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Chapter 6. Lucca

I wanted to live in that moment forever, surrounded by the humid warmth of the greenhouse and the gentle weight of O'li's hand on my head. His approval meant everything to me, more than treats or toys or any other reward he could offer.

But then his hand withdrew, and I heard that subtle shift in his breathing that meant he was about to say something I wouldn't like. I'd learned to read these tiny signals over our years together. My stomach dropped before he even spoke.

"I need to visit the main laboratory facility today," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if this wasn't about to ruin my entire day. "The weather modification team needs my expertise for their frost problem. You'll go to daycare while I'm gone."

Daycare. That place with its too-bright lights, too many rules, and other annoying pets.

"Noooooo!" The word burst out before I could stop it. "No daycare! Stay home with me! And the plants!"

I knew I was being difficult. I knew this wasn't how good pets behaved. But the thought of being separated from him, of spending hours in that place while he was somewhere I couldn't follow, made me so sad. That was the worst part about being a human on this planet: some places, most places, weren't made for pets. O'li turned to face me fully, and I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. No anger, just patience that somehow made my tantrum feel even worse.

"The lab needs my expertise today, pup. It's not negotiable." His voice remained level, but I heard the firmness underneath, the voice that meant discussion was not an option.

But I couldn't help myself. The unfairness of it all made me stamp my foot, the impact jarring up my leg and making me feel ridiculous.

"It's not fair!" I crossed my arms over my chest, turning away from him in what I thought was a dramatic gesture of protest. "Why can't I come with you? At least let me stay home, then."

Behind me, I heard him move to the wall where my leash hung. That leash meant outside.

"You know why," O'li said, still maddeningly calm. "The main facility has strict protocols. It's not safe for humans in the development labs. And it's not safe for you to be here alone. It wouldn't be fair to you, either. You'd be so bored."

"I'll be bored there as well!" I protested and spun back around, ready with another argument, but the words died in my throat when I saw him holding the leash. I took a step back, then another, even though I knew there was nowhere to go in the sealed greenhouse. "I don't want to go," I said. "Please, Daddy. I'll be so good here."

He approached me slowly, giving me time to accept what was happening even as my whole body wanted to run. But where would I go? He was my owner, and despite my protests, I knew better than to actually defy him. The consequences of that were clear, established through years of boundary-setting.

"Come here, Lucca." Not 'little one' or 'pup' or any of his usual endearments. Just my name, spoken in that tone that brooked no argument.

My feet moved before my brain caught up, my trained response to his authority overriding my desire to resist. I stopped just out of reach, one last token resistance that we both knew was meaningless. He could easily close the distance; his legs were so much longer than mine, but he waited, letting me make the choice.

I sighed, letting him know exactly how unhappy I was about this. But I took that final step forward, bringing myself within reach.

"I hate the daycare," I muttered, looking at his knees rather than his face. "The other pets are boring, and the teachers treat us like babies."

"You're behaving like a baby right now," O'li observed. "Good pets follow instructions. Do you need a spanking to remember your place?"

The question sent a shiver through me. Part of me wanted to push further, to find out if he'd follow through on the threat. I loved to hate it. That was him taking complete control, reducing me to nothing but sensation and submission until I couldn't remember why I'd been defiant in the first place.

But the rational part of my brain, the part that had learned to read O'li's moods and knew when not to push, recognized that this wasn't the time. He had work to do, important work, and making him late because of my tantrum would cross a line I didn't want to cross.

Not now, at least.

"No, Daddy," I said, my shoulders slumping in defeat. "I'll be good."

His hand came to rest on my head again, and despite my upset, I couldn't help but lean into the touch. His fingers found that spot behind my ear that always made me melt, and I felt some of the angry tension drain out of my body.

"That's my good pup," he said, and even though I was still unhappy about daycare, the approval in his voice made me happy. "If you behave well for your teachers, we can spend extra time together this evening."

"Okay," I whispered, finally meeting his eyes. "I'll be good at daycare."

His hand moved from my hair to the back of my neck, then lower until his palm settled possessively between my legs through my sleep pants.

My breath caught.

"Oh, yes," O'li said, voice dropping into that dangerous register that made my knees weak. "You are going to be good."

His fingers closed around me through the fabric, just enough pressure to make my body react immediately.