Chapter 11

ELEVEN

T he shift in conversation wasn’t lost on Cat. She met Keir’s gaze, her heart racing at the implication in his words. “I... I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’d want to protect them, of course, but not at the cost of becoming a monster myself.”

Keir leaned forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “I would,” he said softly, but with absolute conviction. “If anyone tried to hurt you, Cat, I’d tear the world apart to keep you safe. I would burn it down if someone laid a hand on you.”

Cat’s breath caught in her throat. Part of her wanted to be alarmed by the intensity of his declaration, but a larger part found it undeniably romantic. She searched his face, seeing nothing but sincerity and a depth of feeling that both thrilled and terrified her.

“Keir, I...” she began, not sure how to respond. That’s such a turn on did not sound like the right thing to say.

“The thought of anyone threatening you...”

Cat reached out, placing her hand over his. “It’s okay. I understand,” she said softly. “I might not be a fan of violence, but I get it.”

The tension between them was palpable, charged with unspoken feelings and desires.

She didn’t get a chance to say anything. He meshed their lips together into a toe-curling kiss she couldn’t have stopped if she tried. She gripped his shirt, curling her nails into the material and moaning into the kiss. Her body wound tight. She struggled to get oxygen into her lungs. He didn’t let up. He rubbed his tongue over hers, sending heat to her sex.

He cupped her breast over her pajama top, his thumb rubbing over the thin material holding her bound. Her nipples pebbled. She ached from how badly she wanted him.

The kiss deepened. With just a growl, he turned up the heat. Her body shivered from the rampant desire coursing through her. She allowed herself to explore her desires and bit on his lip, loving the sound of his groan. His hand on her breast squeezed, kneading her chest and caressing down to her belly.

Keir made her feel like she was the hottest woman in the world.He shoved a hand down her shorts and slid his hand between her legs. She spread her thighs apart, waiting for a single touch of his hand on her sex. That’s all she needed, and she’d lose it. He grazed his finger over her throbbing sex and continued to kiss her like the world was ending and he needed one more taste of her.

She moaned, shoving his T-shirt over his head and feeling the naked muscles underneath. She’d never wanted him naked like she did that very moment.

He pulled back and gasped for air. Her pussy slickened at the all-too-possessive look he gave her. She wanted him oh-so bad, like the addicted needed a fix. That’s how she felt.

“You don’t understand,” he rumbled. “I’d burn it all down for you.”

He slipped a hand into her hair and cupped the back of her head, bringing his mouth down over hers. Clothes came off, and soon she was naked on the sofa big enough to fit them both, his gaze roaming over her body with indescribable need. He cupped her breast and bit down on her nipple. She moaned, and she was instantly slick from his bite.

“Keir!”

He lifted his head, his bright eyes eating her up. “The whole world, kitten.”

“Really?” she moaned.

“For you? Anything.” He pushed her thighs apart and took a deep breath. “You’re so wet, kitty cat. All from a kiss.”

She took in a slow breath. “Crazier things have happened.”

He got on his knees between her legs. “Tell me you want me inside.”

“Keir, please. Stop this torture.”

He held her face immobile. “You’re driving me crazy. And I know I’m driving you crazy too. Don’t deny it. I can’t think without a random image of your sexy-as-hell curves making my thoughts derail.” He groaned, rocking his hips between her thighs, and liquid heat flowed from her sex, sliding down to her ass.

She slid her fingers into his hair and raked her nails over his scalp, pulling him down until their lips pressed together. The kiss was a pure need. She sucked on his lip and his tongue, nipping and licking and giving all she had.

He held her face still, keeping her from moving but at the same time being the aggressor. She scored her nails down his arms and back. He pressed into her, the head of his cock slipping in and finding his way home deep inside her.

“Oh my gosh!” she screamed.

Tilting her hips, she wiggled to allow him better entrance and encourage him to move.

“You do want me.”

“Keir, you know I do.”

He nipped on her chin, gliding his tongue up her jaw and down to her neck. “You taste so good, Cat.”

“Can you move? Like now.”

He pushed forward at that moment, filling her so completely that she groaned out a long breath. “So perfect.”

She wiggled under him.

He jerked back and drove hard, pressing her body deep into the sofa. She widened her legs, needing a deeper connection with him. Him. Her. That’s all there was. A slip and slide of his body over hers, driving the tension higher and higher.

She dug her nails into the curve of his ass, drawing his body deeper. She let out a low groan.

He drove deep at an almost punishing pace, his body slamming repeatedly into hers. She held on to him, unable to do more than grab a slight breath every few seconds. His head dropped, and a new kiss consumed them. She gave up any attempt at breathing and sucked air from his lungs. Desire pounded at her chest, and the love she’d been afraid to acknowledge made itself known. She loved Keir. How or why wasn’t even important anymore.

He sucked on her bottom lip, biting down on her mouth and then growling by her neck. His cock plunged deeper and deeper. She gasped and groaned, her body silently begging for more.

Her belly trembled with every thrust. Her pussy clutched at his cock, holding him tightly against her walls. Tension snapped inside her. Pleasure took her under in a giant wave. She gasped for multiple breaths, trying to get her lungs to work.

Every thrust he made turned shallow and jerky until he didn’t move anymore. Her body continued riding her wave when he breathed into her hair, gripping the strands hard in his fists. A hot shudder raced up her back.

