22

"Where're we going, daddy?" Rachel asked sleepily from the backseat.

"We're taking Dom home, honey. I told you earlier, remember?"

She shrugged and pulled a blanket over her lap. By the time they pulled into Dom's long driveway, she was fast asleep.

However, as they pulled up in front of the house, a great booming bark sounded, waking her with a jump.

The volley of barks continued as Dom went up to the house, until he slipped inside and hushed Mia with a bowl of food.

"Would you like to come and meet her?" He called down to Rachel.

She slipped her hand into Adrian's and tugged him impatiently up the steps.

Dom quickly caught Mia and wiped her drooling muzzle with an old towel before the dog greeted Rachel with a happy bark.

Rachel held out her hand to be sniffed, and giggled when Mia's rough tongue began licking the sticky cake icing from her hand.

Dom and Adrian left the pair playing in the warm kitchen, and went through to the living room.

They'd barely sat down when they heard the swift click of Mia's claws in the wooden floor in hall, and Rachel's footsteps following behind.

"Mia! Come back! That's my shoe!" Rachel's indignant squeal made them laugh.

"How did Mia manage to get her shoe?" Adrian asked.

Dom shrugged.

"That dog will get anything she can and chew it."

He made to follow them, and wrestle the shoe away from the excited dog, but Adrian stopped him.

"They're not even Rachel's favourite shoes," he said. "Are they alright chasing around the house?"

Dom nodded, and sat back down beside Adrian.

"So..." Dom said quietly.

Adrian looked over at him, and grinned.

"What?"

Dom shrugged.

The pair moved towards each other at the same time.

Adrian wrapped his arms around Dom's neck as the detective kissed him deeply. Adrian moaned softly as Dom's tongue slid into his mouth and rubbed gently along his own. He gently tugged Dom's ponytail, tilting the detective's head back and baring his neck.

Dom's guttural moan vibrated against Adrian's lips, and Dom's hands slid over Adrian's torso.

A small voice interrupted them.

"You two are always kissing!" Rachel was wearing her 'ick' face again.

Adrian laughed, and rested his head on Dom's shoulder.

"Come here, darling."

She scampered over and clambered up onto his knee.

Adrian wrapped his arm around her and cuddled her close.

"Do you remember Nicky Brown?" He asked her.

Rachel shrugged.

"He was a boy at your old school."

Rachel nodded sleepily.

"Well, do you remember that he had two mums, instead of a mum and a dad?"

"Yeah."

"Well... Would you like to have two dads?"

"Why?"

"You remember what I told you when you asked about Nicky's mums?" He asked. "I told you that some people are gay."

"Women who like women."  She said, yawning.

"Well, sometimes, men can like other men. They're gay too."

"Okay daddy." She snuggled against his chest and closed her eyes. "I think Dom's a very ugly woman."

Adrian laughed and kissed her head affectionately.

"I think I'm very pretty," said Dom in a dignified voice.

He grinned at Adrian.

Adrian leant forwards and pecked Dom's lips, before he gently cradled Rachel in his arms and picked her up.

"We should get home."

Dom walked them to the door, kissed Adrian goodnight and watched them drive into the night.

Dom called Mia and took her for a quick run down to the stream and back. She followed him upstairs and jumped up onto his bed as he undressed.

"Off!" He ordered her. "Come on."

He grabbed her collar and tried to haul her off the bed.

"Off, dog!"

She grunted and flopped onto her side. Dom gave up trying to move her and slid under the duvet.

He gave Mia a goodnight pat and turned off the bedside lamp.