As she walked away, she could hear him laughing. “Maybe not, but I know the idea turns you on.”
Chapter Five
One week later
“I’ve finished tidying the reception area. Is there anything else I can do, Colt?” Kat asked as she walked into the bar.
He smiled. She’d been working at Club Fusion for a week now, but she still appeared wary.
Colt handed her a cloth. “Here, help me dry these glasses, and then place them on the shelf ready for tonight.”
Her shoulders were stiff as she picked up a glass. Unable to resist, he asked, “Are you happy working here, Kat?”
“Yes.”
Colt withdrew a tray of steaming glasses from the machine and placed them on the drainer. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
He shrugged. “You just seem to be holding back, that’s all. I did tell you you’re more than welcome to use the facilities at the club, but so far I’ve barely seen you.”
Kat picked up another glass, and began to dry it. “I don’t mind my own company. I’m used to it.”
However much he tried to cajole Kat into conversation, she refused to open up to him.
There was something about her that aroused his senses. Yes, she was independent, strong-willed, and well able to look after herself, but she was clearly vulnerable, too. His inner self, the part that made him a Dom, wanted to tap that vulnerability. He wanted to dominate her, and bend her to his will. He figured a woman like Kat wouldn’t be easily mastered, but that would give him even greater satisfaction when he finally tamed her. Ah, yes, taming Kat Masters would prove the perfect aphrodisiac.
He guessed she was gripping the glass too tightly, because it broke in her hand cutting her badly. Immediately, she ran her cut finger under the tap. Her blood colored the water red. “How stupid of me.”
“Here let me see.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“For god’s sakes, woman, stop being so independent.” Disregarding her answer, he took hold of her hand and looked at the cut. It wasn’t too deep. He dried the wound with a piece of tissue, and then found a plaster. “You’ll live,” he said.
“Thank you.”
Her gaze connected with his. She was so close her could smell her perfume and feel the heat from her body. He noticed her pupils dilate as she looked at him. Fuck, he wanted to kiss her.
She must have sensed his next move because she stepped away, saying, “I must get on with my work.” He smiled to himself as she picked up the cloth and began drying the glasses once more.
Was it fear or desire he’d seen in her hazel eyes? Maybe it was both. If that were the case, then he may have found the perfect woman.
* * * *
One month later
Colt strolled through the reception with the last of his guests. “Now, y’all come back soon. Don’t be strangers.”
“We sure will, Colt. We’ve had a great time as always,” his guests replied.
He waited until the couple had reached their car before closing the doors and locking up. After rubbing a hand over his face, he glanced at his watch. It was just coming up to five in the morning, and the sun had started to appear over the horizon.
Colt turned and studied Kat as she tidied the reception area. She wore a low-cut black blouse and simple skirt. He smiled, noticing that each time she’d wear something a little sexier. By leaving her to dress as she pleased, he found she naturally erred toward more revealing clothes. If she carried on this way, she’d soon be wearing practically nothing. It pleased him that she fit in so well. The clients liked her, too. First, because she was pleasing on the eye, and secondly, because she was very professional at her job.
“Leave that, Kat. It’s Sunday morning. We’ve got plenty of time to tidy up. Come, have a nightcap in the bar. I think we deserve one.” Kat had kept to herself for the last month, but the past few days he’d encouraged her to stay for a drink after hours. For that half-hour before he went to bed, he liked to wind down. Talking with Kat made a welcome change to drinking on his own.
They made their way into the bar. Luke and Abbey were just finishing up. When they sat at the bar, Luke handed him the keys. “The money’s in the safe, Colt.”
“You and Abbey going to have a nightcap?”
Luke shook his head. “Thanks, but we have a cab waiting outside. We’re gonna get off now.”
Colt nodded. “Sure. Thanks for all your hard work. We’ll see you both on Thursday.”
“You bet. I’ll lock the door on my way out.”
Colt knew the wages he paid more than made up for the unsociable hours. That was something he’d learned from his father. You pay the going rate, plus ten percent, and you get loyalty and allegiance. You pay the going rate, minus ten percent, and you get despondency and laziness.
