by Cathryn Fox
“Ah, not sure yet,” is all I say, wanting to leave but not wanting to be rude. It’s just not in my nature.
“If you’ll excuse me,” a deep voice says from behind him. Sean moves past Sebastian, and inserts himself in between the two of us. His gaze lands on mine, and I see a softness in his eyes that I’ve never seen before.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He gives me a warm smile that curls my toes. “You’d better get going if you want to take in all the sights before we head out tonight.”
“Right,” I say, playing along.
He cups my elbow and pulls me in tight against his hard body, and a soft moan catches in my throat. I put my hand on his chest, feel his strong heartbeat, and melt into him. His head lowers, and his lips move over mine, a soft caress, so different from the hard way he took me last night. I can’t decide which I like more.
After the kiss, he opens the door, and I step out. As the door closes behind me, I hear him say something to Sebastian. I don’t bother looking back. Instead, I head toward the double decker bus parked in front of the hotel lobby, a little chuckle bubbling up inside me. Sean is definitely a take-charge guy, and he knows how to read a woman, as well as a room. I kind of like that he came to my rescue. Even though I’m an independent woman and can take care of myself, there is something about Sean’s protectiveness that gets to me, reminds me of when we were kids, really. Olivia and I might have been an annoyance to him, but we knew he always had our back. I guess he’s just the kind of guy who protects what’s his.
What’s his?
Whoa, don’t go there, Kennedy. You’re not his. I make a sound, a half laugh, half moan. Sean doesn’t even know it’s me, for God’s sake. He thinks he’s having weekend sex with a dancer from his club. If he knew it was me, he’d probably never talk to me with such a filthy mouth. Then again, maybe he does know it’s me, knows I’m a good girl wanting to be bad, and is purposely talking to me the way I need him to. That would be just like Sean. He might have been a bossy jerk when we were kids, but there was a sweetness to him that I totally fell in love with.
Pushing that from my mind, I use the pass included in my dossier and spend the better part of the day taking in the sights around London. At one stop, I even sneak into a boutique to purchase a very sexy panty set for tonight. Who would have ever thought I’d be buying lingerie in London? Heck, just a couple of days ago, I was shocked to see the sexy clothes in my dossier. Now I wish there had been more.
It’s getting late in the day as the tour bus takes us back to the hotel, and I grab a shower and slip into my new clothes. I examine my curves in the mirror and run my hands over my body, hoping Sean likes white lace. As my fingers linger on my stomach, my pulse picks up. Is he really going to make me touch myself tonight, and watch while I do it? I might be used to touching my body, using toys at home, but holy hell, I’ve never done it in front of a man before. Will I like it? Hate it?
A fine shiver moves through me, and I know it’s not from fear. Goodness, who would have thought that deep inside I’m such a dirty little girl? Thank you, Sean, for teaching me that. A knock sounds at my door, and my heart leaps, eager for this night to get started.
“I’ll be right there,” I say. He’s early.
I pull on a tight black cocktail dress that hugs my curves, slide into my ridiculous heels, and open the door to find the concierge standing there, two paper bags in his hand.
“Good evening,” he says. “A special delivery from a friend.” He holds the bags out to me.
“Thank you.” I take the bag and say, “Wait,” as I turn to go for my purse.
“No need.” He holds his hands up, palms out, and shakes his head. “Everything has been taken care of.”
“Oh, okay,” I say.
“Have a great evening,” he says and closes the door behind himself. As the lock clicks into place, I rush to my bed and set the parcels down. A bubble of excitement swells inside me, because I know what’s in them. But holy hell, why two bags full of bedroom toys? One little toy would be enough, unless he plans to keep me tied to his bed until I leave Monday morning.
Could I be so lucky?
