"Do you want to touch me?"
"If it please you," Kade said automatically.
"It pleases me to know if you want to touch me."
A smile curled around Kade's lips. "Yes, Ma'am."
"Where do you want to touch me?"
"Wherever it please you to be touched." He grinned up at her.
"And if I asked how, I suppose it is however it please me," she said and rolled her eyes.
Kade chuckled but did not shift his position.
"You will need original material, Mr. Kinkaid," she said with a sigh.
"As you wish, Ma'am," he shot back in a challenge.
"Let's put that mouth to better use and show me what you can do with it to please me."
Lust filled his gaze, and she shifted back to stretch out on the table. The movement caused it to swing lightly, and she felt like she was floating.
Kade stood and stepped toward her, laying his hands on the table, caging her hips.
"I said nothing about your hands. I said your mouth. Put your hands behind your back." She looked up at him with a devilish smile. Trying to stay a couple of moves ahead of him was a challenge, and she relished a good challenge.
He placed his hands behind his back and bent at the waist. Taking the button of her pants into his mouth, he worked it until it popped free. Then he took the zipper between his teeth and worked it down the track, his eyes trained on hers with each move.
The material lay open at the apex of her legs in a lazy v formation. His warm breath caressed her bare skin. His eyes grazed the exposed patch, and she swore she saw a shiver run through him.
For a lingering moment he hovered right above her body. His eyes were trained on hers while his slow, measured breath stroked the exposed skin. It would be easy to command him to move. To demand he use his tongue to please her. Everything in her wanted to say the words that would make him move and relieve the ache now pulsing between her legs with each heartbeat. But this was a game of wills, and she wanted to see how he played with the minute push-pull of power within an intimate exchange.
Locked in the moment, she silently begged the Universe for him to move. A second later, he pushed his tongue between the opening of the fabric and began to feast. His tongue dipped and teased her clit, sending ripples of pleasure racing through her body. Kade sucked and licked her, teasing her to the edge before retreating to trace the edges of her folds. Need clawed through her. She pushed her hips to meet his mouth and demand more, only to have him retreat until she settled under him and he started again.
She reached for his hair to push him to the perfect spot, only to have him evade her grasp and retreat until her hands rested above her head once again. When his mouth returned, every muscle in her body tightened in anticipation. There was no rush as his tongue flicked against her skin soft enough to drive her crazy and hard enough for her body to demand release.
Kade's tongue circled her clit. Pushing it forward, he probed the edge of her entrance, then sucked the nub, varying the pressure. His face strained in concentration and focus. She knew she wasn't the only one suffering under the weight of his current ministrations.
Pressure grew and waned with each stroke of his tongue. His eyes closed, and his brow furrowed. It was then she knew he was suffering along with her. Jessica pushed her hips up against his mouth. In return, his lips closed around her clit, and he sucked hard, flicking his tongue across the alivened bundle with each breath.
Between one pull and the next, the orgasm took hold and ripped through her in an explosion of release. Hot streams of pleasure raced along every nerve ending. Her back arched off the table as her pussy spasmed in release. A scream ripped from her throat and echoed off the walls. Her whole body shook with the force of the climax. She glanced down between her legs. Kade's hot breath came in pants across her skin, his eyes hooded and glazed over in his own need.
When she floated back to earth, his piercing eyes were staring expectantly at her. His mouth still hovered right above her pulsing pussy, but he didn't move a muscle.
"Kneel." She forced the word out in a whisper between ladened breaths.
Kade slid back into a kneeling position, but his hand remained firmly behind his back as she sat up on the swinging table. Her gaze fell to his groin, and she smiled. The bulge between his legs was rock hard and she could see the slightest throb against the fabric. Jessica was glad to see he wasn't unaffected.
"That was amazing and very pleasing," she said, her voice hoarse.
"Glad to be of service, Ma'am."
She watched him settle below her. His eyes didn't leave hers, and his body didn't move a muscle as he waited on her next command.
"I bet that bulge in your pants would love to be free. Can you imagine how good it would feel to have my hand work up and down the shaft of your hard, throbbing cock?"
Kade moaned in response and his eyes slammed shut.
Jessica slid off the table and stood in front of him, her crotch inches from his face.
"Or to hear me command you to thrust your hard cock deep into my soaked pussy. My warm pussy wrapping around you as you penetrate me with deep, hard, powerful thrusts until it clenches you in glorious spasms, sending you into your own sweet release."
Below her, she heard him groan, but still he didn't move.
"Are you enjoying our dance?" she asked.
"Yes, Ma'am," he ground out between clenched teeth.
"Good. In that case, I know you won't touch yourself or come until our next encounter or three days, whichever comes first," she said.
She held her breath and waited for his answer. For all of her outward confidence, there were times she knew her intensity could push people too far.
"Yes Ma'am. As you wish," he confirmed.
Jessica's heart pounded in her chest. The heady embrace of power filled her, and she smiled. Maybe this assignment wouldn't be so bad after all.
