 
# Her Marine Daddy

## Lee Savino
Copyright © 2018 by Lee Savino

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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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### Contents

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Her Marine Daddy

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Author's Note

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# Her Marine Daddy

By

Lee Savino

**My hot Marine hero wants me to call him 'Daddy.'**

I wasn't looking for romance. I spend Saturday nights at home with my two favorite men—Ben& Jerry. Then Dane knocks on my door. Tall, tattooed, all muscle. He wants me, and he won't take no for an answer.

**He says I'm his 'babygirl,' and asks me to call him 'Daddy.'**

By day, he treats me like a lady. By night, he ties me up and does filthy, wicked things that make my lady bits swoon.

**And though it feels really naughty, I'm beginning to want to call him 'Daddy', too...**

Originally part of the USA today bestselling 'Hero to Obey' boxset entitled "Devil Dog", "Her Marine Daddy" is a standalone novella with smoking hot sex scenes, kink and a sassy babygirl who finds a hero who will fight for her.

# 1

The legal papers sat on my car's front seat, and as much as I tried to ignore them, they wouldn't go away.

_Only twenty-eight and divorced. How sad is that?_ my brain commented, and I had to agree. The one thing I'd thought I'd done right in my life—marry my high school sweetheart—had come to a bitter end.

Deep in self-pity, I tossed the papers into the back seat of my car and headed inside my favorite local coffee shop. I almost wished I'd just gone through a chain with a drive through, instead of The Bean Counter, but with a name like that, they had my loyalty forever.

My head was in such a state that I tripped over the cute sandals I'd dug out of the back of my closet in honor of the beautiful spring day. The toe caught the curb and I almost went down, flailing like a fool on the sidewalk.

"Dammit," I muttered, then glanced around nervously to see if anyone had heard me. My nan always told me I had no filter, just said the first thing that popped into my mouth.

"Stubborn, too," my gramps would always add.

My gramps had tried to warn me, I realized as I headed inside The Bean Counter. He'd told me Chad was no good, we'd butted heads over it, and in the end I'd walked out on him and Nan, and eloped with Chad at twenty.

Eight years later, I had divorce papers and a broken heart. The thing I regretted most was that Gramps had died before he could say, 'I told you so.'

I pushed the shop door a little too hard and to my horror it swung out and hit a man standing in line at the counter. It wasn't totally my fault, the shop was small, and the waiting man had shoulders and biceps roughly the size of Alaska.

He turned to see who'd hit him, his mirrored shades angling to me, and the sight of this hunky hulk, six foot amazing and one hundred percent muscle, sent the thoughts of my ex clean out of my head.

_Wow_ , my brain said, adding, _Don't do anything stupid._

I shot the man a winning smile, and the corner of his mouth turned up in return. My brain was still crowing a point for me when my sandal, sticking to its course of sabotage, decided to trip me again.

Of course the hunky hulk caught me, and I got a close up of his awesome, bulging muscles under beautiful tattoos.

"Oh, my god," I breathed. "Your muscles have muscles."

My brain gasped in horror.

The wrinkles around the mirrored shades crinkled.

_Dork,_ my brain hissed. To my horror, my mouth kept talking.

"I mean, you look like you could pick up my car and throw it. I can barely get down to the gym."

_Shut up, shut up._ My face turned bright red under the perusal of mirrored shades.

My coffee shop savior set me on my feet, one large hand at the small of my back to steady me. The sunglasses swept up and down and I froze, knowing he was checking me out.

Hunky hulk grinned. My knees went weak and I almost started drooling. Not to mention the state of my panties... I mentally added laundry to the list of things to do today.

He turned to the barista. "Whatever she wants, I'm buying." Muscles stepped aside and the barista, who also looked a little dazed at the spectacular sight of her customer, transferred a wide-eyed gaze to me.

My tongue chose that moment to trip over itself.

"Go ahead, order something," the hunk commanded softly, his voice deep and gentle at the same time.

He flashed that white, panty-dropping smile.

My brain stopped scolding me and swooned. Luckily, I'd ordered the same drink for fifteen years. I turned and parroted it to the barista, who looked like she'd just fallen in lust. Both hers and my cheeks were pink.

His hand still hovering on my back, Mr. Muscles added his order, dropped a bill on the counter, and escorted me to the side to wait for our drinks.

The barista called after him, asking if he wanted change, and he shook his head with a smile. Her cheeks flushed further and she tucked a coy strand of hair behind her ear.

For a second my heart sank. Barista girl was tall and thin and looked like the sort of girl who'd flirt with a muscled stud muffin like this. But then the hunky hulk transferred his gaze to me.

Chiseled jaw, full lips and a slight smile: my body did the math and the tally was yummy.

_Please don't let me say anything stupid._

"You didn't have to do that," I told him.

"I know," he said in that deep purr. "I wanted to."

He kept his hand at my back, no longer touching me but close enough for me to feel its warmth, as if I might fall over at any time. Which I might, and not just because of my stupid sandals. Maybe he was just used to women swooning with lust thirty seconds after they'd met him, but his protective stance reminded me of the way my gramps used to escort my nan around, treating her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

"Um, so I would tell you that I don't always say the first thing that pops into my head, but I do, all the time. My nan says I have two ears and one mouth to listen twice and speak once."

The slight smile deepened to a grin. "Worked out for you today."

"I'm having a rough week," I confessed. "I'm just got served the papers for my divorce after a year's separation." My brain cringed, but Muscles didn't seem put off by the mention of my ex.

He cocked his head. "Sorry to hear that."

"Don't be. I'm trying to tell myself it's a good thing. He..." cheated on me for years, emotionally and verbally abused me, lied behind my back... "needed to go."

_Shut up, Cassie, shut up. Just stop talking._

"Then I'm glad he's gone." The rumble in his voice turned dark.

I searched for a witty and charming way to change the subject from my pathetic life, and noticed a tattoo just under his sleeve.

"That's a cute dog," I said, then silently cursed myself. Under the script 'Devil Dog' was a growling bulldog with a cigar in its mouth. The exact opposite of cute. "Well, maybe cute isn't the right word."

My brain gave up trying to get me to shut up and decided I should just move to Alaska.

Muscles grinned down at me like I was the cutest thing he'd ever seen. It was an amazing sight, this big, rough man with a little crinkle at the side of his mouth and eyes, total attention on me.

It was a little off-putting.

"Sorry," I gasped, a little out of breath. "I really shouldn't talk in the morning before I've had coffee."

"You're all right, babygirl."

A happy feeling curled through me at his gentle rumble. I glanced at the tattoo again and noticed the scrawl underneath: 'USMC'.

"The Marines! My gramps was a Marine. Now I know where you got all those muscles." The way he held himself looked familiar, reminding me of the easy poise my gramps always had. I could totally imagine him in uniform... and out of it.

_Stop staring, Cassie._ I couldn't help it, though. The man, who I'd mentally started calling 'Devil Dog', was the finest specimen of manhood I'd ever seen. After a few seconds of study, I noted his hair was a bit too long for an active soldier.

"Are you off duty?"

"Out two years ago. Medical discharge."

"Oh," I said, casting about for something to say. "You look pretty healthy to me."

"Got hurt on tour. Afghanistan."

"That's too bad. I bet they need guys like you over there."

A flicker of pain crossed his face and he angled his body away from mine. Embarrassment flooded through me like cold fire. I'd finally put my foot in my mouth, and the vibe I got from Devil Dog was that he'd rather be anywhere but here.

_Well, that's that,_ my brain said sadly. _It was fun while it lasted._ The rest of my body wept.

The barista set our drinks on the counter, prompting my escape.

"I'm sorry. Like I said—I shouldn't talk before caffeine... or ever. That was really rude, and... sorry." Grabbing my coffee, I dashed out the door.

Twenty minutes later, I pulled up in front of Nan's house, where I'd been living since Chad kicked me out. I shut off the car and let my head drop onto the steering wheel. The intense, giddy feeling I'd felt talking to the hunky Devil Dog faded into a dull sadness and the sense that I'd missed out on something good.

_Typical Cassie,_ my brain tutted. _No wonder your marriage is over._

Sometimes I wish I could punch my own thoughts in the face.

I contemplated the man with the bulldog tattoo as I carried my latte inside the house. It surprised me that I was so drawn to muscles; I'd never gone for jocks before. My ex, Chad, wasn't built. He was fit, though, from a strict six days a week workout regimen. I'd once teased him about it.

"I'm not going to be the one in this relationship who lets myself go," he had said, with a pointed look at the chocolate bar I was munching on.

Jerky McJerkface. I should've seen his betrayal coming.

Now, Devil Dog... the way he gave me his total focus, he seemed to appreciate my curves. And the way he bought me a coffee, and hovered his hand at my back to protect me from the rush. It must be a Marine thing. The poise, the polite respect, the confident yet conscientious way a man acts when he's had honor drummed into him, it all reminded me of my gramps.

"Cassandra?" Nan trilled when I got in the door.

Thank god the latte was kicking in. At eighty-eight years of age, getting over a brutal bout of pneumonia, my nan had more energy than a gaggle of cheerleaders at homecoming.

She smiled at me from her medical bed, set up in a curtained off part of the living room. Despite being mostly bedridden, she'd put on a pretty flower print robe and piled her white hair on her head. Every night, I slathered lotion on my face and prayed I'd age half as well as my beautiful nan.

"Hey, you." Despite my crappy day, I put a smile in my voice. "How are you feeling?"

"Good, good. I'm almost tempted to call Dr. Lewis and get his permission to go tonight."

Tonight the Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge were hosting their annual cookout and celebration. Nan and Gramps had attended every year, and last year, Nan had gone alone. This year she was under doctor's orders not to be around large groups of people until her immune system strengthened, so she'd roped me into carrying the torch.

"Nan, I don't think that's a good idea—"

She waved her hand at me. "I'm just fooling. Though I do have a surprise for you. I got you a date." She beamed at me.

I nearly spat coffee all over the floor. "What?"

"Dane Hutchinson. He's picking you up early to take you to get the flowers to take to the VFW."

"Nan, I don't need a date. This isn't the prom."

"Darn tootin', it's not. Chad took you to the prom, and Dane Hutchinson is ten times the man he was."

The glint in her eye told me arguing was futile, but I persisted. "I'm just going to show up, show my face, tell everyone how you're doing, and leave."

"Oh, darling girl, that's why I called Dane. You need to have some fun. Besides, you need a bigger car to transport the flowers. You're picking them up at two, right?"

I made one last stab at protest. "Nan, I can't be dating... I'm not even divorced yet."

"I know he sent the papers, Cassandra. And he hasn't been committed to your marriage in a long time," Nan said in a gentle voice.

She was right. Chad had pulled away from me when he started law school. I told myself it was temporary while we worked towards our goals. I worked and supported him until he passed the bar, not realizing he was cheating on me the whole time.

"That man pulled the wool over your eyes. It's time you realized how special you are. Dane is a good boy; Bill knew him from the VFW. He'll take care of you, show you a good time."

"Nan..."

She leaned forward and grabbed my hand. "Cassandra, you deserve a fun night. You're too young and lovely to be moping around the house with only an old fogey to keep you company."

"You're not an old fogey," I huffed, though I didn't know what a _fogey_ was.

"Cassandra, you are going to go with Dane tonight and have a good time. For me."

I could never say no to Nan, which was why a few hours later I rushed to the door, still putting in my earrings, to meet my 'date'. What was his name again? Dog? Dane?

From the glimpse I got through the window, the man was massive.

I opened the door and looked up at mirrored shades.

"Shit," I blurted, and got an eye crinkle.

It was definitely him, the Marine from the coffee shop. Devil Dog. A head taller than me and twice as broad with muscles, he stood on the stoop like he owned it. He'd thrown on a button down shirt but the feet of the bulldog tattoo peeked out underneath the short sleeve. It was definitely him.

"What are you doing here?" Stalker alarm bells rang in my head before I realized he held a bouquet of white daisies.

"Hello," his voice was a gentle rumble I felt in my happy place.

"Is this for real?" I demanded, pulling the door close behind me so Nan wouldn't be able to hear. "You're the date?" I knew I was being bitchy but this threw me for a loop. Everything pointed to a conspiracy between Devil Dog and my nan. I didn't like it; it was creepy.

The flowers were nice, though.

A furrow appeared on his brow, but he stood his ground. "I'm here to help run errands and help set up for the VFW event tonight."

"Right. Escorting me."

"Are you Cassandra Brass?"

"Yes... no, I mean, that was my maiden name. So, earlier today... that was just a coincidence?"

"Looks like it." The corners of his mouth drew up, as if he was amused at my pique. "Is that so hard to believe?"

Well, no, it wasn't actually. Our town wasn't all that big. But it was strange. "Are those for me?" I nodded to the daisies.

"Actually, they're for Miss Maddie. Is she here?"

"Cassandra?" Nan called. "Is that Dane?"

Dane. That was the name. Not Dog, but close. Devil Dog. He was a bit of a devil, turning up on my porch as if conjured by my lustful thoughts.

"It's him, Nan. He brought you flowers."

"He did? Let the boy in, Cassandra."

I opened the door and frowned as I waved him inside, sticking with the bitchy act. As he walked past me, graceful and light on his feet despite his great bulk, I leaned forward a little and got a whiff of a nice scent, his body wash.

_Yum._

_Down, girl,_ my brain warned, and I followed Devil Dog, shaking my head at myself. What was it about this guy?

"Those are for me? Oh, daisies are my favorite. You remembered." Nan smiled as the giant kissed her cheek. "It's been too long," she cooed, like she was a girl of eighteen and not almost eighty-nine. "And you've met my granddaughter, Cassandra." Nan beamed at me. "I've been wanting you two to meet for a long time."

Just like that I knew there was no getting out of this.

Despite his muscle-bound, tattooed exterior, Dane seemed right at home in the gentleman role, which was good, because between the errands, helping set up, and the actual event at the VFW, I would be spending most of the day with him.

Just like in the coffee shop, Dane hovered a hand at my back, escorting me to his ride. His car was just like him—hot, American, all muscle.

He even opened the door for me.

It didn't help that my body grew giddy being near him. My stomach fluttered at the sight of his broad expanse of chest and firm biceps. What did this man do for a workout, lift cars? He caught sight of me staring and raised a brow. I flushed and bit my lip, looking away. I hadn't gotten laid in way, way too long. Since long before my separation.

