by Tara Sue Me
“Yes, Herr Brose.”
He kissed her once more before addressing the group. As he detailed what he was going to do, how he had prepared her, and once more gave several safety warnings, she closed her eyes. For this part, she would sink into darkness. Unless there had been a mirror set up so she could see, she usually closed her eyes for what was to come. Fritz had asked her if she wanted him to set up something so she could watch, but she’d said no. She wanted to close her eyes and just feel him as he did what he wished to her body.
She’d only been part of a fire drumming scene a few times before. Fire play had never been one of Cole’s favorite activities, and while she’d enjoyed it the few times they’d participated, it’d never registered as something she ever thought she’d seek out. But when Fritz had asked her, flogging or drumming, she knew she had to experience it with him.
She once more turned her focus inward and on the air moving in and out of her body. Once he started, she tried to imagine how the scene looked to those who had gathered. With the exception of a few candles, the lights were out to add to the effect, but all she could focus on was how good it felt.
She only knew he’d stopped because she no longer heard her body hum in pleasure. Something warm, soft, and heavy settled along her back, followed by the softest of kisses on the nape of her neck. She sighed.
Warm breath against her skin…
“Back with me yet, Kate?”
Mmm, that deliciously delectable German accent. “No,” she said.
He chuckled and lifted her in his arms. She turned her head and buried it in his chest while he took her to wherever they were going. Once he sat down, she looked up to discover they were in her bedroom.
“Where is everyone? Is it over?” She asked.
Fritz tucked her back in his arms and settled onto the bed with her. “I believe Daniel is once more beating safety into everyone’s head. I told him I’d be back later to clean up, but he said not to worry about it and that he’d take care of it.” She started to sit up, but he pulled her back down. “And you’re going to rest here with me for a bit.”
Suddenly very tired, she declared it the best idea she’d heard.
She woke up coughing sometime later. Sitting straight up, she turned to find a startled Fritz beside her.
“Kate?”
She reached for the bottle of water she spied on the nightstand behind Fritz, but couldn’t reach it. “Water.”
He mumbled, reached for the water, getting and opening it before handing it to her. “Sorry,” he said. “I should’ve thought of that before you went to sleep and given you some then.”
She greedily sucked down a quarter of the bottle. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m better now.” But her throat was scratchy and the water wasn’t helping. She cleared her throat. But that didn’t help either.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She cleared her throat again, but couldn’t seem to get it to stop feeling like something was lodged inside. “My throat,” she said.
“Drink some more.”
She obeyed and finished about half the bottle. She swallowed, wincing when her throat still had a little tickle. “I’m sure I’m fine,” she said.
He didn’t look like he believed her.
“Really,” she said. “I bet it’s nothing.”
But when she started sneezing, neither one of them believed her.
~~~~~
Fitz waited until Kate was snoring lightly before he got off of the bed. He brushed the back of his hand across her forehead. She didn’t have a fever, although he had a sinking feeling that she would within the next few hours. Damm flu. And she was here alone with no one to take care of her.
He tried to picture her alone, sick with the flu, and trying to take care of herself and failed. There was no way she could ensure she got the necessary nutrients for a speedy recovery. Since she couldn’t do it, someone else would have to. And since so many people they knew had the flu or were taking care of another person with it, he’d have to do it himself.
Sure, he told himself. Keep telling yourself that and maybe eventually, you’ll believe it. The simple fact was, no one would take care of her the way he thought she should be cared for. He simply couldn’t entertain the thought of trusting anyone with her.
He glanced back at the bed where she still slept restlessly. He would have a fight on his hands as soon as she woke up and heard his plans. Too bad. She could argue with him as hard as she wanted.
This was one battle he intended to win.
Making sure she was still asleep, he took his phone into the hallway. Peeking into the garage, he found it empty and clean. He called Daniel, once more checking over his shoulder to make sure she wasn’t awake and in the hallway.
He thanked Daniel for cleaning up, explained he thought Kate was showing early symptoms of the flu, and that he would be staying with her until she was better. With Daniel’s sister and her kids staying at the main house, it would be too risky for him or Julie to check in on her, he explained.
“Thank you for staying with her,” Daniel said. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing she was sick and alone.”
“It’s no problem at all,” Fritz said. “I do need for you to pick up a few things for me, if you don’t mind.”
“I’ll be happy to. Tell me what you need.”
~~~~~
Kate slept for two more hours and for the majority of that time, Fritz sat by her side in the small chair she had beside the bed. It was much too small for his frame, but he thought it was important to be there when she woke up, so he folded himself into it as best he could.
She moaned softly as her eyes fluttered open, and he smiled upon realizing that she sought him out first thing.
“Sleep well?” he asked.
“Yes.” She sat up and groaned again. “I hurt all over, but I don’t think it’s related to the scene.”
“How does your throat feel?”
She swallowed carefully. “Still sore.”
