Chapter 21

Ira

"We need to talk."

No one likes hearing that under any situation. Even if she's the one uttering them herself. Those words? They don't mean anything good.

Especially coming from a woman who turns your heart upside down when you see her.

I've almost forgotten about Stephanie. She's leaning against my couch, buffing her nails and probably thinking about work and my body. I'm too distracted right now to fantasize that it's 100% my body.

"Of course." I open the door wide, catching Stephanie's attention. She frowns as Kathleen shuffles in. Does Katie realize how submissive she looks right now? Downcast eyes. Slouched back. Hair hanging limp from her otherwise tight bun. Most people would still think she looks impeccable, but I know the difference between the usual Kathleen… and this one.

"Oh," she says, meeting Stephanie's gaze. "I didn't realize you had guests."

"You and me both," Stephanie mutters. She puts her nail file away and crosses her arms. "Who are you?"

Kathleen is taken aback. Now, the Katie I know would start swinging her arms all over my apartment, putting this woman in her place. Except this Katie is looking at Stephanie with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. No, not sad. Scared.

"This is Kathleen Allen," I say, knowing full well what spot I've put myself in.

Stephanie knows it immediately. Her eyes widen, staring down Kathleen as if she's an interloper come to destroy half the clan. "That's Kathleen."

Katie sucks in her lips. "Yup," she says. "I'm Kathleen. That Kathleen."

Now we all know it, and Stephanie is looking none too pleased about it.

"I think it's best if you leave," I tell Stephanie. Nope. She's not pleased.

"Me? I was here first." Yet she's off my couch, clutching her purse to her side and looking like she's ready to take off at a moment's notice. "Tell her to wait in line."

"I'll go." Kathleen turns around too eagerly. Without thinking, I wrap my arm around her front, my fingers digging into her back as I tuck her safely into my embrace. She shudders.

This is the first time we've touched since we last had sex. So much has happened since.

"No. Stephanie was seeing herself out."

I say it softly to Katie, but Stephanie hears a certain tone in my voice. It makes her bristle, and I know I ruined any chance of seeing her again like this.

That's fine. Not like I knew there was another chance until she showed up tonight. Life goes on as it has before.

Except not really. Kathleen is in my arms, tiny convulses spreading into me from her wary body. I don't know what's going on with her, but I know this isn't a pleasure call.

I tighten my grip on her. Both to keep her here and to reassure her that she's safe.

"Fine." Stephanie stops, her lips curling into a menacing smile. "See you. Farewell, Kathleen. You don't have to worry about this one forgetting your name."

I don't turn to watch the door close. I hear it, and that's enough.

"Katie." I loosen my grip, hands going to her shoulders. I'm already taller than her – barely – but she feels so much frailer and smaller tonight. Has something happened? Is someone hurt? "What's going on?"

A spark erupts in her eyes. Just like that, she's looking at me, her back straightening and her forehead reaching up toward mine. There she is. That's the Kathleen I know.

"I'm sorry about the other night. I should have told you I couldn't make it."

"Don't worry about it." My fingers graze her chin. She does not shudder nor sneer. "But I somehow doubt that's your whole reason for coming here. You would've called me just for that."

"You're right. I came here for another reason. The real reason we have to talk."

I gesture to my couch. Saoirse scrambles out from beneath and trots into my library. She has a bed there she likes to curl up in around this time of night.

"I didn't know you have a cat."

"Even I like some feline companionship." I gently push her toward the couch and think of offering her a drink. Probably not the best idea. "What's on your mind?"

She shrugs me off and doesn't continue. While she doesn't look like a girl in trouble anymore, she does look like someone in need of a kiss and a stiff drink. I offer neither. Women like Katie aren't reassured by those things unless it's established to go ahead. I have no such establishment.

"Ira." Her voice is firm, unwavering. Standing before me is Kathleen Allen, untouchable in her gray pantsuit. "We need to talk about that bet."

"It's fine." I haven't thought about it that much. Especially with everything else going on. "We were drunk."

"No, no, we need to talk about it."

"All right." I once again offer the couch, but she declines.

"I didn't show up on Wednesday because I was afraid. No, not afraid. Too nervous."

"About what? It was a date."

"A date with certain expectations."

"What expectations? I didn't anticipate anything except some dinner and maybe some, you know…"

"Exactly. That's what I was nervous about."

"Why? I wasn't going to force you to do anything."

"I know that, but you have to understand my point of view."

"All right, what's your point of view?"

She looks at me as if I'm an idiot. Okay, so maybe I am. If I can't read her right now, I must be an idiot. That's fine. I can handle being an idiot.

What I can't handle is worrying about her.

Finally, Kathleen leans against my couch, in that exact spot Stephanie was in only a few minutes ago. "It's not the sex. I'm a big girl and can handle casual sex. It's the… type of sex."

