Mudminnow River too sweet for me

When she brushed against his side, his breath hitched—a subtle, unbidden reaction. Her affection, so freely given, stirred something raw and instinctive within him.

Mild alarm prickled at the edges of his thoughts, but it wasn’t enough to push her away. Instead, with an almost unconscious motion, his forepaw moved to rear her closer, a firm but careful gesture that left no room for misinterpretation. He kept her taut, his frame steady, as though instinct demanded he anchor her there.

Why’d you come out here so far? he asked, his voice low, but there was a trace of something more—concern, curiosity, and the faintest edge of possessiveness.

His gaze softened slightly as he studied her, but his grip remained, the primal need to protect her holding firm against the rational thoughts stirring in his mind.