6. Laramie

CHAPTER SIX

LARAMIE

F or a moment, I couldn’t process the question. My mind was too focused on the heat of his body against mine, the way his finger trailed a maddening spiral off my palm and to my thigh.

Then it clicked.

The letter of recommendation. The challenge to convince me to stay.

Oh. Oh.

This was... unexpected. Not unwelcome, necessarily, but unexpected. I needed to think this through logically. Reasonably.

Then his fingers grabbed a handful of my dress, and all semblance of reason flew out the window.

“Is this how you’re convincing me to stay?” I asked, proud of how steady my voice sounded despite the tremor in my hands.

Kotos’ eyes darkened, and he shifted closer. Close enough to feel the heat radiating off him, the subtle shift of muscles under his suit jacket. “That depends,” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. “Is it working?”

Yes.

Absolutely yes.

Fuck, absolutely yes.

“This is all part of our research,” Kotos continued, his voice pitched low enough that only I could hear. “Understanding Shadow Daddies’ appeal is part of our job, isn’t it?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. Kotos’ hand slipped under the hem of my dress to my knee. Slowly, achingly slowly, he began trailing his fingertips higher.

“See that couple there?” He nodded toward a dark corner where a man had his companion pressed against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist. “They certainly seem to be enjoying the ambiance.”

His hand slid higher, teasing the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. A rush of arousal coursed through me, making my head spin.

“And over there.” The throuple in the alcove across from us had progressed beyond heavy petting. The woman’s head was thrown back in ecstasy as one of the orcs knelt between her legs.

I should stop this. Anyone could walk by. Anyone could see his hand disappearing beneath my dress. But god help me, I didn’t want him to stop.

“Don’t you think we should... join in the fun?” His fingertips grazed the edge of my panties, and I barely stifled a gasp. “For thorough research, of course.”

“Kotos,” I hissed, darting a look around the crowded room. “Anyone could see us.”

He grinned, a predatory glint in his eyes. “Let them.”

A thrill of excitement shot through me at his words. I should have been mortified. Should have slapped his hand away and stormed off in a huff of righteous indignation.

Instead, I parted my thighs just a fraction wider.

Kotos’ grin widened in triumph as he slipped his fingers beneath the lace, finding me already embarrassingly wet. I bit my lip to keep from crying out as he stroked me with agonizing slowness.

“You like this, don’t you?” he growled, his breath hot against my neck. “I’ve seen the way you look at those dark corners. The way your breath quickens when you catch a glimpse of what’s happening there.”

I wanted to deny it. To maintain some shred of professionalism.

A moan slipped past my defenses as he slid one thick finger inside me. My hips rocked against his hand of their own accord, chasing the pleasure he offered.

“That’s it,” he growled, his free hand gripping my hip. “Let go, Laramie. No one’s paying attention to us. They’re all too wrapped up in their own pleasure.”

He was right. The few people near our secluded alcove were far too engrossed in their own activities to notice what was happening between us. Still, the possibility of getting caught sent a fresh wave of arousal coursing through me.

Kotos must have felt it, because he chuckled darkly. “Such a naughty girl,” he purred. “So wet for me already.”

Without warning, he pulled me onto his lap. I gasped as I felt the hard length of him pressing against me. “Feel what you do to me?” he growled, rocking his hips. “How badly I want you?”

I ground down against him, relishing the way his breath hitched. “Kotos,” I whimpered as he slid a second thick finger inside me. “Oh, fuck.”

“Everything I’ve built,” he continued, “was meant to be shared. With someone brilliant enough to challenge me. Strong enough to stand beside me.” His thumb circled my clit, and I bit back a moan. “Someone who throws oranges at CEOs and doesn’t back down.”

I should have been mortified by the reminder. Instead, I ground harder against him. “Not exactly professional behavior.”

“Perfect behavior,” he growled. “For my mate.”

The word sent a jolt through me. Mate. The way he’d described it earlier... The pull so strong it was impossible to ignore. The scent that smelled like everything you’d ever wanted.

Could it be true? Was I really...?

“Kotos,” I whimpered. “Please...”

“Please what?” he asked, nipping at my earlobe. “Tell me what you want, Laramie.”

What did I want? I wanted him to never stop touching me. I wanted to drag him back to my room and spend hours exploring every inch of his body. I wanted...

“More,” I breathed. “I want more.”

My hand trembled as I slid it down Kotos’ broad chest, feeling the heat of his skin through the thin fabric of his dress shirt. Part of me still couldn’t believe this was happening—that I rode my boss’s fingers, the last minotaur on Earth, in a semi-public setting. But the larger part of me burned with desire, desperate to feel more of him.

I fumbled with his zipper, my breath catching as I freed his impressive length. Holy shit. I’d known he’d be well-endowed, given our brush with impropriety on the skiff, but this was... intimidating. And incredibly arousing.

Heat pooled low in my belly as I wrapped my hand around his cock, marveling at how my fingers barely met. He groaned, thrusting into my grasp as he fucked me with his fingers. I clung to his broad shoulders for dear life, pleasure threatening to consume me completely.

