Who can resist a free room at the Velvet Glove in exchange for rehabilitating an abused puppy? Certainly not Dane, who accepts the offer, but is surprised find that the pup in question is actually Tyg, a young man and sub who was left by his master, in a cage, with no food or water. Tyg needs help and, Dane is the man for the job, even if he's used to working with animals, not humans. Can Dane rehabilitate a human as he would a dog? Does he even want to? As his relationship with Tyg blossoms into something sweet and heartwarming, Dane thinks he just might, but what happens when Tyg's "owner" returns?
Originally published on Turn of the Screw and in the print book Velvet Glove, IV.
Chapter One - Dane Learns That Some Puppies are Human
Dane signed in at the front desk of the Velvet Glove, leaving an imprint of his palm. He was assured his suite would be ready for him and his new puppy.
Then he was asked to take a seat and wait for his escort. That would be Richard, the young man he had been in touch with on the universal 'net. The young man who'd told him about the dog, abandoned by his owner, left for they knew not how long in a cage. Unattended. Unfed. Unwatered. Left to die what was truly a horrible death.
It angered Dane greatly that people would do this, but it was not the first time he had seen it.
Of course for every person who could be so cruel there was one like Richard, who's heart was bigger than his ability, who'd searched out someone to help this puppy, when he himself had been unable to.
Dane watched as two men, one young and small, the other big, scarred and wearing special glasses came toward him, holding hands.
They stopped in front of him.
"Hello, Dane?" The big man held out one scarred hand. "I'm Jean, this is Richard."
He stood and shook Jean's hand and then Richard's. "Hello. Yes. I'm Dane. Thank you. Thank you for calling me in. And for the rooms. That really wasn't necessary, but thank you. I assure you, I will help this dog. Tyg, wasn't it?"
The big man looked down at the little one, who nodded eagerly. "Tyg's been... badly treated. He's going to be sent away if someone doesn't help him."
"Yes, Richard sent me an account of how he'd been left by his previous owner. Shameful, really."
The little one -- Richard -- took his hand and tugged, leading him toward the lift.
"Yes, everyone assumed the man had taken Tyg with him. The police are looking for him, in fact. Tyg was left behind to die."
His heart broke for the poor dog. "When they find him, he should be left in a cage with no food or water as well. It's no more than he deserves."
The lift traveled quickly upward.
"Yeah. Andy and Bear have been taking care of Tyg, but he's aggressive, angry, unsocial." The lift door opened and he was led down a long hall, to a door marked kennel.
He nodded. "Yes, that makes sense. He'll have branded all men as users and abusers. Only time and patience and being well-treated will convince him otherwise."
The door opened, a lean man in leather answering, a naked young man at his feet... barking... "Richard! Jean! Is this the man interested in Tyg?"
He blinked. "Yes. I'm Dane. I sent my credentials with the animal rescue shelter to Richard a few days ago -- he said he'd pass them on..." Dane was fascinated by the ... well, dog-boy at the man's feet. He had a... a tail coming from his ass.
"Excellent. Come on in, I'll introduce you to Tyg." He was led into a long, sunny room, one bright kennel after another with a...
He blinked.
Men.
Men with tails and mitted hands and one or two with dog masks on.
Men that were barking.