Another reason to curse my ex.

I kept quiet, not wanting to risk saying something stupid or insulting again. Dane glanced at me a couple times, but noted my stiff posture in the car seat and said nothing. Other than directions to the flower shop and unloading instructions at the VFW, we spoke very little. By the time the cookout started, I was missing hearing his gentle rumble.

I stood awkwardly to one side until a few men approached me, looking appreciatively at my bare legs and sandals.

"Having a good time, sweetheart?"

Dane appeared at my side, close enough to put his arm around me if he wanted to. "This is Cassandra, Miss Maddie's granddaughter."

"Bill and Maddie Brass?" The men recognized my grandparents, and instantly I became a celebrity.

I spent the rest of the night talking about my grandparents, with Devil Dog Dane at my side. He was the perfect gentleman, escorting me, introducing me, only leaving to bring me food. And I was grateful. I recognized a few faces from volunteering as a teenager, but everyone knew Dane. He'd been actively volunteering since coming back from tour.

The hardest part of the night came when they recognized my gramps for his service. I had to go up in front of everyone and accept an award on my grandma's behalf.

When I stepped off the little podium, my vision blurred with tears, Dane was waiting.

"Come with me," he rumbled, the tone of his voice not asking, but telling. "Gonna show you something."

He offered his hand and without thinking, I took it. He led me into the lodge, down a quiet hall, and stopped in front of a picture of a bulldog a lot like the one on his arm. Next to the picture was a red poster with a bulldog chasing a Dachshund.

"Recruitment poster," Dane said. He let my hand go but I still felt its warmth. "Devil dogs—rumor has it that's what the Germans called the Marines during World War Two. That's when the bulldog became our mascot."

I studied the poster, wondering what it would've been like to enlist as a Marine in that brutal war, knowing you'd be the first to fight. Dane stood quietly beside me, and I realized he'd pulled me away from the crowd to let me gather myself.

"Thank you," I said, turning to him.

"Figured you needed a break," he said in that soft, strong voice.

"It's just a lot to take in."

Dane stayed silent, focused on me with his usual intentness. I sighed and shared, "Last time I was supposed to go to a VFW event, my grandpa and I got in a huge fight. I ran straight to Chad—my ex. It was a mistake." My whole life was a mistake. Well, maybe just the past eight years, but it felt like my whole life. "I know that now."

"Better late than never."

"I guess." I rubbed the place on my finger where my wedding band had been. Maybe the reason I'd held on for a year, hoping Chad would change his mind, wasn't because I wanted to be with him. Maybe it was because I just wanted those years back.

Dane looked like he wanted to say something more, but then we heard someone coming in. We walked back down the hallway; Dane started around the corner then drew back with a grin.

"What—" I started and he stepped close to me, putting a finger on his lips for me to be quiet. We both peeked out and caught two teenagers from the cookout, making out as if their lives depended on it.

We tiptoed out of the hall, past the kissing couple, who were completely oblivious to the adults sneaking past their nookie session.

He escorted me out, the heat from his hand at my back leaping into me, warming my whole body until my cheeks grew red.

On the way home, I broke my vow of silence. "Thanks for today. For putting up with me..." _Even when I was a bitch_ , I added silently.

"Welcome, babygirl."

My inner parts warmed.

"Thanks for bringing Nan flowers."

"Anything for Miss Maddie. I used to hang around the VFW and listen to your gramps tell stories."

"Then you joined the Marines."

He confirmed with a nod.

"And then the medical discharge?"

"Hurt my knee. Fought the discharge for a while, then came home." His face didn't register pain the way it had in the coffee shop, but I noticed a faint line of tension in his shoulders.

I decided a change of subject was in order. "Look, I'm sorry I offended you and then ran out of the coffee shop. I have no filter. You can ask anybody."

"You didn't offend me."

"But—"

"Cassandra," he said in a firm tone. "You're too hard on yourself. Let it go."

At the order, I shut up. I also needed a change of panties. What was it about this big hunky guy carrying flowers to my nan, paying attention to me all night long, then giving me orders that set every nerve in me on fire? I wished it had been us in the lodge, making out.

"Your nan says your ex has given you trouble."

Goddammit. "I don't have trouble."

"Ex cheated on you, then kicked you out of the house? Threatened to take your car if you didn't give him a clean break?"

I frowned, because this was all true. "Yes, but I'm handling that."

He pursed his lips.

"I am," I insisted as he turned into Nan's neighborhood.

"You need something, you let me know."

There it was again. Not asking, telling. "Yes, sir," I muttered.

At his satisfied nod, I crossed my arms over my chest.

"This is the 21st century," I said. "You do know that women are liberated?"

"Yep."

"We can own property, find work, even vote?"

In the face of my bitchiness, he just gave a nod.

"So I don't really need a man to take care of me."

"Your gramps would've wanted it."

Which effectively shut me up. I crossed my arms over my chest and sulked, real mature like.

He stayed silent until he pulled up to the curb. "I know women can vote," he said. "I was over in a country where women can't. I fought for freedom. Was willing to die for it."

I huffed.

He put his hand on my knee, getting my attention. "A few of my friends did."

My bitchiness melted away.

"I'm sorry." Just like that, my eyes stung with tears. I'd done it again, offended this beautiful man whose only crime was trying to help me.

"It's okay, babygirl," he said softly. "You didn't know."

"I'm having a rough year," I said.

"I get it. Tell you what. Make it up to me by having dinner with me tomorrow night. We can talk more, get to know each other."

"Okay," I agreed.

It wasn't until I was halfway to the house that I realized I'd agreed to go on a date with Devil Dog Dane.

# 2

My head still reeling at how much I liked taking orders from the burly Marine, I tiptoed into the house and heard Nan call my name.

"You're still awake?" I padded into the living room turned bedroom, pulling my hair out of my bun.

Not only was Nan awake, she looked more alert than I felt. "I wouldn't miss hearing all the gossip. Come here, child, tell me everything."

I spent the next hour relating every detail of my night. Whenever I tried to keep it brief so I could finish and let Nan get some sleep, she'd fire questions at me until she could probably paint the scene from memory. I even told her about Dane showing me the Devil Dog poster, and the close encounter with the two necking teenagers.

Nan nodded approvingly. "Next time, have him take you to the janitor's closet. It's nice and large, and there's a bench..."

"Nan!"

My grandma sat straight-backed in her hospital bed, an angelic smile on her face and a devilish glint in her eye. "I was young once too, Cassandra. And the moment I laid eyes on your gramps..."

I perched on the edge of the bed. "Tell me."

Still with that heavenly smile, Nan moved her blanket and uncovered the picture book she'd been looking through when I walked in: her wedding album.

"My William wanted two things: to serve his country, and to marry me. We dated through high school, and then he was off." Nan turned to my favorite picture of her and Gramps—a black and white shot at the church. Nan was beaming over a bouquet of daisies. Gramps looked so young and eager, but the set of his shoulders spoke of determination and authority beyond his years. "We married right before he left for boot camp. We had our honeymoon after that, and then he went off to war."

"That must have been hard."

"It was, but your gramps told me we'd make it work." Her finger traced a circle around Gramps's face.

She chuckled. "Bill was a bulldog, through and through. Stubborn, always got his way. Brass Bill they called him. Brass Balls Bill."

"Nan!"

We both laughed until I noticed Nan's eyes were wet and handed her a tissue.

"Oh, I miss him." Nan blinked hard and smiled through her tears. "You know he'd be so proud of you."

It was my turn to blink. "Really?"

"Oh, yes, you were the light of his life."

A pain shot through my heart. "Nan, the last time Gramps was going to take me to the VFW—"

"You both got in a huge fight. I remember. That was the night you moved out."

"I'm so ashamed..."

"Why, honey? You had to make your own choice."

"But the fight..."

"Oh, that." She waved her hand. "Of course you two fought. You're just like your gramps. Stubborn. Wide open. He would always say the first thing that popped into his head, no matter how mad it would make me." She smiled at the memory. "Of course, he always felt like he was your dad _and_ grandad, seeing as you never had your biological father around."

I nodded. Even my brain was quiet in the face of my nan's certainty.

"William wanted to protect you, that's all. We were his girls, you know. Those tough military types want to take care of their women."

"Yeah," I agreed softly, thinking about Dane being at my side all night.

"So," Nan said slyly. "What about Dane Hutchinson?"

"What about him?"

"He's a tough military type. I bet Chad can't hold a candle to him."

"They're certainly very different." My thoughts turned to my slender, patrician ex. Chad preferred the clean cut, preppy look. They probably didn't make golf shirts large enough to fit over Dane's impressive chest and biceps. In fact, it was a tragedy that such a man had to wear clothes at all.

Deep down, my lady parts stirred.

_Don't get your hopes up,_ my brain scolded.

As if she could hear my thoughts, Nan gripped my hand.

"Don't sell yourself short, Cassandra. You deserve a marriage as wonderful as I had."

"Nan..."

"Just promise me you'll give yourself a chance to be happy."

I sighed. Not even Devil Dog Dane's rumbled orders could compete with Nan's. Between the two of them, I'd be divorced and well over Chad by summer. "I promise."

The next day, I cursed myself at how easily I caved to the Marine's commands.

"It's only dinner," I told myself as I obsessed over what to wear. Just a pity date. Nan probably put him up to it, though a part of me hoped it wasn't so.

I decided on a blouse and flirty little skirt that used to be too tight for me but suddenly fit again. The phone rang as I was in the bathroom, fretting over my makeup. Thinking it was Dane, I answered without checking.

"Did you get the papers?"

"Well, hello, Chad."

"Cass," my ex said. I hated to be called Cass. Cassie, yes, or Cassandra. Actually, I loved being called Cassandra, but no one did it except Nan, which was maybe why it was my favorite. "Quit being difficult."

I blew out a breath. "I got the papers. When are you going to let me into the house to get my stuff? Some of it's mine, Chad. Be fair." I wasn't quite sure how it happened, but Chad had talked me into moving out of the house even though he was the one cheating. I had kowtowed, probably because at that point in the relationship I'd hoped I could convince him to work on our marriage.

Stupid, silly me.

"Sign the papers and we'll talk," he said.

A week ago, I'd have caved. I'd spent so many years doing whatever this man asked, I couldn't stand up for myself. But now, with Devil Dog Dane telling me he had my back, and looking at me like I was the most important thing in his universe, my spirits were a bit bolstered. Maybe I wasn't the fat, disgusting cow Chad had stepped out on.

"Chad, I think we should sit down and talk first. Not alone, but with a mediator or somebody. It doesn't have to be a fight with lawyers."

"You forget, Cass, I am a lawyer. I know my rights, and you have nothing to stand on here. You're lucky I let you keep the car, since it was in my name."

"But I paid for it," I said. "I put the money in the joint account—"

"And who puts most of the money in that account? You and your bookkeeping practice for ten clients, or me?"

I shut up, since he was right. Once he'd graduated law school, he'd started making three times as much as I did.

"Just sign the papers," he snarled and hung up.

I set the phone down, my hand shaking too hard to apply a second coat of mascara. How did such a sweet charmer in high school, and sexy pothead in college, turn into such a jerk?

_Eight years of marriage with you,_ my brain supplied, and I glared at my reflection. I was sick of not having anyone on my side, including my own damn brain. I needed someone to fight for me. Other than an eighty-eight year old—who, granted, was doing her best to bolster my spirits.

At least with Devil Dog Dane I felt a little more alive.

"Cassandra, your beau is here."

"Coming!" Beau?

I rushed to the door, smoothing my skirt before opening it. I felt like a nervous girl on her first date, but the up-and-down Dane's mirrored shades gave me—followed by a slow, panty-dropping grin—made all my zealous preparation worth it.

"See I made the right decision, bringing the Charger," he murmured as he escorted me to his grey muscle car, the sight of which would put a girl in the mood to, uh, ride.

"As opposed to?"

"The bike."

"Bike?"

"Motorcycle."

"Motorcycle," I breathed in awe. "For a second I thought you meant like a mountain bike or something."

As we roared away from the curb, Dane shook his head, his eyes crinkling in a sexy almost-smile.

"What?" I demanded.

"You're cute."

I pretended outrage even as I preened at him calling me 'cute' in his sexy rumble. "How would I know you meant a motorcycle? Do I look like a biker chick?"

"Not yet, babygirl, but next time you're on the back of my bike," he declared. "Can't wear a mini skirt, though."

"This isn't a mini skirt. It goes almost to my knees," I corrected, keeping to the slightly bitchy shtick. Devil Dog Dane could take it.

He glanced down to my lap, where my skirt had ridden up quite a bit.

I flipped it down. "Just drive," I grumbled.

His lips twitched as he focused on the road. "What about you? Hobbies?"

"Don't have any. I work a lot. Read a little." I shot him a sly look. "My idea of a good night is holing up in bed with a movie and my two favorite men."

At the 'two men' comment, the close-cropped head snapped to me.

"Ben and Jerry." It was my turn to grin.

He shook his head at me but my joke got a full on smile this time. He had really white teeth.

"I'm kind of a goof," I told him.

He kept the smile, shaking his head. "I get that."

I settled back in my seat, feeling good. "I work as a bookkeeper," I said. "Gramps recommended that line of work, because I was always good with numbers. And I don't have to talk to people, risk saying something dumb."

"Good plan," he said solemnly, and I swatted his thick thigh.

In a flash, he caught my hand in his. I waited with bated breath for him to let it go, but he held it for a moment, his thumb rubbing over it.

I still felt his fingers on my skin when he released me.

"So what do you do?" I asked, my voice high and airy. "Other than lift weights."

"Drive pretty girls to the VFW."

I would've swatted him again, but wasn't sure my panties would survive. They were already drowning. I pressed my legs together.

"Haven't worked since I got out."

"Since you got out of the Marines?"

He nodded. "My brother wants me to help him in his auto body shop. I used to run it with him. He still pays me, as one of the original investors."

"Why don't you go back?"

He shrugged. "Body work was just something I did until I could join the military. When I got discharged, it was best I took a break."

"Why was that?"

"Because as soon as I was out, I went on a three month bender. Nearly wrecked my life. Did wreck my truck. Wrapped it around a stoplight. Could've died."

I froze.

"Took a while but I got back on my feet, got sober. Lifting weights keeps me focused on being healthy."

I must've made a gurgling noise, because he glanced over at me.

