Taming Beasts | MxM | Petshop

Part 10

We've been tiptoeing around each other, but that stopped working once the weekend arrived, and Ross decided we were going out.

I had spent the past three days soaking in the hot tub and sleeping in the guest room, slowly growing accustomed to this lifestyle. It was somewhat boring and drab yet enough for me. After all, I was used to spending days straight locked up in a cage.

I carefully entered the dining room when the noises coming from the cook indicated that my breakfast was done, and Ross placed my bowl next to the table, then sat down to enjoy his scrambled eggs.

I took my place as far away from him as I could while staying within arm's reach of my food. That way, I could keep an almost bearable distance from Ross while I was eating. I had already tried to simply take the bowl with me, but the human had casually placed his foot on its rim, indicating that this bowl wasn't going anywhere.

"Moondrop?" Ross asked quietly, though with an edge to his voice that made me suspect I wasn't going to like what was coming next. "There's going to be a sales representative coming by at noon for fitting. We need a collar and leash so I can take you out."

I didn't even bother to growl at him. Still, my ears tilted backwards, and my tail started mopping the floor.

Ross sighed. "Come on, you like being outside the cage, just think how much you'll like being outside the apartment."

I shot him a glare, and he raised an eyebrow in response. We looked at each other for a moment before he continued with his breakfast. Once he was done and had put away the dishes, he walked over to stand in front of me, hands on his hips. The posture accentuated his broad shoulders.

I ducked slightly, growling quietly.

"We are going out this evening, and that means we're going to get you a collar and a leash. Don't test me on this."

He left me alone to sulk after having said his part. I pawed at my breakfast disinterestedly and went to dabble in the whirlpool once I had finished eating. Ross told me to get out ten minutes before the sales rep was going to come, and I complied obediently since I didn't want to give him an excuse to touch me again.

I lingered in the wind stall, though, so when I finally made my way into the living room, the rep was there already. She smiled brightly when her eyes landed on me, completely dropping the conversation she'd been having with Ross. "Oh wow! You must be Moondrop."

She crouched down and extended a hand towards me, waving her fingers so I would come closer. I frowned at the gestures, then stalked around her to jump onto the couch – only to find it occupied by an arsenal of collars. My gaze snapped up to meet Ross', and I hissed.

"He doesn't like strangers," Ross explained half-heartedly, patting the woman on the shoulder. She looked almost hurt. "And he doesn't speak very often, either. So, you see, he can be a handful. That's why I said that I need equipment that isn't just for show."

"I understand, Mr Ross. I didn't think he was this difficult," she said quietly, then carefully approached the couch. I pushed my ears back against my head and bared my fangs, letting out a loud snarl. As expected, she flinched and retreated immediately.

"Moondrop." He wasn't using an authoritative intonation, yet the mentioning of my name was enough to remind me of him manhandling me.

I relaxed my cheeks to hide my fangs again but kept growling disapprovingly while the woman collected the collars she'd spread out. Then, she put a large suitcase onto the coffee table. It opened with a soft clicking. Curious, I glanced over – and ducked my head at the sight of sleek metal shackles.