by Marlee Wray
His phone rang, and he glanced at the screen. It was Leah, his administrative assistant. Again. He swiped the screen and answered with, “Cancel the rest of the day. I’m not coming in.”
“All right. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, fine. What does tomorrow look like?”
“Pretty light. Should I move anything?”
“Not yet. And you know what do about cancelled meetings.”
“Yes, I’ve already sent Mr. Wang tickets to Hamilton and Mrs. Anderson a spa weekend in La Jolla. I’ll take care of the afternoon apology gifts.”
“Later,” he said, hanging up. He crossed the bedroom and went into the master bathroom. She was lying in the tub with her dark hair floating around her.
He bent down and flipped the switch, draining some of the water.
She opened her eyes. “Okay,” she said, starting to sit up.
“No, stay in there,” he said. He closed the drain and turned on the hot water. He looked in the cabinets and found the bath bomb tablets a former girlfriend had left behind. He dropped a couple of citrus ones into the water, and they erupted into fizzing pellets. He stripped down to skin and walked to the end of the tub. “Slide forward, kitten.”
She did so, and he climbed in.
He caught her arms and slid her back so she was resting against him, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
“It’s too bad about your not being in it for the money. After last night, I’d buy you just about anything. Sure you don’t want to rethink that?”
“I’m sure,” she said, her voice that breathy soft sound that hit him just right every time.
“Last night was intense. I drove you hard. Then we fell asleep and you didn’t get any aftercare. I didn’t get a chance to tell you how impressed I was or how much it meant to me that you didn’t shut me down way, way sooner. And you didn’t get to tell me the things you told me today so I could set the record straight on the things you had wrong, like thinking you’re not as strong as other women I’ve been with. You’re stronger than all of them. I shouldn’t be fighting with you today. I wanted you to let me baby you today. I know you’re sore and that you could probably relax easier in your own bed, but I didn’t want to let you go, especially not to be alone with no one to take care of you.”
His left hand cupped her breast, and his right hand slid down. “Open your legs.”
She opened for him, and he slid his fingers over her clit.
“I’m strong and I’m rough,” he murmured in her ear. “And I’m gonna be rough again, over and over. So you gotta find your voice and use your safeword when you need to or you’re gonna miss a lot of class.” He pinched her nipple until she gasped, then rubbed it and rolled it between his thumb and finger.
He slid a leg over hers to pin her down for better leverage as he worked her pussy. She panted and moved her hips in small circles, the water sloshing.
He sucked on the side of her neck, hard enough to mark her. She whimpered. He worked her with his fingers, then hooked them inside her and used his palm on her clit. She put a hand over his, pressing down.
“Gonna help me?” he asked, smiling against her hair.
After a while, he felt the walls of her pussy contract around his fingers and listened to her breath get short. He held on until she relaxed against him again.
“Every inch of you belongs to me,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m never going to let you go if I think you should stay. And you’ll never get anywhere picking fights with me. That’s my bread and butter, baby. You’ll just tire yourself out and make yourself miserable. I hate to see you do that.”
She was so quiet, his little kitten. In most conversations, he was the one who talked the least.
They were silent for a while, until the water chilled and the flecks of fruit and bicarbonate salts settled into a film on the surface of water.
“How do you feel, kitten?” he asked, kissing the side of her head. She was so soft and sweet in his arms. “You want me to put you in the bed so you can sleep some more?”
“May I do something to you?” she asked.
“Depends. Does it involve stabbing my balls with a fireplace poker to get even with me for last night?”
She laughed. “Of course not, Sir.”
That laughter was music. So was the fact that she’d called him Sir. She’d been listening. Things were back on track.
She flicked the drain with her toe to let the water run out.
“Let’s rinse this off,” he said, getting up and putting a hand out. She stepped out on the mat, shivering in the cool air. “Come on,” he said, tugging her hand to get them into the cavernous shower and under the warm jets.
He pulled her to him and kissed her, and she slid her hands around his back, pressing those gorgeous tits against his chest. He forgot for a moment how sore she was until his hand slid down to her ass and felt the heat of the inflammation. He caught himself in time before he grabbed it out of habit.
* * *
Kate stood in Rory’s closet, wrapped in a bathrobe whose shoulders hung down on her.
Rory tested a few T-shirts against his face, looking for the softest one. “Here, kitten,” he said, handing her a black T-shirt and a pair of black drawstring shorts. She put them on, happy for the softness of the fleece.
He walked out and returned with a glass of water and two more pills.
“What is it?”
“Just Tylenol.”
“I’m okay. It’s not as bad now.”
“Good. C’mon,” he said, moving his palm toward her.
She took them and popped them in her mouth. She swallowed them with water and handed him the glass. In the bedroom, he set the empty glass on the dresser.
“You never answered what I asked you,” she said.
“I got distracted. Tell me what you want to do.”
She moved close to him and kissed his chest, then lowered herself to her knees.
He stared down at her. “How is this something for you? Seems like something for me.”