“Not any worse?”
“I don’t think so.”
He handed her two ibuprofen. “I want you to take these and drink some water. Then we’re going to have a chat.”
She popped the two pills and washed them down with water. “Chat about what?”
He shook his head. “Drink some more water.”
When she had finished enough of the water, he made sure she was comfortable. She watched him as he sat down across from her in a chair.
“I’m afraid you might have the flu and I’m going to stay here until I’m sure you’re back at one hundred and ten percent.” He finished and watched her, ready for her to go off on him at any second.
She waved her hand. “It’s not the flu. It’s a head cold, or allergies, or maybe I’m allergic to that flame retardant.”
He shook his head. “It’s not a head cold and you’re not having an allergic reaction.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I could be.”
“Have you ever seen an allergic reaction?”
“Shit,” she mumbled under her breath and then sighed deeply. “Okay, you’re probably right. It probably is the flu. Thank you for staying with me.”
He didn’t even try to hide his shock. “You don’t mind? I thought you would argue with me.”
She shook her head. “I’m a horrible patient, and I hate being sick. If you want to stay here with me, I’m not about to argue with you. Just be warned, it’s not always pretty.”
“I can handle it. I was caregiver for my grandmother for three years.”
Her eyes widened, she had not been expecting him to say anything of that sort. And though he would like to tell her about his grandmother, he could tell she was not feeling well, and needed to get back to bed. “I’ll tell you all about it later,” he said. “Right now you get some more sleep.”
She rolled to her side. “Will you make me some soup?”
“Of course,” he said. “What kind would you like?”
; “I don’t care,” she said through half a yawn.
He chuckled. “Back to sleep, Kate. I’ll have soup when you wake up.”
~~~~~
Her fever lasted for four days. And it was an additional three after that before he felt like he could leave her. He had taken her to a clinic early that first day and thought without the medication they’d given her, it’d have lasted longer. And though he was happy she was better, and didn’t need his help anymore, he had to admit he enjoyed caring for her.
She didn't mind when he ran a cool, wet washcloth over her fevered skin. Or when she would lean forward at his request so he could rub her back to relieve some of the tension and to ease the aches and pains brought on by the flu.
Not only that, but she liked his cooking. He’d rarely found somebody who enjoyed eating as much she did. Which was surprising, because he thought she was very thin. Really, she was much too thin in his opinion.
He made sure that by the time he left she had gained a few pounds. Not bad considering she was sick the entire time he was there. He loved to watch her eat, how she attacked the food with gusto and yet, still seemed to enjoy the different flavors. She was a woman who enjoyed the sensual things in life.
Yes, he could see himself falling in love with Kate.
The thing was, when she was with Cole, she had caught his attention because she was so attractive. And he had been enchanted with the way she interacted with Cole, as her Master. Honestly, she was a natural submissive, and the role of slave suited her. He saw that and he wanted it. Wanted her. But he could admit now that it was the submissive he wanted.
Now he felt as though he knew the real woman, the real Kate. He realized he was in much deeper than he thought. He wanted more than just the submissive Kate. He wanted the real Kate. The sometimes grumpy woman with her own opinions. The one who loved baseball. The dedicated architect. The hard worker with the sharp mind and attention to detail. And an affectionate friend.
But as much as he tried to ignore it, the truth was the truth. He only had her, at most, for a few more weeks. She’d be leaving for New York and he’d be going back to Berlin.
The writing was on the wall.
The fact was, she wasn't his. And she never would be.
CHAPTER NINE
“I’d like to thank you for staying here and taking care of me while l was sick,” Kate told him.
“I appreciate the gesture, but it’s really not needed.”
She lightly jabbed him in the chest. “Come on. You don’t even know what I was going to suggest.”
“What were you going to suggest?” He asked in a sinfully sexy voice that made her want to rethink her suggestion.
“Nothing like what you’re thinking.”
“Damn,” he said, but he grinned.
“Daniel stocks his pond with bass. I thought we could take his boat, go out and fish, and then I’d cook for you.”
“You fish?”
“I was practically raised in a boat, and it’s been much too long since I’ve been fishing.”
“In that case, let’s do it. When should we go?”
Kate shrugged. “I don’t have anything on my schedule until I go back to work tomorrow. Let’s change and go now.”
He’d agreed silently, and she couldn’t help but think he looked like he didn’t quite know if he should believe her. And really, when she thought about it, why should he? Cole had certainly known about her childhood, but she couldn’t remember ever going fishing with him. Likely as not, Kate and fishing had never been used in the same sentence with Fritz before.
Five minutes later, they met back in the living room. She’d pulled her hair into a ponytail and slipped on sneakers.
“Do we need to take anything with us?” He asked.
She led him outside and down the path to the pond. “I called Daniel and he said he’d have the boat waiting for us and it’d have everything we need. He did it first thing this morning because I told him yesterday we might go out.”
