Yes. Rick was spoiled. Rick was very lucky that he was spoiled, because in any other scenario he would be dead already. If Negan didn't feel that they had some kind of connection to each other, strange though it was, then Rick would have gone the same way as anyone else who broke Negan's rules. But here he was, enjoying flaunting them, taking advantage if only to find out how far Negan's protectiveness would stretch.

He could tell that he was being played in that way, boundaries tested. Other people had done the same, in the past, and paid the price. Rick wasn't paying yet, but maybe he should be. Negan didn't appreciate being tested. In the long term, it meant that someone wanted more than what they had, and in Rick's case, that could only be perilous. He was intelligent, dangerous, but still - because of both - far too interesting for Negan to give up on.

But those boundaries...

"You're going to have to stand up for yourself if you want to stay alive. You have been given rights, and if they don't respect that, then they only have me to answer to. It would still be better, though, if you didn't let them run roughshod all over you."

He loosened his grip slightly, and moved his hand along Rick's collarbone, stroking his neck, before retreating his hand away. It went into his pocket, and he turned away, taking a deep, controlling breath.

"I'm relieved they didn't rape you. I'd have to kill them. Messy business. Besides..." He glanced back at Rick, and winked at him. "It's always a shame when someone ruins sex for people, don't you think? One thing left in the world that still feels really good."

"Why don't you sit back down. And eat. You look like a walker shit you out."