The big male gathered his legs up underneath him and rested his face in his hands with a groan.

“What’s wrong?” Selma frowned and forced her own body to sit up, though her muscles protested wildly at the movement.

“What’s wrong?” He didn’t lower his hands—didn’t even attempt to look at her. “Don’t fucking thank me, Selma. I raped you. Don’t pretend like I’m some great fucking hero sweeping in to save the day. I did exactly what every other monster of my kind does to Breeders. And I liked it.”

Selma blinked. Repeatedly. “You… You think you raped me?”

“That’s exactly what I did.” He let his hands fall to the duvet covering both of them, giving her a bitter look. “We both know you have no choice in the matter once your ring’s been manipulated. I thought I could claim you without… without giving in to the beast inside, but I couldn’t. I didn’t. I did to you what my father did to my mother over and over and over again, so don’t fucking thank me!”

That light feeling in her chest that’d been present since their mating squeezed uncomfortably. Selma gave him a stern look.

“Look, I wanted what you did—all of it. It’s not just about the stupid ring. Don’t you get it? I was hoping and praying you’d come. And yes, I knew what that would mean. Does it really upset you that much that you liked having sex with me? I liked it too.”

Kain gritted his teeth and looked away from her. “That’s the ring talking, and you know it. We’re both still wrapped up in the post-claiming haze.”

Selma barely avoided rolling her eyes. He had severe issues after what happened to his mother, and she would just have to be patient with him.

“So what did you plan would happen after you claimed me? I mean, you must have had a plan, right? Is it to never touch me again? Because I gotta tell you, you paid an awful lot of money just to keep me around to make your morning coffee.”

His growl made her jump, then wince thanks to the sore muscles in her abdomen and lower back.

“I did not purchase you as a slave. I bid a sufficient amount that none would wish to bid any higher, thus lowering the risk I’d lose you in a fight. And my plan was, and is, to bring you to Colorado.” The demon sent her a glare, then pushed off the bed.

Selma watched him as he walked to the other end of the luxurious room and disappeared behind a door. He left it ajar, and she could hear water running.