"I'm better now, Cassandra. Bought this car to celebrate one year clean. I still go to AA, though. At the VFW. And volunteer a lot, that's how so many people there know me."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"A woman on a third date with a man has a right to know." He took an exit off the highway, driving casually, as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb on the conversation.

"You mean second date."

He shook his head, grinning. "I'm counting the coffee shop."

"But I ran away from you."

He grinned broader. "Yes, you did. And I understand why."

"You do?"

"You just got burned by a man."

I frowned. "That doesn't have anything to with it."

"You over him?"

"What?"

"Your ex. Your nan says he wasn't ever worthy of you."

I blew out a frustrated breath. "Maybe you should take Nan out to dinner. You guys seem to have hit it off."

"I definitely will, once she's up to it. But today I wanted you."

_Oh my god,_ my brain said, and my body echoed. Not even my snarky side could deny the way his words stunned me.

"So where are we going?" I asked when I got air back into my lungs. I expected him to name a boring chain restaurant.

"One of my favorite spots." He drove into the mountains up the hill.

The Charger hugged the curving road like a lover. I held my breath as we soared through turn after turn, climbing higher and higher, the forest dropping away and giving me a glimpse of the stunning view of the valley below.

It wasn't fair. Sexy voice, ripped body, and a hot car? I wasn't going to be able to resist this man.

So I bitched. "I don't think there's a restaurant up here."

He pulled off at an overlook, parked and got out of the car, pausing at the trunk to take something out. A wicker basket. A picnic at a scenic overlook? Was he for real?

_How clichéd was this?_

_Super fucking clichéd,_ my jaded brain huffed. The rest of me thought it was kind of nice.

A shadow fell across my door. Dane holding a freaking wicker basket, opening my door.

Oh my god, muscles, muscle car and still a freaking gentleman. Could he be any more perfect?

_He could be naked,_ some part of me whispered. Not my brain, definitely the bits lower down.

"You own a picnic basket," I blurted as he helped me out.

He grinned and led me to a spot, spreading a blanket and laying out food. We ate and talked until we lounged on the blanket, in a food coma.

Dane stretched out on his back, folding his arms behind his head. His biceps bulged. Fascinated, I noted how his T-shirt rode up, revealing the slopes and ridges of his rock hard abs.

"You're all hard," I blurted.

He glanced at me and I realized it looked like I was staring at his crotch.

_Don't look, don't look!_ my brain screeched. And then, _Oh my god... that'll never fit._

_Jump his bones! Rawr!_ the rest of me chorused.

My face flushed bright red.

"I mean, you're so big... and hard..."

Dane grinned.

"That is, your muscles are, uh, big and hard."

_Nice save,_ my brain muttered.

_Awww, we wanted to go for a ride,_ the rest of me pouted.

Dane saved me from my own thoughts, rising from the blanket and pulling me up with him. He led me by the hand to the railing at the edge of the overlook and set me in front of him. My pulse ratcheted up to a million and ten, but all he did was put his arms around me and rest his chin atop my head.

We watched the sunset like that. Well, he watched the sunset. I stared at it without really seeing anything, so aware of Dane's arms around me.

_Breathe, Cassie. Keep breathing. Need oxygen,_ my brain gasped.

Every nerve in my body tingled. Desire flooded down below and I knew one touch would send me off to happy Cassie land.

"It's beautiful," I said finally, afraid to break the moment, but I had to say something. My heart cannonballed around my chest, so loud I was sure he could hear it.

"Mmhmm."

Surrounded by his warmth, it was easy to forget the mess of my life, my nervousness at this date, even my own racing brain simmered down for a few perfect moments.

Like the moment in the lodge, Dane seemed to know how to calm me.

He was so perfect it was scary. I shivered.

"Cold?"

He pulled away and settled his jacket around my shoulders. It was such a Gramps move, tears prickled my eyes.

"Thank you," I said, hoping he couldn't tell my throat had closed up a little in an effort not to cry.

"Welcome, babygirl."

I turned to him, but didn't look him in the eye. "No, really. This was, um, really nice."

He stroked a strand of hair away from my face. "My pleasure."

I thought he would kiss me then, but he only took my hand and led me back to the car, and drove me home. A part of me just wanted to reach over and put my hand on his... joy stick.

After all it was our third date.

Was that first or second base? I hadn't dated anyone since high school. Having your high school sweetheart dump you after eight years of marriage for the girl he'd been cheating on you with since college wasn't the best thing for a girl's self-esteem. I wasn't a knockout, but I wasn't hard to look at. I didn't have any self-confidence in high school. I didn't have any big dreams or ideas. I was just a simple girl with a bookkeeping certification, content to hide behind spreadsheets at work and live a quiet life.

Chad had always wanted bigger and better things. He had this hunger in him that went beyond a big house with a white picket fence. He always made me feel small and boring.

Riding around in the muscle car with my dream man, I didn't feel boring anymore.

Except Dane hadn't made a move. Hadn't that been a perfect moment for a kiss?

Maybe he wasn't attracted to me. He'd paid me compliments, but maybe that was just him being polite. I analyzed and obsessed over it.

If he didn't think I was attractive, why was he doing all this? The picnic?

I had a horrible thought, and pushed it away.

He pulled up to the curb and neither of us moved. I tried to collect myself, wanting to ask if this was all real, but afraid to know the truth.

"Whatcha thinking, Cassandra?"

Oh god, that voice, soft and demanding at the same time.

"Did Nan put you up to this?" I tried to make my own voice hard.

"What makes you say that?" He pulled off his shades and his brown eyes met mine.

"Just answer the question." Tears under control, I glared at him. "I don't need a pity date."

"No, babygirl," he said in the softest, gentlest voice. "This was all me."

I stared at him, wanting to believe it was true, not knowing how.

"Miss Maddie did tell me where to buy a picnic basket," he conceded with an incline of his head.

"Okay."

"Why would you think I wouldn't want to date you?"

I shrugged, unable to answer. If I opened my mouth, the tears would come.

"You're still hurting. It may be a while."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"You're good, babygirl. I'm trying not to move too fast. Truth is, the minute you drove away from the coffee shop, I regretted letting you get away."

"What?"

He reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Figured it wouldn't look good... a big guy like me chasing a pretty woman hell bent on running away, but otherwise," he shook his head, "I never would've let you go."

His words made me warm inside. They gave me courage to blurt, "Are you ever going to make a move on me?"

Without pause, he reached over, hooked a hand around the back of my neck, pulled me forward and claimed my lips.

His lips were soft and sweet on their own, but combined with his insistent mouth, they were voracious, and they pulled from me every last trace of hesitation, every last thought that he wasn't attracted to me. The hand on the back of my neck, the probing tongue.

Finally, he broke away.

"Whoa," I breathed, and watched his eyes crinkle.

He touched my lips with a reverent finger.

"Night, babygirl. See you tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Pick you up at seven," he said. "Wear jeans."

The next day, I heard a motorcycle rumble outside the house, and knew why Dane wanted me to wear jeans.

I checked my hair and makeup one last time, fretting.

"Cassandra, Dane's here for you," Nan called just as my phone vibrated with a text: 'Curb.'

Devil Dog Dane, man of many words.

Of course, whenever he did talk, it rocked my entire world. Maybe it was better that I was the chatterbox in the relationship.

_Relationship?_ my brain screeched. I pushed the thought away, rushed downstairs and kissed Nan. "Don't wait up."

"I think that boy's sweet on you." Nan winked at me.

As I strode to the curb to the hot, broad-shouldered man who couldn't rip his eyes off me, I decided 'sweet' wasn't the right word. More like 'ready and willing to fuck my brains out'.

At least, I hoped so.

As I got close, Dane shot me his sexy grin. His big body straddled the bike, powerful and casual.

"Hi," I said, already breathless, and he rewarded me with an eye crinkle as he handed me a helmet.

Once I was on the bike and settled in, he took my wrists and pulled them firmly around his waist.

"Hang on, babygirl."

I pressed into his back, getting a slight whiff of his body wash. Growing braver, I reached under his jacket and buried my hands in his soft T-shirt. His abs flexed under my hands as he maneuvered the bike.

"Ready?" he asked, and I squeezed my arms around him.

When he took off it was all I could do not to squeal with happiness. I hung on tight for the whole ride, enjoying his solid body in my arms and the powerful vibration between my legs. The bike rumbles went right through me. By the time we pulled up to his apartment, my pussy was a sodden, happy mess, and I'd decided riding was the best foreplay ever.

Dane helped me up the steps on shaky legs, his hand at my back like always. I felt small and delicate beside his massive body.

My heart thumping with excitement, I stepped into his apartment. For a man who'd lived there two years, there was barely a stick of furniture.

"Just moved in?" I asked after a glance around the spotless, clean space.

"Nope." He shut the door and his hand brushed my ass, guiding me forward through the open living room towards the bar between the dining stools from the kitchen.

"Are you moving out?"

"Nope."

"Where's all your stuff?"

"There, and there." He motioned to an admittedly impressive weight set in the corner, across from a leather recliner, and a big screen TV. "This is it."

"Sorry." Mentally, I scolded myself for being rude. "It just doesn't look like anyone lives here."

He shot me a grin. "You gonna decorate my place, babygirl?"

I perked up. I was actually kind of good at that. He chuckled and I realized he was probably joking. Still... I might have some stuff that would work in the Spartan space, if Chad ever let me get back in the house to get it.

Dane went to the fridge. "Water?"

I nodded, mentally adding furniture, and kicking myself when I realized I was imagining my own couch and chairs in the living room, and my pictures on the walls. _Down, girl._

"At least get some books for your bookshelf." I motioned to the empty shelf sitting next to the weight set. "I mean, that's just sad."

He handed me a bottle. "Don't have much stuff. Don't see the need."

"I guess you don't do much entertaining," I said.

He raised a brow, and I realized he probably had women over all the time. "I mean, that's none of my business," I stammered. My cheeks grew red. "I'm sure you have a lot of... um... company..."

His eye crinkle turned into a full on smile, half hidden by the bottle.

He probably did, I realized in despair. He could snap his fingers and get a different girl every night.

How was I going to tell him I hadn't had sex in a long, long time?

If things went the way I wanted, he would find out.

_You'll probably be an awkward, awful mess,_ my brain offered. _That is, more so than usual._

Dane set his drink down with a clunk, shaking me out of the depressing thoughts. "No," he said.

"No?"

"Don't get much company. Stopped dating when I decided to clean up, quit drinking."

"What?"

"I haven't been on a date in a year."

I blinked at him. No dating... did that mean no sex? For a guy like him, soaked in testosterone, that must be hell...

As if he could read my thoughts, Devil Dog Dane started prowling my way, looking like he wanted to devour me.

I froze like a rabbit cornered by a wolf. He took advantage of my hesitation, plucking the bottle out of my hands and setting it aside. He grasped my hips and pulled me forward into his space, close enough to smell his aftershave.

I let out a squeak.

The corner of his mouth quirked up. "Relax, Cassie."

I leaned back a little, suddenly desperate to keep my wits about me. My heart was fluttering and my brain was screaming 'breathe, dammit!' to my lungs.

"Wait." I frowned. "You just called me Cassie."

One hand still at my hip, he used the other to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. He gazed so intently at me I thought my cheeks were going to catch fire with embarrassment. "You said only your nan calls you Cassandra."

"And you," I insisted, then realized that was the wrong thing to say if I wanted to slow things down. An intense heat filled his eyes; he bent and kissed me.

My nipples hardened to points, and my panties drowned the second his lips touched mine.

I felt giddy, as if it were my first kiss ever, not just with him.

His lips played over mine and I sighed into them, arching my back as his hand went to the buttons of my shirt.

I realized he'd walked me backwards into the counter.

I stared up at him as he took one final drag of my lips.

_What now?_ my brain slurred.

_Lick him! Jump his bones!_ My body ached with desire.

His large hands gripped my ass, massaging a little. My panties were swimming when he gripped my ass and lifted me onto a stool and angled his head so he could kiss me deeper. My pussy caught fire and it took everything for me not to wrap my legs around his torso and grind against him.

Our lips separated, but Dane kept his forehead against mine as I caught my breath. There were so many awesome feelings inside of me, I felt I'd burst.

As usual, I ran my mouth.

"I have you beat, you know," I said.

"Mmm?"

"It's been almost two years since I've had sex."

He smiled against my mouth. "I think you're overdue for some maintenance."

I laughed breathlessly. "An annual tune up? Rotate tires? Check the oil?"

"Mmm."

"Well, my engine is definitely purr—"

His mouth dropped to my neck and I forgot how to talk. I still made noises, little sighs and moans to match the aggressive pull of his lips on my skin. He threaded his fingers in my hair and drew my head back, claiming my neck, sucking and kissing. Big hands manipulated me to where he wanted me to go, but he was incredibly gentle, given his powerful strength. By the time he got to the collarbone, I swear my bones had turned to mush.

He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom while we were still attached at the lips, his kisses convincing my brain to just go along with things.

My hands gripped at his shirt, ready to remove anything between me and his skin.

He laid me on the bed and started kissing down. I made a noise of protest, reaching for him.

"Dane—"

He pulled me to the edge of the bed and parted my knees. I stared down at him, about to have a mini orgasm just looking at Devil Dog Dane kneeling at the foot of the bed, his face between my legs.

"Dinner time," he said with the sexiest smile ever, and I swear my brain exploded.

For a moment he struggled with my jeans, stripping them off with an annoyed growl.

I felt a little self-conscious about him down there, eye level with my damp panties. He kissed up my legs and spent some time sucking on the tender skin of my inner thigh while his strong fingers stroked slowly up and down the gusset of my panties.

Then he pulled them down and tossed them away.

"Spread for me, babygirl."

With a whimper, I did.

He had a devilish gleam in his eye as he settled back between my legs. Then his mouth was on me and I was lost for a little while. At one point my legs started to close and he pressed them firmly apart, muscles bunching under his shirt as his mouth worked on me.

The take charge movement almost tipped me over the edge.

He backed off and nibbled around my clit, only to return and suck hard.

My brain did explode. It was too much.

My hands reached down to stop him, grip his hair to pull him away, and he grabbed my wrists and pinned them at either side of his head.

"Oh, wow," I gasped. Something about being held down sent me into the stratosphere. My brain swooned, my senses took over, and the sensations Dane created shot me into happy Cassie land.

I cried his name as I came.