"Is casual sex not a type of sex?"

"You know what I mean."

"I'm afraid I don't."

I also don't have time for this kind of bullshit. No mind games. Just tell me what's going through your head, Katie. I don't want to misjudge you. I don't want to misinterpret something you've said. Just tell me what's on your damn mind.

"I wasn't ready to submit to you."

"What?" I'm on the verge of laughing. Holy shit, was she going to go through with the bet? "I didn't expect you to do that at all."

"Really?"

"Why the hell would I?"

"The bet…"

"Fuck that stupid bet. As I said, we were drunk. Were you going to hold me to it if I lost?"

"You weren't?"

"No!"

"Shit…"

I put a hand on her shoulder, ready to shake with laughter. "I know that's not who you are. So, I don't expect you to ever do that."

"But I…"

"Hm?"

Kathleen turns away, blushing. What have I done to her this time? "I've been thinking about it a lot. Submitting, that is."

Well, now.

"Not only because of the bet but also because I've been thinking about you a lot in general." She glances at me. "Don't let it go to your head."

At least I got an eye roll out of her. I'll take that over this indecisive Kathleen any day.

"I'm being serious, Ira. I know you're a Domme. At some point, even in a casual fling, you're going to want to push my boundaries. I have to be prepared for that."

To admit that I haven't thought of this is an understatement. I really haven't. Why would I? As far as I was concerned, we would go along our merry way, having sex when we felt like it. Regular, non-kinky sex outside of maybe some dirty talk. Yet she's not too far off. I probably would want to push her boundaries in the heat of the moment. Spank her ass while I take her from behind. Shove myself in her face and call her filthy names while she goes down on me. Edge her. Just because I'm not tying her up doesn't mean I'm not being a capital-D Domme in any given situation.

I never even thought about it going the other way around. What if she pushed my boundaries during sex?

"So what are you saying, exactly? That you were afraid I would put you into a compromising situation right away?"

"I don't know, but I've been doing a lot of thinking. Thinking that includes what I want not only from you but my own sex life."

No way am I interrupting her. I stay silent, urging her to continue.

The businesslike look on Kathleen's face intrigues me. This isn't a woman flirting with me. This is a woman looking to make a business proposal. This is the Kathleen who was ready to twist necks at the presentation last week. You know, the one who turned me on so much I had to have her right there and then?

Be still, my heart.

"I want you to do it, Ira." She's puffing out her chest, making herself feel bigger. And letting me see her chest better – let's not forget that. "I want you to dominate me. For one night."

Excuse me? I don't think I heard that correctly. It almost sounded like Kathleen Allen asked me to dominate her.

"I'm serious. I want to know what it feels like to submit to you."

Normally, I would be enjoying this immensely. A Domme like Kathleen coming to me under discretion to ask me to dominate her. Something I've been fantasizing about for two weeks now. Her, me, a comfortable playroom where I can do whatever I want. My way.

I'd be lying if I said I don't want to know how she feels, looks, and sounds when she's submitting to me. But I know it's not that simple.

"Are you sure?" I don't touch her. It's hard enough to look at her right now without feeling like I'm going to scare her off. "I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it if you weren't."

"See? That's why you're a good prospect for this. I'm attracted to you, and you're not… that much of an asshole."

I'm so flattered!

"Tomorrow. Let's do it tomorrow before I lose my nerve."

"Tomorrow?" I have an appointment in the early afternoon. Possibly a dinner. "Eight is the earliest I could do. Right here. But… are you sure? You've never subbed before." I state it as a fact because I know it's true.

She shakes her head, that bun swishing in the air of my dimly lit apartment. "Don't make me second guess myself. Tomorrow at eight. I'll submit to you."

"You don't have to do this." What am I doing? This woman is throwing herself at me, and I'm trying to get her to change her mind? "I'm not going to hold you to any bet."

Katie keeps shaking her head. "I've made up my mind." Fuck me, she sounds like such a Domme. This will not end well. "Don't try to talk me out of it." Her finger is in my chest. "Unless you don't want to dominate me."

That low voice. That hiss. That throwing down the gauntlet. She knows how to speak to me, both the gender-fucked woman and the Domme.

All I see is me pushing her over the edge of this couch and giving it to her.

I hold back, however. I won't let myself touch her tonight. Not when it's like this.

"I've thought of nothing but dominating you for ten years now."

"I knew it." She's still growling. "Well, tomorrow you'll have your chance. You better make it count." Kathleen begins to leave, fixing any stray hairs in her bun on her way out. "Ms. Mathison, you'd best show this Domme a good fucking time on the other end of the leash. You'd be my first one. You better be up to the challenge."

No pressure, Ira.

No pressure at all.