by Smith, Maren
Fuck. I could have broken his leg earlier. What had set me off? The knowledge of what I’d needed.
Double fuck. His attention I sought and earned, but I’d foolishly believed this mess would be sorted out within a week and instead it had been just over two. Two weeks of living in the coziest home ever, with a man I’d already developed feelings for. My heart fluttered. I gritted my teeth hating the sensation, but it was no use. Kade had me hook, line, and fucking sinker. It pissed me off.
“Fuck it all!”
My internal commentary broadcasted like an evening newscast. I counted my lines and strained to hear where Kade was at in the house. He wouldn’t invade my privacy unless I placed myself in danger, but if he caught any of my ramblings it might give him a picture of things I wasn’t ready to share. Three hundred down. Fifty to go.
“Stupid freaking idiotic task.” I rotated my wrists inward. Footsteps sounded down the stairs and I returned to writing lines.
“Are you ready to get into details yet, Caity-bug?” Kade stepped to my legs and motioned for the notebook.
“No.” I handed it up to him.
“I’m quite surprised.” He took my hands in one of his, pulled me into a standing position and then let go of me. “Your handwriting is beautiful. but your attitude is not. Bend over the couch.”
I scowled, but resigned to do what had been requested since my body language clearly showed my emotions even if I forced my brain to repeat early nineties music ad nauseum to further hide any stray thoughts. His palm danced across each of my bottom cheeks. Hard. Fast. Harder. I coughed as I failed to hold back tears. Two well-placed smacks struck the top of my thighs, and then Kade sank down into the cushions. He opened his arms, and I climbed into his lap.
“Why did you spank me?”
“Why do you think?”
Ugh. I hated the back and forth questions and yet I knew exactly what the underlying reasons were.
“I’m not taking the threat seriously,” I stated with as much respect as I could. “If I leave your house, then I’ll be placed right back into the mess of danger even though I can literally bench press a garbage truck. I’m nothing but a tiny wilting flower-eep!”
Kade flipped me over his lap faster than I thought he could. He bounced his palm off my upper thighs with scarily accurate precision. My thighs burned from the punishment, but the cheeks above my shoulders burned even hotter with shame. “Please stop!”
“Antonio’s men have snipers with assault rifles. As strong as you are, Caity-bug, you’re not bulletproof.” He struck each thigh once more and then changed his target to my full cheeks without missing a beat. “Are we on the same page yet?”
“No, because if that’s true, why didn’t they just take me out the night Joe’s Pizzeria burned down? Did you ever think about that?” Bad move, Cate. I mentally noted to not actively argue with the smoking hot man holding me over his rock-hard thighs, but the sass just flew off my tongue.
“You’re really asking for it today.” Kade rubbed his hands into each of the spots he’d punished. He landed two hard blows to the center of my bottom cheeks. “Are you trying to distract me from something else or are you so thick-headed that you actually believe yourself?”
“I’m not thick-headed,” I groaned. My damn thighs ached as much as my pussy. “I’m also not asking for anything. Thank you very much.” My slightly sarcastic comeback earned me several more slaps.
“Are you done yet, or do I need to go and get my belt?”
“I’m done,” I promised and I meant it. “Please don’t get your belt, Daddy.” Nope. That leather strap hurt like a bitch. The last time he’d used it, it took several days for me to sit normally again. Kade turned me around and sat me on his lap. I hissed from the pressure on my sore behind. “I’m sorry.”
“I accept your apology, little girl. Now, I want you to listen carefully because I’m not getting into the details again. Antonio had the fire staged in order to smoke you out. He and his men would have done terrible unspeakable things before they killed you. Rape you. Torture you. Antonio is a spoiled man who is used to getting whatever he sets his sight on and you interfered.”
“But he was being a giant dick, and the only ‘interfering’ I’m doing is trying to live my life! You can read their minds. Why can’t you just go out there and, I don’t know… get him?”
“You don’t seem to understand, Caity-bug, I can’t just roll up with a handful of machine guns and take everyone out. I can predict movements, sometimes patterns, but I’m not invincible and though I’ve made some unsavory arrangements in the past, these days I do try not to just kill people. Even people like Antonio, who really deserve it.”
“Who is Antonio really? Does he have the same sort of powers like we do?”
“No, he is just a vicious yet pathetic individual who has used money to fuel his power plays for an extended period of time. He wants what he can’t have willingly. Sheila Delgado knows his game as do I.”
“Did you and Sheila like date or something?”
“No, but we did attend Greymoor High together. I don’t like the idea of Sheila being used in a pawn for his wicked game. She doesn’t love Antonio, at least as far as I know, and she doesn’t want to be anywhere near him or his family. Sheila is a force to be reckoned with by her own accord. Her father has shaped her into quite the powerhouse, and I’m admittedly shocked that Antonio was able to get a hold of her at all. The firm I work for has dealt with her on more than one occasion, and I’ve been privy to several confidentiality agreements. From what I can tell, she’s got good intentions.”
“Do you really think those men were at the pizzeria specifically for me or were we just in a place where they didn’t want any witnesses?” I brushed at my eyes. “It’s just insane to believe I’m some threat to the Morelli family.”
