10. Kate
10
Kate
Two weeks later
Well, that was refreshing.
I walk out of the cool ocean and grab my wrap sitting on the white sand. Tying the cloth over my black bikini bottom low on my hips, I start for my little cottage barely a yard away at the edge of the beach shaded by coconut trees. I step into my outdoor shower and rinse the sand off before drying myself and walking into the tiny sitting room, kitchen, and eating nook. It’s small, but perfect for my kind of vacay.
After the Club Wonderland job, I almost immediately joined my boss on another job in Washington state. This corporate client wasn’t as fun, just more tedious. Nope, extremely tedious. After a week of that, I’m in desperate need of some R&R. It’s been a long stint of work, business travel, and lots of hours on the computer.
Though my job is great, I need to cut myself off from time to time. That’s why this place is perfect. It’s warm, beautiful, quiet, and most importantly, off the grid. And only a couple of people know I’m here. With enough supplies to last me the week, I won’t need to get into town to restock and see another living soul, not even the neighbor in the next cove.
I pad into the one and only bedroom to change into something dry, thinking of making myself a tropical drink after and enjoy the sunset before dinner. When I pull out a drawer to rummage for a breezy cotton dress, my fingers catch on something cold—my cat mask from the club job. I must’ve forgotten to unpack it when I was home.
With a grin, I put on the mask and stare at my reflection in the mirror. Memories of Raul naked from that night crowd my head and my kitty reflexively clenches in reaction.
God, that was some night.
I bite my bottom lip, remembering that last moment before the door to the chamber opened. What would Raul have asked me? Was he about to beg me to get him off? With no shame, I probably would if he asked.
A knock on the front door shocks me out of my daydreaming.
Who the fuck is that?
There’s no need for anyone to come knocking on my door on this remote island in the Pacific. If you’re lost, keep walking. The town is less than a mile away. If you’re the neighbor, stay on your own property. I ignore it, but the knock intensifies.
So, with a grumble, I head to the door. I check through the side window to see who’s waiting outside, but all I can see from that angle is a part of a broad manly shoulders covered in a tan linen shirt.
My heart pounds a tad faster as any female alone on a lonely beach would when encountered by a strange man. But I remember this female is a trained fighter. I may not be as skilled as my friend Lina, who’s trained in martial arts since she was a toddler, but I’m handy with knives.
He knocks again, a little harder this time.
Taking the switchblade I stored by the door for just this kind of occasion, I hold it by my thigh.
“Who is it?” I casually ask without opening the door.
I’m not stupid.
A familiar deep voice breaks through the thin door separating us. “Open the door, Kate.”
What the fuck?
I yank the door open to Raul Rojas in the flesh, looking the most relaxed I’ve ever seen him. In the limited time I’ve been around him, he always wears either in camo, tactical gears, or, well…black leather. He apparently looks as good in linen. A crooked smile forms on his mouth as I stare at him with a slack jaw.
“You’re still playing dress up? Are you Kitty or Mistress Kat?” he asks, gesturing at my face.
Shit!
The mask. My hand flies to my face, but my wrist is suddenly trapped in Raul’s hand. He easily disposes me of my knife. God, it’s like I’m a rookie. One hot guy drops in on me and I forget all of my training. “You need to be careful if you’re gonna play with knives, little cat,” he says, switching the blade closed and pocketing it.
“Hey, that’s mine,” I tell him, pulling my wrist away from him, or I try, but his grip stays firm.
Ignoring my protest, he says, “You know, you’re a hard woman to track down.”
“I like it that way,” I reply with a frown. “But I’ll be back in New York in a week. What do you need from me that can’t wait until then?” Then something dawns on me. I look at him with worry. “Is it something to do with Club Wonderland and Fox? Is everything okay with Núria? I double checked everything. There’s no trace of any footage from that night. My informants on the dark web confirmed the Kane family wiped out Fox and their associates.”
Raul backs me inside so he can close the door. “Núria is fine and back living her life like nothing happened. She asked me to find Knight and plan another excursion. I told her to find something local, or better yet, start her own club.”
That’s probably a safer option, but his answer doesn’t satisfy my question.
“So what is it you want?”
There’s a mischievous glint in his dark chocolate eyes when he smiles. And it distracts me as he twists my arm around my back.
“You. I can’t stop thinking about what you did to me that night, Mistress Kat.”
I instinctively swing the other way to release myself from him, but he’s anticipated my move and catches my free wrist then crosses it over the one he’s already captured and a metallic clicks rings out.
Did the motherfucker just handcuff me?
“What are you doing?” I demand over my shoulder.
Pulling my back flush against his hard body, Raul’s large hands run over the bare skin of my abdomen.
He nips my earlobe as he whispers, “It’s my turn to be in charge, Amante .”
My brain sends thrilling signals through my entire network of nerves at his words and his touch.
Yes!
It answers to his summons. My body surrenders to him as it seeks more of the calloused feel of his fingers over my skin. But a small part of my brain that hasn’t been entirely taken over by Raul’s preternatural hold cautions me to take a step to protect myself.
“Is that why you came all the way out here, Raul? To take revenge on Mistress Kat for making you hot for her?”
Raul turns me around to face him. “Maybe, or I might be curious about Kitty.”
“Kitty?” I blink, maybe a bit disappointed. “Mistress Kat is just a character I assumed to get us out of trouble. And Kitty… I’m not sure who Kitty is. Maybe just a costume for a night.”
Stepping closer to me, Raul reaches around to the back of my head and takes off my mask.
“Or maybe I’m looking for the woman who’s freed me from nightmares that have haunted me for years.” He looks into my eyes. “Kate.” My heart skips a beat when he says my name. “I dream of you at night now. And it’s a whole different kind of torture.”
I swallow at his admission. “Tell me.”
“I’m more of a show you than tell you type of person,” he says with a half-smile.
“Then show me.”
The man doesn’t need more of an invitation. He pulls me against him and captures my lips with his. His fingers grab a fistful of my hair and tilt my face so he can bury his tongue into my mouth. Heat sears through me and I feel almost helpless without having the use of my hands to steady myself from the onslaught of pure lust and joy running through my veins.
Then, without warning, he breaks our kiss, scoops me up, and tosses me over his shoulder. I yelp in protest.
He slaps a firm hand over my ass as he heads into the bedroom and warns, “I’m gonna give as good as you gave, woman.”
“I’m shaking to my core, Toro,” I taunt, even as my voice trembles with excitement.
But the man calls my bluff and runs his fingers along the seam of my bikini bottom and slips under to caress my mound, making me squirm at the intimate touch.
“You’re already soaked for me, Amante . You won’t last long.”
One second I’m upside down over his shoulder, and the next I’m on my back across the bed. With one quick move, Raul undoes the cuffs and attaches a wrist to an iron rod at the headboard. He produces another set of lined handcuffs and hooks my other wrist on the opposite site at the foot rail, spreading my arms wide and rendering them immobile. Then he eyes my string bikini.
He unties my bikini top and pauses to admire my breasts.
“ Hermosas tetas ,” he compliments with a wicked smirk.
I laugh. I’ll take “ gorgeous tits ” anytime.
Raul continues to use my top to secure one of my leg.
I give it to him. “Creative,” I note.
He just grins at me as he does the same with my string bikini bottom to use on my other ankle, leaving me naked and strung in an X across the length of the bed like he was on the St. Andrew’s cross on that fateful night in the dungeon of Club Wonderland.
“Are you gonna make a good girl out of me, Raul?” I challenge.