The tremors had barely died down when Dane reared up over me. I heard a crinkle of a condom, then he sank into my pussy and sent me into another round of bliss.

A while later, I was laid out in a haze of lust when the doorbell rang. I started to rise and he stopped me with a hand on my ass.

"Stay here, baby," Dane murmured, before pulling on his jeans and loping out of the room to pay for the pizza delivery.

Still recovering, I took the time to look around. Dane's bedroom was like the rest of his house, clean, with only the necessities: in this case, a king bed.

I grinned at him when he returned, pizza and roll of paper towels in hand.

"Is it possible to die of too much pleasure?"

"Don't know, baby," he said, stooping to kiss me before serving up the pizza. "Eat up and then we'll find out."

Happy in the sheets with the promise of more to come, I zoned out a little.

Dane ate like he did everything, carefully and with intent. He sat at the foot of the bed while I sprawled against the pillows. Every once in awhile his hand came to circle my ankle possessively. The act sent happy flutters to my lower bits. Even my brain was content.

"Did you like the bike ride?"

"I love your bike," I said. "It's like a giant vibrator."

He chuckled.

"I've decided I'm going to get one. I'm serious. I won't even ride it on the road."

"You're gonna get a bike and not ride it?"

"Oh, I'll ride it. Sit on it in the garage and go to my happy place."

He rumbled with laughter, broad shoulders shaking. I watched, full of pizza and happiness.

Finally he finished laughing, along with the last slice. "Babygirl, you don't need a bike. You get in the mood, you call me, and I'll give you all the orgasms you want."

"Oh, wow." I rolled to the edge of the bed to reach for my jeans.

His hand shackled my ankle. "Where you going?"

"I was going to clean up." I gestured to the pizza box.

"Not tonight, babygirl." His smile softened the order. "Tonight, you're mine. You stay naked in the bed."

Swoon.

I almost did pass out when he rose from the bed and stretched, muscles rippling in his taut arms and impressive chest. He grabbed our trash and strode to the door, giving me an eyeful of his fine backside.

Once he left I could breathe again.

I pretended to faint on the bed and then pulled the comforter around me, feeling a little self-conscious. Dane's body was perfect and mine... well, mine wasn't. At least the bedroom light was dim.

The blanket caught on something under the bed and I tugged, reaching down to free it. My hand fell on a book.

"Want another drink, baby?" Dane said from the kitchen.

"Sure," I called back, and pulled the book out from under the bed.

When Dane walked in, I glanced up guiltily, but didn't bother to hide my reading material. The book sprawled over my lap, turned to a page starring one picture: a woman, naked but for purple rope twisting in lovely lines over her flesh. She looked content with her arms bound behind her and rope crisscrossing over her torso. On the second page, she had a spreader bar stretching her legs open.

"So you do have a book. One."

Dane stayed in the door, watching me carefully.

"Have you ever tied someone up like this?" I pointed to the bound woman.

A slight nod from the door. He looked like he was waiting for me to run screaming from the room. My brain already had. My body, though... my body was curious.

"I think I'd like to try this one," I said. "Except I'd be afraid I'd get cold."

Eyes hooded, he ambled to the thermostat and turned it up.

My heart beat faster.

He stooped at the foot of the bed, reached underneath and drew out black restraints before going to the headboard and doing the same thing.

My heart stopped.

He tugged the book out of my hand and held it up. "You think you'd like this?"

"Maybe."

"We can try it. Go through it and pick out all your favorites."

"Oh my god."

"Cassandra. Breathe." He set the book aside and crouched before me. "You into this stuff?"

I gulped down air before lack of oxygen shut down my brain. "I like vanilla," I said, finally. "But I also like other flavors. And sprinkles."

His eyes crinkled. "Okay, baby. We can get you some sprinkles."

My heart thudded to a stop. "What, right now?"

"Now, later. Whenever you're ready, baby. Just say the word."

He still knelt before me, holding my gaze and squeezing his large body into a small space in front of me, as if doing his best not to intimidate me.

He was such a good guy.

He laid the book on the bed, one hand splayed over the crease to hold it open. "One thing you gotta promise me. You've gotta be honest with me. I'm willing to play, if you want to, but this only works if you stay open about what you're comfortable with."

I huffed. "Dane, let's be real. When have I shut up?"

"You get quiet when you're feeling vulnerable."

That made me pause. Did I?

"Just promise to talk to me, tell me what you're feeling."

"I promise."

"Good."

To my intense relief, he didn't start right away. Instead, he sat with his back to the headboard, and drew me between his legs. We both looked through the book and I talked about what I liked and didn't like, while he murmured, "Okay, baby," in my ear.

By the end of the book, I was ready to do whatever he wanted.

I had to pee, and said so, and he let me wriggle away. I started to bring the sheet with me, wrapped around my body, then, in a bold move, I picked up his shirt and drew it on. Sized for a man like Dane, the fabric went over my butt. I had dresses shorter than this.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, he was waiting.

"Dane?"

"You ready, baby?"

"Yes."

His hand went to my neck, collaring me lightly. He kissed me, then walked me backwards to the wall and kissed me again. I let my hands fall back against the wall, giving myself over to him. His hand slid down the front of my body, dipping under the shirt to check on me.

He paused and rested his forehead against mine. "Cassandra. So fucking beautiful."

"Dane."

"I've wanted to do this all night," he growled, then spun me around and pressed my body against the wall. I wriggled and he smacked my butt, then rubbed it. He repeated the movement, spanking me a little, not hard enough to sting, but enough for my body to weaken. Smack, rub, smack, rub, and my brain switched off, my whole body relaxing in response to his dominance.

I gasped as he reached around, sliding his hand between me and the wall and under the shirt to finger me. My pelvis jerked up to greet his questing fingers.

"Spread," he ordered, and I rocked my legs apart, not wanting to give him any reason to stop the wonderful movement between my legs.

He spoke in my ear while his fingers roved. "You probably figured out, I like being in control."

"Really?" I breathed.

"Oh yeah. Thing is, I think you like it, too."

My hips moved against his hand, begging for his touch.

"You gonna be a good girl for me? You gonna give me what I want?"

My arousal ratcheted up one thousand percent.

"What do you want?" My voice sounded high and breathy.

"I want you, Cassandra. All of you," he murmured against my temple. "You gonna give yourself to me?"

"Yes." I closed my eyes to focus on the sensation of his fingers working between my legs.

"You gonna give me your sweet pussy?" His cock rubbed against my bottom cheeks as I arched back as far as I could, pressing my chest into the wall. He found my sweet spot and my hips bucked against his hand.

"This is mine now," he whispered, his index finger working right against my clit. "I own this pussy. Whenever you want to touch yourself, you have to ask permission. You understand?"

"I understand," I gasped. Anything to keep that beautiful movement against my clit.

"I mean it. Next time you want to touch, you text me and ask if you can touch this sweet pussy I own."

"Yes, Dane."

"Good, baby."

His fingers withdrew and I slumped against the wall.

He spun me again, pinning my wrists high above my head with one hand while his other went back to working me. His touch dominated my slick pussy lips, and his eyes held mine as he brought me to the brink.

"Who owns this pussy? Tell me."

"You do, Dane," I gasped, almost gone.

"Cum for me," he commanded, and my body bucked against his hand. This time, my legs did give out, and he lifted me and laid me on the bed.

I half expected him to start tying me up, but he lay down behind me and pulled me to him, my back to his front, my body small and dominated by his muscled form.

"Did you like that, babygirl?"

"Oh, yes."

He chuckled in my ear.

A few minutes passed and he held me, waiting for me to come down.

"What about you?" I wiggled my bum, brushing against his hard length.

"I want you," he said with such honesty that my heart dropped to my knees. "But I want to make sure we're on the same page."

"What page is that? The one where the woman is tied with the purple rope?"

He laughed softly, rolled me to my back, and leaned over me, his head propped on his hand.

"This can get intense. I want to make sure you're comfortable with it. There's a word—if you say it, I stop everything."

"Okay."

"This is important. You say this word, and I respect it. I stop what I'm doing, we talk, and then go from there; whether it's chocolate, sprinkles, or more vanilla. You got it?"

"Got it. What's the word?"

"Banana-hammock."

I giggled.

"I'm serious." And he was, even though he wore a grin. "I hear that, I stop everything. It won't disappoint me. If things are too intense you can say 'yellow'. And I'll slow down and check on you."

"Banana-hammock? Won't we laugh and kill the mood?"

"Laughing's good, baby. This is supposed to be fun."

I liked that. "All right."

"You get scared, you want to slow down, you say the safeword or yellow. I'll stop and check on you, then switch it up to do something you're into that we both want to do."

That sounded nice, so I told him that.

"Good, baby. You want more?"

I nodded.

"Shirt off," he ordered.

I tugged it off and lay back down, feeling self-conscious. My arms drifted up to cover my body.

"Hands at your sides," he ordered.

I bit my lip.

"Baby, I want to see you." His hand went to my neck, collaring it lightly as he searched my eyes.

"Okay." Slowly I let my hands slide away.

His gaze swept up and down my body and it was hard, so hard, for me to lie still and not crawl away and find a blanket, a burka, anything to hide under.

A smile wreathed his lips. "Beautiful."

I closed my eyes and gave myself over to his touch, his fingers trailing down my body. Eventually he cupped my pussy.

"Cassandra, look at me." I did and his hand pressed in, coveting the tender folds. "This is mine now." He stared into my eyes. "It belongs to me. No one else. Got that?"

I nodded.

"I don't share. You give me all of you, I give you all of me."

"Okay."

"Good, baby," he said in a soft voice, then changed to demanding Dane. "Up. All fours. Ass to me."

He rose and stood at the foot of the bed, waiting for me to obey.

I thought about feminism. I thought about taking orders from this swoony muscle man.

Then I scrambled into position.

"Spread your legs, offer yourself to me."

I tilted my hips and felt his weight dip the bed behind me. Arching my back further, I pointed my pussy at him.

And got my reward: hot breath on my labia.

"Oooh, Dane..." My front half sank into the bed as he nibbled around before starting with sweet long licks up and down the valley between my plump lower lips. My hands fisted in the covers and my back curved as far as it could go. Dane grasped my hips, pulled me back on his face, and plundered. He licked and sucked and hit all the right spots.

How did he know exactly when to pause and swirl his tongue?

How was he so into me?

I went limp, my face plastered to the bed and my mouth open, probably drooling. By the time he withdrew, my body trembled on the brink.

A large hand gripped my ass, swatting it before I heard the crinkle of a condom.

"Gonna fuck you now," he growled. "Hard."

"Okay," I said dreamily.

Steadying my hips, he thrust in my sopping wet entrance.

I rocked forward, crying out with happiness.

"You okay?"

"Yes," I gasped. "Don't stop." I braced my hands on the bed. "Please."

"Tell me, baby. Ask for what you want."

"Fuck me, Dane. Please, fuck me hard."

Dane obliged, driving his hips into me from behind. He tugged my hair a little, guiding me as I pushed back on his cock. I reveled in the feel of him dominating me. I wanted him to pull my hair and smack my ass and order me around—anything—as long as he didn't stop pounding me with his beautiful cock.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god..." My orgasm built, crested, shattered, and I fell face-forward onto the bed. Dane gripped my hips, holding them up for him to continue pistoning in and out of me in perfect rhythm.

By the time he finished, I was well and truly fucked, a slobbering, dripping mess on the bed, out of breath, covered in sweat.

He flopped beside me, gasping a little in satisfaction. I blinked blearily at him.

"You all right baby?" His concerned fingers trailed down my back.

I had to tilt my head so the blanket didn't muffle my words. "Oh yeah. More than all right. I'm the best."

"Good." He leaned in and kissed me, then left, returning with a towel to clean me up.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Very sleepy," I murmured, and felt him tuck his body around mine.

"Sleep, baby. I'll be here in the morning."

# 3

Morning started with a bang. I felt hot breath on my breasts before my eyes opened. Dane's mouth closed around my nipple and I shot awake.

"Morning," I breathed.

He didn't reply. He did other things, and a while later I gasped into the covers.

"You're cute when you come," he told me.

My forehead crinkled. "I'm really loud. Chad always joked that he should gag me so I would shut up."

"If I did that, I'd miss the sounds you make."

I flushed.

"It's beautiful, baby."

"Chad, um... he never... made me cum."

"What?"

"I'd do him then get myself off after." I'd always thought there was something wrong with me, that I couldn't climax with my own husband. That was what I'd told myself.

Dane was proving the blame might have lain elsewhere.

"You cum first, baby. Always. And second and third, fourth and fifth," he pushed me back, whispering numbers against my mouth.

"Dane?"

"Mmm?"

"When are you going to tie me up?"

"Mmm," he murmured, and kissed me before getting out of bed. "Soon. Breakfast first."

"Breakfast?"

"You'll need your stamina."

I sat up and he shook a finger at me from the door. "What'd I tell you? You stay in bed."

I lay back in a blissful, post-orgasmic stupor. My phone rang and I made the mistake of answering.

Five minutes later, Dane walked in on me trying to button my jeans with shaking hands.

"Cassandra? What's going on?"

I averted my face. "I'm sorry. I have to go." I stooped, reaching for a shoe. "Um, I'll just let myself out."

"I drove."

Shit.

"I can just... call someone..."

"Cassandra." A big hand caught me. "Baby, tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing, Dane." I kept my head down so my hair would hide my face. Chad always told me I was unattractive when I cried.

"A minute ago you were lying in my bed, happy. Now you're crying. Babe, tell me. If you tell me, I can fix it."

"It's not your mess—"

"Babygirl."

I melted a little. "It's Chad. He kicked me out of the house, said it was his because he paid the mortgage. He wouldn't let me get my stuff. Well," I waved my hand at my phone. "A storage facility just called. Seems my stuff has been there a year and now the rent is due. Chad put my stuff there," I was crying now, hiccupping, "and set up payments from my bank account, the one I stopped putting money in because it was connected to his. The unit called as a final warning, and said... I have to get my stuff out today, and they close at noon on a Sunday—in an hour..."

I couldn't finish, but Dane didn't need me to. He let go of me to pull on clothes.

"Grab your purse," he said, guiding me to the door. "We'll take the truck."

I did as he said, then froze as he held open the car door.

"Dane, you can't do this," I whispered. "I don't want you to see me like this."

He gave me a hug and planted a kiss against my head. "Get in the truck."

