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*** Karis' POV***

Thank God! No hangover. I'm unusually warm. I have anemia so that is no small feat for me. I sit up to eye the source of my heat.

Holy fucking mother of Jesus Christ my Savior. Wow!

I shy back from the man's arms when I realize I am in just a dress shirt and panties. I quickly jump from the bed. He jostles before rolling over on to his stomach. The sheet slips down. I drink in the strong lines of his muscular back.

Please tell me I did not have sex with this man. I can't remember; that would be a mortal sin.

I stare at the back of his head wanting nothing more than to play with his hairline.

Fuck. He's beautiful.

"Come back to bed darling." Hell. That gruff morning voice. My god, that just went to my panties.

"Um." I bite my cuticle. My eyes stare at him ashamed and curious.

"We did not have sex. I know you're wondering. We only talked and snuggled. Come here." He snaps his fingers. I whimper.

"What's wrong beautiful?" He sits up with a questioning look. I just want to die. How the fuck did this god fall from heaven?

"I need to use the restroom. I would like to brush my teeth." I glance around the room for my clothes.

"I think there is a new toothbrush in the top drawer. Hurry back." He points to the bathroom. I rush off, closing the door behind me.

I finish relieving my bladder and brush my teeth. I wipe the eye makeup off. Taking my hands through the knots in my hair, I try to get it to look a little less than just been fucked. Apparently, I slept wild.

"Come out. I want to hold you." His voice beckons me. I slowly open the door. He pats the bed. My feet move slowly, trying to calm my shaky nerves.

"You were just as nervous last night. I promise not to try anything." He opens the covers with a smile. I slip in beside him. He pulls me down and leans up on his elbow, over me. I can smell the mint coming from his mouth. He must have slipped away while I was making my self more presentable.

"How are you feeling?" He plays with my hair while looking down on me.

"I don't have a hangover." I shake my head a little with my admission.

"That's both good and surprising. How are you emotionally?" He moves a fallen hair from my face before cupping my jaw tenderly.

"Well, that tells me I obviously was a mess last night." I cover my hands with my face.

"You were perfect. You are perfect. Now, tell me how you feel inside." He turns me over on my side. He scoots down so we are both facing one another.

"I have good days and bad days. It's been a year. Mostly bad days if I'm being honest." I don't mind telling him because he seems genuinely concerned.

"Let's work on that. You need to be able to say the exact opposite. Thank you for clarifying that. How is today?" We stare at one another while I decipher the truth inside of myself.

"So far, we can catalogue this as a good day." I smile over at him. Yeah, a good day.

"It's Saturday. What do you like to do on the weekends?" His words are full of interest. That's a new thing to me.

"I usually clean the house, grocery shop and read." I'm boring. That's what dissolved my marriage.

"What do you read?" I really don't want to tell him that.

"Wattpad. Vampires. Boy on Boy books. Werewolves. Anything that has romance and um smut." I know I'm blushing. It's a guilty pleasure of mine.

"Interesting." He hums along with his words.

"I'm weird." I already know that to be true.

"You're intriguing. There is nothing weird about your tastes." He shuts my words down quickly.

"You must be hiding something equally as intriguing." I giggle when he smiles at me.

"Do you know the type of club you were in last night?" He sits up, pulling me up to sit in front of him.

"I got the impression it wasn't exactly a dance club." I remember the odd collections of furniture, the wrist band and the patrons who seemed less party than authority.

"This is a band to tell masters that you are on the market, not claimed but not open." Vance picks up my arm. He rubs his thumb over the white band on my wrist.

"Masters?" I question.

"It's a BDSM club. You were on the club level. There are a few others." Vance goes slow. I have heard of BDSM it's a bit interesting, though not all of it is alluring.

"Are you a dominant?" I watch closely to see what he will say.

"Very much so. That's why I own the club. I like being in charge." Vance doesn't look embarrassed. I don't see anything wrong with it.

"How come you were allowed to talk to me?" I refer to the band the bartender gave to me.

"We can talk to you if you wear a white band. Red means absolutely no communication. No band infers that you are collared or that you want to be. The white band is like a proceed with caution." He explains things to me simply. I nod my head in understanding.

"Collared means you have a Master? Someone owns you?" I think I read about that on Wattpad.

"Essentially. You have a dynamic in a contractual relationship." He moves to get out of the bed. Vance walks to my side and reaches for my hand. I eagerly accept, standing up beside him.

"You want a pet then." I don't ask. I think I'm right.

"Sometimes. But, I'm not trying to own you. Don't stress yourself out." We walk to his kitchen. He sits me down at the bar top. I sit; he moves to get me a glass of juice.

"Water is fine." I don't need juice.

"Okay. Would you mind spending the day with me? Can your house handle a little less cleaning?" Vance smirks at me. My house is clean, I just like to pretend like it needs me.

