She placed her feet flat on the mattress, spreading her legs wider in silent invitation.
Finally, he sank in the rest of the way with a deep thrust.
Even though she’d been sure she was ready, his length and girth filled her. “Holy hell,” she gasped.
“Almost deep enough.”
He grabbed her right leg and lifted it, putting it on his shoulder, taking control of her and the rhythm.
Nathan pulled out almost all the way then plunged back in and she let out a screaming, shuddering sigh.
This was what submission was about for her, the fantasy of being helpless, of having rough sex with an unbelievably caring man.
Maybe because of her dreams coming to life, a climax gripped her.
“Take it.”
It stunned her to realize he’d read her so accurately that he knew she was so close.
He thrust deep, shooting spasms through her as she orgasmed.
He held her, an arm under her back, supporting her, silently letting her know he had her.
The paradox between his strength and gentleness made her weak.
Slowly at first, he began to move again.
She looked at him, saw the lines of concentration, the way he willed her to keep her gaze on him.
Then he kissed her, so fucking gently that she melted.
As he pistoned faster, he kissed her deeper.
Then the answering response arced through her, and she met him tongue to tongue, feminine to masculine.
His lovemaking went on for an impossible amount of time. Then he broke the kiss and tightened his jaw.
She gave herself over to the thrill of his orgasm and brought her free leg up over him.
“Kelsey.” Her name sounded part endearment, part growl.
He came deep inside her, and she felt the pulse of his ejaculation. For that moment, she felt powerful too.
Eventually, she opened her eyes, and she smiled at him.
She wondered how she could feel so tender toward him after experiencing all this.
He released the grip he had on her wrists and brushed wayward hair back from her face. “So perfect for me.”
“For me as well.”
He stayed there for several seconds, looking at her. His smile faded and a frown replaced it, and when he spoke, his tone was gruff. “Let’s get you untied.”
She wondered what thoughts had gone through his mind, but before she could ask, he’d pulled out of her and eased her leg from his shoulder.
After releasing her, he spent a few seconds rubbing her hands and wrists and studying her. “Any problems moving?”
She tested her range of motion to show him she was fine. “No. I’m fine.”
He helped her sit up, then went into the bathroom to discard the condom.
Then, surprising her, he wiped her with a damp washcloth that he’d brought back. Instead of getting ready to leave, he pulled up the blankets then climbed into bed, propping a pillow against the headboard. “Come here.”
Common sense urged her to refuse. After everything they’d shared, things she’d never done with anyone else, she was feeling vulnerable.
As if he knew that, he opened his arms.
Damn him.
She snuggled against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. The sound of his pounding heart soothed her.
He smoothed her hair and curled a lock around his index finger, toying with it.
Kelsey had never felt anything more reassuring. This, she knew, was the intimacy he’d spoken of.
She wasn’t sure whether or not she dozed, and for a few minutes, she drifted in the altered state between sleep and consciousness.
For a while, he seemed as content as she was to stay there and enjoy the silence.
“Tomorrow night, I want you to come to my house and stay. We can drive in to work together.”
“That seems a little too personal.”
“Not much more than what we’ve already done.”
Though she wasn’t looking directly at him, she heard the smile in his words. “Spending the night is different.”
“I want to introduce you to my spanking bench. Since it will be late, I don’t want you driving home. And if I’ve done a proper job, you won’t be capable of it anyway.”
“You could always take me home.”
“I could.”
She hated that he was always so agreeable. It made it difficult to argue.
“I’d prefer that you stay. We could ride in together Thursday.”
“What if someone sees us?”
“We had an early meeting.”
She cocked her head to look at him.
“Which would be true. I would want to bury my morning erection in your hot cunt.”
Breath whooshed from her lungs. “And now it’s the only thing I can think of as well.”
“And when you pack a bag, be sure to include your butt plug and your slut paddle. I want to mark you as mine.”
* * * *
There was a reason Nathan didn’t fuck his subs.
Even though he’d been home for an hour, had taken a shower, sipped some particularly fine cognac and streamed part of The Godfather, he hadn’t been able to clear his mind.
Nathan changed into a pair of shorts and headed into his home office. The space didn’t contain only a computer and desk, he’d outfitted it with a couple of pieces of cardio equipment, a television and a sound system. Outside of work, he spent more time in this room than anywhere else, including his bedroom.
He set the treadmill for eight miles an hour. When thoughts of Kelsey continued to creep in, he notched it up again.
Surely starving his brain of oxygen would help.
Even when his feet pounded the belt, he couldn’t outrun the events of the night.
His attraction flirted with being a fucking fixation, and it confounded him.
Since he’d been inside her hot pussy and held her in his arms afterward, he’d opened a door to his heart that was better closed. As she’d rightly pointed out, they had a work relationship. Even though that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as far as he was concerned, the fact that he was thinking about her when he shouldn’t be, planning her next experience, waiting for her to get to the office, all that weakened him, made him less able to compartmentalize each part of his life.
