I roll over with a moan. My body’s still feeling the pleasure from the night before. Maybe not night. At one point I saw the sun start to stream in through the window when we were making love early into the morning.

I reach for Warren but come up with nothing. My eyes flutter open. I sit up wondering where he is. I don’t have to work today, but I planned to spend most of the day in bed with Warren. I glance around and almost laugh at the sight of our clothes everywhere.

It’s crazy how I went from never knowing this man existed to him suddenly being my world. I feel safe. He was right. I think I never felt like I belonged anywhere either because I was looking for him. I think from the start of my life he’s always been my destiny. Why else had my paintings been pulling me to his building?

I’m not going to question it. Warren is one of the best things to ever happen to me and I’m holding on. I slip to the side of the bed and find the shirt he was wearing last night lying on the floor. I slip it over my head before making my way to find him.

I pause in the living room when I see all my stuff sitting there. It’s everything that I had at the center down in the basement. All my possessions are there. I knew he said he would handle everything, but I didn't think he’d do it this fast. I still have to face Mr. Barton. I don't want to stop working at the center. I love the kids who come there.

I just hated Mr. Barton and now I’m worried that maybe he has made passes at other girls. A lot of the kids at the center come there to hang out while their parents are busy working. It keeps them off the streets and gives them something productive to do.

I’m not sure how to even go about looking into that or what to do. He owns the place. I know he gets a lot of tax write-offs and money from the city as well. If he got in trouble would the community center shut down? I shake my head. I might not know everything about Warren, but something deep inside me knows he will do as he said and make sure this is all handled. I just have to trust. I’m just not used to that.

I debate changing into something of my own but decide to stay in Warren’s shirt. It hits almost to my knees and smells of him. I turn when I hear a door slowly open. I follow the sounds thinking it’s Warren. Someone grabs me, pushing me up against a wall. Before I can scream a hand covers my mouth.

I stare up into Mr. Barton’s eyes. One is almost swollen all the way shut. There are a few other bruises on his face. It looks like someone beat the shit out of him.

“Oh, I wasn't good enough? Needed someone with a little more cash to spread those thighs?” he whispers angrily at me. I stand unmoving, shocked that he’s in Warren’s home. “I’ve lost everything over your fucking ass, so I think I should get a taste of your cunt at least.” He leans in more, I can feel his breath on my face. It shocks me into action. I bring my knee up, nailing him right in the balls.

He screams and falls backward. I spot Warren running toward us down the hall, a look of rage on his face. He lifts Barton and throws him into the wall. He winds his hand around his neck as he holds him a few feet off the ground.

I can see Warren’s knuckles are red and angry. I know now where Barton got the bruises.

“One beating wasn't enough?” Warren yells so loud in his face that I jump. Barton struggles in his hold, but Warren isn't letting him go. “You came to our house. Touched my woman.”

“Our house?” A smile pulls at my lips. I almost want to laugh that that’s what drew my attention most. I like the idea of us living together, not just me staying here.

Warren looks over at me. “If you don’t let him go I’m going to be living here alone,” I tell him, trying to get some of his anger to cool.

“Fuck.” He looks back at Barton and punches him square in the face. I cringe at the sound of bone crunching. Barton slumps against the wall. Warren hauls him from the floor, walks over to the front door, opens it and tosses him out like he’s nothing more than a ragdoll before picking up a phone sitting on the table by the front door.

“There is trash to clean up on the front porch.” He pauses for a moment. “Yeah, it’s him. Take him to the police station. They’re looking for him.” He drops the phone back on the table. Before I can even say anything he’s on me, lifting me up and sitting me on the table, sliding himself between my legs.

I place my hands on his bare chest. I run my fingers across a few scratches he has there. Last night flashes through my mind—I was on top of him, digging my nails into him. My whole body warms and I lick my lips. I like that I marked him in some way. God knows I’m covered in his marks everywhere. Not that I’m complaining. I like the idea of belonging to him.

Warren grunts. “You still need more?” I watch anger leave his face, softness taking over.

“You’ve done this to me,” I tease. “Turned me into a sex addict.”

He chuckles. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get what you need, even if it means I have to quit my job so I can keep my head between those lush thighs of yours.”

I smile up at him. “Are they going to close the center?” I heard him say the police are looking for Barton. I’m guessing Warren found something on him. Not shocking.

“No. As long as you want it there, it stays.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Soon you’ll never ask that question. You’ll just know without even a trace of doubt.”

“Thank you. This is all…” I trail off, not having words for what all this is.

“This is love,” he finishes for me.

My breath catches. “You love me?”

He smiles, giving me those dimples. “I don’t want to scare you, but I think this might be more. I might be obsessed. A little crazy.” He leans down to make sure our eyes are on each other. I wrap my arms around his neck and run my fingers into his hair.

“I love you, too.” I place a kiss on his lips. “I want to be crazy obsessed with you.”

“That's good, because I’m not letting you go.” He gives me a kiss this time. “I’m also tightening security around here. That fucker should have never gotten in here. I must have left the gate open when I got back and forgot to lock the door. I just wanted to get back to you as soon as possible.” Regret shows on his face. “I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. I never have to see that man again and the center is going to stay open. I should be thanking you.”

“Just don’t ever nail me in my balls like you did him.” He lets out a small laugh. I can still see some of the tension in his body. Maybe I should be scared at how intense this man is for me. He used physical force against Barton. But I feel safe. I actually think I’m more turned on than anything. He stood up for me like no one ever has before. “You can be a little spitfire, you know that?”

“You like it,” I toss back at him.

“I do. Still don’t like you nailing men in the balls. Only balls you ever touch in any way are mine.” A sparkle of jealousy flares in his eyes.

“That so?”

“I’m finding I’m possessive when it comes to you. I won’t share.”

“Me either.”

“Trust me, love, I only want you taking my balls. They are all yours.”

I push his chest gently, and he steps back. I slide off the table and drop to my knees in front of him. I hear him suck in a breath. Warren puts both his hands on the table, bracing himself.

I lick my lips. “You have no idea what the sight of you like this does to me,” Warren breathes out in a gruff voice. He’s gripping the table so hard the veins in his arms are standing up.

I give him a sassy smile, relishing the fact that his control is about to snap over me. I have no idea how I got so lucky, but I know I’m where I belong.