“Now, before I give this to you, there are a few things for you to know. There is no Wi-Fi. It’s completely disabled. Every message you receive or send also comes to my phone. So watch what you say. Same with any calls. I can hear them all. Got it?”
“Yes.” So basically it was just another tool to use to control her. To keep her doing what they wanted.
He handed the phone to her, then before she could move away, his hand grasped her chin firmly. She froze. Her heart raced. Kit rarely touched her. Why did he need to touch her when he could intimidate her with a look or a few words?
“Be smart, Betsy. Remember what’s at stake.”
“I know what’s at stake. There’s no way I would ever forget it.”
“Good.” He moved away without another word.
She turned on the phone and then winced. Shoot. It was just after midday. Ink was going to be pissed.
He wouldn’t…there was no way he’d ever do what he threatened though, right?
10
Ink read the email with a growing sense of disbelief.
Christ! How had they missed out on the Weston job?
Damn it. That was another big contract gone to the opposition. Something wasn’t right. Their main competition in town was new. Evan Myers was cut-throat and ruthless. Things Ink usually admired.
But not when it was affecting his bottom line.
How the hell had Myers managed to undercut them on another job? Ink knew his proposal had been fucking solid.
“Boss? The phone out here has been going crazy. Where the hell is Jana?”
He glanced up to find Ethan Stone standing in the doorway. He and Stone had been on the same team in the Special Forces. He trusted the other guy almost as much as he did his brothers in the Iron Shadows.
“She’s not there?” Shit. He was going to have to do something about Jana. She was always late and even when she was here, she did a shit job of actually working.
But she was the widow of one of the guys he’d served with. He felt like he owed it to Jay to hire her.
Although right now he had other things to worry about. He waved Stone in. The other man closed the door.
“You need to fire her. She’s fucking hopeless.”
“I’ve got other things to worry about right now. We lost the Weston job.”
“What? You’re fucking kidding me.” Stone gaped down at him. “How?”
“Myers obviously came up with a better plan at a better price.”
“Myers couldn’t find his dick without a flashlight and tweezers,” Stone growled.
“This is the third time it’s happened.” And he was losing money.
His phone buzzed on his desk. He glanced down at the screen. Unknown number. His heart raced. Ridiculous. How the hell did she affect him so much?
He looked at the clock. Past the midday deadline. Naughty girl.
“Ink?”
“Just keep an ear out for me. I need to figure out what is going on.”
Stone turned and walked out without saying anything. Ink looked at the message.
Hello. This is Betsy. I got a new phone.
A snort of laughter escaped and the tension that had been riding him dissipated.
U R late brown eyes.
He did not text in full sentences. Or words.
Sorry. Took me longer than I thought to organize.
So proper. So correct. On paper they shouldn’t work. But he couldn’t fucking get her out of his mind.
Wnt 2 grab dinner 2nite?
There was nothing back. He waited with a frown. Was he moving too fast for her?
Yes.
All right. Short and to the point.
Good.
He thought of where he could take her then rattled off the name of a restaurant and a time.
Wnt me 2 pick u up?
I will meet you there. Thank you.
It irritated him for some reason and he told himself to chill. It was sensible of her. She shouldn’t give her address to just anyone.
But she trusted him with her wellbeing at the club. She’d opened up to him. And he wanted more. He wanted it all.
Easy, man. You’ll get there.
Because Ink had made a decision. She was going to be his.
* * *
She couldn’t believe she was doing this. She’d said yes to the date without consulting Kit or Forrest first. But she knew Kit was getting all the messages so if he wanted to stop it, he could.
And they were the ones who wanted her to get close to him.
Nerves filled her. She’d put on a black, wrap dress. It was an older one, one of the few things in her wardrobe that still fit her. It gave her a boost of courage for what she was going to do.
She was dropped off a block away from the restaurant. It wasn’t Kit driving the car tonight, but Ranulf. At least it wasn’t Thing One or Two.
She swallowed heavily at the thought of what might have happened this morning if Kit hadn’t come along. She’d woken up this morning with bruises on her thigh from Forrest’s tight grip last night, and on her neck from Thing Two, but they were faint so she’d been able to cover them up with make-up.
“Remember, there are eyes and ears on you. Meet you back out here when you’re finished.”
She gave a nod to show she’d heard Ranulf then climbed out of the car. She used the short walk to try and calm herself.
She carried a small bag, one that Ranulf had checked before allowing her into the car. All that was inside was some lipstick and a compact mirror.
She had to hope that Ink would pay as she hadn’t been given any cash. Luckily, Ranulf hadn’t inspected her bag too carefully. She’d chosen this handbag because it had a secret compartment.
Inside the compartment, she’d hidden the note that she’d written. She just needed to get this message to Ink. Then he’d be gone from her life.
And she’d no longer have his safety on her conscience.
Or his presence in her life.
She had to shake off her dark thoughts. She would miss their time together. More than she’d ever thought possible.
