The sun beat down on the busy shopping street, casting harsh light over the rows of colorful storefronts. The Miss and the Pet walked side by side, their footsteps synchronized in the crowd's ebb and flow. Amid the lively chatter of shoppers and the tempting aroma of street food, the Miss's eyes landed on a quaint jewelry store nestled between two towering boutiques.
"Pet," she said, her voice laced with curiosity, "let go inside."
The pet's brow lifted ever so slightly, but he followed without a word. As they entered the store, the Miss's excitement was palpable. The store's interior sparkled with an array of ornaments, but the Miss's focus narrowed on a particular section.
"Sit, puppy," she said, gesturing to a bench near the display. Her voice was calm, almost casual, her gaze fixed on his neck.
.
The Pet lowered himself onto the bench, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yes, Miss."
The Miss's fingers brushed against the Pet's skin
A ripple of unease washed over him. The tension was palpable, settling heavily between them. His mind raced as his fingers twitched slightly at his sides. He had never liked the feeling, but there was a deeper discomfort that gnawed at him when she was this close, when her touch was both commanding and tender. He resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably, knowing she was watching. Focus, he reminded himself, his breath shallow.
"Let's see how this looks on you, pup," the Miss said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The Pet swallowed, the movement of his throat causing the leather to pull slightly.
"Miss, it feels...", forcing his voice to stay steady.
"It's quite plain.". Tilting his head slightly, meeting her gaze. "Miss, it seems rather unremarkable. It lacks the flair one would expect." Despite his best efforts, the words felt hollow. Inside, the sensation of her fingers on his skin had set a storm of thoughts in motion. He was still processing the moment, still caught in the web of it.
The Miss's lips curled into a teasing smile. "I see. Well, let us try another then." Her fingers grazed his neck again as she undid the clasp, and he couldn't suppress the slight flinch this time.
Despite his cheeky comments, the Miss's touch was soft and deliberate as she adjusted each choker. The Pet's reactions were visceral, his breath quickened with each adjustment, he could feel his skin prickling where her fingers had been. The constant, low current was impossible to ignore.
The Pet's reactions were subtle yet unmistakable: his skin tingled where her fingers had brushed, and his gaze softened whenever their eyes met. The Miss smirked, enjoying the effect she had on him.
The Pet endured several more chokers, each one met with a mix of playful criticism and gentle banter. "Miss, you truly have a unique sense of style," he remarked, his tone light but laced with humor. "Do you often choose the most mundane options?".
"Perhaps I've been too lenient with your cheek," she mused, fastening a third option, an ostentatious design that nearly engulfed his neck. The Pet's jaw clenched as she adjusted the choker around his neck.
"Miss, I'm no Christmas tree," he retorted, the corners of his eyes crinkling with suppressed laughter.
As other shoppers passed by, they remained blissfully unaware of the subtleties between the Miss and the Pet. To the onlookers, their interactions seemed normal. a woman trying jewelry on her companion. But beneath the surface, there was an unspoken intimacy, a little secret that only the Miss and the Pet shared.
Her fingers lingered momentarily as she adjusted the fit, and the Pet's breath hitched slightly.
The embroidery felt rougher, more textured against his skin, amplifying the sensation of her fingers. He could feel the coldness of her hands, the way each movement sent a shiver down his spine, involuntary and unsettling. "Miss, it's certainly more elaborate, but..." He trailed off.
"But what, puppy?" Her voice was a whisper against his ear as she leaned in closer, her breath warm against his skin. He could feel her eyes on him, the weight of her gaze, the expectation.
A sharp inhale, and he barely resisted the urge to pull away. "It's still not quite right, Miss," he said, his voice tighter than he intended.
A small, cold smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she stepped back, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of discomfort. "So critical, my pet," she murmured, more to herself than to him. Her fingers lingered on the clasp for a moment before she abruptly undid it and placed the choker back on the display.
"And this one, pet," she said, her voice even quieter now, almost resonating in his head. "Does it meet your standards?"
A plain leather band with no adornments. The leather was firm but smooth, and her fingers pressed just a little harder than before, making the Pet's pulse jump beneath her touch. The Pet's anticipation was evident.
"Miss, this one... it's to your taste."
