A moment later, he ejaculated, filling the latex, filling her pussy. Completing her.
For a minute they stayed together, depleted, sucking in shallow gulps of oxygen.
Slowly, he withdrew his cock and lowered her leg to the floor.
“That was…”
“Everything it could have been,” he said.
“Yeah.” As he released her hair, she smoothed back the strands, finger combing them. It took this man less than five minutes to demolish a hairstyle.
“Hungry?” he asked.
“Famished.”
“Good thing we have reservations.”
“I thought we were staying in.”
“The night’s only beginning. I want you to keep your strength up,” he said, eyes darkening again.
“They let you in with those shoes?”
“They’re a different color to match my tie.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” she confessed.
“Purple.”
“Who wears purple ties?” she teased. Or shoes, for that matter.
“I like to color coordinate.” He pulled up his pants.
It was only then that she realized how ridiculous it was that they hadn’t made it past the front door.
He headed into the bathroom to dispose of the condom, and when he came back, he said, “When I said I wanted to color coordinate, I meant with you.”
“I’m in black,” she said.
“And purple.”
“Sir?”
He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a butt plug. It was smallish, silver, metal. When he held it up, she saw a riot of purple crystals. Beneath the light, they sparkled.
She realized that the clanking sound she’d heard hadn’t been from his belt buckle, but from the plug he’d had in his pocket.
“You said you didn’t have toys,” he reminded her.
She stared but couldn’t say a word. Her jaw was paralyzed.
“And I told you I do. Now turn around, spread your legs and reach back to hold your buttocks apart.”
This couldn’t be happening.
But as he lowered his gaze and looked at the floor, she knew it was, no matter how cold she suddenly felt.
He surprised her by slipping the plug into her pussy.
“Lubricant,” he explained.
“That’s not going to be enough,” she protested. Even to her own ears, the words came out sounding like a whimper.
“You’ll be okay.”
“Already not liking this,” she said.
Instead of responding, he slid it in and out several times. His rhythm made her think of sex again, and she began to relax.
“That’ll help,” he said, his words comforting her.
Since he hadn’t yet asked for anything she couldn’t do, she closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.
She felt the smooth tip at her anus and she let her grip slip a little.
“Haven’t we talked about tightening your muscles?”
“Yes, Sir,” she said. But she didn’t spread her cheeks any farther apart.
“Zee?”
“Sir?”
“How bad do you want this to hurt?”
How could his voice be alternately soothing and stern?
“Bear down.”
He slapped her left ass cheek hard, and as she twisted away from him, he pushed the plug in.
She felt the fattest part forcing that ring of muscles apart. “Damn it.”
“Exhale.”
The plug slid all the way in, and she felt her body accommodate it. “I hate it.”
“Do you?”
Mackenzie scowled at him. “You sound completely unconcerned.”
“I am. It looks hotter than I imagined it would. And my imagination is plenty vivid.”
He was proud of himself, if his grin was any indication. “I feel like my stomach is sticking out six inches.”
He helped her to stand and turn to face him. Then he pulled up her dress to her waist. “Nope.” He placed his palm above her pubic bone. He tipped his head and squinted as he viewed her from several different angles. “You look just the same.” He smoothed her dress back into place.
“That was ridiculous,” she said with a small laugh.
“Yeah, but any excuse to gawk. And I like that you shaved your pussy for me.”
“I…” She had.
“Did you pack an overnight bag?”
Crap. “It’s upstairs. I’ll be right back.”
He caught her wrist before she dashed off. “You’re wearing heels. I’ll go.”
She thought about protesting, but so far that hadn’t gotten her anywhere with him. “It’s on top of the dresser in my closet.”
“On second thought, come with me.”
“More perversions?” she asked.
“Millions of them yet to be discovered.”
“Let’s get started then,” she said, wondering what he was planning and whether or not he’d decided to cancel dinner after all. “Are we ordering Chinese?”
“Absolutely not. I still want to impress you with the way I pronounce Sancerre.”
“The thing is, I wouldn’t know if you were wrong.”
“Lead on.” He turned his hand palm up, indicating she should precede him.
“I’m always going to be in front of you?”
“If you have on a dress that short.”
She started up the stairs then stopped on the first step.
“Problem?”
With a hand on the banister, she looked back at him. “I’m not quite sure how to walk with that thing in my ass.”
“Hmm.”
She was hoping he’d tell her to take it out.
“Strut.”
That wasn’t the answer she’d expected or hoped for. “Strut?”
“As if you’re a model on a catwalk.”
“Won’t that make it more uncomfortable?”
“Probably.” He shrugged. Then he grinned. “For you. As for me, I’ll enjoy every moment. Go.” He pinched her thigh.
With a yelp, she continued upstairs, walking more slowly than usual.
“Into the bathroom,” he said when they neared the top.
“What? Why?”
“You’re going to have to behave a little better than this,” he informed her. “Unless you need a little chastisement before dinner?”