"I wouldn't mind. But, I do need to take a shower, get my car and change. I can't be in this all day." I look down at the exposing shirt that my chest is filling out completely.

"I see nothing wrong with what you're wearing." Vance walks over, he plays with the collar of his shirt that snugs my body, his fingers graze against my neck.

"Are we staying in all day?" I cock my brow at him. It's good logic.

"Actually, no. I suppose the outside world does not need to see what I have been blessed with." Vance eyes me like an expensive car on a lot.

"Blessed." I giggle at that.

His fingers run to my chin. He picks my head up with two of them.

"Utterly and unashamedly blessed. Darling, you are a gorgeous woman." He leans down, placing a kiss on the corner of my mouth.

"Quite the charmer." I whisper against the edge of his lips.

"An honest man." He moves his face infinitesimally to place a soft kiss on my lips. I can feel the heat crawling up my neck.

"Be a good girl and refrain from degrading yourself." He grabs my hand,  pulling me into his arms. I sigh as he encases my body in his masculinity. He lays his chin on top of my head.

"You make it hard not to believe your words." I move my face to his chest. I lay my cheek on his warm flesh.

"I will always encourage you to appreciate who you are." His words are so soft they almost seem like a personal promise.

"Where are my clothes?" I ask reluctantly. I don't want to leave the safety of his arms but, I really want a shower. I can smell the smoke in my hair.

"Come. Let's get you ready for the day." He pulls me to his bedroom before passing me my clothing. I leave his shirt on and slip into my jeans. Carrying my shoes and top in my arms, we exit the house.

We go out to his truck and he helps me inside. We ride to the club. I get in my vehicle. He follows me home.

Once there, I rush inside with him coming up behind me. I don't need my neighbors seeing me do the walk of shame.

"In a hurry?" He pushes me through the door and presses my back against the wall. His hands travels to my hips. He holds me steady while pressing his body into my own.

"Just didn't need the nosey neighbors seeing me without my bra." I look at his gorgeous brown eyes and blink while remembering to breathe.

"I'm going to kiss you." He doesn't wait for my reply. His lips meet mine and he wedges his tongue into my mouth. He skillfully caresses my pallet with his warm tongue. My knees wobble. Vance presses his hand into my back to steady me. I wrap my arms around his neck and open for him, invitingly.

His tongue is a powerful weapon. He artfully steals my breath. I moan as he tangles his hand in my hair and deepens the delicious kiss. He softly pulls back and kisses me quickly before staring at me with a blistering smile.

"Mmmmm." He hums against my lips as he dips his head down and plunders my mouth again.

God save me.

"Go get ready. I want to show you off." He pops my butt with his large hand causing a giggle to yelp out of my mouth.

I hurry through a shower, shaving everything like always. I throw my wet hair in a messy bun. I quickly apply my minimal make up. I change into a t-shirt and jeans before slipping on my sandals. I get completely ready before grabbing everything I will need including a spare change of clothes. I'm unsure if he is planning on letting me come home tonight. Not that I would mind.

"I think I like this look the best." Vance meets me at my door with a wry grin. His hands capture my hips once again. He walks backwards as he pulls me along with him. He seats himself on the arm of my chair and pulls me between his legs. I look down on him with a smile. A girl could get used to this attention.

"You smell heavenly. What is it that you wear?" He picks up my wrist and draws his nose across the soft skin.

"Jennifer Anniston." I tremble the words out because he is so fucking sexy. A panty dropper.

"I hope you have it in mass supply." He kisses my wrist.

"It's on auto order." I giggle when he wraps my arm around his neck. This man.

"I really like you." He pushes his head into my stomach. I run my fingers through his hair and enjoy the short texture.

"Hmmmm. Sounds like an issue." I giggle again when he rubs his nose against my side.

"Not for me. I will have you." His confidence is astounding.

"I'm still not looking to fall into your bed." I shake my head. I'm not willing to be anybody's fuck buddy. That's how I ended up with the last marriage. No thanks.

"I won't let you fall. I will gently place you there before devouring your heavenly curves. But, that's for another time. Come. We have plans to attend to." He pushes me back. He grabs my hand as he leads me out of my house.

"What plans?" I ask as I get into the passenger side of his truck.

"I told you." He looks at me from the driver's side. "I'm showing you off."

He drives back towards the club and parks at the front.

"Why?" I ask. I'm nothing to look at.

"I want to parade you in front of everyone so they know how lucky I am." He walks to my side and helps me get out.

"Lucky? We're just acquaintances, Vance." I don't want to spoil his mood, but he doesn't know me well enough to desire my permanent company.

"For now. But, I have every intention of changing that." He presses my body against the door of the vehicle and stares at me like a treasure. Yeah, a good day.