Oh God, no, she panicked. There was no way she could pull that off without Lori recognizing something was unusual with their relationship.
"I'd love to," he said, "but I'm meeting with clients." He motioned for the bartender.
"Yes, Mr. Cain," he said. "How can I help you?"
Did everyone fall at this man's feet, Katherine wondered. She stared at him and realized the answer was yes. How could anyone not?
"Please put these two ladies' drinks on my tab for the rest of the evening," he said."Give them anything they want."
"That's not necessary," Katherine said.
He turned and smiled at her. "Of course it is," he said. "May I have a word with you?"
"Take your time, Kat," Lori said. "I'll be waiting here for all the details." She winked.
Lori didn't want all the details. Katherine was pretty certain of that.
She hopped off the bar stool, took his extended hand, and let him lead her to the entrance. There was a long hallway and it was quieter there.
"Hey," she whispered, feeling awkward.
"Hey." He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "This is a pleasant surprise."
She nodded, not really sure what her place was. She couldn't exactly kneel at his feet in the middle of a bar, and she felt disobedient because she was wearing panties.
"Will you be here long?"
"Not too much longer," she said as she chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't want to take the train too late."
"May I take you home?" He continued to caress her cheek as she leaned into his touch. She liked this gentle side of him.
"You're asking?" She smirked. She was feeling oddly calm in his presence.
"Right now I am, but if you tell me no, I'll be insisting." He smiled and it made her insides jump and her disobedient panties wet.
"I'd be happy to have you take me home." She'd take any extra time she could get with him.
"Good. Go back to your friend and when I'm finished with my clients, I'll take you home."
She nodded.
Lori was practically chomping at the bit when Katherine returned.
"Kat!" she screamed. "Lucas Cain?"
"Yeah." She nodded and tried to act casual.
"The most eligible bachelor in town?" she asked. "You've been spending the last few weekends with him?"
"How would you know he's an eligible bachelor?"
"He was interviewed by the New Yorker a few months ago as an up-and-coming entrepreneur. His company is thriving, and he's gorgeous. Tell me you didn't know who he was when you met."
Kat shook her head. She really had no clue, but Lori made it her business to know everything about everyone. She'd be shocked to find out who Lucas Cain really was.
"How did you meet, anyway?"
"Umm, a mutual friend introduced us."
"Really? Who?" Lori asked.
"You don't know her. Did you order us another round?"
"Yeah, so what's he like?"
"He's really nice," Katherine answered.
"You know what I mean." Lori laughed. "I bet he's an animal in bed. I mean, look at that body. Is he slow and passionate, or fast and hard?"
"Lori!" Katherine could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.
"Oh, he's such a domineering business man, so that must carry over into the bedroom." She giggled.
Lori had no idea how much of that dominance carried over into the bedroom.
"Does he pull your hair? Because that's totally sexy." She laughed. "I'd let him pull my hair. Just sayin'."
And you'd have to let him tie you to the bed, blindfold you, flog you, drip hot wax on your nipples, spank you … and any other thing that was on that checklist.
"Is it hot in here?" Katherine asked as she sipped her drink.
"So, is it serious?"
"I don't know," she admitted. And that was the truth. She wasn't sure what was going on. She knew what her purpose was, but lately she'd been thinking about him more and more. She wanted more, but she'd never get it. Not with him, anyway.
For the next hour, Kat endured Lori's questions about Luke and admired the way she said his name so liberally. She, on the other hand, didn't dare say his name out loud for fear he might overhear her.
The car ride home was relatively quiet. Katherine wasn't sure if she should engage him in conversation, and didn't even know if the car was a place where she could speak freely.
"Your friend seems nice," he said when he finally did speak.
"Yeah." She smiled. "She's great."
"Do you go out in the evenings often?"
"Not really," she answered. "We had a busy day and someone suggested it."
"I see," he said as he pulled up in front of her house. "I'm glad I ran into you."
"Me too. Would you like to come in?" She couldn't believe she'd just asked him that. This wasn't a date. "I mean if you want to, you can."
"It's probably not such a good idea."
"Oh, of course." She looked down, suddenly feeling rejected.
"I have an early morning." He smiled as he reached for her hand.
She glanced down at their connected hands and delighted in his touch. "Thanks for the ride. I really appreciate it."
"Katherine," he whispered, and with his free hand he turned her face so that she could look at him. "You shouldn't be out in the city so late and then have to take the subway home. I'd rather you not do that in the future. It's not safe."
"Are you asking?" She smiled as she stared directly into his beautiful green eyes. She rarely had the chance to look into his eyes.
"No, I'm not." He looked like her Dom now, and that made it easy for her to remember her place.
"Yes, Master," she whispered as she lowered her gaze.
He pulled her closer to his face and gently brushed his lips against hers before placing a chaste kiss on them, lingering at her lips for a few seconds. She couldn't help but stare into his eyes again, hoping he'd really kiss her, like the way he'd done in his study. He pressed his forehead against hers and smiled.
"I'll call you tomorrow night," he said. "You better get inside now."
She wanted to stay there and touch him, kiss him, and maybe get to know him better, but that wouldn't happen. Luke was a complicated man, and she didn't think that was ever going to change.
She nodded.
"Good night, Katherine." He released her, but he looked disappointed.
"Good night, Master."
She opened the car door and headed up to her loft. She turned and watched as he pulled away. He smiled at her and she wished he could have accepted her invitation to come in. She really wanted him to, but she knew he wouldn't. She was becoming attached to him in ways that weren't acceptable.
A part of Katherine felt eager at the prospect of something new and exciting. It felt like he had dropped her off from their first date. But the other part of her, the rational part, felt the dread of knowing there would never be a first date.
Chapter 9
Play time …
Friday nights couldn't come fast enough for Luke. While he'd always enjoyed playing with his subs, he'd never been as eager to start the weekend as he was when he'd be with Katherine. She was on his mind constantly. He even found himself becoming distracted during the work day, and he rarely let that happen. He wasn't sure what was happening, and it bothered him. He knew other Doms who had formed a romantic relationship with their subs, but it just wasn't something he'd ever considered. There never seemed to be a reason to consider it, until now.
Because of his eagerness to be with her, they had a new Friday night ritual, one she had taken to rather well. As soon as she entered the foyer he'd be waiting for her. She would drop her bag by the door and then drop to her knees and take him in her mouth.
It was his favorite part of the week. It relieved all of his work week tension.
"That's right, my sweet girl," he moaned as she hummed around his cock. "Take it all." He gripped her hair and released hard down her throat. She never even flinched or hesitated anymore.
Luke pulled her up from her knees and quickly kissed her, tasting himself on her tongue.
"Did you have a good week?"
"Yes, Master." She bent down and pulled up his pants, making sure to tuck in his shirt before fastening them and buckling his belt. She always treated him with such care and respect.
He was almost hard again watching how she wanted to serve him in every possible way.
"Are you ready for dinner?"
"Only if it pleases you." She looked down at the floor.
"Come." He extended his hand for her. "I'm starving."