Bab 16: Learn Your Lesson
Lyris sat crisscrossed on the end of Camille's bed as she sat at her vanity applying her makeup.
He stared at her through the mirror, scratching and tugging at his collar while she seemingly gave no notice to his actions.
"Cam, when will you take this off? It's annoying! I'm not your house pet!"
She smiled at his reflection in the mirror, "You can take it off yourself, no one is stopping you."
Lyris growled, "As much as I want to, every time I try, it feels like something is stopping me."
"Then, I don't know what to tell you," she shrugged and giggled as she stood up from her chair, turning to face him, "I guess you'll have to stay my pet for just a bit longer. I do house and feed you after all!"
A devilish smile appeared on his face as he jumped up and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close, "Oh yeah? Then shouldn't you bathe me too? Or are you being an irresponsible pet owner?"
Camille's laughter quickly faded as a look of disgust came over her face.
Pushing him away, she flipped her hair, "Gross."
He sighed as he let her go, "Why do you tease me then, huh?"
Opening the door, she walked out into the main room, heading towards the fridge.
"It's fun until you start being weird."
Lyris followed her and leaned against the fridge with his arms crossed, "You're the one who put a collar on me, not the other way around. Maybe I should get one for you too! Huh?"
Camille pulled out an apple and closed the fridge, putting her hand against it and staring up at him with a matter of fact look on her face, "Sure, if you can afford one."
He rolled his eyes and followed her around the apartment as she got ready, "If it's really not a serious punishment from you, then take it off already and let me free of this thing."
"Well, then, maybe you feel like you need to be punished some more. Maybe that's why you can't take it off yourself."
She was busy grabbing her shoes, and preparing her purse, never facing him as she prepared for the workday.
"Or do you just have a fantasy of putting a collar on and dominating an angel? Tsk. What would my father think of you?"
Camille finally turned to face him and placed her hands together as if in prayer, "I suppose he'll think, 'Good on her for helping me punish this bad boy angel of mine!'"
Lyris glared at her, "It's not the job of you humans to carry out punishments or justice for my father."
Camille gave him a soft smile as she shrugged, "Maybe the whole reason you showed up in front of me is because you were actually sent to me. Didn't you say you've never been in human form? Maybe it's God's will!"
Lyris crossed his arms and looked her up and down, "Oh yeah? And what's so special about you that he'd do that?"
"Pfft. Touchy are we? Did I poke a sore spot?" She batted her eyelashes at him as if she were showing how innocent she was.
"Just, let me know when you'll take this off. I can't bring myself to. So, you have to do it!"
Noticing how quickly he had changed the subject and moved the conversation along, Camille found herself feeling a little guilty.
However, seeing his pouting face did bring her a lot of joy for some reason.
"I'll take it off once you really start to behave yourself." She teased as she headed towards the front door.
Lyris rolled his eyes, "Come on, Cam! Just take it off!"
"Be a good boy and I will! You can earn some extra points by not calling me Cam!"
"What about my dear little Millie?" he teased, stroking her cheek.
Camille waved his hand away, "Gross! Millie is like an old woman's name. Just stick with Camille you weirdo!"
"Not even a Cammie?"
She placed her hand on the doorknob, ready to leave and dreading having to face Neil again.
"What's so wrong with Camille? Just say my name!"
Lyris placed his hand on hers and closed the door shut as she had started to open it.
"Camille."
He held her hand in place, not allowing her to open the door again.
She took a deep breath and looked up at him.
His golden locks gently fell over his matching golden eyes, a desperate plea stabbing her in the heart.
Her heart began to race, and her body started to heat up as she continued to stare into those captivating orbs of his.
"When?" He asked, his voice sending shivers down her spine.
Camille fought to break their gaze, as she averted her eyes, "When you behave I said!"
She didn't get to have this fun banter with Neil. Perhaps she was being selfish in wanting to keep the collar on him longer, but it was fun to tease him. It was a type of interaction she didn't know she had been craving.
"Come on," he whined, "I'm already being punished by being trapped here on Earth!"
Despite his whining sounding playful, the atmosphere between them felt more tense, the undertones of what he was saying feeling more serious.
Camille sighed as she tilted her head towards him slightly, still averting her gaze.
"But….you haven't learned your lesson have you?" Her heart suddenly felt heavy as she thought about all of the woman he'd had over, and what they were doing together.
What about the woman who had come and gone while she was at work? There were probably even more than the ones she knew of.
Was it jealousy she was feeling, or was it truly annoyance?
"I think you're enjoying all of what Earth has to offer."
Camille bit the inside of her cheek, trying to stop herself from crying. She didn't know why she was feeling that way, but she would hate to cry in front of this crazy angel.
An offended look came over Lyris' face and he raised his voice slightly, "How can that be true?!"
Camille's eyebrows raised, as Lyris ran his hand through his hair, huffing in frustration as he did so.
"I've been stuck as a lion since before you humans even learned how to behave yourselves! You're one to talk anyways! Your ancestors were always thrown out, and yet here you are, still not learning their lesson, for generations!"
While he was maintaining his composure, he could feel the tips of his ears beginning to burn and turn red.
"I have nothing to do with that. I'm my own person, I was born here! I wasn't kicked out of anywhere."
Camille turned back towards the door and wiggled her fingers underneath his, signaling for him to move his hand.
Lyris refused to move it and kept his eyes on her.
She cleared her throat, "Besides, you should be better at behaving then since you've had so many years to watch and learn!"
Lyris tightened his grip on her hand ever so slightly and didn't respond.
Feeling his gaze intensify, Camille wiggled her fingers some more, but to no avail.
Was he trying to tell her something? Did he want her to look at him?
She was starting to feel awkward now, and couldn't bear to look up at him.
Clearing her throat, she grabbed his hand and finally pulled it off of hers.
Lyris' shoulders slumped as his hand fell to his side and he slowly fell back, taking a few steps away from her and the door.
His head lowered a bit, and his gaze fell to the floor. A look of hopelessness filling his eyes.
Camille cleared her throat again and opened the door, "Be a good kitty while I'm at work and I'll take the collar off when I get home."
'Why didn't I just take it off earlier? Now I feel too awkward to touch or look at him. I want to get out of here ASAP! I shouldn't have teased him so much…'
As she stepped out, Lyris spoke up, "Please break up with Neil…."
Camille's eyes widened as she paused in the doorway.
"I'm serious, Camille. He's not a good guy. I'm sure if your father knew what you were going through and how he was treating you, he wouldn't want you to be with him."
His voice was full of concern and worry with a light hint of pleading.
Her heart stung with emotion. She knew he was right, but it felt different hearing someone else say it out loud.
Yet, she couldn't fully bring herself to break it off with him.
Lyris waited anxiously for her to respond as she stood in the doorway paused, her back facing him.
"Camille?" He waited for her answer still, though she did not provide it.
"I…have to go to work." Was all she able to mutter as she closed the door and left.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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