I dump the contents of the first bag and examine all the toys. I pick a few up and turn them over, even though I have no idea what I’m supposed to do with some of them. A flogger catches my eye, and my ass burns in response. Is he going to use that on me? I turn my attention back to one item called LUNA Beads. I read the package, and my stomach flutters with excitement. Apparently, you wear these in public, and they vibrate inside you with movement. How would Sean react if I used them? Would it drive him crazy knowing I was pleasuring myself while at a very important meeting with his client?
After inspecting each item, I grab the other bag, which was much lighter. I turn it upside down, and when I see a Truth or Dare adult card game, my pulse picks up tempo. Olivia and I used to play Truth or Dare all the time. It was the reason I was brave enough to ask Sean to Be Mine. That incident comes rushing back, and embarrassing heat floods me.
Pushing that from my mind, I reach for another square box and tug off the lid. When I see two tickets to Random Nation, playing tonight, I sink down on the bed, unable to breathe past the lump in my throat. I can’t believe I’m finally going to see my favorite band. I missed out on seeing them when I was a teen, when I was supposed to go with Olivia and Sean. I babysat all summer, but hadn’t earned enough for a ticket, and I wasn’t about to ask Mom, who was doing all she could do to put food on the table.
My heart pounds against my chest, and I feel a bit breathless as I look the cards and tickets over. My thoughts whirl, and my brain races to catch up. I feel a moment of panic. Sean couldn’t know Truth or Dare was my favorite game as a teen, right? Or that Random Nation was my favorite band.
Unless…
Chapter Six
Sean
I stand outside Kennedy’s door at six sharp and smooth my hand over my tie as I knock. My little Kitten is hiding her true identity from me, thinks I don’t know it’s sweet Kennedy Lane I’m playing sex games with. But after today’s delivery, will she clue in to the idea that I do know? She’s a smart girl, I’m guessing she will, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to break cover. Of course, that’s what the card game is for. Later tonight, I plan to play it with her and get to the bottom of matters once and for all.
Why?
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I should just let her continue to pretend, finish the weekend off without her ever being the wiser. It’s not like we run into each other back in the states. I haven’t seen her in years, and with Olivia living in Italy, it’s not like she’ll be inviting an old friend to any Sunday dinners.
So why, then, am I determined to expose her?
Because you really like her, dumbass.
Dammit, this is just supposed to be about sex. About fulfilling some strange fantasy Kennedy seems to be trying to live out.
The door opens, and my throat squeezes as I look at the beautiful woman standing before me, her blond curls falling over her shoulders, a soft pink tinge on her cheeks as she gives me a wobbly smile, like she’s trying to decide whether I know it’s her or not.
I take in her body-hugging dress and the high heels that shape and curve her legs. “You look beautiful,” I say, meaning every word as I run a long strand of her hair between my fingers.
Her glance races over me. “So do you,” she responds, her face flushing.
I look past her shoulder, waiting for some comment on the packages I had delivered. I see the contents, minus the tickets, spread out on her bed and wait for her reaction. When none comes, I say, “I see the gifts arrived.”
She nods and glances down for a moment, like all the toys have embarrassed her, or… Wait! I cup her chin and lift it. “Kitten?” I say, my cock swelling inside my unforgiving dress pants. “You are, aren’t you?” I ask.
She moves slightly and her lids flutter, bliss spreading across her face. Holy fuck she is!
“Which one,” I ask, sounding like I’d just eaten a bucket of nails.
“LUNA Beads,” she murmurs, her mouth curving slightly.
I scrub my hand through my hair, my balls drawing up inside my body. Sweet fuck. I thought I’d tease her with the idea, but I never thought she’d go through with it. How the fuck am I supposed to make it through the night knowing she has a vibrating sex toy inside her? Jealousy rages through me. Jealousy? Fuck, what have I become that I’m jealous of a damn vibrator? But seriously, right now the only thing I want inside her is my damn cock.
“Everything okay, Sean?” she asks, like she has the upper hand on these games we’re playing. She might, but I plan to rectify that later. Right now, I have other business to attend to, and we have no time to waste.
I square my shoulders and pull myself together. “Yeah. All set?”
