with their service dogs and no one else can come between them, so while he will get to see Didar again, I know that was the last time he could ever pet him.