I picked up an unopened water bottle and soothed my dry throat. I still felt that strange quiver that foretold crying. This was all too much.

"Do you need to cry?" he asked, sitting up and pulling me close. "Come here. Let it out."

I collapsed on his shoulder and sobbed. Happy, sad, confused, all sorts of tears came pouring out. Keaton just stroked my hair and held me close. It was amazing how someone with such a hard body could feel so soft and warm when I needed it.

"It's okay," he whispered.

I shook my head.

"Tell me what you're thinking."

I slowed my breathing, which had sped to a frantic huff-puff from the sobs. "Everyone knows about us."

He paused for a moment before speaking. "Are you embarrassed?"

"No!" I shouted, pulling my head up and resting on an elbow. "I mean, I just don't want to be seen as some rock star's groupie. I know what I'd think of girls in that position."

He nodded. "I don't agree, but I understand. You don't like the idea that you'd be perceived as the subordinate."

I frowned. "That's not what I meant, but I dunno. Maybe."

"It looks superficial," he said. "You're dating someone that has been seen with air-headed models and Botoxed movie stars. You're not like that and you don't want to be lumped in with them."

I nodded.

"Well, when we're in public, we can make it clear that I'm under your thumb. Posturing is everything, and if you'd rather be the one holding my arm, then so be it. Hell, I'll wear your collar if you want. Then again, in my world, it's a fashion statement that's rarely questioned." I melted into the mattress.

I breathed in and out, slowly calming myself. I wasn't one of them, like he said, but what made him be with women like that in the first place? If I was the outlier in the group, did that mean he'd leave me for someone vapid eventually?

"Now, what else is bothering you?"

Biting my lip, I thought of how to phrase this delicately. "I'm nervous about bringing you home."

Again, Keaton responded to my words with a bob of his head. "Totally understandable. Most moms read trashy magazines, and I've been a headliner in those just as often as in arenas."

"It's not just that," I replied, "but you're not exactly the guy a girl brings home from college, you know? You're older, you're tattooed, and I wouldn't be surprised if my yaya and papou go into shock when they meet you."

"I often have that effect on grandparents."

I sighed and plopped my head on the pillow. "I'm just scared. I feel helpless, and that's not something I feel a lot."

He continued petting my hair. "I know just the thing for making you feel in control," he cooed, pulling me closer. "Isn't that right, Mistress?"

I bolted up. "And what's this about being my boyfriend?"

Keaton grinned. "Well, am I?"

Frowning, I asked, "Shouldn't I be the one to bring up this sort of thing? I am, after all, your owner."

Keaton threw his head back rapturously. "Goddess, I love when you talk like that."

I ran my finger across his exposed neck. "Mmm, I'd like to put a collar here."

"I'd like nothing more," he replied.

"Nothing?" I asked, slipping my fingers from his neck down his chest.

"Nothing." He sat up and looked me in the eyes. "The thought of you owning me, collaring me, means more to me than anything."

My heart thundered. I wanted to collar him, but I had nothing to do it with.

Or did I?

"Hold on," I said, rummaging through my box of stuff I was bringing home. I picked up a gold chain with a charm on it. A black dot in the center, ringed with blue then white. I brought it to his neck and clasped it. It hung on my clavicle when I wore it, but around Keaton's neck it looked like a choker. It looked oddly right.

"It's beautiful," he said, fingering the charm. "And the sentiment behind it as well."

"So, does collaring you make you my boyfriend?"

"If you want it to."

I blushed. "Then yes, I want it to." I slipped my arms around Keaton's waist.

"I know what this is," he whispered. "Thank you. To earn an evil-eye necklace when you're someone who gets lots of negative attention, well, it means a lot."

My blush deepened. "You knew that?"

He nodded. "Was it from your grandmother?"

"Yes."

"They're wise," he said, continuing to fiddle with the blue eye. "Sending their loved ones off into the world with something that could ward against bad intentions. That's love."

Our eyes met and I blinked away tears.

"Yeah, it is love."

I leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips. A soft kiss, a sentiment. I did love him. And I would be proud to bring him home tomorrow, along with whatever issues came with that discovery.

Keaton's eyes burned and for a moment we just sat there, arms encircling each other, breathing in each other's air.

"Has anyone owned you before?" I asked, fingering the necklace. "How many . . . Mistresses have you had?"

He slid his nose down mine and planted a kiss on the corner of my mouth. "Just you," he whispered.

I shook my head. "That can't be. You know what you want, so why didn't you go out and find a dominant woman?"

I felt his mouth smile as our faces touched. "I only realized what it was I wanted when I met you. Sure I'd played around with bondage before, but never like this. I've never felt so strongly that someone else should be calling the shots. You take the daily pressures of fame and celebrity life off my shoulders, Thea. Everyone always wants me for something, but to you, I can just give, you know? It's hard for me to trust anyone, especially with my career, but when I'm in your hands I feel safe. I feel like I belong with you. When I'm with you, I can just submit. I can just be your Baby Blue and nothing else."

I kissed his stubbled jaw. "You'll always be more, Keaton. You're special. And yes, I'll go away with you this summer."

He grinned and took my chin in his hands. "You are the most unique woman I've ever met, Thea, and I want so badly to belong to you. Make me yours again."

Running my hands down his shirt, I knew what we had to be right now. Master and slave. Domme and sub. He wanted me in control so badly, and I wanted to be in it.

We didn't have to be in a fancy bondage studio or a BDSM club. I could make him mine now. I pulled a ruler off my desk and a few paper clips.