“Just have to grab my purse.”
She sashays across the room with a little extra swing to her hips to tease me, I’m sure, and my dick throbs. I swallow, wanting nothing more than to bend her over and drive into her, balls deep.
She comes back with her purse under her arm, and I slide my hand around her waist and guide her to the elevator. A little mewling sound catches in her throat as she walks, and I just about shoot a load off in my damn pants.
Fuck me.
As we ride the lift to the lobby, we take that time to get our ducks in a row. I suggest we pretend we met though my sister years ago. Which, in fact, is true. Then we quickly exchange enough information about ourselves so we can pull this off. Not that we need to exchange facts. We already know a lot about each other. But she’s still pretending so I’ll continue to go along, for the time being. When the lift stops, I usher her outside to the waiting limo. Her eyes widen. “Nice,” she says.
“Only the best for my Kitten,” I say.
“Isn’t the cocktail bar just around the corner, though?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I say, and neglect to tell her my plans for the limo later this evening.
I open the door and she slides in. I follow her inside, give the driver the address, and press the button to close the window separating the backseat from the front.
It’s obvious to me that she’s not going to tell me who she is, so for now I’ll play along. “Champagne?” I ask, and reach for the bottle chilling.
“Sure. It might help calm my nerves.”
“What are you nervous about?”
“I am pretending to be your fiancée. What if I can’t pull it off?”
“Don’t worry. Just be yourself and you’ll be fine.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. “I don’t know anything about banking, Sean. I have no idea how to talk to this client you’re trying to impress.”
We drive by a museum and I ask, “Well, what do you know about? What are your interests?
“I like a lot of things,” she says.
“Then just talk about your interests. No one expects you to talk finance with Cochrane.”
“Cochrane?”
“Yeah, the client I’m trying to impress. Thomas Cochrane.”
“Sean?” she says quietly.
“Yeah?”
She pats her purse. “These tickets…thank you. I really like Random Nation. I heard they were sold out months ago. How did you get them?”
I was wondering when she was going to bring it up. I shrug and make light of it. “I have connections.”
She nods. “I’m really looking forward to seeing them.”
“Good.”
I pass her a glass of champagne, and she sips it and glances out the window as we drive to Studio 12 Cocktail Bar. When we arrive, the limo pulls up in front, and the driver rolls down the window. I lean forward and give him instructions, then exit the vehicle. I stand on the sidewalk and hold my hand out to Kennedy as she slides out.
“This place looks nice,” she says, then she stills and moans. I can only image the slide from the car kicked the vibrator into motion.
“Cochrane is a very important client,” I somehow manage to say as I think about her tight pussy squeezing the toy.
I make a move to turn, but she places a hand on my chest to stop me. Her eyes narrow. “Sealing this deal means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
She nods. “Then it’s important to me, too.” Her teeth flash in a smile, and she takes a deep breath. “Let’s go win him over.”
As I stand there staring at her, I have no doubt she’ll win Cochrane, as well as every other male in the place, over. Hell, without even trying, she wound herself around my heart. Unease moves through me because suddenly I don’t want to share her with a room full of men. As possessiveness takes hold, my mind races back to this morning, and how close I was to kicking the shit out of the guy hitting on her. But hell, how could I blame him? She’s a beautiful woman with no ring on her finger, which means she’s fair game, right?
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I slide my hand around her waist and guide her inside. The place is bustling, and I search the crowd to find Dawson chatting with Cochrane over a glass of champagne. A waiter walks by, and I grab two glasses of the bubbly stuff from the tray he’s carrying. I hand one to Kennedy, and we clink glasses.
“Let’s do this,” I say. I guide her through the throng, and when we reach Cochrane, his eyes widen when he sees Kennedy on my arm.
“Cochrane, Dawson,” I say, greeting them. “Good to see you both again.” I nod at Dawson. “This is Kitten, my fiancée.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Kennedy says. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Well, well. Where have you been hiding this beautiful woman, and why have I not heard about her before?” Cochrane asks, lighting up as he turns to Kennedy.