They both regarded the reflection in the mirror. The simplicity of the leather band drew attention to his neck, to the subtle rise and fall of his breaths. Her gaze lingered there for a beat longer than necessary, her expression unreadable. "This suits you," she said, her voice softer than before, though the teasing edge remained. "No frills, no distractions. Just as a good pet ought to be."
The low current of their interactions had escalated into something more intense, more visceral. It wasn't just discomfort; it was a raw, electric charge that coursed through him, setting his nerves ablaze. A feeling of suffocation. "Miss, I can feel your claim through this choice," he said quietly. The Pet's lips parted, but he closed them again.
He could feel his heart pounding, the rhythmic thudding . His skin was hypersensitive, his Miss's touch felt like a branding iron, searing into him. He straightened, the anticipation evident in his posture. "Does this mean it's mine, Miss?".
The Miss stepped back, her fingers still tingling from the contact, her own pulse racing. She studied him for a long moment, then her expression hardened. "No," she said abruptly, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Perhaps some other day, kitten."
The Pet's stomach dropped, a wave of disappointment hitting him hard. But deeper than that, there was relief, relief that the suffocating charge between them had been broken, if only for a moment. "If that's what you want, Miss," he said, forcing the words out evenly, though his chest felt tight.
"Miss, please be more mindful of where you step," he said after the third time he'd caught her. His tone was polite but tinged with a hint of frustration that he couldn't quite keep out.
Ever prone to wandering off, The Miss and the Pet moved through the bustling crowd, her leisurely pace contrasting sharply with his efficient stride. As they passed a cluster of food stalls, the aroma of sizzling skewers and freshly baked bread wafted through the air.
The Miss stopped abruptly in front of a vendor selling golden, flaky pastries. Without a word, she bought one, took a single bite, and handed the rest to the Pet. "Here, puppy. Finish this."
The Pet accepted it without complaint, his hands gradually filled with a growing assortment of half-eaten snacks. "Miss, you seem determined to single handedly support every food vendor in this street."
"I am merely exploring," she replied, a teasing lilt in her voice. Her gaze flitted to another stall displaying vibrant bowls of dumplings. "Ah, and that one looks promising."
The Pet sighed, his arms laden with half-eaten treats. "Exploring, Miss, or leaving a trail of crumbs for some poor bird to follow?"
She glanced at him, feigning innocence. "Perhaps both. Wouldn't that make me resourceful?"
"Resourceful, Miss," he murmured, "is finishing what you start."
She tilted her head, regarding him with mock seriousness. "Are you implying I lack commitment?"
"I would never dare, Miss," he said smoothly, though the faintest smirk played on his lips. "I merely question your stamina. Or perhaps your appetite."
The Miss raised a brow. "Careful, pet. Questioning one's appetite is a dangerous game."
"And yet," he said, adjusting the skewers in his hand, "here I am. Still standing. Barely."
Her laughter was light and musical as she bought yet another treat, a delicate pastry filled with syrup and handed it over. "For you, then. Consider it a reward for your courage."
The Pet took it with an arched brow, eyeing the sticky filling that threatened to drip onto his sleeve. "Miss, your generosity knows no bounds." his weariness evident in his posture, the weight of the phantom choker still around his neck.
Their shopping trip included several rest stops, with the Miss frequently needing to sit due to her poor stamina. The Pet scolded her gently each time she tripped over uneven pavement, he was there to catch her, his hands instinctively reaching out to steady her. His hands would linger a moment too long, his fingers brushing against her arm or back, and each touch seemed to charge the air between them, thickening it with something unspoken, something they both felt but neither would admit.
"Miss, your habits are exhausting," he muttered, his voice laced with exasperation. "And your stamina is abysmal." The words were sharp, but there was a flicker of something else there too, a playful spark he couldn't quite contain.
She said breezily, unperturbed. "And, Darling?." leaving the Pet momentarily in the quiet glow of her absence.
"True,". He stepped ahead. But her balance faltered as her heel caught on a loose cobblestone. With an exasperated sigh, the Pet reached out to steady her before she could fall. with a sigh of exaggerated adoration, he knelt before her, lifting her foot onto his knee. "Miss," he said, kneeling down and tugging at the undone laces of her shoes, "you could avoid these moments if you simply tied them properly."
