Matt was silent as we sat at the small dining table both facing the long window. Midmorning sunlight streamed through the thick glass bathing us in its warm glow. I’d woken earlier than him and gone into automatic mode. By the time he’d gotten out of bed and came into the main room, I had a steaming mug of coffee and a plate stacked with hot toast set in place for him.

He’d flashed me that dimpled smile once more and sat without a word. I observed him as quietly as I could, not wanting to disturb him as he ate. Once he’d finished and I cleared the dirty dishes away, he motioned for me to join him at the table once more.

Now we sat together waiting for something to happen. Pressing the tip of my finger against the tabletop I began to trace random designs on the smooth surface. Then Matt cleared his throat and I felt him move slightly next to me. I peered up at him. A serious look passed across his eyes.

I waited.

He rubbed at his neck then allowed his palm to rest against the table. “Right. This is how it’s gonna be. This tour is almost over, so I just want you to enjoy yourself.” I blinked at him. He looked hard at me. “That’s not too hard for you is it?”

Licking my lips, I shook my head. “No, sir.”

Matt’s eyes narrowed on mine and he shifted to lean both forearms against the table. “Another thing. You’ll call me ‘Master’ when you address me.” He sucked on his bottom lip. “Any other rules, I’ll explain when we go home.”

“Home?” I was curious to know where home was for him.

He smiled a faraway look clouding his eyes as if he were thinking of some wonderful memory. “Huntington Beach, Orange County. There’s no place like it anywhere else in the world, Val.”

My mouth went dry, and I trembled slightly. “Huntington...?”

Matt glanced at me, a slight frown on his face. “Yes. Is that a problem?”

I laughed dryly. “Only if you count the fact that I was born there.”

He looked astonished. “You were born in Huntington?”

I nodded, looking down at my hands unable to meet his incredulous gaze.

“How come I never met you then?”

I didn’t know the full answer to that question but I hazarded a guess anyway. “Guess our circles never mixed...” Glancing up at him, I added, “And, I was only there until I was five...”

Matt nodded, accepting that answer, smiling a little. “That makes sense.” He paused for a long while then looked at me again. “One other thing.” He moved his hand and curled it around mine, stilling it. “When we get home. You will sleep with me.”

I opened my mouth, but he pressed the tips of the fingers on his other hand to my lips. “Don’t worry. I won’t make yousleepwith me, just yet. We’ll go slow. I don’t even know you well enough for that. But, no separate beds. I want you close to me.”

My bottom lip trembled. I hated sleeping with other people. I always felt like I was going to be smothered. All my other owners had forced me to sleep with them, and they had never been considerate of my feelings.

Even though Matt was assuring me that he wouldn’t make me do anything, for now...I didn’t trust what he was saying. I just couldn’t bring myself to believe that he would keep his word. No man ever did. It was always about what they wanted. It had never been about me.

Matt’s brow creased as he obviously noticed my discomfort. “Valary...”

His voice was surprisingly tender. But, I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head to him. He sighed and I felt as he shifted back from me. I peeked out at him from beneath my lowered lashes. He had turned away and was looking out the window, face calm and expressionless.

I observed as he took a deep, slow breath, his nostrils flaring slightly. Then he turned his eyes back to meet mine. Before I could look down again, he reached out and stroked the back of his index finger against my cheek.

“It’s okay. You can stay in the single bed for the next couple of nights. We don’t go home until Friday.”

It was Tuesday. I nodded slightly, my skin tingling a little where he had made contact. He smiled again, hazel eyes sparkling. My cheeks felt flushed and I ducked my head down. His smile made my whole body quiver, and not entirely in a bad way.

I heard him chuckle softly, and then the light scrape of chair legs on the floor as he pushed away from the table and stood. “Right. Well, it’s almost eleven, and I have to catch the rest of the band. Stay here, ‘kay? I won’t be long.”

With that he grabbed the room key, his cap and bandana and walked out of the hotel room, leaving me alone to ponder everything he had just told me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“You’re a good chick, y’know that?”

I look sideways at Jimmy as he lounges languidly on his chair. Bella, Matt’s dog, is half lying over his lap, half trying to reach the cheese and cracker that I just put in front of the drummer. Pushing her away, he grins laconically at me. I blush and lower my eyes.

