Alix blinked. “Damn, I thought attorneys were supposed to uphold the law.”
“I do,” I said with a smile, “but sometimes, well, the law isn’t always the best answer in the short term.”
“I see. It seems I have much to learn then.”
I could see Vince nod, and I had to suppress a chuckle. If my paralegal only knew the levels of meaning to Alix’s words.
Chapter 13
Alix
After Vince left, I sat back on the sofa, looking across the room at Kade. “How’d I do?”
“Perfect, as if you could be anything less,” he said. “So what did you think of the plan?”
“Counter blackmail or we bring the hacktivists in? I hope it works,” I said. “I’m worried about one thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
I shrugged, feeling shy again. It seemed with Vince gone, I felt myself reverting to the insecure shyness that I often felt around Kade. “Well, what if I’m not the only one Syd is doing this to? He admitted that he’s seduced lots of women, what if he’s milking others the same way?”
Alix smiled and stood up. “Come with me,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Where are we going?” I asked, taking his hand and standing up. “Is something wrong?”
He shook his head and leaned in, kissing me on the cheek. “No. You’ve been amazing. You made that connection faster than a lot of people would have.”
“So where are we going?” I asked, smiling. “Dinner?”
Kade chuckled and shook his head. “Maybe later. But for now, no words unless I ask you something, understand?”
“Yes, Kade,” I said. Just saying those words sent a small thrill through my body, and I realized what Rita was talking about in terms of how being a sub meant being strong. It wasn’t strength over Kade, although I could say Tudor Rose and end it at any time. Instead, it was control and strength over myself. In that regard, I thought as we stepped out of the living room and down the hall, both of us were similar.
At first I thought Kade was taking me to that mysterious room, but instead he led me past the door and into his bedroom. “Stand perfectly still,” he ordered me. “I’m going to put a blindfold on you, but you won’t be restrained or hurt in any way. But you aren’t to move at all unless I direct you to.”
I nodded, swallowing as Kade walked over to his dresser and took a long black cloth from the top drawer, letting it dangle from his fingers. “Alix, once I tie this, our relationship is going to be forever different. If you want to back out, this is the time.”
I shook my head and swallowed, looking into Kade’s dark eyes, almost as dark as the silk in his hands. He hadn’t asked me a question, so I instead closed my eyes and raised my chin, keeping my hands by my sides. In the red-tinged darkness of my closed eyes, I could hear my breathing as well as Kade’s responding hum of approval. “You’re very strong, but also very proud, even underneath that shyness you say you have.”
True darkness descended over my vision as Kade tied the cloth around my eyes, making sure to tuck the fabric behind my ears, leaving me fully able to hear. The knot was tight but not painfully so—that wasn’t its purpose. “Answer me, Alix. Can you see anything?”
“No, Kade.”
“You are using my name. Why?”
“I don’t know what I should call you. Using your name has meaning to me. What should I be calling you?”
Kade’s fingers traced over the back of my neck, trailing from my skin to the fabric of the light sleeveless blouse I was wearing. Goosebumps broke out on my skin, delicious chills rippling through me as his fingers left the blouse to travel down my arms. “When the time is right, we’ll discuss it. Alix, are you sure you’re ready for this? You do realize that we’re going to have sex right here, don’t you?”
“Yes, Kade.”
His lips came close to my ear, his breath tickling against the skin. I was feeling hypersensitive to his presence, like my skin itself was a form of vision, feeling him behind me, the smile on his face and the glint in his eye clear to me as his warm breath caressed my skin.
“Very good.”
Kade’s lips found the edge of my earlobe, sucking it in before he bit down slowly. The pressure mixed with the pleasure of feeling his touch, but he stopped before it could grow painful. Instead, I was left nearly gasping as he released my ear to trace it with his tongue, while at the same time his hands came around to the front of my shirt, cupping my breasts through my blouse. I gasped, wanting to turn, but remembering Kade’s command that I not move.