When they were finally left alone, Colt leaned across the bar and grabbed a bottle of bourbon and two glasses. “I don’t know about you,” he said as he poured the liquor, “but I really enjoy this part of the day.”
Kat smiled. “Me, too.”
Colt couldn’t help but let his gaze wander down to the revealing neckline of her low-cut blouse. Her cleavage rose and fell with her breathing, defining the womanly swell of her breasts as they thrust upwards into incredible soft mounds. How he would love to slowly drift his tongue across the soft flesh until she moaned in ecstasy.
He raised his gaze to hers. Her eyes looked sad as she sipped at her bourbon. “What are you thinking?” he asked.
“This is the first year that I haven’t been wished happy birthday.”
“What, today?”
“No, yesterday, last night.”
“Why didn’t you say? I’d have given you the night off.”
“Not much point celebrating my thirty-fifth birthday on my own, Colt. It wouldn’t be much of a party. Besides, it’s just another year without achievement.”
“Right, if you’re not gonna celebrate your birthday then I’ll have to do it for you.” Colt actually felt guilty, he guessed if he’d looked at her personnel file he’d have known in advance. “Tomorrow, I’m taking you out to the finest restaurant in Fairfax, no expense spared. It’s my way of making amends for missing your birthday.”
Kat giggled. It was the first time he’d known her so relaxed. “I didn’t say it to get special treatment, Colt.”
“I know.” He raised his glass. “Happy belated birthday, Kat.”
Their glasses touched. “Thank you.” She had a wistful look in her eyes.
“Do I get a birthday kiss, Kat? I’ve been wanting to kiss you since you started working at Club Fusion.” Colt knew he was taking a chance, but the opportunity was too good to miss.
Her lashes briefly fluttered closed, and she licked her lips. “I’d like that, Colt. I’d like that more than anything.”
He leaned forward and wove his hand into her hair, circling the nape of her neck with his fingers. Her long, silky locks tumbled across his bare arm. He hadn’t been this close and intimate with a woman since Angie had left, and that was four months ago. He stared into her eyes as he brushed his lips across hers. When she didn’t pull away or resist, he deepened the kiss, reveling in the softness of her mouth against his and her sweet feminine scent. A moan escaped her lips as she responded to his touch and teased her fingers into his hair. Their tongues touched as she tentatively allowed him to explore her mouth.
The telephone began to ring behind the bar, and he could feel her start to withdraw. “Leave it,” he whispered close to her ear.
“No, I can’t, it could be important.”
He released his hold and watched her walk around the bar and take the call. He knew it was an excuse. Kat was certainly wary of starting a relationship with him. During the week, he barely saw her. Had she been deliberately keeping her distance?
When she replaced the receiver and began to walk from the bar, he called after her, “What is it?”
“One of the guests has lost a diamond ring. They think it’s in the dungeon. I’ll just see if I can find it.”
“Kat, leave it until tomorrow.”
“It’ll only take a moment to look, Colt,” she said as she disappeared through the doorway.
Colt swallowed the rest of his bourbon and put the empty glass back on the bar. My God, she was an infuriating woman. Kat Masters had to know that he always finished what he started.
Chapter Six
To Kat, the dungeon had never looked so appealing. She closed the heavy reinforced door behind her and leaned back against the wall. Her legs still trembled from the effects of Colt’s wonderful kiss. She just knew he would make a great lover, too. She put a hand to her chest and breathed deeply, trying to regain her composure. Anyone would think she was a schoolgirl and not a mature woman of thirty-five.
Once she’d caught her breath, she scoured the floor for the missing ring, anything to keep her mind from Colt Donahue.
When she heard the dungeon door open behind her, she continued the search. She felt frightened to meet his gaze. The man was a Dom. What exactly did he want from her? She had nothing to offer him.
“I said leave it, Kat.”
Unable to acknowledge his presence, she moved to the other side of the room.