Brian, who is in the middle of whispering into my twin’s ear, turns from her and flashes me a sweet smile. “Yeah, Matt’s lucky he got you. You do good by him.”

“Yeah,” Jimmy nods in obvious agreement, “you don’t give him shit. Do as you’re told. Give us amazing food.”

“Yeah, especially the amazing food.” Brian keeps smiling at me.

I keep blushing and quickly pass around the rest of the cheese and crackers to the other guys, noticing absently that Zachary and Johnny grab the most. Michelle takes one piece and a hint of a smile flickers over her lips as she nods to me. That’s all the acknowledgement she gives me, and that’s fine by me, really.

Once the plate is empty, I return to the kitchen smiling at the compliments Matt’s friends have just given me. I’m a big sucker for compliments, though I don’t let them give me a big head. Thoughts of what they said to me disappear though as soon as I see that Matt is still sitting at the bench with my player.

I carefully set the empty plate down on the bench and look at him. He does not acknowledge me just continues to listen to the recording. Shivering a little, I move to lean against the bench and tuck my chin into my chest waiting for him to notice me, and say something.

After several minutes which to me seem to drag on for hours, Matt finally clicks the player off.

He doesn’t turn to look at me, but he does speak. “Tell me, Val. Have you ever thought to write any of this down?”

His voice is emotionless so there is no way for me to gauge what he’s actually thinking. The question surprises me somewhat though and all I can do is mumble in answer.

“No. Not really.”

He looks at me then. I avert my eyes afraid of what I will see in his.

“Aside from the fact that you shouldn’t even be doing this; you do have a way with words.”

I flush slightly; I hear him snort faintly. “You sound like you’re reading from a fricking book half the time. With fucking dialogue and everything. Planning on writing a novel, hey?” There’s a note of amusement threading through his voice now.

I shake my head. “No, Master.”

Matt sighs and stands, approaching me. I quiver slightly from fear, slightly from the closeness of his overwhelming masculinity. He chuckles obviously realising the effect he has on me and leans forward.

I actually flinch as he gets closer. He rolls his eyes and without a word tucks the player into the front pocket of my jeans. Then he catches hold of my chin and lifts my eyes to his.

A stern light appears in his hazel eyes. “Don’t let me catch you fucking around with this again, understand?”

“Understood, Master,” I whisper the words not trusting myself to speak any louder.

Matt releases my chin. “Good.” He looks toward the dining room. “Did they like the food?”

I nod glad that I can still do something right. “Yes. They were pleased. And, Jimmy and Brian even complimented me on how obedient I was to you.”

Matt mutters dryly, “Most of the time.”

I tremble at his comment and murmur in a low voice, “I try...”

He smiles, his tone softening as he reaches out to stroke the backs of his fingers against my cheek. “I know you do.”

I tilt my head slightly looking up into his face.

He lifts an eyebrow. “Yeah, Val?”

“What you just heard...” I hesitate, clutching at the player in my pocket.

Matt keeps caressing my cheek. “Mhm?”

“Do...do you...uh...do you even remember that?” I hate the fact that my voice is beginning to shake.

Matt notices it, and that bothers me. His expression becomes more serious and he moves so he’s pressing me back slightly against the bench.

He softly places his hands on my hips and stares down into my eyes. “Are you asking me if I remember you being nervous of sleeping with me?”

I nod ever so little. “Yes, Master...”

Matt chuckles the sound vibrating through my body as he leans closer, shifting his big body so he can rest his forehead against mine. His lips are mere inches from my face as he murmurs his response.

“Yeah, I remember. You were so damned scared...and all I wanted to do was make it go away.” He shakes his head at me. “But, you were so fucking sure I was going to hurt you.”

I flush at the memory of that conviction.

He smiles gently. “Took you fricking weeks to realise I’m not like that.”

My cheeks feel like their flaming now.

Matt chuckles, not unkindly, and presses his lips gently to my forehead. “You’re too damn cute, Val...y’know that?”

I tuck my chin against my chest.

Matt makes a gruff sound in the back of his throat then pushes away from me. “C’mon. Let’s go sit with the others. Give ‘em a bit of shit.”

I laugh at that and let him take my hand and lead me back to the dining room. God knows, I must say...I am in need of a little fun right now.

Notes