We drove and I didn't say anything, every thought sucked into the black pit inside me. Chad had never wanted to work on our marriage. He'd tossed out my stuff as soon as I'd left, and didn't even bother to tell me.

_On some level you knew,_ my brain whispered. _That's why you opened a new bank account._ I felt sick.

When we hit the storage facility, Dane parked illegally outside the office and ordered, "Stay in the car."

Afraid I would vomit, I did as he said. He returned once, to get my ID, and left me sagged in the seat.

_You're such a mess_ , my brain said. _He'll never want you now._

Dane returned and handed me a key.

"Okay, you're paid up through the month. Manager says you have the option to move out and he'll prorate the month back to you, or you can re-sign for a year. I told him your situation and he's giving you a discount."

"But I thought they closed..."

"He's staying open just for you," Dane said, driving to a storage unit and parking properly. "I... convinced him."

"Dane."

"Told you, babe. I'm taking care of you." He started to undo his seatbelt and I put a hand on his chest.

"You don't have to do that."

"I know. I want to."

"Dane." I shook my head.

"You running from me again?"

"No, I just don't want to be a bother."

"Cassandra, you are the furthest thing from a bother. That's the douchebag ex in your head."

I shook my head, nose stinging as I fought tears.

"It is, babygirl. I'm going to replace everything he made you believe about yourself, but it may take some time."

He exited the car and opened my door, helping me out. He pulled me into his arms, and I felt the sad, sick feeling recede.

With Dane's help, I chose a few items to take home. There were boxes of clothes, all my cute furniture, even the pictures from the walls. If Chad had wanted to find the way to hurt me the most, he'd succeeded.

The hardest moment came when I found a framed picture of Gramps on the ground, glass broken. I clutched it to my chest, feeling the ache all over again.

Dane found me like that, crying.

"Baby." His body shadowed mine as he knelt and put an arm around my shaking shoulders.

"Why did he do this? What did I ever do to him? This is my whole life and it meant nothing to him. It was just trash." I wiped my eyes.

Dane held me close and I breathed in his beautiful scent until I calmed down.

"All right," I said. "I'm okay."

He took the picture out of my hands carefully, and guided me to the car.

"I'll handle the photo," he said. "I know a good place to re-frame it."

"You do?" I asked, sniffles turning into a watery smile. "You don't even have pictures on your walls."

"I told you, baby, you have an open invitation to decorate my place." He swiped a tear from my cheek, chucked me under the chin, then put the car into gear. "And of course I know a frame shop. Same place I got the picnic basket."

As if he hadn't already won the Great Guy of The Century award, Dane stopped and picked up fried chicken, and took it to Nan's house, where we ate it. He distracted Nan from my reddened eyes by asking her to tell stories of Gramps. By the end of the meal, both she and I were making plans to visit a home goods store to decorate Dane's place.

"We won't make it too girly," Nan promised.

"Thank you," I mouthed to Dane as I gathered the dishes to clean up, and got an eye crinkle that seemed to say; _Anytime, babygirl._

I paused in the kitchen, listening to Nan talking eagerly to Dane for a moment before heading up to my room. I needed fresh makeup and a change of clothes, stat.

It must have taken me longer than I realized, because Dane came up and caught me frowning at my jean-clad butt in the mirror.

He grinned and came over, a hand dropping to the offending bottom. He squeezed and I got wet, remembering the last time he did that, his rumble telling me he owned it.

"You like my butt?"

"Oh yeah." He noted my frown. "You don't?"

"It's not too bad. I always think I need to lose a few pounds."

He swung me around to face him and kneaded my buttocks harder.

"You do, and I'll tie you to the bed and feed you Ben & Jerry's."

"Dane, I'd gain like a hundred pounds."

"I'm sure I could think of some exercise for you," he growled and lowered his mouth to my neck. "Oh, and if I catch you talking down on yourself again, I'll spank you."

I shivered.

"You like the sound of that, baby? Me punishing you when you're naughty? Slapping your bare ass red?"

_Holy wow,_ my body breathed. Under his palms, the skin of my bottom tingled.

"You already smack my butt a lot."

"This would be different." His mouth never left my ear, his wet whisper sending tremors rippling down straight to my clit. "It'd sting and then I'd make it up to you. We can try once for fun. See if you like it."

"Okay," I said, and could bear it no longer. Reaching up, I cupped the back of his head and brought it to me for a kiss.

We danced in the hallway towards my bedroom. My panties were so wet, I was surprised we couldn't hear squelching.

"Wait... Nan—"

"Took a pain pill before I came up. Said she'd sleep through an earthquake. Told me to come up here and see to you."

_Oh, Nan,_ my brain groaned.

The rest of me pounced on Dane. I twined my arms around his neck and pulled him closer before breaking away again.

"I want to show you something."

On my bed sat the box of miscellaneous kinky items I'd pulled out from its secret spot under my bed. I showed Dane the blindfold, a dinky set of handcuffs, a ball gag and a butt plug.

"My friends got me these as a gag gift."

"Babygirl." He cocked his head, giving me sexy eye crinkle. "You want me to use them on you?"

"Yes." I reached for him. My hands slid over his taut chest and abs to rub his cock through the jeans. Big and granite, like the rest of him. He caught my wrists.

"You gonna be a good girl for me? Take orders?"

"Yes, sir. I can take orders."

He growled in appreciation. "Good girl. What's the safeword?"

"Banana-hammock." I giggled.

"That's right. That will stop all this." His hands roamed; I never wanted them to stop. "No hard feelings. Understand?"

"Yes."

His hand clapped down on my bottom. "What's that now? Try again."

"Yes, sir."

The hand came between my legs, rubbing me through the denim, promising things.

Dane set me away. "Strip."

I tried to do it sexy, but halfway through I became nervous. He could tell because he pulled me to stand in front of him.

"You have a beautiful body, Cassandra," he said. "I'm going to tie you down and worship it all night long."

I bit my lip.

"First I want your mouth on me. Can you do that, babygirl? Can you make me hard while I touch your beautiful tits?"

"Yes, sir." I started to sink down in front of him, eager to give him something after all he'd given me.

He caught me. "Can you call me 'Daddy'?"

I hesitated. "I don't know."

"Okay. You okay with 'baby'?"

I nodded.

"Then stick with 'sir'. On your knees, now," he ordered, and I sank, topless but still in my jeans, glancing up at him as I undid his button and zipper and drew him out.

His hand rested lightly on my hair but I didn't mind it, or his soft voice encouraging me as I pleasured his beautiful cock.

After a while, he drew me off.

"Don't wanna cum in your mouth," he muttered. "Gonna tie you up while I'm hard and wanting."

I shivered. He pulled me to my feet and started to guide me to the bed. "I want you naked and helpless when I put my mouth on you."

"Yes, Daddy," I ventured softly, and was rewarded with a large hand on my bottom, pulling me into a kiss before he peeled off my jeans and positioned me.

"Good, baby. Lie back, and grip the headboard." My bed at Nan's was old fashioned, with decorative wooden spindles, sturdy and perfect for gripping... or for ropes. I did as he asked, breath clogging my throat.

"These are cheap." He showed me the fur-lined handcuffs. "They'll pinch. But these," he pulled out two stretchy scarves, "will work just fine."

A few seconds later, he had my panties off and my legs tied far apart. I closed my eyes tight, finding it harder to be naked before him, every bump and blemish on my body exposed.

"Keep holding onto the headboard, baby."

Hot breath caressed my skin and I gripped the slats above my head tighter. My whole body arched slightly, focused on the one point where his lips touched.

He kissed me all over, taking his time, until my pussy was begging for attention.

"Dane, please."

"Uh-uh, baby, you're not in control. Daddy is." He covered my pussy with his whole mouth and I gasped at the warm sensation. He drew off. "Who owns this pussy?"

"You do," I panted. "Daddy."

"That's right. Daddy's gonna take care of you now."

The way he ate me was a work of art. His lips kissed, mouth sucked, tongue swirled, always hitting just the right spots. I ventured a peek and he seemed to be enjoying the act almost as much as I was. Almost.

He drew off again and I mewed.

"Please..."

"Patience, baby." He slid a finger into me and my body clamped down on it. He worked me slowly, holding my gaze. "Tell me when you're close."

I felt unbelievably vulnerable, watching a man work me slowly to the brink.

"I'm close," I breathed, and the finger backed off.

"No, Dane, please." I reached down to hold his head to me.

"Naughty girl." He reared up and swatted my breast lightly. I gasped.

"You like that, baby?" He smacked the breast again, not very hard but enough to send delicious sensation swirling through me. My pussy clenched even more. "Daddy will spend some time training you. Get some ice on these nipples, get them nice and hard. Blindfold you so you don't know what's coming. You want that?"

"Yes, Daddy, please."

"Good, baby."

He leaned down and grabbed my shirt, using it to knot my wrists to the headboard right above my head. My heart rate sped up as I took in my situation: my legs tied apart, splayed, and my arms secured above my head. I felt exposed and open, more vulnerable than I'd ever felt before.

Tied and teased to the limit, I was also very, very turned on.

"Cassandra, breathe."

I focused on obeying the command spoken in that deep vibrato as I watch him strip completely. As he knelt between my legs, I jerked my hips, begging.

"You want this?" he asked, working his cock.

"Yes."

He raised a brow.

"Yes, Daddy. I want it so bad."

His slid three fingers inside and cupped me like that. "Who owns this?"

"You do."

"That's right. And Daddy's going to bring it home."

He took a moment to slide on a condom and I almost squealed with joy.

Dane worked over me, his cock deep inside me. His lips journeyed from mine, down my neck, nuzzling at my breasts and neck, and coming back to my mouth to complete the circuit.

His hips moved slowly and I whispered his name.

"Yeah, babygirl?"

He added a hip thrust, his pelvis thudding deliciously into mine, and I forgot what I was going to say and gasped instead.

With a smile, Dane reached over and loosened the ties, freeing my legs.

"Wrap me up, Cassandra."

Immediately I wound my legs around his hips. He went to his knees, cupping my bottom to lift it a little, and slid in deeper.

"Oh my god."

He knew just how to work his hips, circling and snapping them, finding a way to brush my clit with each move. One large hand slid down my chest, cupping a breast and teasing it.

"These need something." He rolled my nipple between a thumb and forefinger and I arched into his touch.

"Yeah?"

"I'm thinking jewels. Green to match your eyes."

I'd never considered getting a piercing, but now I was mentally booking an appointment.

"Would you like that, babygirl? I'll clamp these, and get you a little belly button jewel, you walk around naked for me."

My brain couldn't think of an answer, but my pussy gushed. With a grin, Dane sped up, and Daddy brought it home.

I lay limp, half on, half off my muscled Marine's chest, one leg cocked over his. After Dane undid the binds he tucked me into his side where I dozed on and off, practically drooling in my state of content.

"That was great," I said dreamily. "You're great." I giggled. "You're a Great Dane."

"You making fun of my name, babygirl?" he said, a smile in his voice. His hand slid over my ass, cupping and then swatting lightly.

"No, no, no. Me, make fun? Never."

"Good," he chuckled, then mock growled. "You make fun of Daddy, you earn a spanking."

"Awesome." I smiled against his pec and his laugh rumbled through me.

"What sort of name is Dane anyway? Did your mom like dogs?"

More rumbles. "No. I don't know what she was thinking. Least I didn't end up like my brother. His name is Byron."

"You're kidding."

"No. And do not tell him I told you. We call him Bear."

"Dane and Bear. Wow."

"Yeah. When you meet him, make sure you keep his real name quiet. He won't be happy with me."

My forehead wrinkled as I had a thought. "I'm going to meet your brother?"

"Yeah, baby. The way we're going, won't be long before you meet my whole crew."

I came awake real fast.

"Are you sure?" I lifted my head.

Dane's hand stilled, but stayed pressed to my skin. "Positive. You gonna introduce me to yours?"

"Um, well. There's no one to meet besides Nan. Mom isn't really in my life. So you've met everyone." For a second I pictured Devil Dog Dane meeting Chad. My brain protested at the image. It'd be too weird. Golf-shirted lawyer meeting a tattooed mountain of muscle. The two men were from different universes.

"You okay with meeting my brother?" he asked.

"Um. I guess..." My gaze slid away and he caught my chin.

"You running from me again?" he asked very, very gently.

Was I? I stared into dark eyes that seemed to see straight to my core.

His hand returned to my back, a reassuring weight. "It's okay, babygirl. You get the urge to run, let me know and I'll give you a few more reasons to stay."

"You'll tie me up?"

"Among other things."

_Yum._ My body hummed happily. Even my super snarky brain agreed.

"You like living with your nan?"

"Yeah. It's not weird, is it?"

"Not at all. She's a pretty sweet lady."

"She's the best. I was more Gramps and Nan's kid than my mom's. I lived here all of high school." Silently I thanked god that I'd redecorated when I moved back in, destroying all evidence of my awkward teenage years except for one embarrassing boy band poster, tucked deep in my closet.

"I was close with them even before that. I even have their last name."

"Cassandra Brass."

"Yep. Having a first name and a last name that rhyme with ass is no fun in middle school, let me tell you."

"Kids gave you hard time?"

I shrugged. "Skinny girl, always the new kid. Dad was out of the picture since almost day one. Mom would swoop in and pretend she'd want me and take me for a few months, then bring me back again. I went back and forth until Gramps put his foot down and said I was going to high school here. He and Nan got custody and I did all right, I guess." Dane's fingers never stopped swirling over my skin, soothing me. "Except for dating Chad. But I thought that was a good idea at the time. He was popular. Gramps never liked him, though."

"No?"

"I'd taken community college classes and worked to save money. I was going to go to college out of state but Chad talked me out of it. He didn't want me to move so far away. Gramps and I got in a huge fight about it and I moved out."

"Then you married?"

I shrugged. "Chad asked. I thought it was a good idea at the time. Then he got his head straight and went to college and law school. His parents helped pay, but I held a job."

"You supported him."

I nodded.

"And then he cheated on you, and kicked you out."

My forehead wrinkled. It didn't sound right, the way he said it.

"He said that the house mortgage was in his name, and even though I paid for the deposit and the mortgage, most of the money in the joint account is his. He said a judge would rule in his favor. Plus, I didn't want a fight. I wanted him back," I said.

Dane's hand swirled over my bare skin. "And now?"

