In the Doghouse - Chapter 90
However, the reward Courtney had in mind this time was distinctly different from the previous ones. Tilting her head slightly, she continued.
“Is there something you wish to do, Richard?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if there’s something you’ve always wanted to try.”
Finally understanding what she meant, Richard closed his mouth, his expression troubled.
Wishes. If he were to list them all, even an entire night wouldn’t be enough time. He had always had many desires, but after spending time with Courtney and seeing her exceed his expectations, those desires had only grown.
But he couldn’t easily voice them. From the beginning, instead of clearly expressing what he wanted, he had respected Courtney’s wishes. He knew that if he made a specific request, she would go along with it even if she didn’t want to.
Courtney wasn’t about to leave her overthinking pet alone.
“Are you going to say nothing? Or are you already bored?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then hurry and tell me.”
“Everything so far has been good. Really, whatever you’d like to do…”
“Hmmmm.”
Courtney cut him off with a dissatisfied hum, narrowing her eyes as if trying to gauge whether he was telling the truth.
She was deeply suspicious of his reluctant attitude despite the fact that she was offering him a reward. She didn’t need him to say it to know that he had been satisfied with their time together thus far. But still, it was hard to believe he had no desires at all.
After a moment of pondering, she quickly arrived at a simple conclusion: He would confess once he realized it would be to his own disadvantage to keep things hidden. With that, Courtney set down her utensils and wiped her mouth.
“Well, if you think of something you’d like, come to my bedroom.”
“Pardon?”
“Why do you keep asking? If you want something, come. If not, don’t bother.”
“No, Courtney—”
Richard tried to stop her, but Courtney was quicker. She pushed back her chair with a screech and promptly left the dining room, not looking back once.
Left behind without a chance to explain himself, Richard stared blankly at her now-empty seat.
Wait, was he just abandoned?
* * *
Courtney had no doubt that Richard would come to her room tonight. Maybe he was just too shy to say it outright. Still, there was no way he didn’t want anything from her. His behavior so far, and the fact that he never really shied away from asking for things, didn’t match up with someone who had no desires.
However, even after a long time had passed since the maids had left, and as the night grew deeper, Richard still didn’t show. Courtney sat idly in her quiet bedroom, her thoughts turning over and over in her mind.
At first, she blamed his impudence for not coming. But as more time passed, her thoughts began to take a different turn. Maybe she had overstepped with her question. Or perhaps she had gotten too carried away, just because things had been going well between them recently.
Her mind began to spiral into negativity. After all, the whole “Master” and “Pet” dynamic was just a playful game between the two of them.
Should she go to bed alone, or should she go to Richard’s room herself? As she wavered back and forth, there came a sudden knock at the door.
“Y-Yes!”
Courtney’s voice was noticeably more timid than usual. With a quiet creak, the door opened, and Richard entered the room, his face even more serious than hers. He looked like a child who had come to receive a scolding.
The tense atmosphere made Courtney rise from her seat. The air between them was unbearably awkward. Richard stood there silently, his gaze lowered, reluctant to speak.
Courtney immediately regretted her earlier boldness. Perhaps she had been too arrogant. It felt as though the distance between them, which had seemed to narrow, had now suddenly widened again. Just as she was about to apologize for her behavior, Richard spoke first.
“I’m sorry for coming so late.”
“Oh, no. I’m the one who should apologize. I said something that made you uncomfortable…”
“What? No, that’s not it.”
Richard’s eyes widened in surprise as Courtney quickly followed with her apology, stealing his chance to explain. Then, his expression turned thoughtful as he silently stroked his chin.
Letting out a deep sigh, he began to speak again.
“Courtney, please sit down.”
Richard gently guided the anxious Courtney back to the edge of the bed, where she had been standing. He could tell that his hesitation had caused a misunderstanding. He couldn’t deny that her question had caught him off guard, but that was his issue alone. To him, her earlier confidence had been delightful, far better than the timid version of her now.
Richard knelt on one knee at her feet. Courtney, who had been staring at the floor, cautiously lifted her eyes to look at him. His upright posture wasn’t that of a submissive attendant but rather a gentleman showing consideration for a lady.
He gently placed his hand over hers on the back of her hand.
“When I said I didn’t want anything, it wasn’t because I meant anything strange by it.”
“What… did you mean, then?”
In response to her question, Richard gave a bittersweet smile, one tinged with a bit of sadness. Instead of answering directly, he posed another question.
“Courtney, if I asked for something that you didn’t want, how do you think you would react?”
Courtney stared quietly at Richard’s face. She couldn’t fully understand what was going on in his mind, but she could clearly see the concern in his eyes. His expression was as serious as could be, and his voice held a deep sincerity.
