THOMAS
Every day of Katie’s life had been planned by her parents, her future spread out before her in rational blocks. Specific, measurable, calculated precisely. They hadn’t allowed room for her passions or for spontaneity. She’d lived on twenty-five percent of Manhattan Island. Less than six fucking square miles.
I’d broken that goddamn emotional cage.
Katie hit the gallery, wearing a white blouse, distressed skinny jeans, and bright pink heels. She carried a nude-colored handbag in the crook of her elbow. Long blonde hair hung over her shoulders, the ends curling as they fell onto her breasts. Her glossy, plump lips curved, and her smile lit up the space. Lit up my own smile, my heart, my cock.
Every part of me belonged to her.
The lift bell chimed, and I stepped aside, allowing Marta to come into the gallery.
“Marta!” Katie cried, running to her former nanny and housekeeper’s embrace.
“I had to say good-bye and wish you luck. I’m so happy for you, sweetheart.”
Marta met my eyes over Katie’s shoulder. She mouthed the words, Thank you.
I nodded.
The two women parted.
“I have missed you. How is Lena? Did she get the summer internship at that fashion house?”
“She did. It’s already keeping her terribly busy, which is good. She has been so lost without you, Katherine.”
“Same. It’s been difficult, but this thing with Dad will be over soon. I’ll come back to visit.”
I rotated my wrist for the time. Put my hand on Katie’s back. “We must go. Marta agreed to stay and help you pack later.”
Katie turned to me, gratitude shining in her eyes. I shook my head, warning her not to say thank you, and she smiled, giving a small nod.
In the car, I stared at her, recalling the day that I’d gone to find her, imagining how she would look, sitting in the seat next to me. That fantasy hadn’t compared to the beautiful, living, breathing, smiling image before me now.
Carl stopped the car, briefly double-parking in front of Jack’s. He stepped out and opened Katie’s door, smiling at her. “Your coffee awaits, Miss Reed.”
She looked back at me before getting out, a grin on her face. “Did you lock the place down or buy it out or something?”
“Jack assured me the place was quite empty at this time. Go on then, before I change my mind.”
Katie popped out with a chuckle. “You’re full of surprises today.”
I followed, grinning, pulling her hand into mine as we entered the shop. She stopped abruptly after spotting Lena on the leather sofa in the back, talking to Jack.
Tears glistened in her eyes, and her voice broke. “Thomas.”
I pointed to a table at the front. “I’ll just be here, taking care of some business. Stay within my sight, Katie. We leave in one hour.”
I kissed her hand, letting her go, and watched her walk away. A preview of what was to come, the punishment I deserved.
My chest tightened. Agony sliced through me. I pulled in a long, heavy breath through my nostrils and exhaled while clutching the center of my chest.
Carl came inside after he parked the car properly. My second set of eyes. And more. “I don’t mind at all. We can get John settled at your apartment first, and then I’ll run the two of you back to the penthouse and pick up my wife. Karah and I can stay with your brother until you return tomorrow evening.”
My mobile rang with an incoming call from London—the update I was expecting from Jax. Before answering, I gripped Carl’s shoulder for a moment. “Thanks, mate.”
Katie dragged her nails through the scruff along my jaw, her body imprisoned by mine, pinned against the inside of her bedroom door. “I know you don’t want me to say it, but you did tell me that you’d give me everything, so give me this. Because, damn it, I need to express how grateful I feel. You made this day special for me, Thomas.” She placed a warm kiss on my lips. “Thank you.”
I ran my thumb over her bottom lip. “I don’t want you to feel indebted to me, is all. You’ve already given me far more than I will ever give you.”
It was our last night together. I didn’t know how long she would make me wait or if she would even take me back once she started her program at Oxford. She had to take me back. I could no longer live without her.
“Dinner was really”—she gasped and released a little cry as I pulled her head to the side, using a handful of her hair, kissed her throat, tugged her skin between my teeth—“good. So. Good.”
I needed her more than I’d ever needed anything. Needed to touch her, taste her, shove inside her, feel her breathy moans on my skin, hear her scream my name. “I can’t stop tonight, Katie. Don’t even want to try. Tell me that’s what you want.”
I’d intended only to hold her that night, as I’d done all along, one more chance to explore my feelings for her while she slept in my arms. For some mad reason, I’d thought I could find enough satisfaction in her sleeping breaths, watching her, dreaming about being with her.
“Yes. Oh God, yes.” She pushed her hand between our bodies, stroked my erection. “I want you to put this inside me. Please.”
I couldn’t hold back, couldn’t fight the delicious torment of wanting her any longer. Another jerk on her head. I devoured her mouth with mine, thrusting my tongue in and out, showing her what I planned to do with my cock. She moaned and clung to my neck, accepting my rough kiss, making me grow harder still.