"I don't know. I want to move on. I wish that the last eight years of my life weren't such a waste."

"They weren't, babygirl. But things are about to get a whole lot better."

"They are?"

"Yep. You need someone to fight for you. Your Gramps did it. Now it's my turn."

For a moment, I believed it. I felt like he'd lifted a huge weight off me and settled it on his own more than capable shoulders.

Then I tensed. "I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking. I'm telling."

He rolled into me, wrapping me up in his massive arms. His large hand tucked my head close to his chest. I couldn't help it; my whole body relaxed. "I'm a man who knows what he wants. I want you."

My brain rebelled one last time. "Dane—"

"Hush."

Again with the sexy rumble, and a command that sent me straight to happy Cassie land.

_How does he do that?_ my brain sounded awestruck.

_Who cares? You love it,_ my body said, before sliding into sleep.

# 4

Monday, I answered the phone to Dane's rich growl.

"Got a name for you. Write this down."

I swiveled at my work desk, grabbing for a pen even as I teased, "So bossy."

"Babe," he said, and it was enough to make me wet.

"Ready." I wrote down the name and number he dictated. "Who's this?"

"Lawyer. Specializes in divorce, owes me a solid. I told him your situation and he says don't wait to call."

I froze. "Dane..."

"Cassandra. Your ex can't walk all over you. Not anymore."

"Dane," I whispered.

"You need someone to fight for you. I'm that man. But this isn't my arena. So talk to the lawyer. At least know your options."

"I'll call him."

"You'd better. Or you answer to me."

"Mmm, I might like that."

His chuckle rumbled through the phone and I crossed my legs, afraid of soaking the chair.

"You would, baby. I'd make sure of it."

An hour later, I had a notepad full of legal advice. It seemed that Chad exploited both my ignorance of the system and my unwillingness to stand up for myself. Any assets acquired during marriage were joint assets, the lawyer told me. That meant the house and car and all property were equally his and mine.

Dane's friend, who not only owed him a favor but seemed to have run in with my ex and didn't particularly like him, would send a letter outlining my requirements. The document even demanded repayment for the storage unit... and the cost of reframing Gramp's picture.

I would make it easy on Chad to get out of the marriage. Easy, but fair.

_You think Chad will take this lying down?_ my brain fretted.

_No. But neither will Dane._

And if it came to a fight, my money was on my Devil Dog.

"You got plans tonight?"Just seeing the text and imagining his large hand holding the phone waiting for my response gave me a tingle.

"Nope. All yours," I texted back.

"You bet your sweet ass you are."

I chortled, and glanced around to make sure none of my coworkers noticed.

"Dinner, my place, 7."

"K. Can I bring anything...other than aforementioned ass?"

I imagined his beautiful lips creasing, breaking into a smile that dazzled whoever was lucky enough to be there to see it.

_Oh my god, Cassie, what are you thinking? Do you have feelings for this guy?_

_Yes!_ my lady bits shouted.

_Be careful,_ my brain warned. _You just met him. It's not smart to get sucked in so soon._

Whether it was smart or not, I couldn't wait to get home to wash off the work day and complete the full "get ready for a hot date" ritual so I could drive over to Dane's.

All clean and pretty in a light top and miniskirt, I bounced up to his apartment door and then sent him a "here!" text. I half expected him to be dressed to go out to eat, but when he opened the door he was barefoot, holding two sodas, wearing jeans with no shirt.

"Hey, baby."

"Uhkk," I said. My gaze wandered up and down and got lost in the perfection of his chest.

He grinned and took a step back. I kept staring, and finally he cocked his head to the side. "You wanna come inside?"

Speech seemed to be beyond me, so I walked wordlessly past him. His apartment looked the same, with one exception: next to the recliner stood a new coffee table laden with party food--chips, dip, hot wings, mini-pizzas and the like.

"Thought we'd take it easy, stay in, watch the game."

The giant screen across from the large recliner was paused, displaying a blue team crouched in a line, facing a white team.

I deflated a little. A red blooded American male like Dane had to like sports or he'd lose his man card, but I'd hoped to avoid the game-n-quickie-before-bed rut for a little while, and we were only a few dates in.

_Guess the honeymoon is over,_ snarked my brain.

"You like football?" Dane headed to the coffee table to set down his drink before returning to me.

I managed a half-hearted "sure," and the twitch in the corner of his mouth told me he knew my thoughts. He caught my hand, pulled me close and tilted my face to his to give me a toe-curling kiss, after which I'd agree to anything.

"Sit," he said. "You'll like this football."

I pivoted to comply, and stopped. "Uh, Dane. Where do I sit?"

His hands closed on my hips and his lips came to my ear. "Is that what you call me, babygirl?"

A thrill ran up and down my spine. I stopped myself before I shivered and shamelessly ground my ass against his front.

"No, Daddy," I said in a breathless voice. "But the big chair's for you, right?"

His hands still on my hips, he propelled me forward to the giant reclining armchair. At the last minute, he turned me, sat down first and pulled me into his lap. "Comfy?"

I couldn't stop myself from wriggling a little. "Yes, Daddy."

"Good." His deep voice rolled right through me, sending delicious vibrations to all the right places. "This is a nice skirt." He toyed with the edge and flipped it up, gliding his hand up, up and stopping almost at my hip. I held my breath, waiting for him to delve between my legs, or nibble on my neck or—pretty please with sprinkles on top—rip off the skirt and have his way with me. Instead, his hand backtracked and smoothed my skirt down before grabbing the remote.

"Let's watch the game."

I bit my lip to keep from whining.

For the first few minutes it was fun. We cuddled and noshed on the food. Dane took every opportunity to touch me, a light stroke here, a brush of a knuckle there, until my hips rose involuntarily every time his hand skated close to my pussy. But he seemed enthralled with the game. I watched a little, but all I could tell was that the blue team had better cheerleaders than the white one.

"Which team are we rooting for?"

He gave me an amused look. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Uh..." I glanced at the screen. "No."

"Not a sports fan?"

"Is 'bingo' a sport? I used to go with Nan, and I got pretty into it."

That earned a big grin. "No."

Folding me in his arms, he narrated as we watched the screen. I managed to listen to the litany of "that's the quarterback, this is the second down, that's a field goal," and rewarded myself for my efforts with half a plate of nachos.

The white team rushed at the blue team for the umpteenth time, and I tried to hide a yawn.

"Had enough to eat?"

"Yes." I opened my mouth, about to claim I was tired and say goodnight when his hand closed around my throat. All the breath whooshed out of me as his lips came to my ear.

"You trust me?"

_Yes!_ my lady bits shouted, and my brain let me respond with a breathless, "Yes, Daddy."

"Go to the bedroom. Strip, and put on what I left for you on the bed."

He let go, and I rose with a smile.

"And Cassandra--" his warning tone made me pause and look back at him. "When I say 'strip' I mean everything. No panties, unless you want a red ass."

"Yes, Daddy," I held back a giggle, and I skipped to the bedroom, eager to find...a giant football jersey, and nothing else.

_Humph. Guess the honeymoon_ is _over._

Remembering Dane's threat, I went ahead and stripped everything off—bra, panties, even my hair tie. I left the bedroom and paused at the end of the hall, unsure how sexy I looked covered from neck to mid-thigh by what basically amounted to an oversized night shirt. The way Dane's eyes lit up when he saw me, the sight of the jersey of his favorite football team over my curves was the biggest turn on ever.

I gave him a shy smile, and he crooked a finger at me. As soon as I was close enough, he caught my wrist and brought me between his parted knees. His hands roamed up and down caressing me over the fabric, while the forgotten football game murmured in the background. His fingers slipped under the jersey and I shivered.

His mouth twitched. "Ticklish?"

"No," I denied, because I was.

"Hmmm." He didn't sound convinced. I waited for the fun to start but he just kept me like that between his legs, exploring, enjoying my little twitches and mews.

I held onto his shoulders. "Now what?"

"Now you can get me a Coke."

_Humph._

His grin told me he knew what I was thinking.

"I'll make it worth your while." Reaching beside the recliner, he brought out a pink butterfly shaped piece of plastic attached to black straps. "Hold up the jersey."

Stomach fluttering with excitement, I obeyed, leaning on him as he helped me step into the harness and standing still as he tightened and adjusted the straps. He spent so much time making sure the pink piece cupped my pussy just right, I got wet.

"What does this do?"

"You'll find out." He cupped my ass, then swatted it so I jumped and dropped the jersey. "Get me that Coke."

"Yes, Daddy." I waited until my back was turned to roll my eyes. It seemed I was in some sort of fantasy of Dane's, but he'd been so nice this week, it wouldn't kill me to go along with things.

I was halfway across the kitchen when the thing between my legs came alive, buzzing happily right against my clit.

"Fuck!" I stumbled and gripped the fridge handle for dear life, holding back more gasps as the sensation changed to a vibrant pulsing that made my clit stand up and beg.

"Everything okay, baby?"

"Peachy keen," I gasped. The vibration stopped as quickly as it started. I looked back and saw him holding a remote that did not go with the television. "I just forgot...um...what I came in here for."

"Coke," he reminded me.

"Right. Coke." Keeping hold of the fridge handle in case the thing between my legs went live again, I reached for the bottle. The minute my fingers touched the cold glass, the device started up again, low and insistent. The intensity built as I walked across the kitchen back to the smiling tyrant in his giant recliner. Each step I took towards him, the buzzing grew stronger, until my legs wobbled. He'd planned all this—the football game, the mundane setting, the jersey—to put me off my guard. An ordinary male's fantasy, with a twist to leave me breathless, because Dane was anything but ordinary.

He accepted the soda, opened and drank from it like everything was normal. "Still want to leave?"

I shook my head, not willing to risk trying to talk. Everything in me focused on the buzzing at my clit.

"Good." He set the drink down. "Because I'm only getting started."

Hoisting me onto his lap facing him, he levered the recliner back and set me right over his jean-clad crotch. His large hands spanned my hips and held me down so his evil genius device pressed right into me. The vibrations switched to a pulsing wave that ebbed and flowed and made my hips rock against his massive erection.

"That's it, baby girl. Grind down on daddy. Let me see you work for it."

Straddling my man, hair tumbling around my shoulders, I felt like a wild, wanton thing. I obeyed his command, rocking against him, my eyes never leaving his face. Inspired, I raised the jersey and gave him a show, cupping my breasts, licking my lips, tossing my hair like the damn cheerleaders on TV. Dane watched, his eyes piercing me with the attention and intensity I'd noticed and loved about him since the very moment we'd met.

_Loved?_

Before I could follow that thought, Dane flicked the remote and sent a powerful pulse rocking straight through me. I shouted and lost hold on the jersey, grabbing at Dane to keep upright. His fingers bit into my ass as he steadied me.

"You gonna cum for me?"

"Yes, please, Daddy." My hips begged, jerking lightly, pushing the device against my overstimulated little nubbin. "Please let me."

"Not yet." He fiddled with the remote until I was ready to grab it and hit the buttons until it launched me like a rocket into Happy Cassie Land.

I must have made a frustrated sound, because his chuckle rumbled under me. I ground down shamelessly, trying to catch the extra vibration. My pussy was creaming all over his chest.

"All right, baby. You've been so good. Cum whenever you can." The device kicked on high.

Hips rocking, I reached for my orgasm, frantic. My nails dug into Dane's shoulders, but he didn't complain. Instead, he tucked a finger under the device, scooped up some of my wetness and delved into the crevice of my bottom. His finger found my back hole.

"Oh," I blinked at the sensation, a light fluttering against a spot I didn't know could feel good. I forgot to grind for my orgasm, focusing instead on Dane's gentle exploration. His finger twisted inside.

That did it. I came, my pussy clenching. My head dropped and pressed against Dane's shoulder as I moaned. My hips danced in the air as I rode the waves of pleasure. Just as I caught my breath, Dane's finger withdrew from my ass, making me shiver and clutch at him all over again. He settled me with a hand on my back.

"Did you like that?"

I nodded, still resting my cheek against his muscled chest.

"My sweet baby." He stroked my back.

Sitting up, I repositioned myself, oozing down to the floor between his legs. I put my hand against the front of his jeans, asking silently.

"Okay, baby. But no hands."

He unzipped and drew himself out. I rose up on tall knees, and did my best, but when I tried to take him down further, my hands came up automatically and he caught them.

"What did I say, babygirl?"

I sat back on my heels. "Sorry, Daddy. You're just so big."

He pulled me up for a kiss, then leaned down and swatted my ass. I clung to his leg as he spanked me, light enough that my pussy juiced, hard enough to make a slapping sound that resounded against the cheers of the crowd on TV. The slight sting sent shockwaves to my already throbbing center. I was close to humping his leg when he stopped.

"It's okay, baby. I know just the thing to make you behave."

He reached down and lifted up a length of purple rope.

"You ready?"

Mouth dry, I nodded.

"On your feet then. Jersey off."

"I was just starting to like wearing it," I pretended to whine, and earned a grin.

"You wear it for me, anytime you want."

"Okay, Daddy."

Once I stripped, Dane positioned me in the space next to the armchair an picked up the rope.

"Breathe, Cassandra," he reminded me.

I pulled in a shaky breath.

"You relax," he said. "Just stand there, and follow my lead. If I move you somewhere, stay there until I move you again, but let me know if you get uncomfortable. I'll do all the rest."

His touch came lightly at first, his fingers tracing the line of my shoulders. They softened under his touch. He folded my arms behind me, gently, and busied himself with tying the rope around my chest, looping it above and below my breasts. With each touch, my body relaxed a little more. Time flowed away, and I forgot to worry, to wonder, to think. The rope became an extension of him, slender fingers and arms wrapping me tight. I caught myself staring at Dane and the slight frown of concentration on his face as his big hands maneuvered me.

It hit me as he finished securing my arms behind my back. He was creating a work of art. And I was a part of it. I was the work of art. Me.

I didn't realize how tight my chest had gotten until I tried to take a breath and it came out a strangled rattle.

Dane paused.

"You okay, baby?"

I tried to take another breath, but there was a fist around my heart, squeezing tight. It wasn't the rope crisscrossing my body in a beautiful pattern that framed my breasts and bound my arms. It was a feeling deep inside, a tightness that I'd had for years, and being wrapped in such loving bonds finally drew my attention to it.

At the look on my face, he set down the rope.