He flipped them over on the sofa so she lay on top of him while they both tried to regain their breathing. She felt the raw need in their mating and knew what he said was true. He’d burn the world for her. And somehow that felt absolutely right.

She could barely move and her legs were still shaking when he lifted her into his arms and carried her to his bed. As she settled into the mattress, Cat’s mind whirled with the events of the day. The threat, Keir’s protective instincts, and their almost desperate mating.

Despite her racing thoughts, exhaustion soon won out. Cat drifted off to sleep, her dreams a confusing mix of shadowy threats and Keir’s warm, protective presence.

The next morning, Cat woke to the enticing aroma of coffee and bacon. For a moment, she forgot where she was, panic setting in as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Then the events of the previous night came rushing back, and she relaxed, recognizing Keir’s bedroom.

She got up and noticed the bites and suck marks he’d left on her chest and breasts. Heat bloomed in her sex at the memory of the previous night’s wild sex. She could get used to it. That desperate, harsh mating had turned her on like she couldn’t understand.

She padded out to the kitchen, following the delicious smell. Keir stood at the stove, his back to her, expertly flipping pancakes. The domesticity of the scene made her heart flutter.

“Good morning,” she said softly, not wanting to startle him.

Keir turned, a warm smile lighting up his face. “Good morning, beautiful. Did you sleep well?”

“I don’t know if we slept enough.” She laughed.

“Come here, kitten.”

She walked over to him. He pulled her into his arms for a kiss, his hands caressing her breasts and moving down to her ass, pressing her into his hardness.

“Coffee?”

She sighed. “Yes, please, big sexy dragon.”

He chuckled and handed her a mug. “Seriously, did you get enough sleep? We can go back to bed…”

She laughed. “I highly doubt if we go back to bed either one of us will get any sleep.”

“True. But we could still go back to bed.”

“Keir! Something smells amazing.”

“I thought we could use a good breakfast,” Keir said, plating up pancakes, bacon, and eggs. “I called Beck earlier. He’s handling things at the office this morning. I figured we could take it easy, head in later this afternoon.”

Cat’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are you sure? With everything going on...”

Keir’s expression softened. “You worked late into the night, love. You need rest. Besides, I thought... well, I have some errands to run this morning. Things I do regularly. I was hoping you might want to join me.”

The hesitancy in his voice, so unlike his usual confidence, made Cat’s curiosity spike. “What kind of errands?”

A mysterious smile played on Keir’s lips. “You’ll see. What do you say? Up for a little adventure?”

Cat found herself nodding, intrigued. “Okay, sure. Let’s do it.”

After breakfast, they headed out into the crisp New York morning. Keir drove them to a quaint little café tucked away on a side street, where they enjoyed a leisurely brunch. The conversation flowed easily between them, touching on everything from their favorite books to their wildest dreams.

As they finished their meal, Keir glanced at his watch. “Ready for the next stop?”

Cat nodded, her curiosity growing. “Lead the way.”

Their next destination surprised her - a toy store. Keir moved through the aisles with purpose, selecting a variety of toys and games. When Cat raised an eyebrow in question, he simply smiled and said, “You’ll see.”

Once he filled three carts worth of toys, he was ready to go.

Their final stop was a children’s hospital. As they walked through the doors, arms laden with bags of toys, understanding dawned on Cat. She watched in awe as Keir interacted with the children, his face lighting up as he handed out toys and played games with them. The joy on the kids’ faces was infectious, and Cat found herself joining in, her heart swelling with warmth.

As Keir chatted with a young boy about his favorite superhero, the hospital administrator approached Cat.

“It’s so wonderful of Mr. Sharpe to do this,” the woman said, smiling warmly. “The children look forward to his visits so much.”

Cat nodded, her eyes never leaving Keir. “It’s really kind of him to bring toys for the kids.”

The administrator gave her a surprised look. “Oh, the toys are just a small part of it. Mr. Sharpe’s generosity goes far beyond that. He pays off the hospital bills for many of our long-term patients, especially those with expensive treatments. He’s been doing it for years, multiple times a year. It’s made such a difference for so many families.”

Her heart melted, overwhelmed by this revelation. She watched Keir with new eyes, seeing not just the successful CEO or the attractive man she was falling for, but a genuinely kind and generous soul.

As they left the hospital, Cat found herself at a loss for words. Keir glanced at her, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “What did you think?”

“Keir, I...” Cat began, her voice thick with emotion. “That was incredible. What you do for those kids, for their families... it’s amazing.”

A soft smile played on Keir’s lips. “They’re the amazing ones. Those kids, fighting so hard every day... they inspire me. I just try to make things a little easier for them and their families.”

In that moment, looking at Keir bathed in the afternoon sunlight, his eyes soft with compassion, Cat knew she was falling irrevocably in love with him. The realization both thrilled and terrified her.

As they drove back to the office, Cat’s mind whirled with everything she’d learned about Keir in the past twenty-four hours. His protectiveness, his passion, his generosity... each new facet only made her care for him more deeply.

She glanced at his profile as he navigated the busy New York streets, wondering how she’d gone from seeing him as just her attractive boss to this complex, caring man who was quickly becoming essential to her happiness.

The thought of the threat that had brought them to this point tried to intrude, but Cat pushed it aside.

As they pulled into the parking garage at Sharpe Drakon Games, Cat took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever the afternoon might bring. But with Keir beside her, she felt ready to take on anything.