Page 124 of The Demon's Pet

“Why does he even want me?” I asked.

Sam paused, running his eyes up and down me. “I can think of lots of reasons. None of them matter, however, because I’ll gut him if he so much as tries to take you from me.”

“But… he cares about me,” I said. “He might even come to love me someday.”

Sam’s eyes flashed angrily. “You’re barely out of your haven, living your life for the first time. Why would you even be thinking about love?”

It stung, though I knew he’d never considered what we did anything but casual.

It was why I’d told him I wouldn’t be exclusive.

“You don’t own me, Sam.”

He folded his arms, and I tried not to look at his flexed biceps, his huge, masculine shoulders and chest. “Actually, I do.” His smile was mean. “Don’t forget, Cleo. It was me or death. There was no other option.”

My heart was burning. We’d done things together… Why was he intent on reminding me I was trapped?

So far, even though I’d been forced to stay fairly close to him, I’d felt like a free woman. No one’s prisoner.

It was what made it safe to fantasize with him, to be with him.

But it was clear he didn’t care about me beyond whatever he wanted to use me for.

He didn’t see me as someone with her own agency.

“Cleo, I told you,” he said. “Don’t fall for me.”

“I haven’t!” I shouted back, wishing I had something handy to throw at him.

“Then why do you seem upset?” He looked genuinely confused.

“I just… After what we did…” I looked away.

Sam let out a sigh. “You were desperate. We both enjoyed it—”

“You fed off me—”

“Many would die for the opportunity to have me do so,” he said flatly. “Listen, Cleo, I’ve been clear with you.”

“You also asked for exclusivity!”

His cheeks reddened. “A moment of weakness. Jealousy. Primarily, I don’t care, as long as your partner isn’t Zadis.”

“You were upset,” I said. “Admit it. You don’t want me with someone else.”

His jaw clenched. “Because I have a purpose for you. That’s all. And I don’t share my meals. But I already accepted that nothing more will happen between us. You’re right. It would be stupid to ask for exclusivity when I don’t intend anything further to happen between us. I was overwhelmed by your beauty before. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

I breathed out through my nose, too angry at his arrogance to speak for a few moments.

He’d helped me have my first orgasm. He’d “made love” to me. He’d been so jealous he couldn’t see straight.

But beneath all of that, it was clear he was right from the start. He didn’t have a heart.

“Any animal can be possessive,” he said. “Don’t mistake that for what it’s not.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just that many creatures will guard something for their own enjoyment or use. It doesn’t mean implicit care.”

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