Page 7 of Back Where He Belongs

CHAPTER FIVE

MAC

Kier steeled himself for the introduction. He hoped the man was nice, and not better looking than him. He would have to school his features and be friendly. Maybe Mac would be annoyed that his lovely romantic Christmas had been gatecrashed?

Kier was surprised by the light footfall of Mac descending the stairs, and then when he actually saw him—red hair, dark eyes, long lolling tongue—Kier laughed so hard he lost his balance and folded over.

Mac let out a delighted yelp and leaped into Douglas’s arms and then, licked his face enthusiastically. MacLeod McLelland was a shaggy-haired, lively, loveable Red Setter. He was all long legs, floppy ears, a wet tongue, dark brown eyes, and a feverishly wagging tail. When Douglas put him down, he bounced excitedly around his daddy and let out happy barks.

“Ah, ye missed me didn’t you, ye big dafty,” Douglas said affectionately to Mac, who seemed to exude delight at seeing his master.

Kier could not stop laughing. He pulled out a kitchen chair and sat heavily, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Douglas looked over, smiling to see the mirth on Kier’s face. “What’s so funny?”

“He’s—a—real—dog.” Kier could barely get the words out.

“Aye, you’re daddy’s good boy, aren’t you? Yes, you are, oh yes you are.” Douglas simpered to the dog as he ruffled Mac’s long red-haired floppy ears. The dog let out a bark of agreement and looked adoringly up at his master with wide soulful dark eyes. He shuddered with affection for Douglas.

“I thought…” Kier couldn‘t even finish his sentence.

“You thought Mac was my boyfriend and I’d just bought him a collar and leash for Christmas.” Kier nodded and held his face in his hands unable to stop laughing.

Just noticing the newcomer, Mac let out a Wroof of hello and bounded over to where Kier sat and thrust his muzzle into Kier’s crotch.

“Jesus,” Kier stood up sharply.

“Ahh, remember when I used to do that? He’s a dog after my own heart.” Douglas laughed as Kier tried to guard his groin. Mac pranced around and stood on his hind legs to lean on Kier.

Both Kier and Douglas grew up around dogs, what with Kier’s family running a Croft and Douglas’s own parent’s farming Highland cattle. Dogs were always part of the family. They both loved the playful, youthful exuberance of dogs, and so pup roleplay came easily to them both.

Kier bent down, and Mac stopped trying to climb him. He took the dog’s head in his hands and gave him direct eye contact. “Hello, their MacLeod. I’m Kier, a friend of your daddy. Good te meet you boy.” He ruffled the dog's ears, and in greeting, the dog gave Kier’s face a long wet lick. He grimaced and laughed.

“Right-oh, we’ll go out for a pee and then it’s time for din- dins,” Douglas announced.

“You talkin’ te me or Mac?” Kier snickered. The laugh faded as the men shared an intense, incendiary stare. The dog curiously watched his master, ears pricked; head slightly cocked as if trying to work out the meaning of the look Douglas shared with the other man. Mac barked a question.

Douglas broke eye contact first and strode off down the hall to the front door. “C’mon boy,” he hollered, and Mac followed subserviently.

A few minutes later they returned to the warmth of the lounge. The dog pranced around Kier then, snuffled and nudged at Dougie’s thigh.

“Mac, I’ll have none of that. You know your place, away ye go now boy. I’ll call you when yer scran’s ready.” Douglas instructed, giving the dog a scratch, then a pat on the rump to edge him on his way. Mac barked once and then happily trotted off towards Kier, gave him another sniff, then he settled on the rug by the fire.

Kier felt a curious curl of arousal at hearing Douglas speak so roughly. Mac knew full well who his master was and he wanted to please him. When they were a couple, Kier had been the dominant in the relationship. He observed Douglas and Mac together, and privately he thought the relationship with Mac was adorable.

Kier moved to the kitchen sink to wash the doggy drool from his hands and face.

“He has a wicked long tongue.” Douglas chuckled.

“Yeah. I have the same problem.” Kier joked.

“Aye, I remember.”

Kier was surprised by the flirtatious tone of the retort. But then it hit him that if Mac wasn’t a person, Douglas might not be in a relationship at all. He reached for a towel on a hook by the sink and dried his hands.

“D’ye wanna set the table while I sort out dinner?” Douglas asked, changing the subject. He directed Kier to where the table mats, cutlery, and wine glasses were stored, and then he retrieved a metal dog bowl from the pantry and filled it with a mix of canned food and dog biscuits. He washed his hands and face and dried them with the towel Kier tossed to him.

“Mac, grubs up!” Dougie called. The dog had his face in the bowl before either man could blink.