She took a deep breath. Exhaustion swept over her tired body, and she bit back the unexpected yawn.
"Rise," she commanded.
Kade rolled his body back in a motion a dancer would envy. His eyes never left her own, and in seconds he was once again towering over her.
"Thank you, Mr. Kinkaid. Your advice was correct; I believe I understand this piece of equipment more intimately now," she said, patting it with her hand and offering a wry smile.
He nodded in a way that reminded her of a gentleman's bow but short and quick.
The yawn she'd stifled earlier exploded in full force as her face lit in embarrassment.
"Do I bore you, Detective?" Kade quipped with a smirk.
"Hardly."
"I'm honestly surprised you're still on your feet. Based on your injuries and the day you've had here, it is a testament to your fortitude or sheer stubborn will."
Jessica didn't bother to confirm either but dropped her gaze from his before he could glean any more information. When she was weary, her ability to hold a stoic poker face waned in ways that irritated her.
"It's been a long day," she confirmed.
"May I escort you back to the PR's apartment? It makes better sense for you to be on property while you work on your investigation. Maybe you'll take the normal commute time to rest and heal."
While the words were perfectly amiable, it was his change of tone which caught her.
"Was that a command or a suggestion, Mr. Kinkaid?" she asked, looking back up at his face.
"Take it as you will, Detective," he said simply. "Shall we?"
Kade motioned to the door. When Jessica stepped forward, the warmth of his hand radiated across her shoulder. Beside her, Kade's steps were uneven, and she smiled.
"Do you need to adjust something, Mr. Kinkaid?"
"I'd not deign to be so crude, Detective. You created the situation by your own choices and control. Why would I not proudly display it a world that understands?"
His words made her speechless. She was used to men either trying to put her down or calling her a bitch b
ecause she was feminine. While she knew she couldn't please everyone, it would be nice to know the rules of the game. Kade wiped her previous rules away and interacted in a way she wasn't accustomed to handling. He might look tame, but she knew without a doubt he'd bite anyone that stepped on his turf wrong.
They walked back up the stairs in amenable silence, the soft click of their footfalls echoing against the walls.
"Is there a significance to the black strand of cord and pendant around Charles' neck?"
Beside her, Kade's steps hit with an uneven staccato, but she didn't look over at him. She knew the question caught him off-guard either because he didn't realize she'd noticed the detail or wasn't expecting her to be so forward with the question.
"Empyrean gives the cord and insignia to submissives who do not have a partner. It places them under the Club's rule. While they are free agents, the club expects a certain decorum and offers protection or assistance in any area they need."
Jessica thought about his statement and its implications.
"Do you wear this insignia?" she asked, suddenly aware she didn't know all the rules of the club.
"I do," Kade stated but didn't elaborate.
"Do partnerless Dominants have any such insignias?"
"They do," he confirmed as they approached the PR firm's door.
The surrounding air seemed oppressing as she turned to him, suddenly unsure of how to end such an unusual day. They stepped into the PR firm's reception area, and Jessica froze.
"It's been a pleasure, Detective," he said, easily smoothing the situation.
Her shoulders fell in relief.
"Likewise. Will you follow my last command?"
"Of course. Where's the fun in the dance if you walk off the dance floor?"
Jessica nodded.
Kade gazed intensely into her eyes and lifted her hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss across her knuckles.
Her heart raced in her chest, and she worked to control her own breath.
"Sleep well, Detective."
"And to you, Mr. Kinkaid."
He opened the door, and when she stepped onto the lower landing of the apartment's stairs, closed it behind her.
"What. The. Fuck. Was. That," she whispered, sagging against the door.
Wisps of power and control buzzed through her chased by physical exhaustion. She pulled herself off the door and climbed the flight of stairs.
On the kitchen island sat a glass of wine and a note.
Hope this helps you rest, Detective.
~Kade
Jessica stared at the wine in disbelief. How? When?
Picking up the glass, she took a sip. The soft, sweet liquid coated her tongue in the perfection. Making her way back to the bedroom, her mind swirled with questions and emotions while her body demanded rest.
As she walked through the door, the lamp lights on either side of the bed lit to a soft glow. On the bed was a small bundle.
Study Materials.
Enclosed you will find your member insignia and club protocols.
Welcome to Empyrean.
~K
Jessica unwrapped the bundle. On top was a black velvet jewelry box. She lifted the lid and a small gasp escaped. A sapphire blue pendent surrounded by the club's name glittered in the soft light. Beside it lay a silver chain and lapel pin holder. The lid's top was emblazoned with the club logo and the word Dominant. This morning she thought she’d known everything there was to know about accepting that role, but now she wasn't so sure.
Chapter Fifteen
"Katie, where are the P&L reports?" Kade said into the phone, his voice terse with frustration and aggravation.
"They are in the third blue folder under the purple folder in the second pile to the right of your desk, Sir," she said calmly, though her tone was laced with its own brand of exasperation.
