“My phone broke!”
Lina held the phone up in front of Hisaki, as if presenting evidence of a crime.
“It suddenly went black, and now I can’t see anything! Fix it for me!”
Hisaki took the phone and pressed the power button. A notification popped up on the screen: “Device Locked,” along with the reason for the lock.
“One attempt to search forbidden terms: escape, run away, leave, go out.”
Hisaki’s gaze lingered on the word “escape” for half a second.
She looked up at Lina.
Standing in front of her, hands on hips, radiating self-righteousness, with a face that said “that’s not the point, the point is unlock it now.”
She suddenly smiled.
Of course she knew about running away.
She’d known all along.
She thought it was one of the most charming traits about Whitey.
That stubbornness to keep flailing even though she clearly couldn’t escape, like a little turtle flipped onto its back, legs kicking wildly at the air, still refusing to give up after all that time.
It was adorable.
And right now, the situation was even cuter.
Hisaki placed the phone on the desk, leaned back in her chair, and tilted her head up to look at Lina.
Because of the hands-on-hips pose, the neckline of Lina’s nightgown had stretched open slightly, revealing the edge of the white camisole underneath and the patch of skin below her collarbone that had been cooled by the air conditioning.
My little Whitey probably still doesn’t realize how scantily dressed she is.
“Whitey,” she said, her voice soft and gentle.
“Did you search for something you shouldn’t have?”
Lina’s gaze wavered for a split second. But she quickly lifted her chin higher and shot back in a tone of “I have a clear conscience.”
“What I search is none of your business! Just unlock it!”
Hisaki watched her with that unearned confidence, and a little string in her heart was plucked.
She reached out, but not for the phone. Instead, she took Lina’s wrist in her hand.
Before Lina could react, her body was already being pulled over by a familiar, irresistible force.
By the time she blinked, she found herself seated on Hisaki’s lap.
Hisaki wrapped her arms around her from behind, one hand circling her waist, the other resting just above her knee.
The position was too close.
But Lina was used to it by now.
“Unlock it.”
She slapped the phone down on the desk.
Hisaki didn’t look at the phone.
All her attention was on the scent coming off Whitey.
So fragrant.
So cute.
So tiny.
Hisaki felt her heart beating at an abnormal rhythm.
The little, soft, arrogant white fur ball in her arms filled every one of her senses.
Hisaki’s arms unconsciously tightened, the arm around Lina’s waist pulling their distance a little closer.
“I can unlock it.”
Her voice sounded from behind Lina’s ear, carrying a hint of husky laziness, her breath brushing against Lina’s ear.
Lina’s ear twitched, but she didn’t move away.
Hisaki rested her chin gently on top of Lina’s head, silvery-white strands of hair brushing against her cheek.
“But you have to play in my arms.”
Lina didn’t even think.
“Fine, fine, unlock it now.”
Hisaki reached for the phone and entered the parental password.
The unlock confirmation chime rang out crisp and clear in the quiet mansion.
She placed the phone back into Lina’s hands, but her arm stayed wrapped around her waist, showing no sign of letting go.
And the first thing Lina did after getting her phone back was—
Open the video app. Her eyes immediately glued themselves to the screen, completely forgetting that she was currently trapped in the arms of a human-sized weirdo and kidnapper.
She even unconsciously leaned back into Hisaki’s embrace, adjusting herself to a more comfortable angle, propping her elbows on Hisaki’s arm, holding the phone in both hands, and watching the variety show with complete focus.
Hisaki looked down at the little Whitey who had practically sold herself out just to play on her phone.
This little one really wasn’t good at negotiating.
Or rather, she probably didn’t even realize she was negotiating.
A warm surge rose in Hisaki’s chest, a desire to push further.
Time to take the next step.
She cleared her throat and spoke in that tone of “Oh, I just thought of something small.”
“Whitey.”
“Hm?”
“Do you really want to go out?”
Lina’s fingers paused on the phone screen.
She didn’t look up, but her eyes were no longer focused on the video.
Hisaki had never brought up the topic of “going out” on her own.
And Lina had never brought it up herself.
Not because she didn’t want to, but because she figured there was no point.
But now, Hisaki was the one who brought it up.
A trap?
A test?
Or was she actually considering it?
In a fraction of a second, Lina’s brain ran through every possibility.
Then she made her choice.
Seize the opportunity when it comes.
She put down the phone, turned halfway in Hisaki’s arms, and looked straight up into her eyes.
Then her expression changed.
Not her usual bratty provocateur face, not a disdainful eye-roll, not the cold “you’re a pervert, I’m ignoring you” look.
Instead, she tilted her head up with an excited expression, eyes sparkling, nodding vigorously, and let out little eager sounds.
“Mm hm hm!”
Hisaki looked at that face, and her breath hitched.
Then she smiled.
She pulled a black hard card from the pocket of her loungewear, held it between her index and middle fingers, and dangled it in front of Lina’s eyes.
It was the key card.
Lina’s gaze immediately shifted from Hisaki’s face to the card, then followed it back and forth like it was magnetized.
Her sky-blue eyes were wide and round, and the only reflection in her pupils was that black card.
“Whitey.” Hisaki leaned forward, bringing her lips close to Lina’s ear, and spoke slowly, word by word, in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“If tonight, you can sleep in the same bed with me like a good girl…”
Lina’s pupils shook.
“Then I’ll give it to you.”
Hisaki’s lips were almost touching Lina’s earlobe.
“And I’ll even take you out.”
She pulled back a little, watching Lina’s expression.
“So? It’s just sleeping… a pretty good deal, right?”