"I'm going to spank you with this," I said, running the ruler down the center of his chest. "Then I'm going to put these on your nipples."

Keaton, who was currently sitting on his feet, rose up on his knees as if pulled upward by magnets. "Give it to me, Goddess."

A few buttons popped off as I ripped Keaton's shirt open and kissed every part of flesh I could get my lips on. I licked down his pecs, nibbled at his nipples before I placed the clips on them, then tongued my way down his washboard stomach. I felt him tremble as my mouth continued its downward assault.

"I want you to beg," I said, circling my finger around the button of his jeans.

He shook his head. "I'm not worthy. Let me worship you instead."

I drew my finger up and down the fly, feeling his hardness underneath. I kissed the skin beneath his hemline and felt him buck. "You know what you want. Just beg."

"Fine," he breathed with a laugh. "Please."

I licked his jeans and he shuddered. "Please, what?"

He groaned. "Please, use my cock for your mouth's pleasure."

I sat up and looked him in the eye. "For my pleasure? You know you want it. Be honest, Baby Blue. Don't lie to your Mistress."

"Mistress, please suck my cock," he whimpered as I ran my nose up and down the seam of his pants, coaxing him to respond. It worked.

I unzipped his fly and pulled out his long dick. I slid his pants all the way off, taking my time. His shaft twitched, and the tip glistened. My boy was very turned on.

But I was still slightly hesitant. I had never done this. How do I do this for the first time without screwing up, or looking like a newbie? He was lying back, back arched, waiting for my mouth.

I just let instinct take over.

I ran my tongue from the base to the tip then plucked one of the nipple clips off as I opened my mouth and took him inside.

He jumped.

Taking a moment to enjoy the sensation, I pushed him deep to the back of my throat and then sucked, pulling my mouth back to the top. His breathing became labored and I no longer worried if I was doing it right.

I actually didn't worry about anything. I enjoyed his reactions, and his body was so gorgeous I just wanted to pleasure all of it. Taking my time, I licked him up and down some more, swirling my tongue around, pulling back and watching his reaction. His mouth was open, as if paused in song. He was close. I pushed him back inside as far as he would go, then pulled off the second clip as I sucked.

Keaton grabbed my head as he came, curling his fingers in my hair and moaning like I had never heard. I sat up, wiped my mouth, and told him he was a good boy.

But that he had better keep me up all night if he wanted me to go to Europe with him.

So we spent the entire night awake, completely wrecking my twin bed, tearing the sheets off, nearly breaking the headboard on two occasions.

I told my Baby Blue that I wanted it rough, and he showed me just how rough a rocker could be. He took me from behind and I came so fast and hard I thought I'd be done for the night. But then after a minute of lying together in hushed whispers, I begged him to fuck me against the wall. Equally rough, equally mind-blowing. I couldn't believe how I could simply get him to do whatever I wanted, even things he didn't expect me to want. I never thought I'd be into sex that was lightning fast and bordering on painful, it was so wild and reckless.

But it was all so good.

No matter what we did, he made it feel like the most incredible sensation ever. Each touch felt new and each stroke sent me to heaven and back.

Finally, it was nearing four AM and I knew I was going to have a pretty big day ahead of me. There was no denying it; he was meeting my family in the morning. I wanted it, and so did he.

We snuggled up in the bed, exhausted from spending our lust, and I fell asleep holding the charm on his neck.

"Mine," I muttered as sleep took me.

My little Honda sedan hesitated on the turn. We were about to head down my street. About to go home. Together.

"Breathe," he said, putting his hand on my thigh.

My fingers tightened around the wheel, choking it.

"I have this now," Keaton said, gently touching his golden collar and protective charm. "I will be fine. So will you. My brave, fierce warrior."

I glanced over at him. His baby blues were sparkling and his smile was genuine and open. How could this be the man who had wrecked so many hearts? He was so gentle with mine.

"Okay," I said, pulling down the street. Trees shaded our passing and new buds fell on the windshield. Cars everywhere were coated in the light-green dust of spring.

"It's a charming neighborhood," Keaton commented. All the houses were lined up like little milk cartons. It was a cute place, small boxy houses, but homey. No McMansions here. But that was probably what he was used to.

"Nothing like what you live in, I'm sure."

Keaton snorted. "I live in a plane's seat. On a tour bus. Hell, I'm fucking Viking stock, darling, my ancestors lived in huts."

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"As I'll ever be," I said. I had texted my mom that morning that I'd be bringing someone home. A guy who meant a lot to me. To my slight alarm, she only wrote back that she'd make sure there was enough food for him.

Now who's cryptic?

Five houses down sat the place where I grew up. Eighteen Grove Lane. A little mint-green cape with an ivy trellis and a small but cozy porch. Home.

I could see my brothers in the window, hands pressed to the glass, peering. I didn't tell them I was coming home with Keaton in particular, but I could see that Nicky was wearing a Trickster City T-shirt. Odd.

One by one, my family poured out the small front door and down the walkway, dressed in their Sunday best. It was Thursday. The kids had no school because of professional development and my parents took the day off to congratulate me on our tournament success. Yaya and Papou came last, bewildered looks on their wrinkled faces as Keaton stepped out of the car.

"Hey everyone," I said. "This is Keaton."

Anthony looked up at him, and his missing-toothed grin turned into a wide O. "I thought you'd be taller."

Keaton bent to his level. "I could put you on my shoulders, then we'd both be bigger than everyone! Even some of the girls on Thea's team!"

Anthony giggled and put his arms out to Keaton. I jut out my chin to keep my jaw from dropping. He was working his charm on the children, too?