“I’ve been wanting to,” she said and took him in her mouth. She swirled her tongue around the crown. His abs tightened as his cock rose.
Within moments his fingers were tangled in her wet hair, pulling and guiding. She sucked, putting her hands behind her.
He looked down at her from under lowered lids. “It’s like that, huh? Next time I’ll tie those wrists. C’mon, you wanted it, now take it,” he said, driving deeper until he choked her, which she loved.
Her heart pounded, and she sucked harder, closing her eyes.
He forced her head farther back, pulling her hair. Soon the rhythm had her working to breathe. When he finally came, she swallowed every bit, then dropped forward onto her hands, coughing and catching her breath, knowing she was red-faced with watering eyes.
“Here,” he said, holding out the cup.
She took a couple of swallows of water and handed it back to him, sitting down, then rolling onto her hip, so her butt wasn’t beneath her.
Rory dropped down to a knee. “Tell me what that was about.”
She flushed. “My neighborhood crush when I was in high school lured me into the woods. One of his friends held my arms behind my back, and he made me suck him off.”
“Fucking punk.”
“Yeah,” she said. “He definitely was. I cried, but secretly I liked it, too. I always wanted to be restrained and touched. And the way he talked, half sweet and half dirty, with all his muscles straining. I never got over it. You’re so…” She ran a fingertip over his abs and thigh. “I wanted to see how it would be.” She rested her head against the edge of the mattress. “I want to try so many things with you,” she said wistfully.
He rubbed his thumb over her lower lip. “You’re going to.”
Her cell phone rang, and she started to get up. He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
“No, I’ll get it for you.” He rose and grabbed the phone from her purse.
She grimace
d when she saw the number. “It’s the club. What should I do?”
“Nothing. Let it go to voicemail,” he said, taking it away from her and putting it on the dresser.
“If I’m not going back, I should tell them.” She bit her lip. “I don’t really want to have to explain though.”
“You’re not explaining anything. That conversation is all mine.”
“What will you tell them?”
“You’re going to get stiff if you stay there, kitten. C’mon,” he said, holding out a hand.
She stood, and he pointed at the bed. “Lie down and try to sleep a little more.”
She climbed onto the bed, lying on her stomach. “Will you tell me what they say?”
“Yeah, but that conversation won’t be today. More important things to do.”
“Like what?”
“Some work. Then I’m gonna fuck you again. More than once.”
That left her felling a little dizzy, in a good way.
“Rest,” he said.
He flicked off the light and took her phone on his way out. She thought she’d never be able to fall back to sleep, but in the cool dark room, more things were possible than she believed.
Chapter Ten
The whole house was dim when Kate woke. She rolled out of the bed and went in search of Rory. She peeked in rooms, finding there were two guest rooms, a media room, and an office. There were also assorted bathrooms and closets and three doors that led outdoors. Finally, she found him in his home gym, dressed in bike shorts and gray T-shirt.
He had earbuds in as he curled.
Those arms though, she thought, hopelessly crushing on him. Again.
She stood in the doorway, watching until he spotted her in the mirror. He winked at her, finished his set then put the weights down and yanked out his earbuds.
“What are you listening to?”
He put a bud in her ear. Hard-driving rap pounded in it.
“So loud. You’ll hurt your ears,” she said, touching his neck just below a lobe.
“I usually listen to the surround sound. Didn’t want to wake you.” He kissed her. “Got something for you.”
“Dinner?” she asked hopefully.
“Got a plan for that, too. I’ve got four sets of ab work left to go. Go check your phone. It’s been buzzing. It’s in the kitchen.”
She nodded. “Be careful of your ears, okay?”
He smiled, unstrapping his phone and pressing a touchpad that filled the room with music. “Kitten?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t touch anything on the counter.”
“K,” she said, rubbing her eyes.
He watched her.
“I could stay and help you count reps.”
“Damn,” he said.
“What?”
“I’d like to smack your ass to send you on your way.”
She took a precautionary step back. “Why don’t I get to stay? I’ll be super quiet, Sir.”
“I wouldn’t concentrate well with you in the room. Go,” he said, walking over to an incline bench. He laid on it, hooking his feet under a bar. Gravity pulled his T-shirt off his abs, and she slowed her retreat from the room, pausing by the door.
When he did a sit-up, he spotted her in the mirror. “If I come over there, you’ll be sorry.”
She ducked out of the room, smiling. She was still way too sore, but it gave her a little thrill to think about him spanking her. The night before had been so sexy at the beginning and when he’d had sex with her after the punishment, it was incredible.
She would know her limits better next time. Also, the pain was a lot more bearable after medication and sleep. She could stand it now, and going forward when she woke the morning after, she would know what to do.
She checked her phone. There were texts from study partners and friends. There were also two from the Marquis Club; one from Master J and one from Nikki. Master J ordered her to call him back.
Nikki’s was sweet. Just checking on you. Plz let me know ur ok. We’re worried.
She didn’t want to answer without talking to Rory, but the phone threatened to burn a hole in her hand.
