Thom Baron has been struggling with social anxiety his entire life. He's taken the medications, gone to the therapists, followed the programs, and concluded his best life is a solitary one. When he comes across a dog in obvious need at his local market, it rekindles the desire to have some company around. It may come with a dishevelled coat, a notched ear, and a refusal to respond to anything but its given name "Ugly," but it could still be a friend.<br><br>However, Thom's new fur buddy has no such need to keep to itself and immediately befriends the man Thom has secretly coveted since he moved in -- Justin, Thom's gorgeous, bright-eyed neighbour. No matter how Thom tries to evade the man, the dog keeps drawing them back into each other's lives, and it doesn't take Thom long to recognize it's simply pursuing the demands of Thom's own heart. With the dog giving him the courage to try, Thom reaches out to return the love being offered.<br><br>Until a stranger shows up insisting the dog is his and demanding its immediate return ... a loss Thom knows will take all of his efforts and newfound confidence with it.

But by the Grace of Dog

Thom shook his head. “No. No, I want to do it.” And while he didn’t say it, he didn’t mean just undo Justin’s pants, either. He wanted all of it. Whatever Justin thought they should do.


He popped the button of Justin’s jeans, and as he lowered the zipper, Justin began to taste his neck. Wet kisses and the slow drag of Justin’s tongue on one of the most sensitive parts of Thom’s body finished lighting any fires that weren’t already burning. The instant Thom was able, he reached into Justin’s pants and wrapped his hand around Justin’s hardness. Justin sighed against Thom’s skin, moving into Thom’s grip, in and out, and sliding against Thom’s lap in a movement that was mind blowing. No wonder people spent so much money on lap dances.


Justin pressed his lips to Thom’s ear. “I’m going to move down, okay?”


Chapter 31