Leashed by Him

a Tip and a Look

When we returned home, the front door was slightly open. My heart skipped a beat as my hand flew down to my pocket, but the keys were there, so I should have locked. Slowly, I pushed the door further open. Thor seemed to sense my anxiety and pushed forward, his tail wagging and his ears perked.

Suddenly, we heard a sound from the living room, and while I almost jumped Thor just relaxed and looked up at me. I paused, then took off his leash and collar - and he ran ahead. Out of sight I could hear him jump onto the couch, and how Chris started baby talking him.

I could feel my heartbeat, both beneath my chest and between my legs.

Another hand through the hair, hoping that it would look semi-presentable, then I slowly walked down the hall and looked at the pair. Chris' eyes flashed up to take me in, then returned to Thor, not missing a beat in his string of "who's my good boy?".

Chris was wearing a more relaxed outfit than I had seen him in before. The turtleneck suited him.

I stood still, holding the leash and collar with both hands while I looked at the pair. When Thor had had enough, he lay down beside Chris and looked back at me expectantly - there was plenty of room for me beside him. Unsure, I stood there a second longer, before I started walking towards the couch. "Good morning." I said, mustering a smile, and Chris nodded at me. "Morning." He glanced over my body and I tried not to think about what I was wearing.

As I sat down, he sprung up. "Coffee?" he asked over his shoulder, already moving towards the corridor so he could go to the kitchen. "Y-yes please."

Internally, I scolded myself. Stammering? Really?

I put the leash and collar away before absentmindedly petting Thor. The smell of coffee soon wafts through the house. Soon after that, he returns with two mugs, placing them on the coffee table before he moved to his side of the couch. Thor put his head on his thigh as he sat down.

In a fluid movement, Chris grabbed his phone out of his pocket and put his free hand on Thor's head, slowly stroking it as the dog lets out a satisfied snort.

I imagine the sound I would make if he put his hand on my thigh instead.

I quickly look down into my coffee, trying to hide my reddening face and take a sip. Too late, I realize the fresh, hot coffee is, in fact, hot, and it burns all the way down my throat. Chris looks up from his phone to look at me, then shakes his head as he looks back down. "Careful. It's hot."

I nod, and try not to cough anymore. "Yeah.. I found out the hard way." I smile his way, but all I get back is a drag at the edges of his mouth. He seems to have lost interest.

I clear my throat and look around. "Uhm. I hope you had a good trip?"

He glances up at me again, and put his phone on the table, screen face down. As he grabs his mug, I feel like I have all his attention on me.

The thought of that is enough to make my legs weak. Good thing I'm already sitting down.

As he looked at me, I felt for the first time that day that he really saw me. "Yes. I had a good trip. Productive, too." He paused, and made an exaggerated frown as he thought. "So if you're looking for a tip.." He looked down at Thor, his frown turning into a gentle smile. "I suppose you've earned one. He looks happy and the place hasn't been burnt down."

I swallow and start shaking my head, but stop myself. "A tip would, of course, be appreciated.." I stop and shrug. The movement makes Thor look into my direction and snort, disgruntled by me changing the position when he was lying so comfortably.

I look down at the ground and around the room, the silence, like me, feeling like it almost needs to be filled by something. It's like Chris is waiting for me to make a move. While he does, he leans forward without disturbing Thor and grabs his coffee cup.

Finally, he takes a sip - and quickly grimaces, a bit running out of his mouth. "Wow, that is hot." he says, putting it back on the table. As with everything else... he looks good, even with coffee on his face.

He dried it off with the back of his left wrist, and Thor looks up, wanting to know where his pats have gone.

I can't help but smile. So, human after all. "Yeah. Careful." I try to imitate his voice, but quickly drop it. My cheeks turn red as I remember this is, after all, my employer.

He sends me a glance that tells me nothing of what he's thinking, before he stands up. Tall. Big dog for a big man, as I said at our first meeting, when I commented on how big Thor was. It was the first time I saw him smile. I had been chasing that high ever since.

"Well, I'll hit the shower. I know it's a couple hours early, but you can leave when you're ready." I nod, and try to send him another smile. It feels like a chance to get to know him better has slipped through my fingers.

He grabs his coffee cup and exits the room without looking back. Thor and I are left behind to miss him, together.