Kade stared at the three piles on his desk. Never had he experienced a constant bombardment of paperwork from every department. The chef was demanding to know when his food order would arrive, the bar manager wanted to know if the gin was on order, the spa need some type of exotic oil, and the maintenance staff was out of paper towels. In addition, there was an upcoming corporate meeting where he needed to present the most recent profit and loss for the current quarter.
Katie was a godsend in attempting to keep everything organized with some bizarre color-coded system, though none of it was making sense to him. Coupled with the near constant throb in his groin from a true need to release for over two days since Jessica gave the order for him not to come, and he was ready to scream in frustration.
He ran a hard hand through his hair. If he didn't figure out this shit, it wouldn’t matter if they got Alexandra in time because there wouldn't be a club left. He still wanted to strangle her for walking away and more importantly for leaving him to be the Master of this ship. His job was the damn director of security, not the service provider for the whole club.
"You made Katie cry, I hear," Ian said, leaning on the doorframe.
"Mr. Breckenridge, unless you have something useful to provide, get the fuck out," Kade growled.
Ian chuckled.
"I see someone needs to save a drowning man."
Kade glared at Ian, then looked down and continued to paw through the well-organized folder for a report he barely understood.
Without a word, Ian walked to the sideboard and poured a finger of scotch and set it on Kade's desk.
"Drink. Then talk," Ian said, pointing to the glass.
Kade's mouth opened, but Ian shook his head and pointed to the insignia on his label. The man almost never wore the Dominant's pin, but the sight of it, and his current turmoil, gave Kade pause. He picked up the dark liquid and threw it back far faster than necessary.
"She should have left you in charge," he said as the liquid burned a path down his throat.
"I've got my own company to run, and she knew you were more than capable of handling it," Ian pointed out.
"Does it look like I'm 'handling it'?"
"No, it looks like you are being far too much like your boss on the outside but do not realize the one thing she knew well-you must rely on the whole team to do their jobs. Make them lift their own area and not dump on you. You aren't the club slave, you are the director of security and current club owner stand-in. Both things you are more than capable of doing."
Kade sighed and stretched. His shoulders ached, and he felt tension in places he'd never experienced.
"This desk job is for the birds."
Ian laughed. "We've all got our place."
"And mine is supposed to be out walking the floor and figuring out how Edmund is constantly one step ahead of us."
"Let the detective lift that one. It's why she's here. She's an expert in her field and according to her background, more than qualified. Speaking of the detective, I heard you gave her a tour of a private room the other night," Ian said, lifting an eyebrow.
Kade rubbed his neck and avoided Ian's gaze. "Something like that," he finally said.
"How'd it feel to kneel again?"
The words stunned him.
"You forgot to turn off the cameras," Ian said to put him out of his misery.
"Fuck. Who was on watch?" he asked, searching for the watch schedule under the piles of papers. Normally his desk was organized to the point he could give minute details about nearly anything going on in the club, but he wasn't even sure where this morning's coffee mug was located.
"Tanner," Ian supplied. "And the minute you hit your knees, he killed the feed to the room."
It wasn't the fact that the staff saw him play, but since they all worked closely together, most of them turned off the cameras when they stepped into a private room. Playing in a public space was one thing, but things could get enormously passionate in more intimate situations.
"It was intense. She's new in some ways. Most of her experiences seem to have been in the bedroom, but she has all the makings..." Kade let the sentence die before he fi
nished it.
"Well, this is an unusual situation," Ian quipped.
"What? I play. Everyone knows the side of the slash I prefer."
"You mean you wear the appropriate jewelry for the club underneath that tie, but no one sees it and you'll only refer to if someone asks. But you've not hit your knees since Katherine, and before that it was what—three years since Alexandra?"
"So?"
"So? You don't hit your knees just because someone said it. If they touch the floor under a command, it's because you wanted them to."
"What? Now you're my therapist?"
Ian shook his head. "I'm a person who's known you longer than all the names I've mentioned and knows many of your darkest secrets. But talking to Jillian might not be such a bad idea."
Kade shot him a look, and Ian threw his hands up in defense.
"Got it. I'll butt out, but don't you dare ruin whatever might be here just because you are scared the woman is in a dangerous job. We can't predict anything-Alexandra was in one of the safest environments possible."
"And look how that's turned out. My watch and I fucked it up," Kade spat.
"You can't fix what you don't know," Ian said in resignation. His own frustration over the situation was written clearly on his face. "This paperwork, however, I can help you wrangle it and get you back on top."
"Now that's the best thing I've heard all day."
Four hours later, the stack of folders on his desk had diminished to two: the P&L report and a long explanation from Ian on the best way to present it to the investors and the security file for Alexandra. He was exhausted and glad to see the top of his desk.
"Thank you," he said, leaning back in his office chair.
Ian smiled and saluted him with a well-earned glass of bourbon.
"How does that woman do it? More importantly, why?" Kade asked to the air.
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