“Are they furry?”
“Some are, yes.” His brow furrows.
“Do they talk?”
He laughs. “I see where you’re going with this, naughty pet. You want to make a distinction between you and other types of pets to prove you’re too advanced a species to be kept in captivity. Your reasoning will not work, Little pet.”
I sigh. “Why not?”
“Because, no matter how intelligent you may prove to be, there is no place in our society for tiny female humans. You would never survive on your own. Your people will not be set free here. It’s not possible. You’re weak and small and ignorant of our ways. The only chance any of the other human females have at survival is for one of my kind to purchase them and keep them as pets.”
“But you don’t understand,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.
“You don’t want to push this subject any further, naughty pet.”
“Isla,” I retort. “My name is Isla. You can call me that instead of pet.”
He cocks his head to one side and narrows his gaze. Have I pushed him too far?
I have another thought. “Do your people name their pets or refer to them all collectively as pet?”
He smirks. “Such a sassy Littlepet.”
“Well, do they?” I press.
“Yes, we name our pets, naughty pet. Would you like me to assign you a name?”
I shake my head. “I already have a name. I’d like you to call me Isla.”
“Mmm. We’ll see. Maybe if you’re really good.”
That’s not ano. I’ll take it.
“Enough arguing with me, pet. It’s time to go over some rules. If you can prove yourself as trainable, you’ll earn more privileges. If you dig your heels in and refuse to obey me, I’ll have to assume you’re not smart enough to learn, and I’ll be forced to put more restrictions on you.”
I grit my teeth. He’s so infuriating.
“I gave you your first rule the day we met. No speaking out of turn. Next rule. You will stay with me at all times, even insidethe apartment. Today, you will start wearing a leash. It will help remind you to obey me.”
The blood drains from my head, and I reach up to touch the collar around my neck. This is the first time I’ve examined it. I can’t see it, and I’ve tried to ignore it, but now I notice there are rings around it. Rings that could be used to attach me to a leash.
He lifts a brow as if challenging me to argue with him.
I swallow hard and hold my tongue.
“I’ve heard that leash training has been a huge hurdle for Julan’s pet. It’s important that you know your place. There may come a day in the future when I give you more freedom, but it will not happen until I’m positive you have fully accepted your status. You need to embrace the fact that you are my pet. I purchased you for my amusement. I’m pleased to learn that we have a deep connection that means I will also make use of your body for both our pleasure, but that won’t change the hierarchy here.”
My head is spinning. I feel like I’m a ball that’s being tossed back and forth. On the one hand, I abhor the idea that I have no freedom or say in anything. On the other hand, my pussy clenches at the mention of pleasure. I’d give up just about anything to repeat what happened to me the other day. That euphoric feeling that accompanied the explosion inside my body. It was intense and fleeting. I want to do it again—preferably without the vibrating device.
Lasim supports my back with one hand while he leans to the side to reach for the drawer on the end table next to this chair. A moment later, he’s holding up a chain. Aleash.
I purse my lips, fighting the urge to jump off his lap and run for the door. How far would I get? Probably not even to the floor.
SEVEN
As I stare at the chain, my body trembles. The collar is bad enough. Attaching that horrible leash to it might break me.
Lasim stares at me, seeming to ponder something. I doubt I want to know what’s going through his head.