"Come here." He wrapped arms around me, pressing me to his rock hard chest. I couldn't hug him back but it was enough to be held with my cheek brushing the solid weight of his pec and the curve of his muscled arm in my line of sight. Dane created a fortress of his own strong body, and used it to shelter me.

"I'm all right," I said finally.

He released me to take me in with a sober expression.

"It's just...this is deeper than I realized," I couldn't quite explain beyond that, but I didn't have to.

He nodded.

"You think I'm beautiful, don't you?" I would never ask such a needy question, but something about the moment, and all the quiet moments leading up to it, I knew I could. I knew he'd understand. There were no walls between us, as if we'd spent the night talking about our deepest, darkest feelings, and now could say anything.

After a brief pause, he cradled my face in his huge hands and tipped it up.

"The more you get to know me, the more you'll understand the type of man I am."

"Okay." I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. Even if his hands weren't holding me, his brown eyes pinned me where I stood. He didn't seem angry, just intent on making sure I heard every word he said.

"I don't bullshit," his blunt words almost made me wince, "and instead of lying, I'd rather say nothing at all. That said, I'll tell you as many times as you need to hear it, and I'll try to tell you every day. Yes, Cassandra, you are beautiful, and if I told you every time I thought it, it'd be the only thing I'd say."

Typical Dane. Instead of words, he used bombs to blow my defenses away. Even my brain couldn't brush off what he said, and the way he said it. I guess that was why he delivered the compliment in that intense way.

He left it at that, and in comfortable silence finished tying me, securing my hands behind my back, one at a time. Every part of me felt alive, pulsing. Even the parts of me he hadn't touched hummed with need. When he finished, he stepped back to look me over.

"Well, this was fun," I tried to joke. "Now what?"

"Now," he lifted the vibrator remote, a wicked glint in his eyes, "we play." And the piece between my legs vibrated at full force.

My knees buckled but he caught me, guiding me to the floor. I was already on the precipice, my pussy throbbing as if I hadn't orgasmed for a week. Who knew rope could be such effective foreplay? Dane didn't just fuck my pussy, he fucked my mind, and I loved it, didn't know how I'd lived without it.

Kneeling with my head tilted back, I saw the awesome outline of his erection against his jeans. My mouth opened automatically, even as the rest of me clenched tight against the insistent buzz of the vibrator.

"That's it, baby." He moved closer and undid his jeans, taking his cock out. The sensation against my clit lessened, and I moaned at the loss. I'd been so close.

"Good girls get to cum." His knees bent and my body strained upwards to take him in. My tongue flicked out and curled around the head, then I surged forward, my arms straining against the bonds.

"Easy, Cassandra, easy." His hand tugged my ponytail reprovingly. I squirmed, needy, my pussy dripping like never before. "Be still."

I went still.

"I'm going to fuck your face now. I'll go slow tonight, get you used to taking me this way.

I whimpered. Yes, yes, I wanted this, I wanted him harder. I wanted him to overwhelm me and wash all my thoughts away, until nothing existed but him and the pleasure he gave me. His cock slid into my mouth and he fed it to me slowly, inch by delicious inch, until I gurgled and he backed out. He repeated the movement, each time a rocking a little faster, but his eyes never left my face and I felt completely safe kneeling before his powerful body.

I was naked. He wasn't. I was bound. He wasn't. I was completely at his mercy; he could do anything to me and I couldn't stop him. I wouldn't stop him--I didn't want to. I totally trusted this man. That realization should've made warning bells go off in my head, but even my brain couldn't stand up to his careful seduction.

"God, Cassandra." He drew his cock out with a pop. "You're so sexy."

Panting, drooling a little from my mouth and a lot from my pussy, I gazed up at him.

"Don't wanna come in your mouth." He reached down. "Bedtime," he said, and I was up, up, cradled in his arms as he strode towards the hall and the bedroom.

"Wait," I said. "What about the game?"

"You care?"

I wasn't sure what to answer, since didn't want to hurt his feelings.

"24-14. My team wins."

I glanced at the screen. The blue team rushed at the white one and the camera zoomed in on the ball. The game didn't look over. "How do you know?"

"It's a recording. Just wanted to try out a fantasy of mine. Football isn't on now. Baseball season."

I blinked. "Really?"

He shook his head and continued to the bedroom.

Come to think of it, I did know that the Superbowl was in February. "Of course I knew that. I just didn't say anything, in case you didn't."

His grin told me he knew I was bullshitting him.

He set me on my feet in the bedroom, gently, as if I was something precious. I still had my arms bound, and tried not to wriggle impatiently as Dane checked me over.

"You feeling okay?" Once I nodded, his touches turned playful. "You like your rope?"

"Yes."

"You want more?"

"Yes please, Daddy!"

My excited begging brought a gust of a laugh.

Folding me into a kneeling position on the bed, he tied my calves to my thighs. The bind wasn't uncomfortable, but when he added a rope around each ankle to hold my legs open, I realized the vulnerability of the pose. My legs spread wide, my arms bound

"Now I can do all sorts of things. I can leave you in here, knowing you're waiting, legs open, thinking about what I'm going to do to you when I come back. These ropes are my hands, my touch, they keep your focus on me." He traced the bindings as he spoke. "I can tie your breasts more tightly together, straddle you to fuck your tits." My nipples got all pointy at the thought. "I can take you here," he ran a finger over my lips, "or here," his hand dropped to stroke my juicy pussy, "or I can flip you over--" he lifted me and set me on my belly, my cheek pressed to the bed, my feet in the air, "Or even here." He grabbed a handful of my ass and squeezed. I let out a whimper.

"So, babygirl, guess what I'm going to do."

"What?" Breathless and trembling, I could barely get the words out.

"Whatever I want." And he covered my mons with his mouth.

By the end of the night, Dane had taken me more times than I could count. Every once in awhile he checked the ropes and made sure my circulation was still good. But he didn't stop until he'd fucked me in every conceivable position--on my back spread for him, on my side, angled so he could stand beside the bed and drive his cock into me, tipped up on my knees with him balancing me, and my favorite--on my belly helpless as he plowed into from behind. He came an impressive amount times, while I lost count of my orgasm, but if I had to guess, the final count was close to a thousand.

Dane undid the ropes and carried me to the shower. He didn't take his hands off me as I rocked unsteadily under the spray, drunk with pleasure. The water revived me a bit and I threaded my arms around his neck, went up on tiptoe to tell him 'thank you' the fun way--with lips and lots of tongue. We necked liked teenagers until the water ran cold. Then he lifted me out, dried me off, and tucked me into bed. Once he climbed in, he pulled me closer and hitched my leg up over his so I was plastered against his side.

"Thank you." I mumbled. "I'm very happy.'S very nice of yo."

His rumble shook my body, and I melted a little more into him.

"No thanks necessary, baby. I'm just making up for lost time."

Dane had spent the rest of the week moving my stuff to Nan's, bringing her lunch and keeping her entertained. The muscled Marine was a one-man moving service. Some of the larger stuff ended up at his place, and after I'd hung a few pictures and arranged the furniture—including my favorite green couch and leather chesterfield chair—to my liking, we spent some time breaking it in. Wednesday, Dane tied my arms to a bar tucked behind my elbows, but bound my wrists in front so I could fetch things. I spent the night getting him drinks, or lying over his lap as he played with my ass and watched another game--baseball, this time. After inserting the butt plug, he tied my thighs together and demanded a blow job, then bent me over the leather armchair, delivering a light spanking before fucking me from behind.

Friday, I was still on a high, though a little nervous because I hadn't yet heard from Chad. The lawyer assured me he had mailed the letter, and instructed me to wait. Fortunately, I had a good way to keep busy.

Lying in bed, I texted Dane.

"I'm wet..."

My phone vibrated two seconds later. "You ready for me, babygirl?"

"I want you. I want to touch..."

"Wait."

My pussy clenched. "Yes, Daddy."

I spent the next few minutes fussing with the camera, taking and sending a sexy picture. If I angled the camera above my face, I could pout and still hide my double chin.

"I'm waiting..." I texted and sent the photo.

"You in bed?"

"Yes."

"Bra off."

As soon as I wriggled out of it, he sent the next text.

"Left hand to nipple, pinch for me."

_Oooh._ "I want to come," I sent, and hoped he would text soon.

"Touch yourself. But hold off. If you go before I say, you'll be punished."

My pussy spasmed. I slid a hand down the front of my shorts.

"Punished?" I texted back.

Nothing. I laid down the phone and did as he commanded, pinching my nipples and working myself to the brink. Getting ready for my man.

The roar of pipes outside my window told me when he'd arrived.

"Outside."

I ran downstairs. Dane's giant shadow waited outside the door, a bag in hand.

"Nan's asleep." I practically dragged him inside. He nodded and cupped my bottom as we headed to the stairs. At the top, he pulled me close and kissed me. As his hands dug into my ass, drawing me deeper against him, I heard something clink in the bag.

"Is that for me?" I asked breathlessly.

"Patience, babygirl."

We teetered to the bedroom, where he undressed me, his little touches driving me wild.

"Were you a good girl for me?"

"Yes," I breathed.

His hand clapped on my bottom. "Yes, what?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, baby."

He sat me on the bed and showed me what he'd brought.

A set of fabric cuffs. A towel wrapped around a brand new, chrome-plated chain. Several bottles of lube.

Wait, a chain?

Dane lifted the shining silver length. "Babygirl," he called my attention to him, away from my panicking brain.

"What's that?" I asked, nervous and curious at the same time.

"Your reward."

"Looks like punishment."

"It'll feel really, really good." He flashed white teeth. "You trust me?"

I lay on my back on several layers of towels, cuffed to the headboard, my bottom propped up on a towel-covered pillow. My knees were bent with my ankles on the bed, placed a bit wider than my hips, so they framed my pussy. Dane sat between my legs, eyes intent on my center as he fed the chain very slowly into my pussy, one link at a time. It didn't feel uncomfortable, just a slight stretching, a fullness.

_He's putting a chain in you!_ my brain shouted.

The rest of my body checked in with my vagina.

_Oh my god, heaven,_ my vagina drooled.

"You good, baby?" he murmured, applying more lube. He'd gone through one bottle already, anointing each chain link before inserting. I couldn't speak, but he took my half smile and fluttering eyes. My body felt full, so full, from the metal weight. He'd bought it new and washed it carefully beforehand, checking for rough spots or anything that might pinch. With each link, Dane's fingers brushed against me, pushing and playing, heightening my overwhelmed senses, adding torturous pleasure. The coils settled inside of me, pressing deliciously against my secret places. My vagina had never felt so good.

_It's a chain!_ My brain ran in frantic circles, wringing its hands.

The rest of my body sat on it.

Dane thumbed my clit and my body clenched, the chain pressed against places I didn't know I had, introducing me to a whole new world of goodness. I was beyond happy Cassie land, in some new universe, where a muscled man tended to my lady bits and did things words could not describe.

Dane worked me up and down and again and again, until I was a drooling mess on the bed.

"Please," I moaned.

"No, baby." He took his hand away from my clit and played with my breasts and nipples instead. Then his hands drifted down and the teasing started again.

"Someday, I'll have you move around with this. You might be able to walk around with chain in you, won't that be interesting?"

"Oh, god," I moaned. He intended to do this again? I would not survive. No more trips to happy Cassie land: I was going to be a permanent resident.

"Dane," I whimpered. "It's too much."

"You're being so good for Daddy." He stretched his massive body beside me, letting his hand wander. I watched it travel over me.

"You good, baby?" Dane asked for the umpteenth time, and I somehow managed a nod. "You ready for more?"

_More?_ My body screamed with fear and delight.

He reached over and drew out one last thing from the bag. A vibrating bullet.

"Oh, god."

"You have a foot of chain inside you."

"Oh, god."

"I'll give you a moment and insert the rest."

"Oh, god. You may want to gag me."

"No way. I want them to hear you in the next neighborhood."

A few minutes later, the entire world heard me.

"Dane," I groaned, long and loud. "I have to cum."

"Not yet, baby. Hold off for me."

"Please, please, please," I begged breathlessly.

"Tell me when you're too close." With a lazy grin, he turned on the bullet.

The bullet vibrated, moving the whole chain inside me, shaking against the walls of my vagina. My brain swooned, and my body was close behind.

"Dane," I panted, ready to shatter.

He turned it off.

"Lowest setting." He pretended to frown. "We'll have to work on that."

He moved between my legs again with an intent look that I'd come to love and worship. It always meant good things for me.

"Get ready, baby."

I was ready, already there, wondering what he had in store.

Somehow my body waited for his command. He'd told me to hold off cumming before, made me bear down and wait, and I'd done okay. We talked about more extensive practice in the future.

He touched me again, and this time didn't hold back. Within a second I went from zero to a hundred... to a million bajillion.

The vibrator turned on and did its work and I called out, beyond coherent words, but he knew I'd gone over. As I orgasmed, he yanked the chain out.

I didn't know what happened next, I might have passed out, or just gone to the farthest reaches of happy Cassie land. My entire body quaked. The earth moved, the solar system, the universe...

I still shook when Dane slammed into me, covering me with his body as he drove his cock inside. His hard length caught my g-spot (at this point everything felt like a g-spot) and set me off again. I may have spurted. There was too much lube. My brain was gone, my body totally swallowed up in pleasure. There was only Dane and his awesome muscles flexing as he pumped in and out of me. He cried out my name as he came.

Eventually his arms slid around me, grounding me.

I reached for words.

"Fuck." I said. "Fuck." I tried again. "Fuck me."

"Just did, baby."

And he had. Dane had literally fucked my brains out.

"You good, baby?" he rumbled after some time.

"I am awesome. Anytime you want to yank my chain, Dane..."

He chuckled.

"You are a god. Or the devil. I can't decide."

"Baby," he purred, and set off tiny spasms inside me. "You like your chain?"

"Um, yes, I like my chain. I love my chain. I want to have its babies."

More rumbling laughs, and I fell asleep, thinking of how nice it would be to spend the rest of my life in my Devil's arms.

I didn't know how long we slept, but I woke to someone shouting my name.

"Cass!"

I was out of bed before my body even registered the voice.

_Whaa?_ my well-fucked body asked.

_Chad,_ my brain confirmed.

"Cassandra?" Dane was out of bed, too, on his feet and sounding more alert than I was. Must be all his Marine training, along with the muscles and the easy way he moved, light on his feet.

"Stay here," I blurted, grabbing a robe and rushing out.

