27. Dempsey
27
Dempsey
F uck.
Me.
I wasn’t prepared.
I know I’m a big man that gives off an air of superiority. People don’t generally look twice in my direction. When I’m in full work mode, the only expression you’ll get from me is a scowl.
Why?
Tell. Me. Why? This gorgeous bundle of sex just slapped me, and all I want to do is strip her in the middle of this fucking club and make her come so hard she forgets her name.
“Again.” I don’t even recognize my own voice. Was that a growl? It was low and husky, but she understood me. Katy tips her head to the bartender and motions for another round. Moments later, the blonde puts two more cups on the bar top next to Katy’s ass.
I drink in the woman before me. Her lean body sits on the bar, legs spread, surrounding my hips. Her hair is in soft waves flowing down her chest, and I take a lock between my fingers and twirl.
“Fuck, you’re stunning, Pepper.” My chest hurts looking at her.
Katy’s smile takes my fucking breath away. She’s so happy and carefree right now.
“Are you sure?” She holds up a shot glass-sized plastic cup, and I take it from her hands.
“Are you?” I take a step back and shoot back the amber liquid. I could care less what’s in this cup because the next part is what I’m aching for. I brace myself as Katy splashes the cup of cold water in my face and wait with anticipation for the bite of her hand as she slaps me across the cheek. It’s more euphoric the second time, knowing what’s coming.
She didn’t tell me what was happening the first time. All I was told was to drink and put my hands on her knees. I had zero issues with that.
Chug. Knees. Water. Slap.
My dick was instantly hard, and this second time turns me into fucking steel. I can feel it pressing against the zipper of my jeans.
I step back between her legs and revel in the joy that radiates from her entire body.
Katy gently caresses my cheek, and the warmth of her hand, mixed with the heat of the sting, leaves me on fire. She’s my fucking flame.
“Are you okay?”
Is that a serious question?
I grab her hips and pull her to the edge of the bar.
“Do you feel how okay I am, Pepper?” I shift my hips, rubbing my erection on her heated core. Her eyes dart down to where we’re connected, and a beautiful blush creeps up her cheeks.
“Just from a slap?”
“Just from you. You turn me on constantly, but that slap…Fuck it did something to me. Why do I fold so easily for you, Pepper?”
Katy’s delicate fingers dance along the jaw of the cheek she hasn’t slapped yet.
“Do you need a matching set?”
My entire body goes up in flames. I want to tell her yes a thousand times, but I’m not sure I could contain myself if she slapped me again. I’m already barely hanging on.
My pulse races, and my breathing is erratic. Being in public with her and having the feelings that I never allow myself to have outside the bedroom heightens every sensation in my body.
“I want you to do everything to me, but not here. I can’t take much more. We need to get out on that dance floor and burn off some energy.”
Katy pouts as I lift her from the bar top and place her back on the floor.
“Party pooper.” She slaps my chest with an audible thwap. “Hmm. Did you bring a change of shirt? This might get uncomfortable.” Katy pushes on various spots of my shirt, and water pools around her finger.
“Katy?” We turn our heads at the bartender’s voice. “Bossman said there’s a shirt in his office if your man wants to change.”
Your man? There’s no way Tucker referred to me as Katy’s man.
Katy laughs and looks up at me. “Why doesn’t it surprise me that he would think of bringing you a shirt? Wanna change before we dance?”
Grabbing Katy by the waist, I attempt, with little effort, to pull her into my chest. She squeals, not wanting to be wet. I lean close to her ear, and she shivers from the heat of my breath. “I thought you liked it when I got you wet?”
Her mouth drops open in mock horror.
“Sir, I am a lady, and you should not speak to me like that.” She fakes a Southern accent, and it’s adorable.
“Well, my southern belle, shall I go change so you stop looking at me like I’m your next meal?”
“I-um. I wasn’t…”
“Uh huh. Let’s go, Pepper.”
After changing my shirt in Tucker’s office—which I had to lock myself in the bathroom to do because if she kept looking at me with those hungry eyes, we were going to have to leave—we got on the dance floor.
Katy is much more coordinated than me and picks up the dances while I watch. I’m able to fake my way through the two-step, and a few slow, couple dances were played where I got to hold her close to me.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Katy’s head rests on my shoulder as we dance to a slow song. We’ve been here for hours, enjoyed dessert in the restaurant, and, at my request, one final Kickin’ Cowboy sans water. I’m feeling light with the alcohol and the pheromones floating between us.
“Yes, but I’m ready to go home…to the pool house.”
Fuck.
“Are you sure?” Please fucking say yes. I’m aching for her. Tonight has been beyond my wildest expectations.
“Positive.”
Taking Katy’s hand in mine, I pull out my cell phone and text Patrick. Three shots and a beer during dessert is more alcohol consumption than I’m willing to drive, Katy.
I pause to look for Will when we walk out the front door into the foyer. He quickly stands from the chair he was relaxing in, looking nervous.
“Will, could you contact Mr. Bennett? We’re leaving and would like to say goodbye.”
“Of course.” He calls Tucker on the walkie, and a few minutes later, Tucker exits through the restaurant door toward us with a big smile.