He notched up the speed on the treadmill one more time and looked outside at the sliver of a moon, barely visible through the quickly moving clouds.
Twenty minutes later, he wasn’t any clearer, and the burn in his lungs matched the one in his legs.
He slowed to a walk, and when his annoying-as-hell watch pinged to alert him to the fact his heart rate was once again normal, he decided to channel his energy into something productive.
After wiping off with a towel, he went into the playroom. Earlier, he’d put his bag next to the counter, and now he unzipped it and placed the items he planned to use, including her nipple clamps, on a white towel.
As it had been a long time since the equipment had been used, he wiped down the spanking bench before opening the armoire that held his equipment. He pulled out his short flogger, made from supple cowhide, and flicked it several times, testing it and himself before returning it to its hook.
He grabbed a few leather cuffs and attached them to the spanking bench.
Finally he checked his supplies, ensuring he had adequate sanitary wipes, lube, condoms and bottles of water.
That done, he returned to his office and logged into his email. Most he left for the following day, but he confirmed an appointment the next week in Dallas with Connor.
Then he sent a text message to Erin suggesting she check out Andi’s salon. Couldn’t hurt for Kelsey’s friend to be an advocate.
Proving she didn’t sleep much, either, his sister responded within minutes.
On Westheimer? You know that’s one of the pricier salons in the city, right? It costs money to go there. Like more than ten dollars for a haircut.
/> He shook his head. He paid more than ten dollars for a haircut. Most times. With a grin, he replied.
If her pink-and-blue pastel hair is any indication, she does, indeed, have access to magical unicorn powder at her color bar.
His phone lit up again almost instantly.
Who are you and what have you done with my cheapskate sibling? No, wait. Never mind. I don’t want him back. Whoever has Nathan’s phone, will you be my brother?
She said the first service is free just to get you into her salon.
Now I know I’m talking to my brother.
Brat.
Love you, too, cheapskate.
He tossed his phone on the desk, plugged it into the charger then headed for another quick shower to rinse off the sweat.
Thoughts of Kelsey drifted to him, and he remembered her in the bath, on her knees, over his lap, hands secured with his necktie.
He took hold of his cock with his right hand. The left, he braced on the far wall. With his eyes closed, he stroked himself. Images of Kelsey superimposed themselves one on top of the other. He recalled her whimper, could almost hear her scream.
In a short amount of time, she’d given him a fuckton of trust, and he consumed it as if it were food.
Shaving her pussy, dropping hot wax on her tits, her belly, her pelvis, her red, throbbing clit.
He moved his hand faster.
Thoughts of her made him as horny as if she were there, looking up at him, begging him to slide into her.
With a grunt, he ejaculated, hot spurts of cum dripping from his hand.
But it didn’t help.
Christ alive, he still wanted her.
Chapter Eleven
“We will need to get you something to wear.”
Nathan’s words echoed in her mind, making it impossible for her to concentrate on their morning meeting.
“Ms. Lane?”
She glanced across his desk at him, mortified he’d caught her daydreaming. But since he’d left her house last night, she hadn’t been able to think of anything but him. Nathan Donovan got to her in ways no one ever had. He relentlessly pushed her, even when she wasn’t sure she could give him what he asked for. But each time she met the challenge, she felt as if she’d climbed a mountain. Every experience was exhilarating and try as she might, she couldn’t help but focus on the next.
“Ms. Lane?”
“Sir?” Since when had that been so natural? “Sorry.”
“You’ll need something to wear.” He frowned at her. “When we go to Deviation on Saturday night.”
No wonder she couldn’t concentrate. Every thought connected to him led to BDSM or sex. It seemed to consume her life.
“I was thinking we’d go shopping tomorrow after work.”
She wrote the word tomorrow on her notebook then circled it endlessly, stuck on the idea of entering a lingerie store with him.
He walked a silver pen through his fingers and sat back, regarding her. “Are you going home with me this evening?”
Stunned, she looked up.
After he’d left last night, she’d spent an hour thinking about it, debating, listing a dozen reasons she shouldn’t and only one why she should. She wanted to. That mattered more than anything. “I packed an overnight bag,” she admitted. Though technically Kelsey didn’t start work until eight, she’d arrived at two minutes before the hour. To her, that meant she was at least half an hour late, something unheard of. She’d spent far too long packing makeup, toiletries, hairbrushes, even sex toys. But choosing clothes had been the most difficult. Office wear was no problem, but lingerie? Bras and underwear? She’d pulled out her entire drawer as she’d dug through it, shoving aside briefs, thongs and boy shorts. She had no idea what he’d find appealing. It hadn’t helped that she told herself it didn’t matter. It did to her.
The most agonizing decision had been what she was going to sleep in. She’d discarded nightshirts—too lame. A silk chemise—not warm enough. A peignoir—too sexy. Thermal pajamas—not nearly sexy enough. In frustration, she’d tossed in several different things. She could figure it out this evening. “And I rode the train.”
