In the Doghouse - Chapter 91
She fell into deep thought. She hadn’t put much thought into her offer when she made it, but she had vaguely assumed that whatever Richard wished for, it would be fine. After all, things had gone well so far. Courtney gathered her scattered confidence and spoke.
“But shouldn’t we at least try?”
It didn’t seem to be the answer he wanted, as Richard sighed heavily again.
He didn’t want to show Courtney his weak and pitiful side. But he knew that if he didn’t voice his fears, it would only end up hurting her.
From the moment he was born, Richard had been the Crown Prince. Starting from such a high position, it was only natural that he would rule over others. No matter how much mischief he caused, no one could scold him. Even the most unreasonable of his commands were obeyed without question. Not even the Emperor could fully subdue him—after all, Richard was the only trace left of his late wife.
Perhaps his twisted s-xual preferences were born from such circumstances. And Courtney had become his sole place of solace. He didn’t want to build a false relationship with her. He didn’t want her to sacrifice herself for his desires. He wanted her to chase her own desires and use him for that purpose.
If he were to voice his wants and she were to fulfill them, it might be enjoyable for a while. But in the long run, it would become impossible to tell what was real, and they would inevitably start hurting each other. He feared that his selfish desires would end up controlling her, making him use her for his own satisfaction. The thought terrified him.
In a heavy voice, Richard finally spoke.
“You’re trying to accommodate me. But that’s not what I want, Courtney. I just…”
“No, that’s not it.”
Courtney interrupted him firmly. Perhaps before, that might have been true. She might have made decisions without even considering her own desires, thinking only of how to repay his kindness. Just like when she decided to marry him, even after discovering his peculiar s-xual tastes, despite initially being terrified and thinking he was a complete loon.
But not anymore. Now, Courtney knew exactly what she wanted. She didn’t just tolerate the strange things they did together—in fact, she absurdly enjoyed them. And the idea of even more intense play didn’t scare her. It excited her.
Was Richard really unaware of this? Courtney glanced at him, trying to gauge his reaction. His expression remained far too serious. Realizing she needed to speak up, her face heated with embarrassment. Stammering, she began.
“Well… I didn’t hate any of it. Actually, I… I kind of liked it. No, not just kind of, I… Anyway! What I’m trying to say is that even if I’m hesitant at first, once we try it, it might be even better…”
It was incredibly embarrassing to admit out loud that she had enjoyed their time together and that she was looking forward to more. The more she tried to explain, the more her words seemed to twist around themselves. Courtney’s face flushed even deeper.
Richard stared at her, dumbfounded. Annoyed at his lack of response, Courtney glared at him as if to tell him to say something. He tightened his grip on her hand.
“I… I’ve been a fool.”
“Huh?”
Richard let out another long sigh. His face was a mix of relief and shame. Had her words gotten through to him? Though her hand hurt from his tight grip, Courtney bit her lip and endured it.
Thankfully, Richard soon loosened his hold. He gently brought her hand to his lips and, like a gentleman, placed a soft kiss on her fingertips. He kept his lips there as he continued to speak.
“I was just being a coward. Unlike you, my brave Courtney.”
“That’s not true at all…”
“How could it not be?”
Richard kissed her hand again, moving from her fingertips to her knuckles. Perhaps it was because of his impossibly handsome face, but the scene seemed almost sacred. He clasped her hand as if seeking a blessing, his voice as devout as a prayer.
“If I ever get too full of myself and overstep, you must punish me severely.”
“…Alright.”
Punish him? Why did he always demean himself like that? Courtney nodded reluctantly, her face showing her disapproval. In response, Richard placed another kiss, this time on her wrist.
Though it was still a polite kiss, the problem was that it didn’t end there. His lips, which had started at her fingertips and made their way to her wrist, continued to travel further up her arm, toward her elbow. The wide sleeves of her night robe were pushed up as his kisses trailed along her skin, growing more fervent the closer he got to her shoulder.
By the time Courtney tried to pull her arm away, it was too late. The gentleman had disappeared, replaced by a dog, half-mad and clinging to her arm as if ready to devour it.
“Richard, wait…”
“Oh, Courtney. I think I’ve fallen for you all over again…”
Richard, seemingly oblivious to her voice, muttered dreamily, his lips now pressed against the crook of her neck. Courtney could barely make out what he was saying as his breath and kisses distracted her. At least her feelings had been conveyed, it seemed.
It looked like he was about to completely lose control and pounce on her. Was it really going to end like this, so haphazardly? That’s… Well, she didn’t want that.
Courtney reached out with her free hand and firmly grabbed Richard’s chin.
“Stop.”
Richard blinked, his cheeks squished in her grip, suddenly looking foolish. Finally snapping back to his senses, his face flushed with embarrassment. His innocent expression now seemed downright irritating to Courtney. She spoke in a calm but sharp voice.
“So, what is it you want? What kind of twisted fantasies are you hiding that make you so nervous when all I’ve asked is a simple question?”