"And deprive you of moments like this?" she countered, a wicked glint in her eye. Her tone dry but her gaze soft.
"Ever so considerate, my Miss," he replied, his tone dry as he tied the laces with deft precision.
"Miss, I'm beginning to think you should invest in Velcro shoes.". He couldn't help but notice how close her foot was to his chest, how the simple act of tying a shoe had turned into another point of contact that sent an unwanted thrill through him.
She gasped, clutching her chest theatrically. "Velcro? You insult me, puppy. What would the world think?"
The Pet's fingers brushed against her ankle as he finished tying the laces. The touch sent a faint, yet unmistakable, thrill through both of them."Likely that I am a saint," he said, rising to his full height, the pile of snacks in his arms wobbling dangerously. "But I'll endure, Miss. For your sake."
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "How cheeky."
"Only as cheeky as you allow, Miss," he said, his voice low enough to be swallowed by the crowd.
Their gazes locked for a moment too long before the Miss turned on her heel. "Come along, pet," she said, flicking her wrist in a graceful arc. "Dinner won't cook itself."
Trailing behind her, the Pet adjusted the precarious stack in his arms and muttered just loud enough for her to hear, "At this rate, I may not need dinner."
As the day drew to a close, they made their way to the grocery store, discussing their dinner plans along the way. The Miss was in high spirits, while the Pet remained quietly disappointed. Despite his feelings, he maintained his usual attentiveness, assisting the Miss with her purchases.
The faint jingle of the bell above the door announced their departure.
"Stop sulking will you."
"Miss," the Pet began as they stepped back into the throng of shoppers, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity, "Was it truly necessary?" Referring to the exchange earlier during the day.
The Miss's laughter was soft, almost musical, but her words were cool as ever. Melted the knot in his chest."Must everything I do have a purpose, pet? Or do you only wish to see meaning where there is none?"
The Pet's lips twitched, a smile threatening to surface. "I see meaning in all that you do, Miss."
She turned to him then, her gaze sharp and knowing. "Careful, pet," she murmured, her voice dipping low. "Flattery from you is a dangerous thing. I may start to expect it."
For a moment, the Pet forgot the bustling street around them, the world shrinking to the space between her words and his heartbeat. "Perhaps you should, Miss," he said, his voice quiet but steady.
Her lips curled ever so slightly into a smirk that was equal parts amusement and warning. The silence stretched between them.
"Perhaps," she finally said, her tone light but laced with a teasing edge. "But I'd hate for you to overextend yourself, pet. Flattery can be such a taxing endeavor, and I wouldn't want you exhausted before dinner."
"Your concern for my well-being is touching, Miss," the Pet replied, his voice smooth with a hint of dry humor. "Though I must say, carrying your snacks has already tested my endurance thoroughly."
The Miss glanced at the precarious stack of treats in his arms, a small, almost imperceptible chuckle escaping her lips. "Oh, is that so? And yet you persist. Such dedication."
"Some might call it loyalty, Miss," he said, his expression carefully neutral though his eyes sparkled with mirth. "Others might call it survival."
She stopped abruptly, turning to face him with mock seriousness. "Survival, you say? Are you implying I'm difficult to endure?"
The Pet tilted his head, pretending to consider. "Difficult? No, Miss. Challenging, perhaps. Demanding, certainly. But never difficult."
Her lips quivered upward as she stepped closer, her voice dropping just enough to make him lean in slightly to catch her words. "Careful, pet. You're walking a very fine line."
His smile widened imperceptibly. "And yet, Miss, I seem to be balancing just fine."
"Hmm," she mused, leaning back with an air of feigned indifference. "For now. But perhaps I'll test that balance further."
"As you wish, Miss," he said smoothly, his tone unwavering. "Though I must warn you, my endurance is far greater than you might expect."
The Miss said nothing, her lips curving into a smile. With a flick of her wrist, she gestured forward, and the two continued down the street, their steps once again in perfect harmony. Their banter lingered in the air as they resumed their walk, the Miss leading the way and the Pet trailing just a step behind, his arms still laden with evidence of her impulsive whims. The bustling crowd seemed to blur around them, leaving only the teasing cadence of their words.