His free hand closed around the nape of my neck, pulling me into a fiery kiss. I moaned into his mouth, losing myself in the sensations. His lips, his tongue, his hands...

But it wasn’t enough. I needed more.

Breaking the kiss, I shifted to kneel beside him on the plush couch. Kotos raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as I bent forward. His eyes darkened as he realized my intentions.

“For research?” I maintained eye contact as I lowered my head, giving his tip an experimental lick. The taste of him exploded across my tongue—salty and musky and utterly intoxicating. Kotos’ head fell back with a groan, the sound lost in the party’s buzz.

“Fuck, Laramie,” he growled as I took him into my mouth. “That feels... gods, that feels good.”

I hummed in agreement, swallowing him as deep as I could. Which, admittedly, wasn’t very far, given his size. But judging by the sounds Kotos made, he had no complaints. He tangled a hand in my hair, guiding me in a slow rhythm.

“Shit,” he hissed as I swirled my tongue along the underside of his shaft. “Just like that, love. Yes...”

Kotos’ fingers ghost along my spine. He traced the curve of my ass before dipping between my thighs. I moaned around his cock as he slid two thick digits inside me.

“You’re dripping,” he growled, pumping slowly in and out. “Are you thinking about how it’ll feel to have my cock stretching you wide?”

My pussy clenched around him at the filthy words. If anyone heard...

No, I was too far gone to care. All I could focus on was Kotos’ expert touch and the delicious fullness in my throat. I rocked against his hand, desperate for more friction.

“Or maybe you’re imagining someone watching from the shadows,” he continued, grip tightening in my hair. “Stroking themselves to the sight of you on your knees, pleasuring me like a good girl.”

Another wave of arousal flooded my system at his words. God, why did that image turn me on so much? I never considered myself an exhibitionist, but the idea of someone watching us... seeing how thoroughly Kotos owned me...

His fingers curled inside me, hitting that sweet spot that sent sparks dancing behind my eyelids. I gasped around his cock, earning a rumbling groan.

“Laramie,” he grunted, thrusting deeper into my mouth. “Gods, Laramie. Fuck, I’m gonna...”

He came with a muffled cry, spilling hot and thick down my throat. The taste of him on my tongue, combined with the relentless pressure of his fingers, sent me tumbling over the edge after him.

I clamped my thighs around his hand, my body shuddering with the force of my orgasm. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me, leaving me boneless and gasping for breath.

As the aftershocks subsided, I became acutely aware of our surroundings once more. The pulsing music, the murmur of voices, the occasional moan or cry of pleasure from other partygoers.

I drew back, gently wiping the edges of my mouth with my thumb. “Was that adequate data collection, Mr. Mavridis?”

Kotos stared at me, eyes blown wide with lust. Then he grinned, his expression downright devilish.

“I’m offended you’d think we were even close to finished, Ms. Scanlon,” he said. He reached into his jacket pocket and drew out the key card Devlin had comped him. “We have so much more research to conduct.”

I rose to my feet, smoothing my skirt back into place. Without another word, I took the key card from him and turned on my heel, heading for the door.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him staring after me with an openmouthed expression. But by the time I glanced over my shoulder, he was following behind me, a hungry look on his face.

My heart raced as we stumbled into the luxurious suite, a tangle of eager hands and hungry kisses. The door slammed shut behind us, muffling the pulsing music from the party below. My skin tingled everywhere Kotos touched me, electricity crackling between us.

I turned my back to him, glancing coyly over my shoulder. “Help me with my dress?”

Kotos’ eyes darkened as he stepped closer, his large hands coming to rest on my hips. I shivered as his fingers found the zipper at the nape of my neck, slowly dragging it downward. The whisper of fabric falling away was deafening in the muted quiet of the room.

I let the dress pool at my feet, leaving me in nothing but a lacy black bra, matching panties, and my heels. Kotos’ sharp intake of breath sent a thrill of satisfaction through me. I glanced over my shoulder and drank in the sight of him loosening his tie, his gaze burning with barely restrained desire.

“See something you like?” I teased, sauntering toward the bedroom with an extra sway of my hips.

Kotos growled low in his throat, following me like a predator stalking its prey. “You have no idea.”

Soft mood lighting flickered to life as we entered the bedroom. My eyes were immediately drawn to an elaborate gift basket sitting in the center of the king-sized bed.

“Oh, what’s this?” I crawled across the plush comforter, making sure Kotos had a front row view of my ass. Smug pride flared within me at his strangled groan.

Settling on my haunches, I rifled through the various toys and accessories left by Shadow Daddies representatives. Vibrators in various shapes and sizes, flavored lubes, a pair of fur-lined handcuffs?—

“Anything catch your interest?” Kotos asked, standing in the doorway. His suit jacket lay discarded on the floor, the top buttons of his shirt undone.

I toyed with a length of soft silk rope, running the smooth fabric through my fingers. “Maybe...”

In two long strides, he was beside the bed. He took the rope from my hands, eyes never leaving mine.

