"Woof!"

The adorable puppy announced its presence to Aselia. Its beady eyes fixated on her as if trying to understand who the girl was. Aselia’s heart melted at the sight.

"Awwww, he is the cutest and most adorable puppy I have ever seen," Aselia squealed in excitement, her turquoise orbs held so much affection and warmth for the creature. She extended her hand to pat him. Xiran grinned at her reaction.

The puppy melted under her touch, her hands carefully grazed his soft whitish-brown fur and he rubbed his head with her hand.

"Xirann, where did you find him? He is so fluffy. Can I hold him?" she finally shifted her eyes to

Xiran that shimmered with excitement, and a beautiful smile brightened up her face. Xiran had only seen her that excited at the mention of food.

"Of course, he is all yours," Xiran took the box from her so she could hold her puppy. He wasn’t sure if she would love the puppy and took the gamble and it seemed to pay off.

Carefully she extended both her hands and lifted the puppy from just below its forearms and it ’yipped’ in excitement.

Aselia brought him closer to her face and it took out its tiny coarse pink tongue and licked Aselia’s cheek making her chuckle as Xiran watched them both with a content smile.

"Woof! Woof!" it yapped in excitement at being carried by its new owner.

"You are such a bundle of joy," Aselia touched her nose with his and he licked her face some more. She then patted his head and pressed him closer to her chest and he snuggled with her. His long fur was so smooth and healthy and Aselia couldn’t stop patting him.

"Seems like he already likes you," Xiran extended his hand and patted the puppy who reminded him so much of the one he once found and lost, thanks to his father.

Today when he went to the pet shop to find a pet for her, his eyes fell on this puppy and he instantly knew he had to buy him. Even if Aselia hadn’t liked it, he would have kept him.

"And I love him, Mr. Xiran you are going to be up against serious competition for my affection from today onwards," Aselia replied with a small cackle.

"Well, I don’t like sharing my girl but seems like I will make an exception in this case, for the competitor is very cute," both of them stared at the puppy with affection who gazed at them with his innocent eyes and ears perked up.

"Thank you for such a thoughtful gift, you are fast climbing the ladder to becoming a perfect boyfriend," she leaned towards him and planted a small kiss on his cheek. His heart fluttered, how he always wished she would kiss him more of her own free will.

"Woof!"

And puppy agreed with her decision.

"That’s high praise coming from my already perfect girlfriend," he tugged her to him by her waist and she placed her head on his chest, watching and stroking the puppy wrapped up in her arm.

"What should we name him?" she asked suddenly realizing they need a name for him.

"How about Rony?" Xiran instantly replied, without thinking. Aselia’s eyes flickered at him due to his sudden answer and she inquired:

"Any significance the name holds for you?"

"Yes," a film of sadness glazed his irises and Aselia waited for him to elaborate but he didn’t. His look didn’t escape her.

"Who was it?" she asked softly.

"Another puppy I knew, my father took him away from me," his jaw had become so taut as he uttered those words, and anger seeped into his smouldering eyes.

"I am sorry," she whispered and placed her other hand on his cheek so he would relax. He shifted his gaze to her and gave her a wounded smile.

At every turn of their life, they found something which his father had destroyed. Unspeakable events he wouldn’t even share with her. Unraveling them will not only bring back torturous memories for him but hurt her profoundly too.

He didn’t want to hurt her, so he avoided talking or mentioning his father between them. The man had taken enough, from both of them. Xiran didn’t speak just stared at the puppy in her arms.

"Xiran!"

And he was jolted out of his stupor. "We will call him Rony," she declared and he gave her a nod.

"Come, let’s give him something to eat. The little guy will be hungry and my big guy will be hungry as well," she took his hand and dragged him behind her and he obediently followed.

Once inside, they found Carios and Frila waiting for them at the dining table. Xiran instructed Carios to get all the things they had brought for Rony and set them up.

Frila was awed seeing the puppy in Aselia’s arms. Aselia handed it over to her while Xiran went to Rivan’s room to freshen up.

"He is too adorable, just look at those eyes," Frila gasped as he snuggled with her, making Aselia smile.

Carios brought Rony’s kennel, a large jute basket with a blue blanket, chewable toys, his waste container, two food dishes in blue colour, and his food.

Kennel and the waste container were set up outside while his dishes were placed in the kitchen. Aselia took the basket, toys, and blanket to her room and set them up near her bed. That’s where he would sleep, close to her.

She then went downstairs and poured out some food from its food packet into one container and some water into the other.

Frila brought him to his container and put him down. It wobbled on its tiny paws and approached the containers. Aselia and Frila laughed seeing its gaiety walk and how cute it looked.

Sniffing them first it opened its tiny mouth and began to gobble the food. Satisfied that it was eating, Aselia went to wash her hands. On returning she found Xiran was already sitting at the table, he was wearing a white robe which was open from the front as usual, while Frila and Carios were ready to leave.

"Have dinner with us?" Aselia requested, she didn’t want them to go just like that.

"Yes, sit down and eat before leaving," Xiran added.

"Sire, we will grab something on the way," Carios nervously replied, they were reluctant to eat with them.

"I insist, there is so much food," Aselia added while sitting down next to Xiran and picking up the spoon.

"Umm, well..." Frila tried to speak but her cheeks got flushed and Carios looked anywhere but at them.

"Carios, Frila. What is it?" Xiran asked in a low but firm voice. They both looked nervous but Carios finally answered:

"Sire, it’s a special date for us so we wanted to go somewhere," he lowered his head with that.

"Oh! Sorry, we didn’t realize. Go go, have fun," Aselia chuckled at them and their shyness. She wondered what must have happened on this date but their reactions were telling her everything. She understood the flowers he had brought for Frila today. Xiran smirked at them.

"Go already. Don’t forget to be here tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Sire," they bowed before scrambling away out the door.

Aselia laughed as she added some white rice to her plate and said:

"They were feeling so shy, I guessed it was the date they must have professed their feelings for each other."

"No, it is the date they had s£x for the first time," Xiran replied so nonchalantly while plopping a small piece of carrot into his mouth. He acted as if he had said nothing and Aselia’s head whipped towards him.

"How do you know that?" she asked exasperated, her spoon hanging midair.

"I deduced from their reactions," Xiran shrugged his shoulders at her with a mischievous smile.

"I deduced from their reaction too," Aselia added with a wrinkled forehead as if trying to understand what she had gotten wrong.

"Well, my sweet innocent Leia, you got it all wrong," he laughed heartily, seeing her mouth which was a bit agape in surprise and confusion, at how he understood that and she didn’t.

"I am not that innocent, I don’t know why you keep saying that to me," she huffed and puffed at him, acting annoyed. Xiran’s eyes twinkled at her answer, and a mischievously evil grin descended on those perfect lips.

"Hmm, so you claim you are not innocent. Then you must be familiar with all kinky terms related to s£x and intimacy. I will ask and you will have to answer. Failing to answer will result in punishment, Leia. Correctly answering them all will earn you the right to stop me from calling you sweet and innocent, so are you ready?"

Aselia gulped hard at his words, she knew this will not end well for her. What had she gotten herself into? Maybe it won’t be that hard. Reluctantly she nodded and he asked his first question.

"What is BDSM?"