Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Fox
Everything is a ticking time bomb. I have fifteen days left of my meds and that’s with me cutting to half doses.
Kitten has been putting up walls around Fox, like she’s trying to protect herself from getting hurt.
Because she’s right—this will end badly.
I have no doubt. And when I’m with her, sans mask, she makes me feel good and human.
I didn’t think I could ever feel like that again.
I keep waiting for the guilt to come. Or worse—the day I have to tell Amber the truth. Not just about Fox, but about the other things in my life.
Last night Fox had to cancel with Kitten.
There was a mob math crisis. The Four Families had to move some money around before any of the feds caught wind of it.
They have a mole on the inside and they got a tip that someone was looking into their money.
It all happened so fast, I forgot about her until late.
But I told her we could meet up today at seven p.m. I got a thumbs up, but no text this morning.
It’s seven fifteen and she’s not here. She’s always on time. I head back to Dimitri’s office and take out my phone. No messages.
Me: Where are you?
I pace, picking up Dimitri’s paperweights and moving them around his desk. She’s never been late before. Anxiety pounds like a drum line in my mind.
Me: Are you having car trouble?
I watch three videos about cats knocking shit off tables and check my phone again. Maybe the message didn’t go through because my screen was full.
Nothing.
Me: It’s 7:25. I’m getting worried.
I am—the anxiety is building. What the hell could be keeping her? Work? Is she hurt? Is something wrong? What if her ex came back? Old feelings and dormant dread start to creep in as all my intrusive thoughts battle for attention and domination. I break club policy and find her address.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m in a cab with a duffel bag in my hand. Shit. Why did I even bring this? I text her from Ryan’s phone. If she answers, I’ll know at least she’s alive. But nothing. With each passing road sign new fears sink in. She’s dead. She’s in a pool of her own blood. She’ll be cold.
No. Not again. I can’t do it again.
Waves of nausea hit me as the cab stops in front of her building.
There’s no outside lock or doorman, which pisses me off as well.
Has she no sense of self-preservation? I bound up four flights of stairs, pulling the mask down over my face before I reach her door.
I pound until my fist hurts. “Kitten? Are you there?”
Fuck. Should I call the police? Or better yet, Dimitri. He could break down a door if need be.
The door swings open and she’s standing there, arms crossed in a bathrobe and glowering at me. She’s pissed at me. Well, two can play that game.
“What the fuck?” I say, matching her non-verbal energy while leaning on her door frame, trying to catch my breath. She’s okay. That’s what matters.
Her lips are tight, eyes narrow. “What?” She’s so icy I could freeze on the spot.
“Why are you here? We had a time set up.” I sound harsher than I wanted to, but my confusion and frustration are flooding out the cracked dam of my mind.
She squares up her shoulders, filling the door frame with her tiny body, not giving me an inch. “I didn’t want to go.”
My hands flex and my jaw tightens. “You couldn’t text? Didn’t you see all of mine?” Should I show her my phone as evidence?
She exhales sharply, and oh my God, did she roll her eyes at me? She follows it up with a dismissive wave. “I was in the shower and drying my hair.”
Take a deep breath. She’s not a brat, this isn’t her kink. So it must be something else. “Kitten.” I give her a warning and she glaces at the floor.
“I didn’t want to see you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a liar.”
Fuck. Does she know about Ryan? Does she know the truth?
“I was in the locker room when I saw your text message. So I figured I would go home, but then I heard two girls talking about how you were in the Playroom, fucking multiple women in a scene. I thought that couldn’t be right, so I talked with Jade and she said that your account was being used.”
What? I rub my temples, but the mask isn’t helping. “That’s not true.”
But her expression doesn’t change. “Whatever. I’m glad you got over your stupid rules. Or maybe that was something you just say to everyone to make them feel special and I was stupid enough to believe it.”
I don’t understand. “But that's wrong.”
She throws up her hands, and the robe loosens. “Oh, so I’m the liar?”
“No.” I believe she thinks what she’s saying is true. But then it hits me. “I’m going to fucking kill him.” I dig into my back pocket and pull out my phone. That motherfucking twatburger picks up on the third ring. “Don’t say a fucking word—just yes or no. Were you at the club last night?”
Bear says, “Yes.”
I let out a low growl. “Were you in the Playroom?”
“Yes.”
I whip my head toward Kitten. Her eyes grow wide, and she covers her mouth.
“Did you wear my mask?”
Silence.
“Did you wear my fucking mask?” I take a few steps into her apartment, and she doesn’t put up a fight.
Quietly, he says, “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I sat on mine and crushed my nose, and it felt all pokey. Your masks are all soft.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I yell, which makes her flinch, so I regroup. “I’ve got an angry Kitten who thinks I’m cheating on her. Rightfully so.”
“Oh, you are definitely not cheating on her.”
He hurt Kitten. “Lock your bedroom door tonight.” I hang up the phone and glance around her home.
The living room opens directly into the kitchen.
It’s clean, with throw pillows everywhere and the glow of a yellow lamp in the corner.
Her couch acts as a divider between the two spaces.
It’s functional, but it doesn’t scream her.
“So, you weren’t at the club last night?” She moves one of her shoes out of the way with her foot.
“No,” I’m a little proud about how calm I’m being, all things considered.
She lowers her face until her chin touches her chest, contrite. “Sorry.”
My anger hasn’t cooled, but it’s not really her I’m pissed at. Well … kinda. “You could’ve just asked.”
She’s quiet. “I’ve always been honest with you. You’re the one hiding things.”
Ouch. I could take off my mask right now, let it fall and show her the truth. But the panic of losing her is too raw, and I can’t do that. “Come here, Kitten.”