I stepped back, unbuttoning my shirt. “Take off your clothing.” I wanted to watch. Needed it to slow me down, so I didn’t hurt her. “Do it slowly. No touching yourself.”
Katie unbuttoned her blouse and made a show of extending her arm and opening her fingers, letting it fall to the floor. She unsnapped the front hook on her bra and did the same with it. Smiling, biting her bottom lip, she took her time with the button and the zipper on her jeans.
My eyes didn’t leave her body. I dropped my shirt. Kicked off my shoes. Watching, scarcely tolerating the way this woman teased me. She knew better, knew that she would pay for doing it.
She worked her hips from side to side while pushing down her slim jeans, making me groan. Small, lacy knickers released from one finger onto the pile.
“Turn round.”
Silky, long tresses fell down her back, pulling my eyes to her beckoning arse.
She looked back at me, still with the provocative smile, and dragged her fingertips along her hip, to her breasts, and up to her shoulder before dropping her hand.
I moved in behind her, pressed myself against her arse, cupped her breasts, kissed her neck. “You do understand how this works, Katie. You tease; I punish.”
“Do it,” she breathed. “Fuck me.”
I smirked, pushed two fingers inside her, fucking her with my fingers, allowing my thumb to brush against her clit. She moaned and rocked against my hand to increase the touch.
Close to her ear, quite close, I growled, “Fucking you is not the punishment, baby.”
She was wet, rocking, close to coming. I withdrew my hand, wrapped my arms round her to prevent any movement.
“Okay. All right,” she said, “I’ll obey you.”
“Good. Now, get on the bed. Open your legs.” I released her.
She turned, her cheeks rosy, lifted her chin, kissed me, and then went to the bed. I followed, watched, gripping my arousal as she spread her legs for me, showing me her pretty pink cunt. I took out a condom from my pocket, dropped my trousers. Climbed on to the bed, down on all fours. I kissed her, my mouth moving from her ankle to the inside of her thighs.
Her breath quickened, her chest rising and falling faster as I used my tongue to pleasure her, to make her come, to make her ready for me. Nothing else, no fingers, only my mouth. I wanted her on the edge, not able to step over it, clinging to the anticipation. I wanted her to desperately crave me the way that I craved her. I pulled her clit between my teeth, and she cried out. Again, and then she screamed my name, earning her climax.
Christ, she was beautiful. Responsive to my touch. My entire body shook with need.
In swift frustration, I grabbed the condom and shot up her body, quickly rolling it on. Cuffed her wrists together in one hand, held them above her head. I used my knees to open her legs wider and pressed my erection against her warm seam. She was already wet, but I wanted her wetter and softer before I entered her. My cock was hard and angry. I would tear her, causing her pain.
She moaned and circled her hips, rubbing her clit against the head of my cock. I needed to be inside her. I needed to come inside her sweet heaven. I kissed her fiercely, owning her, my tongue sweeping against hers. The vibration of her whimper rippled through my mouth and down my spine.
“More,” she begged, writhing against me. “Please.”
Her legs clung to my hips, raising her to just the right position for me to enter her. I pushed into her folds.
“Don’t stop,” she cried.
“Slowly,” I said. “I’m quite big. I need you to be softer for me.”
I pushed in farther, grunted. A sharp breath escaped Katie’s lips. I kissed them and thrust with my hips, breaching her delicate walls. She let out a small, erotic scream. Tears ran down along her temples. But Christ, she was hot and tight, my own little heaven.
“Breathe with me.” I hovered over her mouth, inhaling every breath she exhaled.
Katie’s eyes burned into mine, and she watched my weakness with wide wonder. Nodding, she whispered, “I’m ready.”
I released her wrists and slid a hand down between us, circling and pressing until she bucked with pleasure and shook from another orgasm.
It was more than I could bear. The wild desire, the clenching of her perfect little heaven round my throbbing hard length. I thrust in deeper. A mad need to chase her orgasm overtook me. Desperate, uncontrollable. I rocked her into the mattress with rhythmic grunting, pressing her down with my weight, bruising her, tearing her, filling her with all of me.
A roar broke from my throat as I exploded into her, pain and joy and pleasure hitting me all at once. I bit down on her shoulder, tasting her sweetness, inhaling her scent. Then, I collapsed, completely fucking ruined by her, my heart pounding violently against my rib cage. Nothing could have prepared me for the glorious agony it was to love her.
“I’m in love with you, Katie,” I heard myself say roughly. In that moment, I was open to her, completely vulnerable.
She didn’t respond, not with words. She held on to me, kept her eyes focused on mine. Her tender embrace soothed me, calmed the dark song in my mind, eased my sinful black soul. She was my salvation. I kissed her tenderly on the forehead and on her temple, rolled onto my back, and pulled her to my chest.
“Did you like it?” she whispered.
“It was everything, baby. There will never be anything lovelier.”
Katie had brought me to my goddamn knees.