I nodded, pulse racing as he gently wrapped my wrists. The silk was cool and smooth against my skin. With deliberate care, he secured me to a hook on the headboard.

The sound of rustling fabric filled the air as Kotos stripped. My breath caught at the sight of him. The proud horns. The defined muscles of his chest and abs. The trail of dark hair leading down to his massive cock, already rock hard.

He was all mine.

“You look absolutely perfect like this,” he growled, climbing onto the bed. Eyes darting over my body, he slowly stroked his cock. “Spread out on my bed, waiting for me to fuck you.”

I licked my lips, my arousal growing with each stroke. “Then what are you waiting for?”

“Not a damn thing.”

Kotos reached into the gift basket, pulling out a small vibrator. He trailed it down my body, over the swell of my breasts and down my stomach, before pressing it against my clit through my panties.

I cried out at the sudden stimulation, my hips bucking involuntarily. Kotos chuckled darkly, increasing the intensity of the vibrations.

“That’s it,” Kotos purred. “Let me hear you, Laramie. I want to know exactly how good I make you feel.”

The combination of the vibrations and Kotos’ heated gaze had me trembling on the edge embarrassingly quickly. Just as I felt myself about to tumble over that precipice, Kotos pulled the toy away. I whined at the loss, only to yelp in surprise as he suddenly ripped my panties clean off.

“Hey!” I protested weakly. “I liked those.”

Kotos’ answering growl sent shivers racing down my spine. “I’ll buy you a new pair for every day of the year. And I’ll rip those off, too.”

The possessiveness in his voice sent a bolt of need straight to my core. Combined with the heat in his eyes as he gazed at me, spread out on the bed and at his mercy... I’d never wanted anyone more.

He wanted me. No, more than that, he craved me. Desired me. Needed me like he needed oxygen. This wasn’t sweet talking. This wasn’t empty promises broken in betrayal.

Fate plucked me out of the crowd and brought me here. Brought me to him.

To my... mate.

Kotos settled between my thighs, his enormous cock teasing my entrance. He rocked his hips, coating himself in my wetness. I squirmed against him, desperate for more friction. More sensation.

“Are you ready for me, sweetheart?” he asked, voice strained with the effort of holding back.

With agonizing slowness, Kotos eased into me. I moaned as he stretched me wide. He was so much bigger than anyone I’d been with before, filling me better than I ever imagined possible.

“Breathe,” he soothed. He pressed the vibrator to my clit, and I cried out at the dual sensation. “That’s it. Let me in.”

Inch by torturous inch, my body yielded to him. By the time he bottomed out, I felt deliciously full. Kotos leaned forward, capturing my lips in a fierce kiss. The movement drove him even deeper, stealing the breath from my lungs.

“You feel incredible,” Kotos rasped, pressing his forehead to mine. “So tight. So perfect.”

Slowly, he began to move. Each stroke sent waves of pleasure rippling through me. The coil of tension low in my belly grew tighter with each passing second.

“Kotos,” I gasped as he picked up speed. “Fuck, don’t stop.”

He grunted, pushing my thighs wider apart to allow for a deeper angle. I tugged against the restraints, longing to rake my nails down his back, to sink my teeth into his shoulder. To feel every flex of muscle as he drove into me again and again.

“Look at you,” he snarled. His eyes burned with possessive fire as he surveyed me laid out beneath him. “You were made to take this cock, weren’t you? So fucking gorgeous stretched around me.”

With each wicked word, the heat in my core threatened to burn me alive.

The vibrator buzzed relentlessly against my clit as Kotos pounded into me. I was vaguely aware of the sounds spilling from my lips—desperate, needy cries begging for more. My whole world narrowed to the minotaur above me and the sweet pressure coiling tighter with every thrust.

“Come with me, Ms. Scanlon,” Kotos growled, driving deeper still. “That’s a direct order from your boss.”

With a cry that I was sure the entire party could hear, I shattered. My body arched off the bed as wave after wave of pure bliss crashed over me. Kotos followed soon after, burying himself to the hilt with a roar.

For a long moment, we stayed like that, both panting and trembling in the aftermath. Slowly, carefully, Kotos eased out of me and clicked off the vibrator. He reached up to undo the silk bindings around my wrists, gently massaging the feeling back into them.

“Are you alright?” Kotos asked, concern clear in his voice. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

I shook my head, a lazy smile spreading across my face. “I’m perfect. That was... wow.”

I collapsed back against the pillows, struggling to catch my breath. That might have been the best sex of my life. Hell, it may have been the best sex of any life. Ever. Period. End of story.

Kotos flopped down next to me, draping a protective arm across my waist. “Eloquent as always, Ms. Scanlon.”

I snuggled against him, toying with the medallion he wore around his neck. “Forgive me if my vocabulary is a bit limited after having my brains fucked out.”

Kotos’ eyes darkened at my words. “Mm, maybe we should see if I can render you completely speechless. For research, of course.”

I stifled a laugh and arched an eyebrow at him. “Well, if it’s for work...”