Walking into the bistro, she hoped that she was appropriately dressed. The smell of garlic made her stomach rumble. She gave her name to the short woman who approached, following her towards the back of the restaurant. This restaurant had a real charm about it with its small, round tables and booths, covered in red and white checkered tablecloths. There were a number of families in the booths, their kids laughing and playing.
A pang filled her. Loneliness. Sadness over what could never be.
Then she saw him. He was sitting at the last booth, with his back to the wall. When he saw her approaching, he slid out and stood.
She paused for a moment, unused to such manners. Mama had always lectured at her about how she should behave. Had forced her to sit for hours when she’d get one nuance of etiquette wrong. She’d also gone on about how a gentleman should treat a lady. By opening doors. By walking on the outside of the pavement. By standing when she approached.
Ink didn’t fit the description of a gentleman. Even wearing a shirt he was too raw, too masculine. His tattoos peeked up above the neckline of the shirt and ran down his hands. She’d been intimidated by him when she’d first seen him.
But she knew that a civilized veneer could hide the most hideous of monsters.
And now she knew that under a rough exterior could beat the heart of a protector.
Mama had never learned that. She’d always believed in the outside appearance of a man. Always hoped it would match the inside.
A frown marred his forehead as he took her in. He walked over to her before she could reach him, nodding to the server as he placed a hand on the small of her back.
“What’s wrong, brown eyes?”
Shoot. So much for hiding her real feelings.
Forcing herself to smile, she looked up at him. “Nothing. I just…long day. You look really good.”
She blushed as he chuckled. “Go
od, huh? Damn I was going for sexy. Would have taken hot.” He leaned in and whispered as she slid into the booth. He’d directed her to the same side he’d been sitting in. “Or fuckable.”
Her breath hitched. “Ink!”
A chuckle rumbled from him as he slid in beside her. He was different tonight. More relaxed. At ease.
“This place is cute.”
“You sound like you expected something else.”
She shrugged, not wanting to tell him what she’d thought.
“Why, Betsy, were you expecting me to take you to some rough, dark biker bar? On our first date?”
“I wasn’t sure what to expect. You constantly surprise me.”
He placed his arm over the back of the booth, turning that muscular body towards her. She was caught in the corner. The wall on one side, him on the other. Maybe she should have felt threatened. Trapped.
Instead, it felt like he was standing between her and everyone else. Cocooning her in a wall of safety.
And what a wall it was. All muscles and tats and sexiness. Seeing him in a shirt was doing something to her. Don’t get her wrong, having all that skin on display at the club couldn’t be bettered. But there was something about knowing what was under that shirt that made her fingers itch.
“You’re gonna have to stop looking at me like that, brown eyes,” he murmured, leaning in so close she got a hint of his scent. It was clean. Refreshing. Like the ocean. If you didn’t know him better, he might look like a surfer with his tan, the hair and that cheeky grin.
But if you took in the full picture, you’d see your mistake.
“Like what?” she asked.
Everyone else drifted into the background. There was just her and Ink.
Daringly, she reached forward and placed her hand on his chest, running a finger over a tatt that she could see above the top button.
He closed his eyes and let out a small sigh. She snatched her hand back, worried she’d gone too far. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to touch.
His eyes snapped open and he grabbed her hand, placing it back on his chest. Her breath hitched.
“Why’d you move your hand?” he demanded.
“I thought maybe…is it okay to touch you without…without permission.”
“Brown eyes, even in the fucking club I’m not much of a stickler for protocol. I tried to show you best practice for when you played with other Doms. But since you aren’t allowed to play with other Doms, that’s no issue.”
His words circled in her brain. “I’m not allowed to play with other Doms?”
Not that she wanted to. But it was such a possessive statement that it shocked her.
A growl erupted from him and he slid closer. “I’m trying real hard not to grab you right now, because I know that will scare you. You shouldn’t be scared, but you should be wary. Because I’ve staked my claim and I’ll defend it however I need to.”
“Are you saying…that you’re claiming me?”
“Already done it, brown eyes.”
“Umm, I don’t think you can just claim a person.”
Amusement flooded his eyes. Would she ever keep up with him?
“No? Tell me, brown eyes, do you want me?” His gaze moved to her nipples and even in the dim lighting back here, she just knew that he could tell they were hard.
It was his freaking superpower.
“If I was to push my hand under your skirt right now…”
Her breath hitched as he followed his words with actions. This was not happening.
“If I was to run my finger over your panties…”
Oh Lord give her strength.
“If I was to touch your pretty, plump pussy…”
He ran his finger along her slit.
“Would I find it nice and wet?”
It wasn’t a question. Because he knew the answer. But his finger paused and he stared down at her, waiting.
Her breath hitched, raced.
“You already know the answer.”
“Ahh, but I’m an auditory learner. I have to hear the answer to truly understand it.”
A growl rumbled through her chest.
He grinned. There was a flash of white teeth. “Why, brown eyes, did you just growl at me?” Leaning in, he gently bit her ear. “You shouldn’t growl at your Dom. That’s very naughty.”