He stilled his hand, the pen seemingly frozen in air.
She met his eyes. The green color seemed richer, more inviting than ever. In that moment, she was glad she’d made the decision she had.
“Do you need to do anything after work?”
“I was planning to use the fitness center.”
“No problem. I’ll work a little late, and we’ll plan on leaving at…six?”
She nodded.
“Anywhere specific you’d like to go for dinner?”
Kelsey shook her head.
“Pizza?”
She blinked. “Pizza?”
“There’s a place near my house, owned by twin sisters from Sicily. You might like it. Decent chianti, as well.”
He couldn’t have said anything that would have shocked her more. She would have thought he might suggest a steak or something else upscale. Pizza didn’t fit the image she had of him. Suddenly she realized she really didn’t know this man. Despite the fact she’d had the hottest sex of her life with him and had studied his business practices, she had no idea who he was at the deepest level.
As much as she wanted to find out, she was scared. She was starting to care for him, and now she was in deeper danger. She might lose her heart to him. Again she warned herself about falling for an overbearing man.
“So how about it? We could call ahead so we don’t have to wait long.”
“If it doesn’t have anchovies, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.”
They agreed to meet at six o’clock, then he switched subjects back to work so fast she was baffled and scrambling to keep up.
She scrawled notes as he spoke. She needed to get out a company-wide email about Mr. Newman’s going-away party, consult with Thompson, Connor’s admin, on flight arrangements for the Dallas trip the next week and ensure that everything had been handled correctly for Seward’s dismissal the following day when he reported for duty.
Though she tried to concentrate, she was thinking about the night ahead.
“And, Ms. Lane?”
She regarded him. This morning, he wore a charcoal-colored suit, so dark it was nearly black, with a pale yellow tie. For a moment, before she derailed the thought, she entertained the idea that he might pin her face down on the desk and join her wrists at the small of her back, confining her with deft twists of that tie. “Mr. Donovan?”
“I enjoyed fucking you last night.”
Her mouth dropped open.
His cell phone rang, and he picked it up and glanced at the caller identification. “If you’ll excuse me?”
“Of course.” She stood and left, closing the door behind her.
Kelsey paused for a second, shoulders against the wall.
The juxtaposition between intimacy then being shut out when his phone rang jarred her.
This, she told herself, is a good reason not to date the boss.
It didn’t make any difference whom he talked to. He had every right to his privacy. Still…she was curious.
For the next few hours, she handled what felt like a million administrative tasks, calling Zoe McBride, working out the details for Nathan’s Dallas trip, checking in with Lawrence to be sure they were on track for Seward’s termination.
Then she sent an email to Thompson, Connor’s assistant. The man responded immediately, also asking for their arrival dates at the family’s annual meeting.
She promised to get back to him as quickly as possible then set a reminder on Nathan’s calendar.
Kelsey decided to head to Marvin’s for a much-needed coffee before facing the rest of the day. Last night, she’d slept worse than usual. Nathan had offered to stay, but she’d insisted she was fine. Truthfully, being in his arms would have helped. The wax play, the over-the-knee punishment from his belt, the sex… It had been a lot to process, no matter how strong she pretended to be.
/> Her phone vibrated, and she checked the message. She was a bit surprised that it was from Andi.
Erin-Fucking-Donovan called me. She’s coming in this week. I’ll buy your martini next time we get together.
Kelsey shook her head. Before she could reply, asking what happened to her BOGO service, she received a second message from Andi.
Your boss is a rock star. Have fun Saturday night. I almost wish I could be there to see him beat your ass.
Kelsey sat back. She was sure he’d be glad to know there was another member of the Nathan Donovan fan club.
The rest of the day passed in a flurry of calls, emails, discussions with Zoe and the Newmans about the upcoming party, lunch at her desk and impersonal, businesslike conversation with Nathan that left her feeling a little raw.
He was in his office with the door closed when she picked up her bag and took the elevator to the fitness center.
After twenty minutes on the elliptical machine, Kelsey hit the circuit equipment to work her legs and upper body. She used more weight than normal and forced herself to concentrate on her form, shutting out all other thoughts.
When she was on the final go-round, she noticed Nathan, his hips propped against the air-conditioning unit, arms folded across his broad chest, studying her.
She froze. Then deliberately she got back to her workout.
When she finished the final twenty-five reps on the ab board, he was standing next to her, holding a towel.
With a small smile, she accepted. “Thank you.”
“Take your time,” he told her. “I can wait while you shower, or you can shower at my house, either way.”
“I’ll do it here,” she said.
“Good. I assume you have your butt plug with you?”
She felt her face drain of color.
“Please put it in. I’ll check for it when we get in the elevator.”
“Do you…” She struggled to find the right words. “Do you always…?”
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