By Zephyria 
Grayson looked down at Dane and added as if it were obvious, “You might need me in the middle of the night. If you do, you have to call me right away.”
Dane was so dumbfounded that his jaw dropped. Before he could even process it, Grayson added, “Or maybe you’ll want to come into my room.”
The sight of him blushing and smiling shyly was quite a spectacle. Dane just gaped at him. He had been dumbfounded by Grayson countless times, but each time he did something even more absurd than before. This time, Dane felt a momentary dizziness, and he pressed his forehead, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Getting angry and swearing wouldn’t work at all. Having learned some tricks, he held out a hand as if to restrain a dog and opened his mouth.
“Darling, I think we need to keep some distance.”
“We don’t need distance, we’re lovers.”
“No, we need it even more because we’re lovers.”
Dane immediately denied his immediate rejection. He ignored the rejection that made him feel like he was breaking out in hives as soon as he uttered the word ‘lovers’ and continued, “If you keep crossing the line like this, I’ll get tired of it quickly. I’m already pushing my limits enough. Don’t invade my space without permission anymore, understand?”
Dane glared at Grayson intensely. His attitude made it clear that he wouldn’t stand for it if he came any closer. Grayson silently looked down at his face.
After a few seconds of silence, Grayson sighed softly and said, “Okay.” Seeing his dejected appearance, Dane’s heart softened, but he quickly regained his senses. Even if it was the price for saving Darling’s life, there was a limit. He had already accepted enough. He had to be clear about where to back down and where not to.
“Give me the key.”
“Key?”
Grayson tilted his head as Dane held out his hand. Dane added coldly, “The key to that door, you must have it.”
“I don’t.”
“I’ve told you not to lie so many times.”
Dane threatened, and Grayson pouted, turned around, and headed for the dresser. He threw the key he took out of a small drawer, and Dane caught it with one hand. Grayson said, “The key can lock from both sides. Of course, I won’t lock it.”
The last words sounded meaningful. In short, he was welcome anytime. Of course, from Dane’s point of view, that was absurd. And he immediately showed it with his actions.
Dane brushed past Grayson and confidently walked to the connecting room, locking the door with the key. After pulling on the doorknob to make sure it was locked, he grabbed Grayson’s hand and placed the key on his palm with a thud, as if telling him to take it away.
“Anything else to say?”
“It’s our first night, so you might be scared, so I’ll stay with you…”
“Good night.”
Dane didn’t listen to his nonsense to the end and pushed Grayson out. Only after he was finally alone could he let out a tired breath.
That guy really drives me crazy.
Shaking his head, Dane belatedly discovered the Pet carrier he had placed on the bed. Oh no, he had forgotten about Darling. Flustered, he hurriedly moved to open the door of the Pet carrier. As he released Pheromone to Darling, who was huddled up, the cat sniffed and meowed softly.
“I’m sorry, Darling. Were you anxious?”
Dane apologized to the cat in a gentle voice, gently stroking its head with his finger. The cat tried to rub its head against Dane’s hand but didn’t try to come out of the Pet carrier.
Seeing that the pad he had laid out in advance was wet, Dane unpacked his luggage. He carefully took Darling out and held him, changed the pad, and put him back in. Darling went deep into the Pet carrier as if he had been waiting.
Even after confirming that the cat was settling down, Dane had a lot to do. He put Darling’s favorite items in a suitable place, took out the food, poured it into a bowl, filled the litter box in the bathroom, and only then was it his turn to do his own work. He placed the bowl of food right in front of the Pet carrier so that Darling could eat whenever he wanted, and then he headed to the bathroom.
“Hoo…”
He filled the bathtub with hot water and soaked his body in it, and only then did he feel like he was coming to his senses.
Dane leaned his head against the edge of the tub and looked up at the ceiling. Like the rest of the house, the bathroom also had a high ceiling, half of which was covered with glass, so he could see the night sky clearly. During the day, the sun would pour in through that window. Turning his eyes to the wall, he saw a large glass door, just like in the room, so if he wanted, he could open the window wide and take a bath with the fantastic night view and the fresh night air. He thought that Grayson was right to boast that it was the best room in his house. And he also had to admit that he didn’t dislike this room very much, or rather, he was quite satisfied with it.
“Hoo.”
He sighed complicatedly and fell into thought again. When he thought about it, this situation was what Dane had been dreaming of. A life of lazing around at home every day, enjoying himself without worrying about money. At least on the surface, it was perfect…
The problem was that Grayson Miller was unemployed.
What he wanted was for his partner to go to work and often go on business trips, so that most of his work would be free and lazy. He certainly didn’t want a partner who would stick to him like glue all day long.
In fact, Dane’s position was just right as the 35896425th lover of a wealthy woman. He could laze around, taking money little by little without making his presence too obvious. He didn’t need that much money either. Just enough pocket money to buy Darling what he needed and to treat himself occasionally, and enough to live a comfortable life without worrying. For the rest of his life.
But for Grayson Miller, Dane’s presence was too great. It would be okay if it was just a relationship where he could pass by unnoticed and provide service once or twice a year, but Grayson would never leave Dane like that. If he were to accept him, he shuddered at the thought of what would happen afterward.
Maybe he’ll stick to my back and live there.
The image of Grayson sticking to his back like a turtle shell and fondling his chest came to mind so easily that Dane shook his head violently. Haa, haa. He quickly became breathless and muttered with a pale face.
“I can’t be with that guy.”
Dane was ready to leave whenever he got tired of this place. Just like he had lived so far. No one can change his life. Never.
Dane vowed and began to scrub his body with a sponge and body wash, as if whipping his fading judgment.
“Meow,” a small sound awakened one side of Dane’s consciousness. It sounded like Darling was calling him. “Umm,” he groaned and opened his eyes. Darling was next to him. Dane hugged the cat, who was rubbing his head against his cheek as if he had been waiting, with pleasure.
“Did you sleep well, Darling?”
He kissed his face and closed his eyes again. He felt particularly good today. Had the motel bed been this soft? The feeling of the soft mattress and sheets that seemed to envelop his whole body made the corners of his mouth turn up involuntarily.
“Hmm,” Dane made a pleasant sound and then opened his eyes wide. He rolled his eyes around while lying down, then slowly raised his body to look around so as not to startle Darling.
The harsh sunlight pouring in through the front window was brightly illuminating the scenery of the unfamiliar, luxurious room. Only then did Dane realize where he had fallen asleep the day before.
“Haaa.”
An exclamation came out involuntarily. It was a room that he couldn’t get used to no matter how many times he looked at it. It would be like this until the day he left this room.
Dane thought so and slowly tried to get out of the large bed. He turned his head without thinking and stopped, frozen.
No way, I must have seen it wrong.
Half in doubt, Dane slowly turned his head. And the moment he saw what he had seen with his own eyes, he froze.
It was because Grayson, who was looking at Dane from beyond the closed window, was smiling brightly and waving one hand. Absurdly, when their eyes met, he said with a delighted expression, “Good morning, honey.”
“Aaaaaah!”
Dane opened his mouth wide and let out a silent scream.