Her eyes closed briefly. “But we’re not at the club.”
“That doesn’t matter. The rules might be relaxed or tightened, depending on the situation, but never forget, I am in charge. And don’t think I don’t know that you’re deflecting. You know what that gets you, don’t you?” He slowly circled her clit as he laid out his threat. “You know, I think I’m also a kinesthetic learner. I learn by doing.”
“The waitress could come over!”
“She’s been told to stay away until I signal. Do you think she knows what I’m doing to you back here? I chose this booth for a reason. It’s nice and dark. Secluded. Still, I think somebody would probably notice if I pulled you over my lap and spanked you, wouldn’t they? So best you do as I say.”
Damn it. How had she ever thought him a gentleman? He was the devil. Sexy, sinful, an overload to the senses.
But in the best possible way.
If this was going to be the last time she got to see him, then she was throwing caution to the wind. No holding back.
“I’m wet for you,” she murmured.
As though in reward, he slid his finger deep inside her. He lightly bit her neck. “Good girl. You’re still getting spanked. But I know that was hard for you.”
“Mama never covered dining etiquette when your date has his fingers in your…umm…private place.”
“Private place? Brown eyes, you can say it. Say the word.”
Nope. Nuh-uh. No way.
Really Betsy? He has his finger inside you. I think you can say the word.
“Where’s my finger, Betsy? Where is it?”
She didn’t care that there was the possibility that someone could see them. All she cared about was pleasing him.
Then he might just please her.
“It’s in my pussy.”
“Your tight, slick, warm pussy. Hmm, why haven’t I done this before? All those nights wasted at the club when I could have had my fingers, my tongue, buried deep inside you.”
She tensed slightly. “You think the nights were wasted?” Had he hated their time together? Had he been just indulging her Little side?
She was surprised that Forrest hadn’t mentioned anything about the two of them spending time in the Littles’ room. Someone had to have reported it to him. At first, she’d simply felt safer in there. But now she’d come to crave it. It was the only time she had ever been able to let go of some of the fear she lived with.
“Fuck. Wrong words, brown eyes. Hey, look at me. Nope, you know the rules. When I tell you to look at me then you damn well look. At. Me.” There was a snap to his words and worried he was upset with her, she raised her gaze to his.
“I’m not mad at you, brown eyes,” he told her.
It worried her sometimes, how he managed to read her so easily. Made her wonder how much longer she’d be able to keep this charade up.
They’d spent nearly every Friday and Saturday night for the last month together. It wasn’t enough. Not nearly. And yet those memories were going to have to sustain her. All she’d have was them and tonight.
Make the most of it, Betsy.
“You sound mad.” She winced at the lost note in her voice.
“I am. At myself. Not one second of those nights were wasted, baby. I promise you that.”
“Are you sure? We spent a lot of time in the Littles’ room. Maybe you wanted something else. Something more.”
She was retreating into herself. She could feel it.
He moved his finger, pulling it out of her and she shut her eyes against the disappointment. But he just drove it back into her. She let out a small moan.
She should probably stop him. When he f
ound out what she’d done, he’d likely feel like she’d used him.
He’d hate her.
While she was sitting here wanting to take in every memory, he had no idea of her lies and deceptions.
Yes, he would hate her. She needed to stop this. Now.
“Listen to me. I enjoyed every fucking moment I spent with you. Truth is, I’ve been missing something in my life for a while now. I’ve played with lots of subs, brown eyes. Not gonna lie. But I’ve had very few women in my life who could reach all parts of me. The man. The Dom. And the Daddy. So don’t think for one moment that I’ve wished for anything to be different. I love spending time with your Little. I want to spend more time with her. With all of you. I want to play with you during the day then fuck you all night long.”
“I…I…fudge.”
“What have I told you about being adorable? Damn, it just wants to make me fuck you more. I’m probably moving too fast, huh?” He gave her a small grin. “Still, at least I’ll get a small taste of you.”
What did he mean?
She watched, shocked as he withdrew his fingers from her pussy and placed them in his mouth, sucking them clean.
He hummed. “Yeah. Fucking delicious.”
It was so dirty. So unexpected.
So Ink.
Her heart raced. She couldn’t believe that had just happened.
“Mama would roll over in her grave if she just saw that.”
He raised his eyebrows and gave her a look. “That a good thing or a bad thing?”
The question was unexpected. She thought it over for about half a second. “A good thing.”
He burst into laughter.
* * *
Ink kept their talk light while they ate. He wanted her relaxed and happy. He also wanted her to eat. He wouldn’t lie, he was worried about how thin she was. He had wondered if she was just naturally thin, but she was starting to get gaunt. She’d lost weight in the last month since he’d first met her.
And he didn’t like it. It pulled at his protective instincts. The Daddy in him wanted to take over and insist on feeding her by hand.
Another time.
For this first date, he wanted it to be Ink and Betsy.
Although that hadn’t stopped him from going all Dom on her ass when she’d tried to order a damn salad.
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