Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Sit with me.” Reaching out, I took his hand and made it more of an order than a request as I tugged him closer. “At least this way you won’t have to see my face.”
That had a smile peeking out before he snatched it back. “You’re an ass.”
Yep.
I ignored his drama, though, as I pulled him down to me and settled him sideways where he could hide against my shoulder instead of looking directly at me, half on my lap and half on the chair. “They’re starting. They look really happy.”
Our view didn’t give a clear shot to where they’d been changing, thank goodness, but we could see the pups running around in their gear and got glimpses of their human Handlers as Eli had called them. “Even their Handlers look excited.”
This had a different feel than the regular shoots did. “No one is panicked or worrying.”
Ender finally nodded, settling back into me. “Yeah, I noticed that to begin with too. The regular models all look like they’re enjoying themselves, but it looks like they’re more stressed. The pups are just playing.”
No stress.
Just playtime.
I was starting to see what he liked about it, but I knew there was a lot to poke at. “Most of them have the tails Eli mentioned, except that guy.”
The one in question had a lot less clothes on, mostly just a jock and the puppy gear, and his tail was not wagging the same way the other tails were.
Ender’s face heated but he couldn’t hold back a giggle. “He started out wearing more clothes but over the past few months his outfits have been changing.”
Hmm.
“As long as he’s happy, that’s what matters.” Hugging him tighter, I rested my head against his and tried to see it the same way Ender did.
I wasn’t sure I succeeded, but the longer we watched, the more he relaxed. That would’ve been enough for me to count it as a success, but his smiles and quiet laughter made me feel more confident.
“What do you think about them?” Ender’s whispered question had a thrill running through me.
“They’re cute.” Shifting so I could point to the far side of what we could see, I chuckled. “And I like the games they’re playing. That one is playing hide-and-seek.”
He was a terrible hider because he was currently behind his Handler’s legs, but they all seemed to be having fun…and the Handler gave me another point when he reached down and stroked the pup’s head. “And I like how tactile everything is. They get pets and everyone snuggles and there’s just a lot of different ways they connect.”
Ender giggled. “You like anything that involves snuggling.”
Yep.
I scoffed to make him laugh again. “Snuggles are the best.”
He nodded, pressing closer against me and finally shifting so he could drape one arm around my chest. “Yeah. Most of the pups seem to like pets and cuddles from their friends and the other Handlers. I think part of that is because most of them have been doing this for a while.”
Nodding, I started rubbing his back as his hand began stroking over my chest. “From what I remember about their blog posts, that’s right.”
Ender went still before his brain seemed to catch up again. “They have blogs? You read their blogs?”
“A few of them and yes.” I might’ve answered that backward but I thought he’d understood what I meant. “I was trying to understand the whole thing and I found a section of the site that has all the blogs. Did you get distracted by the gear and the pictures?”
His blush came back as he nodded, but I thought it made perfect sense. “I can understand that. We were just looking for different types of information.”
That had him relaxing again and for some reason, giggling. “Information. Yeah.”
He was so ridiculous sometimes.
“It is information.” I gave him another huff as he snickered. “There’s visual information where we’re taking in what they’re doing now. Things like behaviors and seeing if we have opinions on gear. I like the blues personally.”
Because he’d look good in blue.
I didn’t give him too much time to process that, though.
“Then there’s information on their personalities and how they like being pups and what they’re thinking about.” I’d just gotten more focused on the models, but it was obvious that I needed to shift my research in a different direction.
“I think they’d like it because it makes them feel happy and free.” Ender’s tone wasn’t as confident as I’d have liked, but I was glad he was starting to share.
“I think that makes perfect sense.” I couldn’t resist teasing him, though. “Except for that one. It makes him feel happy and naughty.”
That got more giggles from Ender and a slightly embarrassed nod. “Okay, maybe that one.”
I scoffed. “There’s no maybe about it. He’s thoroughly enjoying himself and his enjoyment is going to make a mess if he keeps wagging and running around.”