Tor moves closer, and the dog suddenly lurches into the traffic, attempting to run away. Cars honk and swerve and the dog freezes – right in the middle of the fast lane. My heart jumps into my throat as Tor dives at the dog, landing on top of him, then scoops him up into his arms and somehow manages to get both of them out of oncoming traffic.

“Oh my God,” tears stream down my cheeks as I watch, completely stricken with panic as Tor stands between the lanes, the huge dog in his arms, trying to cross back to the shoulder where I’m waiting.

I can’t take this anymore. I leave the truck and run out to the edge of the highway and wave my arms at the oncoming traffic, trying to get the cars to slow down, or stop. Why does no one care or stop to help? Can’t they see a person is standing in the middle of the highway with an injured dog?

No one stops.

My tears mix with the rain as I stand there helplessly, begging cars to slow down.

Finally, there’s about two car lengths of space in the traffic and Tor runs towards me, kneeling down to the ground with the dog as soon as he’s to the safety of the side of the road next to his truck. I fall to my knees with him and grab the leash from his hand, looping it over the dog’s huge furry neck.

“You’re insane,” I scold with relief and frustration, wiping at the tears on my face.

“Hey, my insanity just saved this dog.”

“Is your leg okay?” His jeans are ripped at the knee from skidding across the wet pavement and blood has started to seep into the edge of the fabric. “I was so scared something was going to happen to you,” I say shakily, but he’s ignoring his own injury, checking the dog instead, gently running his hands over the dogs trembling body and down it’s legs.

“I’m fine, Angel.”

As he checks over the dog, I notice blood on his hand and grab it, turning it over in my own. The flesh of his palm is all tore up with road rash from when he jumped for the dog.

“You’re bleeding,” my voice cracks as I choke back new tears and dab at his hand with the sleeve of my sweatshirt.

His hand closes over mine, on top of the big furry dog’s back, and his gaze drifts from our joined hands, up to my face. For the first time I don’t recognize the deep, dark eyes staring back into mine, but I fall right into them willingly as our lips meet. My eyes flutter closed as I tumble further into him, but he quickly jerks away, and we simultaneously suck in a startled breath, staring at each other with wide-eyed shock.

Dropping my hand, he grabs the back of my neck, yanking my mouth back to his hungrily, and I clutch his arm to keep from falling backward onto my ass. His lips are warm and demanding, his tongue pushing past my teeth, coaxing my mouth open. My heartbeats turn into soaring butterflies. Nothing has ever felt like this. He steals my breath, making me dizzy as his mouth claims mine, his fingers tightening at the back of my neck. I tilt my head slightly to deepen the kiss, and a low, guttural growl sounds in his throat, turning my sweet butterflies into fireflies and sparking heat from my tummy to my thighs. He pulls away slightly, stares into my eyes with a lusty gaze, then comes back for more, his kiss much softer now, his hand moving from my neck to gently touch my damp cheek. My body and heart reel from his sudden shift from fierce demand in one moment, to soft and loving the next.

The scared dog moves between us, breaking the spell. Tor lets go, pulling away from me, his eyes darker, wilder, and avoiding mine.

Oh shit.

Oh shit.

He clears his throat and grabs the dog’s leash again before he stands.

“Let’s get him in the back of the truck and to the emergency vet. I’m pretty sure his leg is broken.” Fake normalcy courses through his words, trying to erase the last ten seconds, but the shaking of his hand as he holds the leash totally betrays his efforts.

Dazed, I quietly help him maneuver the large dog into the back seat, who’s calmer now, tail wagging slightly as we talk softly to him and wipe him down with the old towel. He looks like a polar bear with his thick white fur and jet black eyes and nose.

We’re both soaking wet as we climb into the front seat, and I’m still trembling from head to toe from the anxiety of watching Tor try to cross that busy highway coupled with what just happened between us.