“Wasn’t ready to share her,” I say between clenched teeth.
Cochrane takes her hand to his mouth and presses a kiss to the inside of her wrist, and it’s all I can do not to knock his front teeth out.
Kennedy gives a flirtatious laugh as she lets him hold her hand longer than I like. “Aren’t you a charmer,” she says.
“Maybe I could charm you away from my boy, Sean.”
“No such luck,” she says, and moves in close to me. “Sean is the best guy I know.” As she looks up at me with those big blue eyes, my heart misses a beat. Fuck, I’m in trouble.
Cochrane laughs then winks at her. “That’s only because you haven’t gotten to know me yet.” He gives a tug on her hand, urging her away from me. “We have all night to rectify that, now, don’t we?”
I’m happy that Kennedy is hitting it off with Cochrane, but I want to punch the guy in the face for acting like a total fucking douche. Does he think I’m going to let him sleep with my girl for his business? Or maybe he’s testing me somehow? Testing my loyalty and commitment to my fiancée? To him? Fuck that. Honestly, Kennedy shouldn’t have to put up with this kind of bullshit from a dickhole client. I never should have put her in this situation. No account is worth it. I open my mouth, about to drag Kennedy away, but she plants her hand on my chest, hard.
Her eyes lock with mine, and she says, “Why don’t you go get us a real drink.” She presses the champagne glass into my hand and looks back at Cochrane. “Brandy?”
“A woman after my own heart,” Cochrane says.
Kennedy gives me a warning look, and as much as I don’t want to leave her with Cochrane, it’s clear she can take care of herself—and that she’s trying to stop me from fucking this whole thing up.
I step away and walk up to the bar, my glance constantly flipping back to Kennedy. Her smile is bright as she chats with my client. I have to hand it to her, she is impressive, and if it weren’t for her, I’d likely have blown the deal. I gesture for the bartender, who is run off his feet, and wait forever for the drinks to come. As the minutes tick by, I grab a stool and plant myself on it. A woman sidles up beside me and gives me a once over.
“Here on business?” she asks as she takes in my suit.
/> Her hand goes to my tie to straighten it, even though it’s already straight, and when I feel her put something into my shirt pocket, I look past her shoulder to see Kennedy casting a quick glance my way. Her smile falters for a moment, then it’s back in place as she gives her attention to Cochrane. I have no idea what they’re talking about, but from the intent look on my client’s face I can tell she’s holding his interest, no doubt engaging him in an intelligent conversation.
“So that’s a yes?”
“What’s that?” I ask, unable to keep my thoughts focused.
“You here on business?”
“I am.”
“I thought so. I saw you at Hotel Royal last night, and again this morning. I’m staying there, too. On business.” She moves closer until our legs are touching. “Nights get lonely away from home, though, don’t they?”
“They can,” I say when the waiter brings me my three drinks. But my nights are anything but boring, or routine. Sex had gotten a bit mundane lately, but Kennedy has breathed new life into me.
She twirls her empty glass, a ploy to get me to refill it.
“Please pour her another of whatever she’s having,” I say to the bartender, and stand. “I have to go. I’m here on business.”
“I’ll see you later, then?” she asks.
I just nod, not wanting to be rude but not sure why she thinks we’ll be seeing each other later, either. I make my way across the room with the three drinks.
I step back up to Kennedy and Cochrane, and they are immersed in conversation about the local museum. Cochrane seems impressed with her. And why wouldn’t he be? She’s beautiful, intelligent, fun, and sexy. Everything a guy could ever want.
“Hey,” Dawson says. “Kitten, huh?”
“Yeah, Kitten.”
“You find her at the club?”
“Yeah, something like that.” I’d found her many, many years ago, when my sister brought her home. I couldn’t do anything back then about how I felt. I’d sure done something about it this time, but the problem was one weekend with her wasn’t going to be enough.
