Chapter Seven

The breath hitched in her throat at the heat in his gaze. It instantly took over her senses and made it hard for her to concentrate on what he was saying.

She was able to take her first deep breath when she stood outside on the sidewalk. Her gaze roamed over the area before turning and walking toward her house. Before she knew it, she stood at her front door and couldn’t remember how she got there.

After letting herself in, she rushed to shower, ensuring her hair didn’t get wet. She dressed in a newer pair of jeans and a short-sleeved, button-down, light-blue blouse and then pulled on some comfortable flat shoes.

She was just brushing out her hair when she heard a car pull up. The dom had arrived. A nervous arrow of anticipation raced through her when he knocked on the door. She drew in a deep breath, pasted a smile on her face, and opened the door.

God, he was larger than life and so damn handsome. It took her a minute to realize he stood there staring at her.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” he said.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“This is the first time I’ve seen your hair down.”

She fingered a few strands self-consciously. “I feel like I can’t wear it down at work.”

“And I don’t want you to. I want you to wear it like this just for me.”

“Oh…” Her words stopped when he stepped into the house and came to stand very close, making her look up at him and wait for him to speak.

Her senses exploded when he reached out and fisted a chunk of her hair to hold her steady as his head lowered and kissed her with naked demand. His dominance made her entire body throb, and fire filled her groin as he easily controlled her.

Her nails dug into his waist to steady herself, but otherwise, she turned her body over to his care. Her head tilted back, giving him deeper access that he immediately took advantage of, making them both groan.

She mewed in her throat when he raised his head, and then she tried to lift on her tiptoes to get his mouth again.

“Jesus, woman, you’re burning me up here. I could eat you whole right now. I want my cock so far into you that you’ll not know where I end and you begin.”

She hummed.

“Baby, open your eyes and look at me.”

She blinked a few times and then stared up at him.

“We need to go now before I strip you and get you tucked under me where you belong.”

“But … why go?”

He groaned. “You’re making this really hard for me. I want our first time to be on the land I bought. Please don’t ask me why because I don’t know. It’s just something I’ve dreamed about since I first saw you.”

She had to admit she liked the agony in his expression because it matched how she felt at that moment. The breath shuttered out of her, and she nodded.

“Then we need to leave now. Get a jacket in case it gets cold later.”

Kayla stepped back and couldn’t believe how much it physically hurt to separate from him. She walked to her closet, pulled out a jacket, and draped it over her arm before picking up her purse. “I’m ready.”

He studied her for a moment and then held his hand out.

“What?”

“Your key.”

She dug through her purse, pulled out her keys, and handed them to him. He led her out of her house, turned, and locked her door before handing her the keys.

“I want this door locked when you leave and when you’re home alone.”

“Zeke, it’s a small town…”

“I don’t care. I want you safe.”

“I … okay.” She couldn’t remember anyone who was as protective of her, and she knew she’d come to enjoy it.

He walked her around to the passenger side of his truck, opened the door, and lifted her in. His strength astounded her. He lifted her like she weighed nothing. She had yet to see his chest or shoulders, but they looked huge under the dress shirts he wore to work. It always looked like he would bust through the seams if he moved the wrong way.

His forearms and hands were muscular, with tendons that stuck out, and calluses and scars that made them look even more masculine. They were hands she dreamed about caressing her several times or holding her down to take his pounding thrusts.

“Let’s get your seat belt on.”

“You know I can do this myself?”

He stopped. “I know that, Little Sub. I have a burning need to take care of and dominate you. I’ve never felt this before to this level. Do you think this will bother you?”

She shook her head. It only made her feel cherished. “No. Not at all.”

“Good.”

After he secured her belt, he walked around to the other side and slid in. She almost snorted. He didn’t have to be boosted into the seat. The truck fit his large size perfectly.

He grabbed onto her hand as he drove, but they both stayed silent for the first few minutes. She just wanted to savor being with him for the first time outside the department.

“What did you like to do when you were a child? Play with dolls?” he asked.

The question startled her a bit. “Oh, well, no. Not exactly. I was a bit of a tomboy and wanted to play with the big guys, mainly my brother and his friends.” She laughed. “I drove them crazy. My brother wanted to play with his friends but instead had to keep me out of trouble or from hurting myself. I’m surprised he didn’t kill me.”

“Where is he now?”

“Overseas. He’s in the Navy.”

“Oh, I was Navy.”

She smiled. “You’ve got something in common.”

“Two things.”

She looked confused. “What?”

“The military and keeping you out of trouble.”

She sniffed in disdain. “I’m never in trouble.”

He snorted and then grinned. “We’ll see.”

They pulled into his driveway. He hadn’t put gravel down yet, so it was bumpy, and she had to grab onto the handle of her door.

“Sorry. I’ll eventually get to the drive and yard.”

Her eyes widened when she took in what had been accomplished. The last time she’d seen the place was close to a year ago, and it was in bad shape, with the roof caved in on one side and the windows broken.

They now stood in front of a large two-story house. The outside walls were up, but there was a tarp where the door would be. The windows were in but still had the stickers on them.

“This is amazing. How have you gotten so much done already?” she asked.

“I found a great construction crew that came highly recommended. They had the old house out in a day and were putting in the fittings for concrete that would be delivered the next day. I hadn’t come out for a few days, but I was shocked that the walls were up and they were putting on the second floor. They didn’t have the stairs yet, so I climbed the ladder. There were no walls on the second floor yet, so I was able to turn in a circle and see all the way around my property.”

“That had to have been so cool.”

“It was.” He parked off to the side. “Stay there, and I’ll come and get you.”

She nodded and looked around as she waited. Her door was open, and he reached over her for her seat belt she forgot to unsnap.

She froze at the heated look on his face as he stared at her.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” he said and cupped her face, bent forward, and his lips covered hers with a hungry intensity that stole her breath.

She almost cried out when he lifted his head.

“We have to stop, Baby. I want to show you around and feed you before I strip you.”

The air stuttered in her throat. “How are you going to feed me?”