Chapter 10
Ten
The whole house was dim when Kate woke. She rolled out of 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 a 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 ear buds.
“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, ok? 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 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.
“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 bar stool 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.
He poured a third shot then capped the tequila bottle and returned it to the cabinet. He didn’t drink the shot, though. Instead, he slid two white boxes out from a small handle bag. He held them out.
She took the boxes, licking her lips.
Kate set them on the counter near her and lifted one lid. There was a gold filigree choker collar. It glinted in the light like Christmas lights. The clasp was engraved. She lifted it and read the word. Owned.
“So beautiful,” she whispered, her whole body tingling.
“Subtle. For school or outside,” he said.
She lifted it to put it on.
“Not that one tonight.”
After setting it back in the box, she touched it again before she slid it away.
Kate raised the other lid. Her stomach clenched nervously. Inside, there was a silk-lined black leather collar with a heavy silver ring in front. For a leash, she realized. No need to put the word owned on this one.
“Bring it here,” he said.
After she handed it to him, she lifted her hair. He fastened it around her neck.
She turned and faced him. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He fingered the ring. “You say that like I did it for you,” he said, holding her gaze locked in his.
“Should I say ‘you’re welcome’ instead?” she asked lightly.
He laughed. “Not if you want to sit down this month,” he teased.
She was glad they could joke again. “I kind of love you,” she whispered.
“I’ve come a long way since last night when you hated me.”
Her heart ached a little. She knew it was too soon to break out the L word, but she’d wanted him to say something romantic in return.
Rory sent her in the living room with her nachos.
She felt a little buzzed, the liquor hitting her hard and fast, and that made her nervous about making a mess.
She grabbed paper towels to make a placemat under her dish.
As he’d requested, she laid on her stomach with the shirts bunched at her lower back.
She probably should’ve felt strange or self conscious, but she didn’t.
She bent her knees, and her socks became askew as she moved her feet while she ate.
She wondered what was taking him so long. When she looked up and over her shoulder, she found him leaning against the doorway with his arms folded across his chest. He looked so gorgeous and imposing.
“Did you eat?” she asked. She’d barely gotten through half of hers.
“Finish that. I’m waiting.”
“Oh. Ok,” she said, turning her attention back to her plate. She ate for a few more minutes, then sat up, perching on her hip. “That was really good. I’ll just wash this and—”
“Leave it.” He walked in and held out a hand. She took it. He pulled her up, but didn’t stop there. A second later, she found herself hanging over his shoulder.
“What?” she whispered.
He walked to the bedroom and dropped her on the bed. There were already leather cuffs waiting and a some sort of rod.
She blinked, startled by the sudden shift.
“You remember your safeword?”
“Yes. Do you?”
He grinned. “I don’t need a safeword.”
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant. Take off any clothes that aren’t yours.”
“That’s everything…oh. You think you’re clever.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Which—you are. Why do you get to tease me, and I almost never get to tease you?”
“Because I can bench press you.”
She laughed, flipping off the socks by shaking her feet. “That makes you a bully.”
“Are you drunk, Kate?”
“I don’t know,” she said, emerging from his shirt and sweatshirt all at once.
She lay back, looking at the top of the wall where it met the ceiling.
“You’d think gray would be a dreary color, but this shade is so nice.
It’s got a little bit of green or something lighter or warmer in it.
Did you choose this color? Or like hire a decorator? ”
“Fuck.”
“Okay,” she said, holding her arms aloft. “Tie me up. Or Down. Both, I guess.”
“Are you playing?”
She tilted her head. “I’m ready to,” she said, holding her wrists toward him.
He laughed, shaking his head. He climbed on the bed. “You’re gonna make me a liar, kitten.”
“How so, Sir?”
“I said I’d never go vanilla in this room.” He reached over his shoulders, grabbed his shirt and hauled it forward and over his head in one smooth gesture. His naked torso was mouth-wateringly amazing.
“Remember when you said to me, ‘You’re so goddamned beautiful?’”
“No, yesterday was too long ago.”
“I liked it when you said that.”
“Shocking.”
“That wasn’t my point. I was going to say that I think that about a hundred times an hour when I look at you. I just don’t tell you.”
“Good,” he said, shoving off his bike shorts. “Keep that shit a secret.”
She bit her lip. “You’re kind of heartless.” Her eyes blurred with tears.
“Aw, come on, baby. I was just teasing you. Do not do that,” he said seriously.
She flung an arm over her eyes, trying to get ahold of herself. “I’m fine. I just need a minute.”
She felt the bed spring up when he rose.
“I said I’m okay. I don’t want—”
“Nah, it’s all right. You’re drunk and tired. Go to sleep,” he said.
She spoke again, but she found she was only talking to herself.