Chapter 16
Ace
Heat rushes through me, and it’s different from the heat on my ass. It’s more of a sting there.
Who am I?
My core clenches, and I shift to my other foot. “Daddy.”
“Good girl,” he croons, resting the cool wooden spoon on one of my ass cheeks. “I’m perfectly aware that you can physically clean yourself up, but that isn’t happening around me, angel.”
Then he spanks me four more times with the spoon, alternating cheeks each time. I yelp and rise onto my tiptoes, letting out a breath when he pauses.
“Are you going to behave now and let me take care of you?”
I nod quickly, “Yes, Daddy. I will. I’ll be good.”
Kian chuckles and swats me twice more, then drops the spoon onto the counter and picks up the cloth. “That’s my good girl. Spread your feet for me.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I obey, knowing he can see everything as he wipes my folds and then my ass before he throws the towel into the sink behind us.
He takes a step back in silence, and the urge to rise is almost impossible to ignore, knowing he’s staring at me.
“Come here,” he finally says quietly.
Something that feels like relief floods me as I push myself up and turn toward him. He stands, tall and broad, with his ass resting against the counter, his belt and slacks still undone. When I get closer to him, he gently pulls me against his chest. Then he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
My heart pitter-patters, and butterflies fly freely in my stomach. There’s something about Kian that makes me feel seen. Like he knows exactly what I need somehow. It’s unnerving.
Leaning into his warmth, I sigh and listen to his heartbeat while he holds me. My body curves into his perfectly, and I’m starting to wonder if loving our size difference is becoming a kink.
“How tall are you?” I finally ask.
It doesn’t matter. He’s tall. That’s all I know. But some strange little part of me wants a number.
“Six-four,” he answers as he peers down at me. “I bet you’re barely five foot.”
Glaring up at him playfully, I stick my tongue out. “I am five-one-and-a-half, thank you very much.”
Kian stares at me for a few seconds before his mouth curls into the most handsome smile I’ve ever seen. “You’re a brat, you know that?”
My eyebrows pinch as I let his words sink in.
Huh?
“You don’t agree?” he asks with a smirk.
Lips twitching, I dart my tongue out to wet them. “No, it’s just… I don’t think anyone has ever described me as a brat.”
His eyes glow as he studies my face in the silent way he always does. “Maybe you feel safe enough to be one around me.”
Maybe I do. Which scares the hell out of me. “Can I use the bathroom?”
Because I need a minute to panic about this, by myself.
“There’s one through there,” he says, pointing toward one of the exits of the lavish kitchen.
When I step into the powder room and close the door behind me, I flip on the light and wince at how bright it is.
After blinking a few times, I use the toilet, then go to the sink to wash my hands.
My head is fuzzy still, from both the alcohol and the orgasms. When I turn around in front of the mirror, I lift the back of my dress and twist to look at the round red spots on my ass, where he spanked me with the wooden spoon.
My clit spasms.
Why am I like this?
Why do I need this?
Dropping my dress, I spin around and use a tissue to clean up my smeared makeup. I need to go home and go to bed. I’m buzzed and freshly fucked. Now, I need my bed and probably my heating pad. And some pain relievers. The last thing I want is to be hungover tomorrow.
Kian is still in the kitchen, downing a bottle of water when I walk in. He holds one out to me with the cap already loose.
“Thanks. I’m going to walk home since it’s not that far.”
As soon as the words come out, he stills and narrows his gaze at me. “What the fuck did you just say?”
His tone sends a nervous shiver through me. “What?”
He sets his water on the counter and stalks toward me, his eyes so dark, I’m sure they’re black. “You’re not going anywhere, angel. Unless you’d prefer that I come sleep over at your house.”
With his left hand on my chest, he slides it up until he’s cradling my throat in his palm. He doesn’t squeeze. Not at all. Instead, he strokes my neck with his thumb. “And if you think I’d ever let you walk anywhere, you’ve clearly never met a man like me.”
Actually, I know a man so much like Kian, it’s a little scary. I should have known that Kian wouldn’t have liked my idea to walk home. It’s a three-minute journey at most. Men are so ridiculous sometimes.
“Do you need anything from your place to stay the night?” he asks.
I shake my head, trying not to think too deeply about how thoughtful he’s being. The men I’ve had sex with before didn’t give a flying fuck about anything other than their own orgasms. And half the time, they were asleep before I even came back from the bathroom.
“No. I’m good.”
“Good.” He takes my hand and tugs me behind him. “Come on, angel. Let’s go to bed.”
I follow him through the house, looking around as we go. We walk down a wide hallway that ends with double doors. Kian opens one and motions for me to go first.
My feet sink into plush carpeting as I move into his most private space. Every single object is in its own place. It looks like a hotel room, except everything is plush and comfortable. It’s obvious no dime was spared in making this room a place where he can relax and unwind.
He stands just inside the room and watches as I take it all in, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. Then he walks into the enormous-looking walk-in closet and reemerges a moment later.
“Come here,” he says, making his way over to the bed.
When he sits on the edge with his thighs spread wide, waiting for me, I forget to breathe for a second as I cross the room to him.
As soon as I’m close enough, he reaches out and takes my hand, pulling me gently into him, so I’m somewhat perched on his thigh with my back to his front.
A second later, my dress unzips, and as it falls forward, he also unhooks my bra.
“Arms up, angel.”
Swallowing down the lump forming in my throat, I slowly raise my arms, and he drops a worn, dark gray T-shirt over my head, then tugs it down.
It’s enormous on me, but it’s so soft. And it’s his.
It doesn’t matter if we’re just fucking, or whatever we’re doing; there’s something about sleeping in a man’s clothes. It’s sexy.
Kian gently moves me off his thigh, so my dress can drop to the floor, and then he leads me into the bathroom, which he could easily host a party in.
“Here’s a toothbrush. You can use anything from the drawers if you need it. I’m going to change and find you some pain relievers to take before bed.”
My lips curl into a soft smile, and I nod. “Thank you, Daddy.”
He pauses and looks back at me, his gaze raking over me. “I love hearing you call me that.”
Then he disappears, and I lean against the vanity, letting out a sigh. My temples ache, and I reach back to rub the base of my neck, hoping my fingers will ease some of the tension there. He fucked me until I was limp as a noodle. I have no idea why I feel any pain right now.
I’m in the middle of brushing my teeth when he comes in and sets two tablets and a fresh bottle of water on the counter. I can’t pay attention to anything other than his bare chest in the mirror, every inch of it inked with so many designs, yet somehow they all blend together perfectly.
“Holy shit,” I mutter with a mouth full of toothpaste.
Kian shoots me a smirk and goes to the other sink to brush his own teeth. “Brush, angel. You have all night to stare.”
Giggling, I obey and then watch him after I’ve finished swallowing the tablets. As soon as he’s done, he follows me into the bedroom and switches off the light as we go. He’s already pulled the blankets back as he points to the side of the bed farthest from the door.
“Get in, baby girl.”
I sigh and crawl across the massive mattress, which I’m not even sure is a standard size found in stores, and wiggle under the covers, rolling onto my side to face the middle of the bed. Kian climbs in beside me and pulls me to him, his lips finding mine for a slow, intimate kiss.
When we part, I snuggle into him, the heat of his body soothing me as I close my eyes and let myself fall asleep in this man’s arms.