As soon as he came into the kitchen, she rushed to him. “I’ll text her, okay? To let her know I’m all right?” She bit her lip. “And Master J, so he knows I’m not being rude and ignoring him?”
“My kitten’s a worrier,” he said, grabbing a glass and filling it with water. He drank every drop. “Put your phone down.”
She hesitated, but put it down on the kitchen island, staring at it like she could send a message via telepathy.
When she looked up, Rory was on his phone.
“Hey, D. It’s Rory.”
He paused.
“No, too busy to make it in tonight. Just called to let you know Kate’s all right. I have her. Tell J and Nikki.”
He paused again to listen, then frowned.
“Yeah, right,” he said sarcastically. “C’mon. Who are you talking to?”
He paused again.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll come by tomorrow. Later,” he said, ending the call and setting the phone on the counter behind him. “Okay now?”
“What did he say?” she asked. “Was he upset at me?”
“No, he’s glad you’re all right. No one is mad at you, Kate, especially not D.”
“Are they mad at you?” she asked hesitantly.
He smirked. “Everything’s all right. Come here.”
She went to him, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. He kissed the side of her face. “Go outside and stand on the deck for ninety seconds. Worry as much as you want. Then let that shit go. When you come back, I better be all that’s on your mind. If I’m not,” he whispered, sliding his hand down to her butt. “I’ll help you focus.” He gave her a slow squeeze that made her dance on her toes.
“Okay,” she said, trying to pull away.
He held on for a couple beats more, then released her.
“Two minutes at most. Any longer, and I will come out there.”
She nodded and walked to the back door. She braced herself and stepped outside. The cold air was a shock. The club skittered through her mind, but not in any formed way. Instead, she kept thinking about her cold toes on the wood and about what Master Rory would do if she was late or not paying attention to him.
She yanked the door open and hopped inside, closing it behind her.
She rushed back to the kitchen. “I’m cold,” she said, trying to hug him.
He gave her a brief squeeze, then released her. “Go wait by the island,” he said, taking food from the fridge.
She did. “Can I help?”
“Yeah, you can take off those shorts.”
“I’m very cold,” she said.
“Put a blanket around your shoulders.”
“I don’t have anything under these,” she said.
“I know.” He put a skillet on the stove and drizzled some oil in it.
She looked down at her legs where there was still gooseflesh. After a moment, she untied the drawstring and slid the shorts down. Cool air hit her under the T-shirt, and she let out a little oh of breath.
She bent down, picked up the shorts, and folded them. She set them on a barstool at the island. She found one of Rory’s sweatshirts in the media room and pulled it over her head.
She suspected he wanted her bottom bare to admire his handiwork. It made her feel very much his property. The thought made her smile.
“Can I wear socks?” she called.
“Yes,” he called back.
She went to the bedroom and found a pair of socks in his dresser. She also found a drawer full of toys that made her pulse race. Things were in packages that had never been opened. She wondered whether he’d ever brought a girl to his place. Did he throw away used toys between pets? That was probably a good policy, but she wanted to pretend that she was the only one he’d ever brought home.
She closed the drawer and returned to him in
the kitchen.
“That smells good. What is it?”
“Shredded chicken nachos.”
“I love nachos.”
She watched him, wishing he had his shirt off.
“How’s your ass? Need more medicine?”
“That depends. What do you plan to do to it?”
He looked over his shoulder at her, his gaze dropping to her bare legs. He shook his head. He turned and took the skillet off the hot burner.
“What?”
“Nothing painful,” he said. “That’s not why I asked. If you need medicine, you can’t have a drink with me.” He walked over to a liquor cabinet and took out a bottle. “You want a margarita or can you do a shot with me?”
“What is that?” she asked, moving closer.
“Good tequila,” he said, taking down two cylindrical shot glasses.
She looked at the label on the bottle. Casamigos Blanco.
“I can try to drink a shot.”
“You don’t have to toss it back. Sip it.” He filled the shot glasses and handed her one. “Make a wish, kitten,” he said, tapping his glass against hers. He tipped his head back and poured the liquor into his mouth. He swallowed it smoothly.
She closed her eyes and wished for a thousand great nights with him. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her. She took a sip. It was strong, but smoother than the other tequila she’d tasted once, which had been terrible. She took a breath, exhaled, and drank it quickly. She coughed a little, but didn’t embarrass herself. The liquor warmed her belly.
Rory poured himself another. She held out her glass. He refilled it.
She drank it and then set her glass down. “What did you wish for?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I didn’t wish. I’ve got what I want,” he said.
“Me?”
He nodded and downed his second shot.
“Do you want me to tell you what I wished for?”
“You think I don’t know?” he asked.
She blinked, deciding he probably did know. He was so experienced at all this. It had to be obvious to him how much she wanted him. Luckily, he seemed to want her a lot too.
He turned to the cupboards. He grabbed a couple of big bowls and poured blue corn chips, cheddar cheese, and salsa in. He heated them in the microwave and added the seasoned chicken, a little more cheese and some guacamole.