“This is me following orders,” she said. Damn. The man frustrated her. She’d never met anyone this complex. She believed he’d do exactly as he promised.
In the bathroom, he closed the door.
“You’re making me nervous,” she confessed.
“Nothing scary,” he promised her.
She wasn’t sure about that.
“Handheld mirror?” he asked.
“In the linen closet.”
He found the mirror and returned to her. “Come here.”
Kennedy moved her into place with her back to the mirror mounted on the door. “Hold this.” He handed her the other mirror then added, “Bend over.”
Realization crept over her.
He parted her buttocks and she moved the handheld mirror so she could see the reflection of the base.
“So freaking hot,” he told her, digging his fingers into her flesh. “Mine.”
She shuddered, not just from the sight of the dozens of crystals seeming to dance in the light but also from the possession in the word. Despite everything she’d said, he was still pushing forward with the idea of a relationship. “Kennedy—”
“Purple looks good on you,” he said. Slowly he released her and helped her to stand. “Thinking about you filled with my plug pleases me.”
His eyes were the color of a forest after rain. He took hold of her hand and pressed it against his dick. It was already half-hard, even though they’d fucked only minutes before.
“Who has the power here?” he asked her.
She smoothed the dress back into place.
With his thumb, he traced down the colum
n of her throat.
Mackenzie recognized that she was becoming ensnared. The way he spoke to her, looked at her, commanded her, claimed her, all put her under his spell.
Emotionally, she recognized that she should run.
Yet she was helpless to do anything other than succumb.
“You please me.” His words were encased in a seductive husk.
And, oh, how she wanted to.
“Shall we?” He grabbed her overnight bag.
She nodded, needing to escape the intimacy he’d built.
Downstairs in the entryway, he opened the closet and selected a coat for her. Even though he hadn’t been here often, he was comfortable.
Fortunately the pavement was dry and she didn’t have to worry about ice as she walked—strutted—to the car.
He opened her door, placed her bag in the back then turned on her seat warmer. After she was fastened in, he headed for downtown.
She expected him to pull up at the valet stand in front of the Old Bronwyn Building, but he continued past the building, turned on the next street, then braked to a stop behind the imposing brick structure.
He double parked, then reached into the back for his leather coat before coming around to help her out. The fact he was always so protective melted her a bit inside.
“Rather inelegant, and I hope you don’t mind but we’re going in the back and taking the freight elevator,” he said.
An employee wearing dress slacks and a green vest hurried out. He held the door, greeted them warmly then accepted the keys Kennedy tossed his way.
“Cameras,” he said, explaining why someone was waiting for them at the back door.
“May I take your coat, miss?” a young woman asked.
“Thank you,” she said, shrugging out of it. She’d had no idea that this kind of service existed.
“Stay with me, Zee,” he said, lacing their fingers together then guiding her deep into the kitchen.
The bowels of the building, she thought.
Their presence hardly merited a glance from the hardworking staff.
Near a large refrigerator, he drew her to a stop. “Have a look.”
“At what?” She peered through the glass door. A tall, round chocolate cake filled her vision. “I…” Words failed as she salivated.
“You’ve fallen in love, haven’t you?”
She glanced at him, smiled widely and pressed her hand to her heart. “I have. Totally. Completely. One hundred percent, forever in love.”
He grinned.
“With whoever baked this.”
His expression fell. “You’ve slain me.”
Her heart skipped. His words had sounded so earnest that she had no idea whether or not he was teasing.
“Good evening, Mr. Aldrich. Ma’am,” a woman greeted, interrupting them. The woman was tall and gaunt with a no-nonsense, close-cropped hairstyle.
“Suzette,” Kennedy said. “Thanks for arranging the cake. You’ve made Ms. Farrell a very happy woman. I think she’ll be leaving me for our pastry chef.”
“I certainly understand that,” Suzette said to Mackenzie, offering a warm smile that was at odds with her professional demeanor. “I’d leave Jack for Martine if he didn’t let me take a piece home on occasion. In fact, if there’s any of this one left at the end of the night, it has my name on it.”
“If I were you, I’d hide a piece,” Mackenzie replied. Then she looked at the perfectly smooth frosting again. “Or two.”
“Maybe I’ll inform the waitstaff to omit it from tonight’s selections,” Suzette said in a way that Mackenzie understood meant she’d do no such thing.
“Welcome to the Old Bronwyn Building, Ms. Farrell,” Suzette continued. “If there is anything we can do to make your evening more enjoyable, ask for me.”
“Thank you.” The difference in her lifestyle and Kennedy’s had never been sharper than it was in this instant. She used the front door, hoped a taxi arrived decently fast and settled for whatever was on the dessert tray.
“You’ve gone to a lot of effort,” she told him. “I appreciate it.” Determined, she decided she was going to enjoy the evening. This was merely another facet to loving the single life. Tomorrow, she could spend the day however she wanted. And tomorrow night she could go out with someone else.
