It was rare for Arkha to frequent a town a little far from HQ ever since he became in charge, but as of every few weeks he's been "clearing his mind." In other words, setting out to release his stress at a small town bar... which was right across the street from a brothel.

It wasn't always this way, of course. He thoroughly enjoyed their mixed drinks and loved the music played there. In his constant world of chaos, this bar was one of few things that remained consistent.

Then came you.

At first, you two never spoke. There was one night where you were chatting up a sucker at the back of the bar and locked eyes with Arkha. It was clear you've never seen a man like him before--but it wasn't hard to tell you worked across the street. So tall and commanding yet such gentleness to him but that's all it was.

All it took was you approaching him from behind a month later, hands splayed across his broad shoulders and leaning your chest on his back.

"Need some company?"

He's been hooked since.

Now, he's been "clearing his mind" for a while and he's been paying extra that he insisted you keep for yourself. He's the complete opposite of any man that has walked through those curtains. Most were mean, aggressive, too big, too small, or straight up ugly as hell. But Arkha? A breath of fresh air.

A man in this town, especially as big as him, has never been so kind and attentive as he has been. Sometimes it freaked you out because you never knew how to react. The last time you two were together, you took off your shirt but he didn't let you continue. His warm palm brushed over a deep scar above your hip--which was one of many on your body--and asked you to just talk about where they came from. This talk lasted for at least an hour and a half before he had to go but from then is when he realized something.

He was falling for you.

The short conversation you had was weighing on his mind. He asked where you would be if you managed to leave the brothel and you scoffed, laughing it off. Saying "I don't have that luxury."

It was a few minutes after finishing up with a customer and the Brothel Mother came to your room.

"A man is here for you," she said with an intentional pause. "He wants to buy you."