Chapter 3: Something the Dog Saw

"You sure you can afford me? I’ve got a big appetite."

Her eyes slid over me, and she gently licked her lips. The gesture sent a jolt through me. I was hooked.

That’s when I noticed her tongue seemed a little longer than most. Just a bit—not enough to be freakish, but enough to notice. Weird, but it worked.

No wonder she could make me so happy. I grinned, feeling a blush creep up my neck. Felt like a kid again.

Desire flared again, and I pulled her close. For the first time in a long time, I felt wanted. I didn’t want to let go.

I brought Lila home. My little house on the edge of town, with peeling paint and a porch swing that creaks in the wind. Nothing fancy, but it’s mine.

As soon as we walked in, my mutt, Duke, started barking like mad, fur on end. He’d never acted like this before—not even when the mailman came by. He was scared.

I tried to calm him, but Duke wouldn’t stop. He circled us, growling low in his throat. What did he see?

Annoyed, I scolded Duke and put him in his crate. He whimpered and slunk into his crate, but his eyes stayed glued to Lila. There was fear there—real fear. I hated myself for it.

Embarrassed, I looked at her. I felt like a jerk, but I didn’t know what else to do. I’d make it up to him later.

"He’s acting nuts today. Usually, he’s a sweetheart." Not today.

Lila glanced at Duke and licked her lips. There was something hungry in her gaze, just for a second. Gave me chills.

"It’s fine, such a cute pup. I’ll take good care of him." Not sure I believed her.

I let her rest in the living room and went to shower. The hot water stung, but I needed to clear my head. Didn’t help much.

When I came out, Duke was lying quietly in Lila’s lap. She stroked his fur, humming a tune I didn’t recognize. It sounded old.

She smiled at me. "See? Isn’t this nice?" It was, but something felt off.

I was about to praise Duke, but something felt off. He looked different—smaller, somehow. Was I imagining things?

Duke’s tail was clamped tight, his body trembling. He kept staring at me, like he wanted to say something but didn’t dare. His eyes were wide, almost pleading. He wanted to tell me something.

What did he see that scared him so bad? I wondered if I should take him to the vet. Didn’t feel right.

I took Duke from Lila, planning to check him over. His body was limp, like he’d run a marathon. Something was wrong.

But as soon as I picked him up, a hot stream ran down my leg, sharp and stinging. My jaw dropped—he’d never done that before. Not once.

Damn dog actually peed on me!

I scolded Duke and put him in his crate. He whimpered, buried his head in the corner, curled into a ball. I felt a pang of guilt, but I was too flustered to do anything about it. I’d make it up to him later.

Disgusted, I looked at my soaked jeans, ready to shower again. I muttered a curse under my breath. Couldn’t catch a break.

Just as I stepped into the bathroom, Lila followed me in. She moved silently, like a shadow. Didn’t hear her coming.

Clothes hit the floor, and Lila pressed herself against me. Her skin was cool, almost electric. Made my hair stand on end.

But my legs went weak, and I pushed her away. "Let’s skip tonight, maybe tomorrow..." Didn’t know if I could.

But the next second, my whole body felt like it was burning, energy surging back. I couldn’t resist her—not for long. She had me.

Damn temptress!

I cursed in my head and closed my eyes. The world spun, and I gave in. No use fighting.

When I opened them again, it was already noon. Sunlight streamed through the window, warm and blinding. Felt like I’d slept for days.

I was sore all over, totally wiped out. My muscles ached, and my head throbbed. Could barely move.

I reached around, but found nothing. The bed was cold, empty. Just like that.

Lila was gone!

Did she just use me and split? The thought stung more than I wanted to admit. I should’ve known better.

I struggled to sit up, looked around—no sign of her clothes or shoes anywhere. The house was silent, too silent. Hated that silence.

For a moment, I was pissed. I felt used, discarded. Like trash.

That woman—I even thought about a future with her. I’d let myself dream, just for a second.

Just then, I heard the door open outside. The sound was soft, but it made my heart leap. She was back.

Leaving the bedroom, I saw Lila coming in with bags of groceries. She looked fresh, like she’d just come back from a walk in the park. Didn’t expect that.

She smiled at me. "I got groceries. I’ll cook for you." Felt like home.

My heart warmed, and all my anger vanished. She was here—she’d come back. Maybe I was lucky after all.

After I cleaned up, Lila had already set out a whole table of food. The smells were incredible, rich and savory. Made my mouth water.

As soon as I sat down, I was floored. I’d never seen a spread like this outside of Thanksgiving. She’d gone all out.

Oysters, chicken with ginseng, sizzling lamb chops— All my favorites.

Every dish was hearty and loaded with protein. It was like she’d read my mind, knew exactly what I needed. Weird, but nice.

Lila blinked at me. "You’ve worked hard, so I picked these to help you bounce back." She was looking out for me.

Looking at my shaky legs, I figured I needed it. I laughed, a little embarrassed. Didn’t know what to say.