He was silent as they walked and she leaned her head back to enjoy the feel of the sun basking on her face. It was a beautiful day, and she was so glad she’d thought about fishing. She used to love it, and it made her a bit sad when she thought about how long it’d been since she’d gone.
“Oh, wow,” he said, coming to a stop in front of the small boat waiting for them. “We actually are going fishing.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “You thought we weren’t?”
“I’ll admit I thought you might have fed me a line in order to seduce me.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You thought I might be trying to seduce you?”
“Yes. You did say you wanted to thank me.”
“And you came anyway? Are you afraid I might still have a flu bug or two?”
“Let me be honest, okay?” he said with an amused grin. "I’ve seen you naked quite a few times. I thoroughly enjoy being with you. Bottom line is, if you were offering, I wasn’t going to turn you down.”
She didn’t know how to reply to that.
“What are you thinking?” He finally asked.
“Several things,” she said, and even though she knew she shouldn’t, she added, “Starting with, I wish this boat wasn’t filled with rods, lures, and minnows.”
He nodded. “Hard to seduce someone with fish bait underfoot.”
And with that, he took her hand and helped her into the boat. And while seduction had not been on her mind when she asked him to go fishing, it sure as hell was now. His fingers stroked hers as he made sure she was settled. Even then, his touch lingered. And his eyes, when he looked at her were filled with a desire she knew she didn’t misread.
She could picture it. Him drawing the shirt over his head.Her hands tracing the planes of his chest. His body pressing her down, so he covered her. The warmth of the sun beating down on them. The taste of his skin.
She knew it’d take only the slightest hint from him and she’d slip out of her clothes and let him have her on Daniel’s boat, in the middle of his pond. And though she was almost certain he knew that, he didn’t act on it. Instead, he offered to bait her hook, and she rolled her eyes and told him not in this lifetime.
They rowed to the middle of the pond. Actually, he rowed and she ogled his biceps. As they waited for the fish to bite, he asked about her family and how she came to spend so much time on a boat growing up.
She told him all about her dad and his love of the water. She told him stories of her childhood she hadn’t thought about in years and a few she’d forgotten about until their chat made her remember.
By the time they made it back to shore with their catch, she felt better than she had in a long time. Fritz had been helpful with the fishing lines and when she spoke about her father, he listened intently. She got the impression he wanted to learn as much as possible about her.
She asked about his childhood, but he shook his head and said they could talk about it, but not today.
“Where do your parents live now?” He asked.
“They live in Florida, so I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like. I try to get down there a few times a year. They’re happy living there and that makes me happy. They keep trying to get me to move, but I’ve told them over and over, I can’t live in a place that doesn’t have a real winter.”
He chuckled at that. “Any brothers or sisters?”
“No, just me.”
It was surprising how quickly time passed as they chatted, and before she knew it, they had cleaned all the fish and were headed back to the guesthouse. She checked the time as they walked inside.
“I’m going to shower really quick and then I’ll start on these fish,” she told him.
“Are you sure I can’t help?” He asked.
“No, I’m going to take care of it. You go relax or something.” She waited until he sat down before heading to the bathroom.
~~~~~
Fritz knew he would have to make a move on Kate pretty soon. They had s
pent a delightful afternoon fishing, and he wasn’t about to let that slip by again. He had no idea what she would think about what he planned to propose, but he wasn’t about to risk not saying anything. She was going back to work tomorrow, which meant interaction with a multitude of vanilla men.
He’d be damned if he’d let one of them have her.
Though it went against everything inside him, he stayed out of the kitchen while she prepared dinner. It had appeared very important to her to be able to cook dinner for him alone so he was going to let her do it.
When she finally called him into the kitchen, whatever she was cooking already filled the small house with a mouth-watering aroma that made his stomach rumble.
“Something smells divine,” he said, sitting down at the table she’d already set with plates and utensils.
“Thanks,” she said, bringing him a glass of wine. “I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
He noticed that her cheeks had flushed just a bit at his compliment. “I can’t imagine it not.”
She served him a filet along with a helping of perfectly cooked rice before making a plate of the same for herself. She sat down and waited for him to take a bite. He didn’t make her wait long. He couldn’t. Everything looked and smelled too good.
His eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head when he took the first bite. “Kate,” he half moaned, half spoke. It was a delicious mix of spices with an underlying hint of sweetness and it was like nothing he’d ever tasted before. “This is incredible.”
The flush he’d spied earlier was back and even darker this time. She ducked her head. “Thank you.”
“Did you come up with the recipe or did someone give it to you?”
“It was my father’s.” She tilted her head. “Although I did make a few changes.”
“Kudos to your dad.”
She smiled, and they continued the conversation. He learned she was an accomplished chef, even though she refused to call herself such. She told him that while she enjoyed cooking, she hadn’t done much lately because she didn’t like to have any leftovers. He jokingly told her that she could cook for him anytime she wanted.