“Heading home or…” He has a gleam in his eye as he leaves his sentence open-ended. I stay quiet, hoping Katy will answer his silent question, and I internally leap for joy when she does.
“We’re heading to the pool house if it’s still alright?”
Tucker takes her hand in his. “Is it your choice?”
A mild annoyance bubbles in my chest at the insinuation I could be persuading her, but the bodyguard in me knows it’s the right question to ask, and I respect him for it.
Katy smiles at me sweetly and pulls me closer to her. “It is.”
“Then have fun. Owen is well taken care of, and breakfast will be waiting in the morning. Lincoln made an overnight French toast casserole.”
Katy hums her appreciation, and we say our goodbyes. Patrick is waiting for us at the curb when we step outside, and I wave him back in the car when he tries to step out to open the car door.
Patrick eyes me only once when I slide in next to Katy and take her hand. I’m sure this situation is strange for him. I’m paid to keep her and Owen safe, but tonight we are breaking all of the rules, and I don’t even fucking care.
I got my approval from Katy’s pseudo-parents before I made the official plans for this evening. I know Katy has shared some of our developing relationship with them, and I’ve spoken to a few as well, but this is an official date. I wanted their blessing because, at the end of the day, her safety is my priority. I won’t ever jeopardize that for my feelings, and I needed to make sure they knew that.
I’m sure they saw the feelings developing between us over the past few years, but I never pursued them. I had no intention of crossing that line, but I’m not sure there even is one anymore. It’s so blurry that it’s blended.
Even the boundary of day and night seems to have lost its luster; Katy breaks the rules more than I do. Ultimately, her happiness is a close second to her safety, and I can provide her with both of those.
“Take us to the pool house, Jeeves!” Katy giggles at her own joke, and Patrick grunts his usual grunt. She’s never sat in the back seat while I drive unless she was attending to Owen when he was an infant. So now, riding in the back and having me here with her is a whole new experience.
Katy laces her fingers through mine and sits as close to me as the seat belt allows. I feel like I’ll get in trouble for being this close to her, but tonight isn’t about the job. It’s about Katy and a potential Katy and me.
As we pull up to the house, Katy suddenly looks nervous.
“What’s wrong, Pepper?”
“Patrick, are you okay with this? I know you’ve been sleeping here?”
Oh, I had forgotten that fact.
“I don’t sleep much. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure, Patrick? I don’t want to put you out.” Katy’s concern for his feelings is admirable.
“I’m sure. Have a good evening.” Patrick holds my eyes in the rearview before stepping out to open Katy’s door.
“Can we sit outside for a little bit? It’s so nice out tonight.”
I look at Patrick and nod. “I’ve got her. You don’t need to stay.” Patrick nods his acknowledgment and disappears up the driveway. Katy and I sit on the bench near the front door, and she curls into my side.
“We don’t have to do anything tonight, Pepper. I don’t want you to think I have any expectations.”
She sits up, a devious smile lighting up her face.
“I do, Viking. I want to explore some of the things we bought at the toy store. If you’re up for it, of course.”
Oh fuck. If she’s asking for my permission, she isn’t thinking about things like the blindfold or the ropes we bought. She’s looking to go big or go home.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t a little apprehensive about some of the more risque things we bought, but I made you a deal, and I won’t renege on it.”
Katy curls back into my side, and we silently enjoy the night sounds around us.
“Can I ask you a question, Pepper?”
“Anything.”
“There’s no wrong answer, but I’m curious if there’s a reason why you want to…for lack of a better term, dominate me. This isn’t me saying no, I’m just wondering if there’s something behind your need to do it.”
Katy sits up again, curling her legs under her on the bench. She takes my hand and toys with my fingers, deep in thought.
“I’m not a freaky bedroom person. Well, I guess I can’t really say that because I don’t have any frame of reference.” She giggles and peers at me through her dark lashes. I can’t help but smirk at her innocence and her boldness. “I feel safe with you. I’ve never questioned that. I want to explore…things that make me feel powerful…in the bedroom. My choice was taken away from me, and I think maybe—”
I grab her chin and stop her. “Be confident in your next words. No maybes.”
She blinks at me several times. The moonlight makes her eyes shine gold.
“I want to be able to control a situation. You’re bigger than me, and even though I know you’ll be a willing participant, I want to take that part of my life back. If that’s okay with you? You don’t have to say yes. I’m asking for a big thing that probably isn’t something that you’ve ever thought about or maybe even want to do. You can say no.”
“Katy.”
Her rambling words stop, and her eyes snap to mine. I take her cheeks in my palms and smile before I kiss her—tender and gentle.
“I will always be whoever you need me to be and do whatever you need me to do.” I look up to the sky and back to her. “It’s the nighttime, my princess. You own my nights.”
Katy flings her leg over my hips and straddles me. I know this isn’t the best position to be in because even though it’s dark, we’re under the pool light, and anyone in the big house could look in our direction from the porch and see us. But at the moment, with Katy’s lips on mine, I’ll take whatever disciplinary action comes my way.