"Cassandra, wait," Dane commanded, but I ignored the command and flew down the steps towards the front door.

Chad stood in a pool of porch light, banging on the front door, and my only thought was that he'd wake Nan. He kept calling and pounding. In the middle of the night! He knew my nan had been sick. Dick!

I didn't want Dane to see him. He might not like the guy I was with—clean cut and polo shirted, boy-next-door versus fuck-god with tats and a bike. Dane might judge me.

Besides, it was my mess, and I needed to deal with it.

With my new Devil boosted self-confidence, I was strong enough to do it.

"What?" I ripped open the door.

"What the fuck is this?" He held up a white sheaf of papers. I blinked at it before recognizing my lawyer's letterhead.

I pulled the robe around me more and crossed my arms in front of my chest. "I learned my rights."

"Really? You're going to dig in now? It's been a fucking year."

"Lower your voice," I hissed. "Nan's asleep. You know she isn't well."

"If you fight me—I will make you pay."

I felt heat at my back and knew Dane had come to the rescue.

"I'm not fighting anything, Chad. You can have your divorce. Just on equal terms."

"You fucking bitch—"

"Enough," Dane growled. His hands drew me backwards and he stepped between me and my ex.

Chad's head tilted up to take in the Devil Dog, all six feet of him. "Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm the man in Cassandra's life. And you can't talk to her that way."

"Really? You're fucking my wife, and you're telling me how I can talk to her?"

"Lower your voice." There wasn't any trace of warmth in the rumbling bass. "She isn't your wife. Not anymore."

"The papers—"

"Are a formality. You need to leave. If you want to speak to Ms. Brass, you do it through her lawyer, like the letter says."

"The fuck I will." Chad started to push forward. I wasn't sure what he was trying to do, get inside to make more of a scene, or what, but I noticed two things at once. His car angled wildly at the curb. And the slow, slightly off-balance way he moved.

"Chad, are you drunk?"

"Fuck you. Fucking slut."

Dane planted a hand in the center of my ex's chest. I didn't see him shove Chad. Dane just stepped forward and my ex flew across the lawn backwards, stumbling and falling.

My mouth gaped open as Chad flailed in the yard, shouting more obscenities, enough to wake the neighbors.

"Next time I say wait, Cassandra, you wait," Dane told me, before transferring his attention to the man still shouting on the lawn.

I nodded, mouth still open.

"Go call the cops, then check on your nan," Dane ordered, and headed for my ex.

"Call off your dog, bitch," Chad yelled before starting to lurch to his car. Two strides and Dane caught up with my ex, and put him in a chokehold. Bent over in a chokehold, Chad's arms flailed wildly. More profanity poured out of his mouth. Dane almost looked bored. If it weren't for the tautness in Dane's biceps, I'd say Chad bothered him as much as having to wait an extra minute for a cup of coffee.

"Cassandra, now." Dane's voice snapped me out of my stupor, and I went and reported Chad's scene before running to check on Nan. She was still sleeping, thank god. Her pills must be as good as she said. Not even flashing blue and red lights and more drunken screaming bothered her.

I stepped outside for a moment and watched Dane talk to the cops. One of them stood with Chad. Dane waved me back and I was all too willing to go back inside and wait.

He found me sitting at the kitchen table, my head in my hands.

"Is he gone?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry." My life was such a mess. What guy wanted to stick around for all this?

"Cassandra."

I raised my head. Dane stood like a monolith in the small kitchen, dominating the space. Everything about his voice and look was gentle.

"Come here, babygirl."

I padded to his open arms and hugged him, pressing my face against his chest.

"What's wrong?"

"That was humiliating."

"It wasn't you, baby."

"He was nasty. I didn't want you to see that."

"Wasn't you, baby."

"I married him. You must think I'm so stupid."

He touched my cheek. "Never."

I rose onto tiptoes and kissed him. When it was done, I hugged him with a sigh.

"I'm so embarrassed."

"For what?"

"Chad. That scene."

"I was worse," he said bluntly. "The day I learned my friends got taken out by an IED while I was back home fighting my medical discharge, I cleaned out a shelf at the liquor store. Got so wasted, woke up the next day and I'd parked my truck on the curb."

"Dane," I whispered, my body trembling. He lifted me and carried me upstairs. My arms twined around his neck and I buried my face in the curve between his neck and shoulder.

Once upstairs, he laid me on the bed, facing him, and wrapped me up in his big body. I was cozy, safe and warm, but couldn't stop thinking about Chad stumbling around my lawn. Dane talking to the cops while they hauled Chad away. The suburban golden boy gone south. Decent package, rotten core.

And I had married him.

What did that say about me?

I tried hard to stop the thoughts, to stay quiet, but a sniffle and a few tears slipped out.

"You're all right, babygirl." The massive arms squeezed me closer.

I relaxed, but no more tears came.

"Dane—"

"Hush, baby. It'll wait until morning."

The next morning, I woke alone. A sick feeling spread through the pit of my stomach. Dane was gone, but between the events of last night and my own insanity, I wasn't surprised.

The vibrating bullet still sat on my dresser with two bottles of lube. I put it in the drawer with a sigh. It would have to serve as a reminder of the best sex I'd had in my life. I doubted I'd ever get as good again. The thought was too depressing so I tugged on my robe and started for the stairs to check on Nan.

When I got downstairs, I heard voices, and padded into Nan's room to find her and Dane sitting across from each other, chatting.

"Cassandra," Nan trilled. "I hear you had quite a night."

"Morning, Nan," I mumbled, still hesitating. Was Dane just lingering to say goodbye to Miss Maddie before leaving forever? Part of me wished I'd brushed my hair and at least tried to look sexy.

"Hey baby," Dane greeted me.

"Hey," I said. "You leaving?"

"No, just got back." He shifted and picked something up and held it out to me. A to-go cup with the Bean Counter logo. I took it warily, and sipped. It was my favorite latte, made to perfection.

I blinked and tears were there. "You remembered."

"Baby." He stood up. Behind him, Nan sat with a quiet smile on her face. I let Dane maneuver me to the kitchen.

"Come here." He wrapped me up, strong arms at my back, muscled chest under my cheek. The faint scent of his body wash enveloped me and I relaxed at the familiar, comforting fragrance.

"I'm sorry." I wiped tears away.

"It's okay," he said softly. "You had a rough night."

"You're still here."

"Uh, yeah." He frowned. "Where else would I be?"

"I don't know... gone."

His look softened. "I'm not your mom. I'm not your ex."

"No. I'm beginning to realize that." He was like my gramps. "But if you left I wouldn't blame you."

"There's ugly stuff happening, Cassandra, but you aren't any part of it. Your ex lost you because of his mess making him blind to what he had. He screwed up his life. I cleaned up mine. You're my reward."

_Holy wow,_ both my body and brain breathed.

"I don't want you to see this," I whispered, unable to fully believe him. "What sort of man wants a woman with all this baggage?"

"The type of man who needs something to fight for. That's me, baby. I was born to fight for something. Thought it was my country, spent months moping around. But now I know—it's you."

His words burned into my brain and I couldn't breathe.

"There's more you need to know," Dane continued. "When I got back from the sandbox, I wanted to die. My friends were gone. My life seemed pointless. I needed something to live for. I was a hundred times a mess. Took me awhile to figure out honor, courage, commitment don't just apply over there. They're what we need when we come home to the ones we love."

_Love?_ I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed. "Gramps used to say something like that. That we were his patriotic duty. He'd say he had orders to 'keep his women folk happy.'"

"I'm glad your nan had that. You deserve it, too. Okay?"

"Okay." And I was.

Dane lifted my chin. "Besides, if I left now, half your stuff is at my apartment. I'd just be going home to you." He rested his forehead against mine. "I like going home to you, Cassandra."

Warmth spread through me, and I was back in happy Cassie land. It was a quieter and gentler place than it had been last night, but it was the same place. His arms slid around me again and I relaxed against my Devil Dog, feeling more content than I had in a long time. Since before Gramps died, actually.

"Whatever happens, we'll deal with it," Dane's voice rumbled in his chest, under my ear.

I lifted my head and wrinkled my nose at him. "You certainly dealt with Chad, with your Marine super powers."

He cocked a head at me, smiling.

"Gramps had those, too. Though I don't think he could throw a man across his front lawn with a single push. That was... impressive."

"Glad you think so." He squeezed me and sighed, and I realized Dane was in his happy place too. With me. Maybe he needed someone to look at him like a hero again.

Maybe we both did it for each other.

He misinterpreted my faraway look. "You miss him?"

"Chad?"

"No. Your gramps."

"Yeah. You remind me so much of him."

"That a good thing?"

"Definitely." I stayed quiet for a pause and Dane did what he did best; held me tight, his entire being focused on me. "But I feel really guilty, actually. The last time we had a real conversation, I was here, and we fought over Chad. We disagreed, of course, and I walked out and moved in with Chad. Gramps and I spoke a few times after, but I never got to tell him 'I'm sorry.'" I stared up at Dane, my voice hitching again. "I don't know if he ever forgave me. I don't know if I forgive myself."

"He did," Dane rumbled. I stared up at him, wanting to believe.

To my surprise, he let go of me. "Wait here, baby." He walked off in the direction of the living room and returned with two framed pictures in hand. He had a funny look on his face as he handed me the frame.

The first was the picture from the storage unit, Gramps in uniform, looking so fierce and proud. The second was of Gramps outside his garage, in more casual clothes. He had his shirt sleeve rolled up to show off a tattoo—a bulldog tattoo exactly like the one on Dane's arm. Beside him, a much skinnier Dane with a shock of brown hair and the same white-toothed grin stood in a mirror pose, shirt sleeve rolled up to show his own bulldog tattoo.

My mouth fell open. "What the—"

"Your nan took that. Few days after I got the tat. I based mine off his."

"You knew him? I mean, I knew that you'd met them, but you _knew_ him?"

"Hung out with him all the time. Just out of high school, helped my brother set up the auto shop. Felt like I was spinning my wheels, killing time before I got to do what I really wanted to do. Your gramps saw me hanging around the VFW, took me under his wing." Dane lifted the picture out of my hands and I let him. "We'd shoot pool, then go home and your nan would have the table set and dinner waiting... or the grill set up for us to cook. Sometimes he'd bring her daisies, and when your gramps walked in they'd both be wearing these incredible smiles." Dane had a smile of his own when he handed the picture back. "Told myself when I found a woman, she and I would have a setup like that."

Staring at twin devil dogs, separated by three generations, I couldn't speak.

"Cassandra, he talked about you all the time. You could've walked out a hundred times and he'd still think you hung the moon. He went on and on about your straight A's in math, high marks in debate—he was so proud."

"Oh, my god. That day in the coffee shop... did you know who I was?"

"I thought you looked familiar, but I didn't put it together until I was on the front stoop of your house, and you opened the door looking cute and pissed off."

"I wasn't pissed off..."

"Baby."

"Okay, I was."

"I will say, I didn't know you in the coffee shop, but I was drawn to you. And not just because of your fine ass."

I swatted his bicep, and he caught my hand and squeezed.

"I wanted to know you."

"Dane..."

"I'm right here, baby." He dipped his head and kissed me.

I rested my forehead on his chest for a while, my arms twined around his neck. His hands loosely cupped my bottom.

"What you thinking, Cassandra?"

I sighed. "I wish I could go back and never make the mistake of being with Chad. I'd always wanted to meet a man in high school and marry for life, just like my grandparents."

"Not too late for that. We both have our lives ahead of us."

My eyes widened. Was he for real?

"Are you—"

"Absolutely. The way this is going, you'll meet my whole crew, and it won't be long before they're lining up to throw rice or whatever."

"I'm not even divorced yet..."

He shrugged, his arms still around me. "I can wait. I'd like to be a few years sober before we have kids. As long as we do the wedding before you give birth."

I gulped. "You want to have kids with me?"

"Baby, I want everything with you." A sweet smile played around his mouth. "We're both looking for something. I've found it."

I checked in with my brain, but the snarky commentary had completely disappeared. I realized in that instant, that the awful things I said to myself weren't really me. They were Chad, or some part of me goaded by him. And now that my ex was gone, I didn't need to criticize myself anymore.

There was a devil in my head now. The good kind. And he was there to stay.

"I think I found it, too," I said.

"Good." His hold on me tightened, and he bent his head closer. "Because you owe me for last night. I don't like it when my woman ignores me. Like it less when she runs towards trouble, after I told her to stay put. Babygirls who pull stunts like that get punished."

Whoosh! There went my stomach. "I'm sorry, Daddy," I whispered, suppressing the urge to giggle and shiver at the same time. "How do I make it up to you?"

"I can think of a few ways. Your pretty ass won't like it, but I will."

And there went my panties.

"Okay, Daddy." I smiled.

"Gonna take you back to bed and deal with you now," he growled. "Then I'm going to fuck you. You're gonna feel me for a week. I'll make you cum a few times so you know who you belong to. What do you say to that?"

I was speechless.

He picked me up, took me to my room, and did just that. I felt him for a week, right in my happy place. I knew who I belonged to.

A week later, the papers came from Chad, all my demands satisfied. I moved my stuff out of storage, and in with Dane. I still 'lived' at Nan's to keep an eye on her, but he could always come home to me.

Six months later, Dane came with daisies and a jewelry box.

The daisies were for Nan.

The ring was for me.

* * *

The End

# Author's Note

Thanks for reading Her Marine Daddy! I never set out to write a sugar kink daddy book—I was shocked when Dane told Cassie "Call me Daddy." It's not a classic daddy Dom book but whatevs. My characters tend to do their thing. If you want more books like this, please email me at lee.savino@leesavino.com and let me know! I'm working on Dane's brother's (Bear) book now, and it should be out soon.

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In the meantime, for another fun freebie, join my mailing list- **click here.**

# FREE BOOK

_Of all the sex tapes I've seen, Theo Kensington's is the best. He got a beautiful, muscled back that flexes with his buttocks in time with his thrusts. His jaw clenches and his eyes bore into the mirror over the bed. It's almost as if he's looking at me._

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# Also by Lee Savino

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Black Light - Unmasked

Dueling Daddies - Bear's story

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**The Berserker Saga and** **Berserker Brides (menage werewolves)**

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**Draekons (Dragons in Exile) with Lili Zander (menage alien dragons)**

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**Bad Boy Alphas with Renee Rose (werewolves)**
