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Chapter One

The rounds like a forbidding castle in soner shook her head at the intiht hold

Beginners lessons at a private BDSM club She’d gone insane Really Her h school, that’s what had caused her lapse in sanity All those teenagers…

Her date, Brian--or Buck, as he liked to be called--grabbed Kari’s arh the front door She slipped a little, and his grip hardened "Dauard stood behind a table, looking so ogrelike he was al" Kari closed her mouth before she called him Shrek

He held out his hand "Papers, please?"

As Buck handed over the doctor’s certificates and money, Kari eased her arm away She’d been attracted to his authoritative personality--so different froh before Then again, he didn’t kno to do this douard finished looking at the papers and handed the, "I’ll take your jacket, sir And miss? Please leave your shoes with uy to see if he was serious--he was--Kari slipped off her orange sneakers

The guard patiently kept his hand outstretched until she handed over her Tigger-decorated socks also A little snort of laughter escaped hiether at the sight of the socks "What the hell are you wearing?"

Kari glanced down at her ankle-length denim dress "Sorry It was parent-teacher day, and my last set of parents arrived a half hour late I didn’t have tie"

"Honestly, Kari, you dress like a five-year-old" He straightened the lapels of his black suit

"Well, I used to teach kindergarten after all" She laughed "But h-school students like e, ould she have worn to a BDSM club? Soh for him to know her better than that

"Well, folks, have a pleasant evening" Sht wall

Wait a minute Kari frowned at her bare feet, then looked at the man "Excuse uard blinked "Did I make a mistake? Which one of you is the Dousted look "Just be quiet, Kari Don’t talk at all"

She bit back her first response--and the second--and settled for a nod Buck --tall, slim, blond--but his ive hi Man, she wasn’t exactly a ten on the Gorgeous Sub her conservative upbringing, this whole evening was probably doomed to failure

Before they reached the door, Buck yanked her to his side, his fingers digging into her skin "There will be other Doinners Remember you’re with me Don’t talk to anyone else Don’t look at anyone else"

"Got it Now let go of h, she pried his hand froe office with lush dark brown carpeting and creamy white walls An antique desk and office equipht corner, several big old-tri to quiet conversation

The center of the roo area occupied by twodark hair wearing European-tailored black slacks and a black silk shirt His dark gray eyes had focused on her and Buck the h the door Now, he tilted his head toward the couch across froot to be Master Z," Buck hissed as they crossed the room "All this is his You watch your ive you per her o Heto leave before she found out e stuff and why it excited her so erous: hard-faced with an equally hard body, open vest stretching over broad shoulders Black hair slightly curling to the nape of his neck, potent brown eyes, the shadow of a beard along a stern jaw If Buck was the golden prince, thislike a ed to ray-eyed one said in a smooth, deep voice "Welcome to the Shadowlands I am Master Z" He shook hands with Buck and then Kari His warers as he studied her for a moment "Welcome, Kari"