Page 22 of Dominated

But as my hand landed, I only felt the blanket.

The soft mattress below.

And as my fingers rose toward the headboard, there was only the fluffy pillow.

My arm left my face, and I blinked several times, trying to get my eyes to adjust, but even through the cloudy light, I could see that his side of the bed was empty. I took a quick glance around the room, checking to see if the door to the en suite was closed.

It wasn’t.

But my dress was draped across the couch in the corner, my shoes on the floor near the ottoman—places I certainly hadn’t left them.

That was sweet of him to bring my things in here.

And since I was apparently alone in the bedroom, I wondered if he was in the kitchen, making us some breakfast. Or maybe he’d driven to a coffee shop to pick up lattes.

I didn’t know his style. I didn’t know what to expect.

But I was excited to learn.

And it was that elation I felt toward this new man, along with his giving nature—something I’d experienced until the early hours of the morning—that caused a smile to tug across my lips. I pulled the blanket past my bare chest and sat up, leaning my back against the headboard.

The dream that had woken me wasn’t the only reminder of what had gone down between us.

There was also the soreness.

My God.

Bale Pierce was everything and so much more.

Our time together couldn’t have gone better if I’d planned it myself.

I didn’t allow Lush to cross over into my personal life. I insisted that the two stay separate. That was why Jacob and Luke never saw me outside my private room.

But from the moment I had encountered Bale at the bar, something had clicked.

A feeling.

A pulse in my heart.

A tingle that wasn’t just between my legs.

He’d told me this morning was going to be perfect.

I couldn’t wait to experience every moment of it.

I knew I should get out of bed and wander into the kitchen, looking to see where he’d gone, but I just wanted to snuggle up in this warmth for a few minutes longer. I tucked the comforter under my chin, and as I stretched my arms over the top of my head and looked toward the window, something caught my attention.

A note.

With handwriting on it.

It was placed on the pillow that Bale had slept on, and the smile was still on my face while I picked it up and held it close to read.

Good-bye, Pepper.

Don’t look for me … you won’t find me.

—B

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