Survival Instinct (Cerberus Tactical K9 #1)

by Fiona Quinn

Trip had internalized every sensory-dazzling moment of that experience. It settled vividly into his psyche because, in that moment, he had, for the first time, experienced being one with the universe. There was no beginning or end. No demarcations or delineations separating him as an individual in a space. He was nature.

men when they take psychedelic drugs once and discover empathy at 23

After Valor’s first real-world find, where she’d trotted out of the woods dangling the toddler by the seat of the pants, Tripwire had needed to figure out how best to handle those situations.

And, if he couldn’t get her out in time, he’d be told to abandon her. No fucking way he’d ever follow through with that order.

“Does he have a dog?” “Yep. Hairyman, or as I call him Sloberus Maximus.”

“Can you feel my hands on you?” “Yes. You’re brushing off my ass.” Tripwire chuckled. “Sorry to be so forward.”

He stepped on either side of her, kneeling to straddle her. “You know, I usually don’t let guys do this kind of thing on a first date.” He smiled at that. If she was thinking this was a first date, it was a hell of “How I met my…” story.

Mother Nature was a formidable enemy.

Maybe she hadn’t actually tripped. Maybe it was more like a Freudian slip?

“Your face is so familiar to me. I feel like we’ve met. I’m trying to remember how I would know you, though. I feel certain that if we had met, I couldn’t have forgotten you.”

“Lone ranger type?” “In the K-9 world, we say lone wolf.” Dani laughed. “Cute.”

Dani was not in as good a shape as she wanted him to believe. She was being a good soldier, but not a great injured rescue.

“If you bend over the bed, it’ll be the most practical way to irrigate.”

… mmmhm

“I don’t want to hurt you, Dani. I’ll try to be gentle.” Yup, two scenarios, different motivation.

“Sweating. I’m quite attached to my penis. This is a weird conversation.”

He just needed to keep his head right. Both heads.

Short of tying her up, he didn’t know how he could stop her.

“It’s an awfully small space for the expanse of what I’m feeling. It fit better in the forest.”

You go first.” “So you can catch me when I fall? That’s not a good idea. You’ve got Valor.” “No, you’re going first so I can watch your ass as you climb the stairs.”

“Don’t let me hurt you, Dani,” he whispered between kisses that trailed down her neck. “I’d never want to hurt you.”

Trip popped the box open. “Will you do me the honor of joining me on the long haul?” Valor barked her share of the question. The crowd laughed. Dani swiped tears from her face. And nodded. “Dani,” he said under his breath, “it’s my job to kneel down here with the ring. It’s your job to answer me.”

wh- YOU JUST MET????

Robin Williams had said, “I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone.”