Chapter 100

Greyson looked down at Dane and added as if it were natural.

"You might need me in the middle of the night. Then you should be able to call me right away."

Dane's jaw dropped in disbelief. Before his mind could process it, Greyson added with an "and."

"You might want to come into my room too, you know."

His appearance, blushing and smiling shyly, was quite a sight. Dane just stared at him, his mouth opening and closing. Though he had been dumbfounded by Greyson many times before, each time he pulled something more absurd than before. This time too, Dane, who momentarily felt dizzy, pressed his forehead and took a deep breath with his eyes closed. Getting angry and cursing here wouldn't work at all. Having learned some tactics by now, he extended one hand as if restraining a dog and opened his mouth.

"Pretty one, I think we need to maintain some boundaries."

"As lovers, we don't need boundaries."

"No, because we're lovers, we need them even more."

Dane immediately negated his instant rejection. Deliberately ignoring the allergic reaction that threatened to break out all over his body as soon as he uttered the word 'lover,' he continued.

"If you keep crossing the line like this, we'll get tired quickly. I've already exceeded my limits enough. Don't invade my space as you please anymore, understand?"

Dane glared at Greyson strongly. His attitude made it clear that if he took even one step further, he really wouldn't let it slide. Greyson silently looked down at his face.

After a few seconds of silence, Greyson let out a small sigh and said, "Alright." Seeing his dejected appearance, Dane's heart almost softened, but he quickly pulled himself together. Even though it was payment for saving Darling's life, there were limits. Hadn't he already accommodated him more than enough? He needed to be clear about where to retreat and where not to.

"Give me the key."

"Key?"

When Dane held out his hand and spoke, Greyson tilted his head. Dane added coldly.

"The key to that door, you must have it."

"I don't."

"I've told you many times not to lie."

When Dane threatened him, Greyson pouted and turned his back to head toward the drawer. After throwing the key he had taken out of a small drawer, he watched Dane catch it with one hand and said.

"The key can be locked from both sides. Of course, I won't lock it."

The latter part sounded meaningful. In short, he was saying that Dane was welcome anytime. Of course, from Dane's perspective, this was out of the question. And he immediately showed that through his actions.

Dane, who briskly walked past Greyson, boldly locked the connecting room's door with the key. After checking that it was locked by pulling the handle that made a "click" sound, he took Greyson's hand and placed the key on his palm with a "thud." As if telling him to take it away.

"Anything else to say?"

"Since it's your first night, you might be scared, so with me..."

"Good night."

Dane didn't let him finish his advances and pushed Greyson's back to send him out. Only after finally being alone could he exhale a tired breath.

I really can't think straight when I'm with that bastard.

After shaking his head, Dane belatedly noticed the carrier he had placed on the bed. Oh no, he had forgotten about Darling. Flustered, he hurriedly moved to open the carrier door. When he released pheromones to Darling, who was huddled up inside, the cat sniffed and made a small "meow" sound.

"Sorry, Darling. Were you anxious?"

Dane apologized to the cat in a gentle voice and softly stroked her head with his finger. Though the cat tried to rub her head against Dane's hand, she didn't try to come out of the carrier.

Seeing that the pre-laid pad was wet, Dane first unpacked his luggage from the bag. After carefully taking Darling out, holding her while changing the pad, and then putting her back in, Darling went deep into the carrier as if she had been waiting.

Even after confirming that the cat was finding stability, Dane had a lot to do. He placed Darling's cherished items in appropriate positions, poured food into a bowl, filled the toilet with sand, and only after completing all preparations was it his turn to take care of himself. After placing the bowl filled with food right in front of the carrier so that Darling could eat whenever she felt like it, he finally headed to the bathroom.

"Whew."

Only after filling the bathtub with hot water and immersing his body did he feel like he was coming to his senses.

Dane leaned his head on the edge of the tub and looked up at the ceiling. Like the entire house, the bathroom also had a high ceiling, half of which was covered with glass, allowing a clear view of the night sky. During the day, the sun would pour in through that window. Turning his eyes to the wall, like the room, there was a large glass door installed, so if he wanted, he could take a bath with the fantastic night view and refreshing night air while keeping the window wide open. He thought that Greyson had reason to boast that this was the best room in his house. And he also had to admit. As Greyson had said, he didn't dislike this room that much, or rather, he was quite satisfied with it.

"Whew."

Letting out a complicated sigh, he fell into thought again. Come to think of it, this situation was what Dane had been dreaming of. A life of lounging around at home every day, enjoying without worrying about money. At least on the surface, it seemed perfect...

The problem was that Greyson Miller was unemployed.

What he had wanted was a life where his partner would go to work, occasionally travel far for business trips, and most of his daily routine would be free and lazy. It was certainly not someone who stuck to him like gum all day and followed him around.

In fact, Dane's position would have been perfect as something like the 35,896,425th lover of some wealthy woman. So that he could just lounge around, quietly spending money without his existence being highlighted much. He didn't need a lot of money either. Just enough to buy what Darling needed and to maintain a decent life with some pocket money for occasional indulgences. For life.

But to Greyson Miller, Dane's presence was too significant. If it were a relationship where he could just leisurely pass by as if he didn't exist and provide service once or twice a year, that would be okay, but it was clear that Greyson would never leave Dane alone like that. If he were to accept him, just imagining what would happen afterward sent chills down his spine.

He might even stick to my back completely.

The image of Greyson sticking to him like a turtle shell and kneading his chest came to mind so easily that Dane shook his head vigorously in disgust. Haa, haa. His breathing quickly became rough, and he muttered with a pale face.

"That guy really won't do."

Dane was always ready to leave this place whenever he got tired of it. Just as he had lived until now. No one could change this life of his. Absolutely not.

Dane affirmed to himself and began to scrub his body vigorously with body wash on a sponge. As if whipping his fading judgment.

* * *

Meow, at the small sound, one part of Dane's consciousness awakened. It seemed like Darling was calling him. Mmm, making a faint groan, he opened his eyes, and Darling was beside him. Dane happily embraced the cat who was rubbing her head against his cheek as if she had been waiting.

"Did you sleep well, Darling?"

He kissed her face and closed his eyes again. He felt unusually good today. Had the motel bed always been this soft? The feeling of the soft mattress and sheets that seemed to envelop his entire body made the corners of his mouth rise involuntarily.

Hmm, after making a pleasant sound, Dane suddenly opened his eyes. Lying down, he rolled his eyeballs around and then slowly raised his body so as not to startle Darling, looking around.

The harsh sunlight pouring in through the front window was brightly illuminating the still unfamiliar, splendid room. Only then did Dane realize where he had fallen asleep the night before.

Haaaa.

An exclamation came out involuntarily. It was a room that didn't become familiar no matter how many times he looked at it. It would probably be like this until the day he left this room.

Thinking this, Dane tried to slowly get out of the large bed. As he turned his head without thinking, he hesitated and froze.

No way, I must have seen wrong.

Though half in doubt, Dane slowly turned his head. And the moment he confirmed what he had seen with his eyes, he froze completely.

Because Greyson, who had been watching Dane from beyond the closed window, was waving one hand with a bright smile. Absurdly, as their eyes met, he said this.

"Honey, hello."

Aaaaargh.

Dane let out a silent scream with his mouth wide open.