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

Then it stopped and Thom opened his eyes to a grin. “Whoopsie,” Justin pushed him onto the couch.


He cocked an eyebrow. “A little bit pushy-shovey today, aren’t you?”


“I am,” Justin said. “Wait until you see how pushy-shovey I can get, when using the right tools in the right circumstances. Which will, I hope, be now. The circumstances, I mean. As for the tool…” He climbed on top of Thom, earning himself a feigned groan.


“Must you?” Thom grumbled. “I mean, on me? You’re no hundred and twenty-pound teenager.”


Justin kissed his nose. “Lucky for you. By the way, in case you missed it, that tool I was talking about was my dick.”


“Good. I would hate for you to be getting the wrong impression.” He sat back, bracing on Thom’s thighs so he could yank off his shirt. “Now you.” Justin immediately started tugging at Thom’s shirt before Thom could respond.


Chapter 45