The door to Chesnok’s apartment slammed open with a force that rattled the empty beer cans littering the floor. I, Kefir, strode in like I owned the place, my boots crunching over something unidentifiable—probably last week’s takeout. The air was thick with the musk of sweat and cheap cologne, a scent I’d come to associate with this chaotic bachelor pad. Mismatched furniture sprawled haphazardly across the room, and there, in the epicenter of this mess, was Chesnok himself, sprawled on a sagging couch in nothing but a pair of ratty boxers, thumbs mashing furiously at a game controller.
“Jesus, Ches, you live like a damn pig,” I barked, kicking an empty can out of my path. “When’s the last time you cleaned? Or showered, for that matter?”
He didn’t even look up from the screen, just smirked, his dark eyes glinting with that infuriating mischief I knew too well. “Well, well, if it ain’t my needy little pup, barging in without so much as a knock. What, you miss me so bad you couldn’t wait for an invite?”
I snorted, snatching a stray sock off the arm of the couch and flinging it at his face. It hit him square on the nose, and he finally paused the game, leaning back with a lazy grin. “Real cute, Kefir. Keep yapping, and I’ll have to muzzle that pretty mouth of yours.”
“Oh, please,” I shot back, crossing my arms and jutting out a hip. “The only thing getting muzzled here is your ego when I drag your sorry ass out of this dump. Come on, do something productive for once.”
Chesnok’s grin widened, predatory and sharp. He tossed the controller aside and sat up, his broad frame suddenly taking up more space than I was prepared for. “Alright, pup, let’s make it interesting. A bet. You beat me at this game, I’ll clean this place top to bottom. I win, and you’re mine for the day. No questions asked. Deal?”
I laughed, loud and brash, already grabbing the second controller. “You’re on, loser. I’m gonna wipe the floor with you and make you scrub it after.”
“Big words for a little bitch,” he taunted, restarting the game with a flick of his thumb. “Don’t cry when I put you in your place.”
Turns out, trash-talking isn’t the best strategy when you’re up against a smug bastard who’s logged a thousand hours on this stupid racing game. Within minutes, my car was a flaming wreck on the screen, and Chesnok was leaning back with a victory smirk that made me want to punch him. Or kiss him. Or both.
“Pathetic,” he drawled, tossing the controller onto the coffee table with a clatter. “Guess you’re mine now, pup. Let’s see how well you follow orders.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to mask the heat creeping up my neck. “Yeah, yeah, gloat all you want. What’s the big plan, oh mighty master? Gonna make me do your laundry?”
Chesnok didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached into a drawer beside the couch, pulling out something that made my stomach flip—a cheap, black dog collar with a thin leash attached. He dangled it in front of me like it was some kind of trophy, his eyes gleaming with wicked intent.
“What the actual hell, Chesnok?” I laughed, though it came out a little shaky. “You’re such a perverted weirdo. Where’d you even get that?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, standing up and towering over me, his presence suddenly suffocating in the best and worst way. “What matters is you lost, and now you wear it. Come here, pup.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could get a word out, he was on me, snapping the collar around my neck with a click that echoed in my ears. The leather was cool against my skin, and I froze for a split second before trying to shove him off. “Get off me, you freak! I’m not your damn pet!”
He yanked the leash, pulling me closer until his breath was hot against my face, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. “Stay, pup. You’re gonna learn to behave, one way or another.”
My heart was pounding now, a mix of irritation and something darker, hotter. I shoved at his chest again, half-joking, half-flustered. “Screw you, Chesnok. Your dumbass dom routine isn’t gonna work on me.”
“Oh, it’s working,” he chuckled, his grip on the leash tightening as he forced me down to my knees with a firm tug. “Look at you, already on the ground like a good little mutt. But you’re a disobedient one, aren’t you? Gonna have to train that out of you.”
I glared up at him, my cheeks burning, but I couldn’t help the sharp retort that slipped out. “Train this, you sadistic bastard. I’m not some toy for you to play with.”
“Keep whining,” he said, laughing as he gave the leash another tug, making me stumble forward on my knees. “It’s cute. Now crawl, pup. Over to the other side of the room. Let’s see how well you listen.”
Grumbling under my breath, I started crawling, the rough carpet scraping against my palms as I moved. “You’re such an asshole, you know that? I’m only doing this so you’ll shut up.”
His laughter filled the room, rich and mocking, as he walked alongside me, keeping the leash taut. “Pathetic whining, Kefir. You’re lucky I’m in a good mood, or I’d make you bark for me right now.”
I shot him a withering look over my shoulder, but my eyes caught on his bare feet as I crawled past them. Of course, he noticed. The bastard always noticed. He stopped, planting himself in front of me with a smirk that could’ve melted steel.
“Like what you see, pup?” he teased, wiggling his toes for effect. “Go on, kiss the master’s feet if you want a reward. Show me you can be good.”
I froze, my mouth opening before my brain caught up. “Kiss your stinky-ass hooves? Dream on, Chesnok. I’d rather lick the floor.”
But the look in his eyes—dark, commanding, and just a little amused—made my defiance waver. With a dramatic sigh, I leaned down, my lips brushing against the top of his foot in the barest of kisses. The act was humiliating, but the way his breath hitched for just a second made it worth it.
“Good girl,” he purred, crouching down until his face was level with mine. His hand gripped the leash tight, pulling me closer as he leaned in, his voice a filthy whisper against my ear. “That’s a start, pup. But I’m gonna break you in proper before the night’s over. You’ll be begging for more by the time I’m done with you.”
I wanted to snap back, to throw some biting insult his way, but my throat was tight, my body traitorously aching for whatever he had in mind. Annoyed, flustered, and undeniably turned on, I glared at him, knowing full well I was already in way over my head.
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