She moves slowly, head down until her forehead rests against my chest. In one motion, I pull her into my arms and hold her.
“I feel stupid,” she mutters into my shirt.
“I get it.” Me too. I'm a fucking moron for a million different reasons. She smells like soap and lemongrass, her shower fresh on her skin. I rub the fluffiness of her robe and wish the gloves weren't blocking the contact. “Sorry for crashing in here.”
Her cheeks tighten against my chest—she’s smiling. “It’s weird you’re in my home.”
“Do you have anything you don’t want me to see?”
“You’ve seen every part of me. Why would I be embarrassed if my laundry’s on the floor?”
That’s my girl.
I release her and step back, taking her in.
Her hair is still damp from the shower, soft waves spilling over her shoulders.
Her face is flushed, and the robe she’s wrapped in is gaping open, revealing her cleavage and a single straight line of flesh from her neck down to the dark curls between her thighs.
Only the terry cloth belt keeps her protected.
I trace her neck, past her cleavage, and drag my knuckle down her bare stomach. She shivers under my touch. With one quick motion, I tug the belt open. She gasps as my hand grips her hip and pulls her flush against me.
I whisper, “Show me your room.”
Kitten sighs, her expression shifting from anticipation to a blush. “Okay, but you can’t make fun of it. I had to share a bedroom with my sister, and when I lived with my boyfriend, he never let me decorate. So I’ve spent all my energy turning this into my dream bedroom.”
“I’m not here to judge your decorating choices.” I grab her chin. “You know exactly what I’m here for—and what I want.”
She blinks, closes her eyes, and slumps her shoulders, giving in. “Yes, Fox.” She leads me to the door and sighs. “I warned you.”
Pink. It’s aggressively feminine—pink sheets, pink painted walls and hanging black-and-white flower prints. A deep black bedframe. Stuffed animals sit on shelves all around her bed. Now, this is her.
“I’m going to do terrible things to you in this pink cotton candy room. You understand?”
She nods.
“Lose the robe and bend over the bed.”
She drops her last layer of protection and presses her chest against the comforter.
“Spread your legs.”
Her glorious ass. The soft curves of her hips. The dip of her lower back. Her hair cascades down, blocking her face. Vulnerable. Trusting.
I drop the duffel bag next to her. The darkness of the bag is a stark contrast to the bubble gum-pink bed. I pull out ropes, vibrators, and a blindfold, laying them by her head so she sees what’s coming.
“Take your hands and spread your ass.”
She hesitates.
“Kitten.”
Her fingers clamp on her cheeks, spreading them, exposing her pink pussy. God, I’m starting to love the color pink.
I reach into the bag, pull out the lube, and snap off the lid. She inhales deeply. I warm it between my fingers, one hand pressing on her back to keep her still. “You can tell me to stop if you’re not ready for this.” My gloved finger circles her puckered hole and she squirms. “Are you ok?”
“Yes,” she purrs.
I press down harder, holding her in place as I tease the nerves. She sighs and moans.
I breach the tight ring of muscle and push inside. She groans and tries to move her hips, but my other hand smacks her left cheek.
“Stay still. You know better.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fuck. My pants are getting tight. Tonight is going to be different.
My right hand keeps pumping and stretching her hole while my other reaches for the bag.
Once I feel like her insides have been prepared, I pour a little extra lube on the plug and slide it into her ass.
She tenses and moans until the puckered skin closes around it.
Her pussy is already wet and I’ve barely touched her. I toss off my gloves, and my bare fingers brush across her opening. I’ve fucked her, but this is the first time I’m touching her skin, exposing myself to her warmth and heat.
“Fuck, Kitten. You love this slutty side of yourself, don’t you?”
She gasps as my fingers coat her own wetness around her clit. I watch her body twitch and react to my movement before stepping away, taking a moment to fully appreciate my view—the gem decorating her most forbidden place. I’m so hard I might come in my pants. I need her.
“Get up,” I say, and she lifts to face me.
Her cheeks are flushed, and her nipples are like pebbles. My thumb brushes her left nipple while the other hand massages her right breast. The skin-to-skin contact is a rush I hadn’t expected. Her big green eyes look up at me, and I’m done. I’m hers.
“You’re touching me.” Her eyes drift toward the blindfold.
“Yes, I am aware.” My hands travel around her back, feeling the soft expanse of her skin. “Tonight will be different.” She swallows and nods slowly. I reach for her chin and hold her to my gaze. “You scared me, and you’ll need to take your punishment.”
She nods.
“But I hurt you, and I promise you’ll come so many times that’s all you’ll remember of this night. You understand?”
“Yes,” she says without hesitation.
“But first you’re going to look up at my face while I fuck your pretty little mouth.
” I take a step back and she drops her knees, her fingertips like claws running down my body as she sinks in front of me.
I unzip and let my cock free, leaving my pants around my hips.
She licks me from base to tip. My fingers thread through her hair.
She knows the cue and takes me deep. Her hand moves in sync with her mouth, her eyes beginning to water as I hit the back of her throat.
“Breathe through your nose,” I remind her.
She moans as I grip her hair harder. Her mouth is brutally inviting.
She works me until her lips swell and the intensity is too much to bear.
“You’re going to swallow it all as I come in the back of your throat.
” Her eyes water as my head tilts back. My body shakes as I lose myself and release into her mouth.
She slows down, moving more gently around my highly sensitive cock. My shoulders loosen. She is careful as she tucks my dick back into my pants and zips them up. “Such a considerate, good girl.”
I help her to her feet and stroke her hair until my fingertips rest on her cheek. “My sweet Kitten—now it’s your turn.”