If she was honest with herself, she would admit she liked being treated like a princess. Just as long as she didn’t get accustomed to it. But when she saw a tank of lobsters, she wondered. Perhaps it wouldn’t be all bad to get used to it.
Chapter Eight
Kennedy placed his fingers against the small of Mackenzie’s back as he moved her through the kitchen and to the freight elevator.
“I’ve never seen this part of a building before,” she said.
“Stick with me, honey. I will show you all the best things life has to offer. Kitchens, alleyways, back stairs.”
As they waited for the lift, he added, “Since this is Boston and not New York, we don’t have lots of paparazzi camping out, but it’s not unusual for more enterprising members of the press to hang out in the lobby at the bar on Friday and Saturday nights, business reporters and the society writers, especially. I figured you’d want to keep our relationship private.”
“This isn’t a—” She stopped herself.
He wondered what the hell was wrong with her admitting they were dating. At some point, she was going to have to get accustomed to that idea. In fact, he was starting to think in much longer terms.
For now, he refused to debate her and ruin another evening. Instead, he raised her hand to his lips then sucked one finger into his mouth.
“Someone might see,” she protested, but she didn’t look away, didn’t pull back.
This was much better than engaging in an argument with her like he had last night. He hadn’t been halfway home when he’d realized he’d taken an unnecessarily stupid risk in leaving. He’d counted on the fact that she was as attracted to him as he was to her. That she wouldn’t be any more capable than he was of staying away.
Kennedy had spent the day dreading the fact she might call to tell him she didn’t want to see him.
The doors parted. She pulled her hand away as a busboy excused himself and walked past them, pushing a cart loaded with dirty dishes.
“You do know how to show a girl a good time,” Mackenzie said as she preceded him into the elevator.
He was relieved she’d decided to snuff out her inclination to argue.
A few seconds after the car started lumbering toward the eighth floor, he pushed the stop button. “There’s no surveillance camera on this one.” He grinned.
“That’s the reason you chose the back way.”
“One of them.”
“You’re quite calculating, Kennedy,” she said, eyes wide, breaths short.
Yeah. No doubt about that attraction between them. “You’re wondering what I have in mind.”
“I am now.”
Christ. Everything about Mackenzie undid him. She was a smart business owner. After he’d received the packet of information from RightNow, he’d done a little research. He didn’t want to pry into her personal life, but he’d vetted her company. She’d started it in college, and her half-sister had been her first employee. Her roommate had been her second. Then she’d expanded her circle and found temporary jobs for a lot of her friends. By the time she’d graduated, her fledgling company had been established.
While he admired brains, he was crass enough, perverted enough, male enough to get a hard-on when intelligence and beauty blended together.
Take all that then blend in her submissive impulses? He was starting to understand his friend Reece’s attraction to a woman who’d shattered his heart by vanishing for two years. He’d been harsh in thinking Reece was tripping over his libido. Now Kennedy was very close to doing the same thing. “Take off your dress.”
“What? Here? Now?”
“Yes.” He shouldn’t like shocking her as much as he did. But the w
ay her chest rose and fell in time with what he was sure was a rapid heartbeat appealed to the Dom in him, magnified it. “Here,” he said. “Now.”
Without further argument, she removed her coat and offered it to him. Then she took off the dress. As if hoping to hang onto some modesty, she pressed it to her chest.
“Now the bra.”
She looked down and worried her lower lip.
Since she continued to hesitate, he added, “Turn around, then.”
When she’d complied, he unfastened her bra snap then drew the straps over her shoulders. She had to move the dress from hand to hand, but in seconds, she was bare in front of him.
Now he could hardly breathe. “So fucking gorgeous.” He placed his palm against her stomach. “I like knowing you’re stuffed full with my plug.”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered.
“Hold out your arms.” He’d have to tie her into bondage like this sometime. “May I take a photo?”
She didn’t protest that it was perverted or kinky, she just tipped back her head and waited.
He took the dress and brassiere from her. The dress he put around his neck, the bra he wadded and stuffed in his suit pocket.
Then he snapped several pictures. After reviewing them, he said, “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I may spend all my days looking at these instead of getting something done.” He dropped his phone back inside his pants’ pocket. “I have one more surprise before we go into the restaurant.”
“Oh?”
He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a pair of small metal hearts.
“Nipple clamps? Are you kidding me?” She glared. “Tell me you’re kidding. You want me to wear these to dinner?”
“They’re more like jewelry,” he said. “Not as painful. More of a squeeze than a bite.”
“And you know this because you tried them?”
“The sales girl told me.”
Mackenzie scowled. “I’ll bet she’s on commission.”
“Stay where you are, my skeptical sub. And keep your arms out.”
As testament to her curiosity, her trust, her submissive streak, she did what he’d said, even though she scowled.
He licked her right nipple then affixed the jewelry.
She hissed.
“Too much?”
She waited a bit before answering. Then she said, “It will be fine.”
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