The Needs of Human Pets

Sawyer was zip-tying his hands together on the bridge when an unfairly pretty stranger asked who'd get his house after he jumped.

Twenty minutes later, Sawyer had a human pet—and a list of demands. The first one? "Name me."

Velvet throws tantrums in the grocery store, makes extraordinary messes, and follows Sawyer everywhere: to work, to the park, and into his bed. He's also the first person since the accident to flip up Sawyer's eye patch and call him handsome.

For the first time in his life, Sawyer has something to lose.

But one morning, Velvet is gone. In his place is a note: "You should have jumped."

Sawyer has never fought for anything in his life. Now he's learning the ways of a proper stalker: makeup over the scars, memorized schedules, a lie for the doorman. But the man he finds is nothing like the one who wore the collar. This version wears tailored suits, answers to a different name, and has no intention of being anyone's pet.