“I’m your pet.” It didn’t matter how he worded it, I knew Sloan too well. He liked to manipulate people into doing his bidding, thinking no one would see the play for what it was. Most didn’t, but I wasn’t most people.
“And you’ll be safer as family.” He said it so matter-of-factly that I held in a laugh. Nice try, Boss.
“Would I, though? Wouldn’t that put me in more danger?”
His eyebrows furrowed. “Possibly.”
I hummed, then shook my head. “Then no.”
He tensed, hurt passing over his face so quickly I nearly missed it. “Pet, this isn’t a question. It’s an order.”
“No.”
He stared at me incredulously. “What?”
I smiled and stroked his cheek, my thumb brushing over the tip of his nose. I mapped his face because I didn’t know when I would see it in person again. “Sloan, if you want me to marry you, then you ask me. Properly. And you do it outside of jail. You propose, romantically.”
His frown deepened. “Pet, don’t?—”
“I’m a Killough already. I was a Killough the moment you took me as your pet. I’m yours and I’m a Company man. My loyalty will always lie with you.” I tapped him on the nose. “But if you think I’m going to marry you because you ordered it, then you’re a fool and I know you’re not.” Tears stung my eyes and I blinked, trying to subtly remove them. I wouldn’t cry. Not here and not now. My heart gave a painful tug. “You’ll ask me to marry you because you love me. AmIclear?”
He stared at me for what felt like a long time before he relaxed. “Yes, Pet, I understand.”
I grinned and plopped a kiss on his lips. “Now, can we lie here and enjoy each other? I miss you, Boss.”
“I miss you, too.” He dragged me closer, and I sighed, settling my head on his chest. His heart thumped a steady, strong beat, and I liked to think it was for me. I was his heart.
“Pet?”
I hummed in acknowledgement, breathing heavily. My muscles relaxed, my limbs nothing more than jelly. He always knew what I needed.
“You’re hot.” He pressed a hand to my forehead, and I grabbed it, bringing it to my lips so I could kiss it.
“I know.”
Sloan rolled his eyes, mouth twitching. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. Are you sick?”
I shook my head immediately. The less he knew, the better. His mind should be on getting out of this place, back to me, because that was the only thing that mattered. “We fucked, Boss. We gotphysical.” I resisted the urge to start singing the song by Olivia Newton-John because Sloan always huffed at me when I got into the lyrics, which usually happened before a self-defense lesson with Fallon.
“Don’t do it,” he warned, eyes glowing with amusement.
I laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I’m not going to hurt your ears today. I don’t have a fever, I promise.”
I was pretty sure it was a lie, but Sloan believed me because he lay back down and settled.
I didn’t know how long we stayed there, but it was nice. Soothing.
Until the slam of a fist on the door shattered our illusion.
“Killough, get dressed. Sexy time is over. The warden wants you back in your cell.”
I ground my teeth as I glanced up at him. “Can we kill him?”
The corner of Sloan’s mouth ticked up. “No, we can’t. But I promise I won’t be here for long.” Maybe if he said it enough times, I’d believe him. He cupped my cheek and pressed his lipsto my forehead. “I’ll be out of here soon. Then, you can have me, and my cock, as much as you want.”
“When you get out, I’m going to tie you to the bed and use you for an entire twenty-four hours. You belong to me,” I teased.
He laughed. “And I’ll be very willing to be there for your pleasure, Pet.”
