fish, her eyes wide with confusion.
“That’s not an attractive look, Willow,” I told her. “You’re supposed to be intriguing me, remember? Or did you lose your will to survive when Damien appeared?”
Her nostrils flared in response, but she said nothing.
“Wrong answer, pet.” I curled my fingers around her hip and yanked her into me, my opposite hand going to her throat.
Flames flourished in her blue depths. “What do you want me to say?”
“Words.”
“Words,” she repeated.
I narrowed my gaze. “Creative words.”
“Creative words.”
I started to squeeze, just enough to inform her that this little game of hers was not working for me. “Careful, Willow. Your disobedience will lead us to a place you might not enjoy.”
“But isn’t my disobedience exactly what you want from me?” she countered.
My annoyance melted marginally. “Are you being clever, little pet?”
“I don’t understand you,” she said as I wrapped an arm around her lower back, holding her to me while my opposite hand remained around her throat.
So delicate and pretty.
Fragile yet strong.
“Mmm, you really do interest me, pet,” I praised her, deciding to allow her earlier slip into her society programming. Because I could see the fighter beneath the demure exterior. I just had to work on coaxing her out to play. “This world is designed to break humans, which makes your resilience that much more alluring.”
“Are you applauding me for having a will to live?”
“I am.”
“Maybe I don’t,” she suggested, all signs of her submission disappearing beneath a wave of defiance.
“I think you do, Willow.” I slowly released her and took a step backward. “I think you haven’t survived this long just to give up now. Which is why you’re going to follow me upstairs like an obedient pet and let me show you to your new room.”
I could keep her in the basement, but I had a much more comfortable guest area attached to my suite. So long as she didn’t try to attack me with another hammer, I’d allow her to stay there.
“Are you done with this?” I asked, lifting her plate.
“Yes,” she replied, glancing at her half-eaten sandwich. “I’m… not used to large meals.”
Another issue with societal programming. Rather than comment on it, I discarded the rest of her food and set her plate in the sink. “Follow me.”
She didn’t argue.
She didn’t try to grab a knife from the block on my counter as we walked by it.
She merely trailed after me, up the stairs, down the long hall, and to the door at the end. I opened it to reveal a seating area that joined two bedrooms together. Pointing to the one on the left, I said, “That’s where I sleep. I don’t recommend entering it unless you want to fuck.” I led her to the other room, walked through the threshold, and added, “You’ll be staying in here.”
It had a queen bed, two dressers, a nightstand, a connected bathroom, and a walk-in closet. The room also opened to the wraparound balcony that spanned my entire suite. Her doors had sensors on them, though, so I would know if she stepped outside. Being on the second floor should deter her from trying to escape, but something told me this female might try it anyway.
If she did, I’d catch her.
Then I’d punish her.
My lips threatened to curl at the notion. I may actually enjoy that.
I flipped on a light to allow her to take it all in. She didn’t seem nearly as thrilled as I’d anticipated. If anything, she looked nervous with the way her eyes flicked around the space.
“Unless you prefer the basement?” I offered, turning toward her. “Personally, I think this is a little more convenient.”
“I, yes, this is… nice.” She didn’t sound very sure.
“Nice?”
“It’s…” She pinched her lips to the side as though searching for the words. I waited, giving her time to formulate whatever she wanted to say. But rather than speak, she wandered into the bathroom.
Curious, I followed.
The lights came on automatically with our movement, the switch by her door turning on the sensors in the room. She jumped and glanced upward, then searched for the source before spying the walk-in shower in the corner. It was a reasonable size meant for at least two people, with dual showerheads, a heated floor, and a few different water settings.
Just because I lived alone didn’t mean I skimped on life’s luxuries.
Willow nibbled her lip before turning toward me. “I… I don’t know how any of this works. The university had dorms. We shared showers. And I don’t… my memories…” She