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I open the door, rush through the hallway, and coo, "It's okay, King Madden. We're here."
"Pet..." Riggs reprimands.
I crouch down in front of the cage. I unlatch the lock, and King Madden rushes out, jumping into my arms. He gives me dozens of kisses.
I pick him up and hug him, murmuring, "It's okay, sweetie." Then I feel his racing heartbeat. "His heart feels like it's going to burst through his chest. I told you he was scared."
Riggs rubs his hands over his face, frustrated. He restates, "He's fine. Once he gets used to it, he'll want to be there. Trust me. Cages for dogs are like their homes. It's his own safe space."
I look at the cage once more, still not convinced. I rise with King Madden. I suggest, "Let's put him in our room."
Riggs gives me a disapproving look. I already know how he feels about that. We had several long conversations today any time I mentioned it.
Still, I can't leave King Madden on his own. I pet his fluffy hair again and say, "Okay, I guess I'm sleeping on the floor out here."
"Seriously?" Riggs asks, crossing his arms.
"Or I can go to the guest room with him," I toss out, knowing there's no way Riggs will let that happen. He's made it clear all day that I will be back in his bed tonight.
He shakes his head. "You aren't sleeping in the guest room any longer. We've gone over this. We're not moving backward, pet."
I warn, "If you don't want us in the guest room, and you won't let King Madden in our room, then I'm going to sleep here. Let me get my pillow and a blanket. I'm not going to leave him out here while he's scared."
Riggs groans, claiming, "It's part of the process. He has to learn. Even the people at the pet store talked to us about this. It'll only be a few nights where he doesn't like it."
"Maybe our dog is different," I assert.
"He's not."
"How do you know?"
Hurt fills Riggs's expression. He asks, "Is this your way of not sleeping with me?"
My chest tightens. He's right. We can't go backward, but I'm also not leaving King Madden out here crying. So I step close to Riggs, slide my palm on his chest, then bat my eyes. I suggest, "If you bring the cage into our bedroom, I'll put a nice outfit on for you."
He narrows his eyes, assessing me for several minutes. Then he declares, "You're trying to manipulate me. When did you become the manipulator in this relationship?"
I softly laugh, then feign innocence and stroke King Madden's head. I tease, "You don't want me to put something nice on? I think it's something that you'd enjoy."
His nostrils flare wider. I step closer as his erection pushes against my stomach. I crawl my fingers up his chest, adding, "I bought something special for you before I moved out. It's still here, but if you don't—"
"Fine," he snaps. "You win." He picks up the cage and shakes his finger at King Madden. Then he reprimands, "You've got your mama wrapped around your paw already. But I'm the boss of this house, not you."
King Madden tilts his head at Riggs and barks.
Laughing, I stand on my tiptoes and kiss Riggs on the cheek. I beam. "Thank you, Sir." Then I bounce into the bedroom with King Madden before Riggs can change his mind.
He follows me and sets the cage in the corner of the bedroom. He holds out his hands, ordering, "Give me King Madden, and you go change. You're making good on your promise."
My butterflies take off. I kiss King Madden's head, tell him goodnight again, then hand him to Riggs. I go into the closet and sort through my lingerie drawer.
The fishnets and mesh black teddy with white ruffles are still in there. It resembles a maid's outfit, which Riggs joked about once. I got it a couple weeks before I moved out.
I open the drawer with all the collars Riggs has bought me. I select a white one I've only worn once. I put it on along with everything else and slide into black stilettos. Then I grab the feather duster I hid in the drawer and saunter out into the bedroom.
Riggs is on the phone, talking quietly and staring out the window. His back muscles tense.
I watch him, wondering if everything's okay, but I set the duster on the bedside table, then step toward the corner to kneel and wait.
