Page 104 of Puppy on a Leash

Shit.

I was a terrible person.

No matter.

I gave an attempt of a smile Tony’s way—even though I knew I had to look as if I was heading straight to a slaughterhouse—and jumped over him to start getting my clothes.

I obviously didn’t mind showing skin around Cece—and they didn’t mind if I did, either—but I didn’t know what they wantedto talk about. It would be fine if they just wanted to remind me I had to take out the trash, but it wouldn’t be if the topic was more serious. Regardless of how I felt about shit, I might as well go prepared.

Slippers and a sweatshirt on—because it might be June, but this apartment was hella cold for some reason all year round, I slipped out of my room and walked to the other end of the hallway where Cece’s was.

I couldn’t hear music or anything else, but that didn’t give me much to go on. Cece either used headphones or they claimed music distracted them when they were in the zone.

I hesitated only a second before trying the doorknob. We’d added locks to both our rooms when we’d moved in, so if they didn’t want me to show up unannounced, the lock would be latched.

It wasn’t.

The small fact eased some of the anxiety threatening to overtake me.

“Hey.”

Cece was splayed on their bed, hands behind their head, staring at the ceiling. They had headphones on, but they took them off when they noticed me at the door.

“Hey.” Cece curled up into a slightly hunched, sitting position. “Did you just wake up?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged while dragging myself to their bed. If I tried to stay upright for much longer, my knees were going to buckle. I took a bit longer than the average human to wake up. Sue me. “What’s up?”

“Don’twhat’s upme.”

At least they looked to be in a good mood. They’d gotten their haircut freshened up the other day, the red more vivid in the front and bleeding into their shaved scalp at the sides and back. I didn’t fully understand why they let the front part growlong if they always had it tied up, but I didn’t have to understand everything.

Besides, the important thing was that they were taking care of themselves by not letting it get too disarrayed.

“You’re the one who knocked on my door,” I complained. “Tony snitched.”

Cece snorted. They moved to scratch the back of my head before pulling me to them. My head landed on their shoulder.

They’d showered today, too.

I loved their shower gel.

“Spoon me?”

I scooted around right away to get in position. “Feel free to slap me if I fall asleep on you.”

I wasn’t planning to, but I didn’t trust my body quite that much yet. My eyelids felt heavy as fuck, even with all the uncertainty.

“If you fall asleep on me, you’ll surpass your Dom in assholery.”

“He’s not an asshole.” I pursed my lips. “Now.”

Cece shook their head. I pushed them so they were lying down on their side, their back to my chest. My fingers spread wide to cover most of their abdomen.

“What’s going on?”

In my defense, I wasn’t impatient. I’d waited one full minute for Cece to speak first.

“I don’t know what to do.” A shiver ran down their spine as they whispered the confession.

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