“You’re not a threat exactly, but you prevented Antonio from getting something he wants.”
“So, he’s throwing a world class tantrum?”
“Something along those lines. Will you just accept that this is complicated? If I know you’re safe, then I won’t have to worry about you.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll do my best to follow your rules, but it doesn’t mean I like them.” I kissed his cheek. “Can you forgive me for bruising your leg? I panicked, but I never meant to cause you pain.”
“I already accepted your apology. I’m not angry with you, Caity-bug. I understand you’re still figuring out your strength.”
A screeching ringtone chirped from somewhere in the house.
“What the heck is that?”
“Shit.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and then moved me off his lap. “It’s my work phone. I’ll be right back.
* * *
Caitlyn
I pouted slightly as I sat on the couch, bored and alone. Kade had been called away for an important meeting, and though I would rather do anything else, I remained in his house. I agreed on many points he had brought up during our disagreement, but I was irritated. The doorbell chimed and I startled. Crap. I had forgotten about the online purchased I’d made the other day.
I raced to the front door, but then stopped. I wasn’t allowed to be out and about in public. That included going outside or opening the door. I waited several minutes, confirmed the FedEx package, checked to see if the delivery guy had left, and then poked my head outside. Several large packages perched on the stoop and I carried them inside with one hand. Neat trick. I can probably carry all of my groceries on one hand now too. The labels were addressed to Cate Foster, since I had to used Kade’s credit card. I had overspent on the amazing pieces, but I pictured myself wearing them and got an absolute badass vibe at the images. Somehow, I’d pay Kade back. He promised to return home by seven o’clock so I had time to cook. If I whipped up something special for dinner it might distract him from punishing my butt. Yes, modeling my outfit will definitely distract him.
I set the boxes down, and then strode to the kitchen. I wasn’t much o
f a cook, but any hot meal would be five stars compared to what I normally ate. Kade spoiled me rotten, so I’d return the favor.
* * *
Kade
I hated leaving Caitlyn home by herself, not that I worried about what sort of trouble she could get into, but boredom lent itself to notions of escape. Fuck. She needed to see the positives in all of this mess.
“Hey!” Dustin Holmes, one of the big-shot lawyers at the corporation snapped his fingers a few inches from my face.
“What?” Irritated, I raised my head up from the laptop I’d been typing notes on.
“We asked several times for your opinion, Kade, and you haven’t answered us.” Dustin spread his hands out. “Are we interrupting you?”
Shit. I never lost focus during an important meeting, and this had been called over the weekend which normally didn’t happen. I wasn’t a key player in this particular case, but they usually asked for my input to which I gave freely.
“I apologize, can you please repeat the question?” I forced myself to focus on the agenda and circumstances which caused this impromptu meeting in the first place, but it was hard as my thoughts were distracted.
“Salvador Delgado has requested several unusual documents be notarized and sealed.” Dustin sat back down in his seat. “Normally we wouldn’t take on this sort of request, but he trusts us implicitly.”
“We’ve completed unusual requests from him before, why is this one any different?” I scratched my chin. Sheila’s father literally owned half the city. He had a lot of power, but he seldom sent us an urgent proposal of some sort which gathered us at the office on a Saturday.
“It involves his daughter, Sheila Delgado.” Dustin slid a thick packet to me. “Go ahead and check them out. Tell us what you think, Kade.”
I tugged out the papers and inwardly sighed. This meeting was going to be a lot longer than I’d originally thought. I wanted nothing more than to return home to the sassy little blonde who was waiting for me, but this situation needed to be handled.
* * *
Caitlyn
The day dragged on forever, but I had outdone myself. I hoped Kade would think so too. I ransacked his freezer, refrigerator, pantry, and his cookbooks until I found the perfect combination. Grilled rib-eye steaks, twice baked potatoes, and roasted vegetables. I also threw together a quick chocolate mousse with caramel drizzle. Everything smelled delicious, and I eyed the clock. By some higher power, Kade arrived home right after I set the table. I had his favorite wine chilling in a bucket on the table with ice. I lit two candles and set them down by each of our plates.
“What’s all this, Cate?”
“I, uh, well, I wanted to surprise you.”
“You can cook like this, and you haven’t done it once before tonight? You’ve been holding out on me.” He picked me up and off my feet and twirled me around.
“I don’t know how to cook,” I insisted as I nuzzled against his cheek and he set me down. “I sort of just took a gamble. The food might not even taste good.” I winked. “I really missed you today. Sit down, please? Eat. Drink.” Stop rambling on. The faster I talked the more obvious my odd behaviors might appear to be.
“Well, after your rousing review, I’m not sure I want to,” he teased as he sank into the chair at the head of the table. I joined him in the chair nearest his, and we served ourselves. “You brought up my favorite Pinot Grigio up from the basement. Are you buttering me up for something?”
“No, of course not,” I lied and poured myself a large glass of wine. A larger glass than I’d ever poured before, but I needed it. I was so stupid to lie to a telepath. Shit. Did I think the last part out loud? Kade couldn’t have known that I did this spectacular display of gratitude for anything other than what it was. I took several small sips in a row.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be okay? Did you taste the potatoes? They were cooking forever. I mean who knew twice baked potatoes were baked twice?”
