The Man in the Teddy Bear

He had a plastered leg, which must have been why he had gone missing for days.

But he wasn't giving up on me, as he was willing to get close in broad daylight, instead of just missing me.

With that in mind, I smiled and nodded. "Of course, I have plenty of time. I didn't know you were such a kind man, Mr. Lopez."

Hearing my praise, Zac's pale cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

"I just can't help it. Poor creature…"

Really?

I would really have believed him if I hadn't caught him breaking a stray dog's legs with a plank before.

Heaven knew what inhumane torture he subjected this cat to.

Still, I nodded quietly, hiding the disgust in my eyes.

"Just hand it to me—I'll bring you back after the vet treats it."

I held out my hand, my fingers brushing slowly and temptingly against his wrist.

I only withdrew my hand after hearing his breath turn rushed, and I took the cat into my arms. "Let's go."

Zac paused, but he soon breathed a sigh of relief as he quickly hid the obsession from his eyes.

"I live in Block A. What about you? I should thank you once my leg is better."

"What a coincidence!" I smiled at him. "I live there too, on the fourteenth floor."

"Wow, really?!" he exclaimed in delight. "That's where my unit is too. I just moved in, so I guess that makes us neighbors."

To be honest, his acting was really terrible—his eyeballs were bulging as he stared at my breasts, but he kept trying to play the gentleman, lowering his gaze whenever I looked at him.

But that was fine.

I didn't mind, and I even played along and smiled. "That's great! We can go to work together, but honestly, the design of this apartment is strange, with each stairs leading straight to two units and the turn always looking the same. I might accidentally barge into your house someday, so please don't chase me out."

With those words, I didn't stop to worry about his surprise as I turned to leave.

After I left the vet's, I scrubbed myself clean.

The stray cat was infested with fleas and wounded so terribly that it had to stay there, so I didn't bring it home.

But while I was just finding it a pity to deny an excuse to go looking for Zac, he showed up anyway, wiring me the treatment costs and politely asking to join me for dinner.

"Sorry to impose, but I'm really having trouble even taking care of myself, and the doctor said I shouldn't order takeout."

I happily agreed to it.

Before I made him a scrumptious dinner, I picked a white lace sleeping gown from the closet—one which I'd prepared for a while.

When the doorbell rang, I slowly left the kitchen, straightening my dress before opening the door and giving Zac a helping hand.

I pretended not to see his surprise and hugged his arm. "You can't walk well with one leg, right? Be careful—just lean on me and don't fall."

To no surprise, he played along and leaned half of himself against my chest. "I'm really sorry for the trouble…"

His voice cracked from excitement already—was he that susceptible to temptation?

I was laughing inside but pressed myself against him even more.

I only briskly let go when I felt his biceps stiffening and headed into the kitchen.

"I might need a while. Please sit, and make yourself at home."

I didn't even need to turn to feel his blazing gaze fixed on the exposed skin of my back.

After all, I had forgotten to zip up my dress, and as it was such a maidenly dress, it naturally lit a fire in him.

He must be trying to peek and see what I was wearing underneath, wasn't he?

"Oh, that reminds me—"

I hence abruptly turned, catching his blazing gaze just as I hoped. "Is there anything you don't like to eat?"

Zac quickly lowered his gaze to hide his lust, clenching on the pillow to hide his bulge. "No, I'm fine with anything."

I smiled. "That's good."

The kitchen was hot, but my heart was even hotter.

Sliding the ingredients into the pan, I loosened my buttons and wiped my sweat with a towel, and I felt a warm breath behind my ear.

I didn't turn right away, instead glancing with the corner of my eye on the window glass.

Zac was leaning toward me, his chin almost resting on my shoulder.

He had a hand on his cane, while the other brushed a lock of my hair as he sniffed it with a sickly, sleazy smile.