“You seem a bit on edge, Caity-bug.” Kade swallowed hard and then rested his fork and knife on the edge of the plate. “Did something happen while I was out?”
“No.” I downed half of my wine while I contemplated how to answer him. I changed the subject. As long as he didn’t go rifling through my thoughts, we were fine. “Did your important work thing get settled?”
“Yes, I shouldn’t have gone in to be honest, but my opinion is valued when it comes to certain accounts, so I sat through a bunch of meetings. I’m sorry I had to go in on my day off, but it couldn’t be avoided.” He resumed eating and I let out a mental sigh of relief. “Is there anything you wanted to talk to me about?”
“No, not really. I just hate being cooped up without much purpose. Please don’t get me wrong, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and I am so thankful for the ability to stay here in your home, but I am not used to staying inside. I like being productive, and I haven’t felt like it lately.”
“Did you enjoy cooking tonight?”
“Yes, actually, but it’s just one thing.” I speared two roasted brussels sprouts and popped them into my mouth. They took forever to chew and swallow down. I stood up and grabbed a bottled water from the fridge while I named colors in my head in order to project calmness. Orange-red. Blue-red. Red-violet. Violet-purple. Fuchsia. Candy-apple red like my ass will be once Kade finds out what I’ve done.
“What if you write down the dishes you want to try? Then I can adjust my grocery shopping list so you can experiment. I’m boring as hell when it comes to my normal meal routine. If you enjoyed doing something outside of your typical stuff, then let’s do something different.” Kade smiled. “Do you like that idea?”
“Yup.” I twisted open the water and drained about a quarter of it. I speared several more veggies and focused on keeping my mouth full. I didn’t want to answer any questions or I’d offer too much information and then I’d be in trouble. As long as I ate, my mind wouldn’t be wandering all over the place.
“Are you upset with me because I got called into work?”
I shook my head.
“Something is going on. Do you care to tell me what it is?”
“No, nufing,” I mumbled around the food, and then finished the rest the wine in my glass. “There isn’t anything to tell.” I got up slowly and cleared off my plate.
Kade followed me around the kitchen as I attempted to clean up.
“Let me do this.” He took the dirty dishes. “You cooked, so I’ll clean. Go sit. Have another glass of wine.”
I raised an eyebrow, but relented and sat back down at the table. I poured a quarter glass of the delicious Pinot and sipped it much slower than before. Somehow, I had to fess up or the tension would destroy what little time we had left to spend together tonight. “Kade?”
“Yes?” He towel dried the serving platter which held the meat and then he set it in the dish rack.
“I bought an outfit.”
“Oh yeah?” His mouth quirked up at each corner. “What sort of outfit?”
“No, not like lingerie, but it’s tight. It’s got like straps and buckles. It’s made out of purple leather.” The outfit sounded kinkier and dirtier the more I explained. “It’s like battle armor sort of. I stole your credit card and used it online.”
“I see.” He rinsed his hands off and wiped them on the back of his pants. He met the distance between us, and captured my chin in his hand. “Did you know Daddy has to authorize the charges on his credit card whenever the purchase is over three hundred dollars, little girl?”
“No, I didn’t know that. I can’t believe you knew already. Ugh!” Tears filled my eyes and blurred my vision. “It was so stupid, and I don’t know what I was thinking. The package came today, but I can return the items.”
“You’ll keep the outfit. I look forward to seeing you in leather.” Kade wiped a stray tear from my cheek. “Go and put it on for me.”
I bit down on my bottom lip, but he ran his thumb acr
oss my mouth, prompting me to release the hold. “Listen, I should have asked first.”
“Yes, Cate Foster, you certainly should have.” Kade pulled back to catch my gaze. “You’ve done the best you could to make up for your error tonight. The next time you do something behind my back, you’ll have trouble sitting for a week. Am I understood?”
“Yeah.” I barely got the word out. My pussy clenched as the idea of being permanently his fluttered around in my brain along with the threat of punishment. How the fuck did he always know just what to say to me? Why did Cate Foster sound like the best name in the whole freaking world? “I’ll go and get it on.”
“You said that as if you had a choice. Hurry up. You’re in enough trouble already. Don’t keep Daddy waiting.”
I scurried out of the room, but once I got upstairs, I stared at the gorgeous leather pieces and rubbed my hands over them for a long time. I knew better than to steal money, especially when Kade probably would have bought the damn outfit for me if I had asked. Ten minutes later I had it on, and I looked completely badass, but I wasn’t ready to head back downstairs. I touched the mask on my face, and thought back to the night the two of us had met. So much had changed in such a short span of time.
The hallway creaked and I blew out a breath. Kade poked his head into the room, and his eyes widened as he studied me. I also bought a pair of black cargo pants which gave the whole effect a military style. I twirled around once, and then raised an eyebrow.
“It’s sexy as hell.” He stepped into the room and tugged me against him. “Just like you.”
“I feel like there is a but coming on,” I lamented.
“But, do you think it’s nice to steal from someone who’s been providing for your every need?”