Page 30 of Keeping Katie

At least she gave me that. Knowing that she has similar feelings about me is enough of a nugget for me to hold onto until the next step.

“Let me be clear right now. If I give you a command or rule, I expect you to follow it. If I cross one of your limits, you say red, and I stop immediately. Understand?”

She studies me for a few seconds. “It’s a bit soon for a safeword, isn’t it? We’re only friends.”

I chuckle. “Chloe and the rest of the girls can use their safewords with any of us at any time and we’ll immediately stop what we’re doing and figure out what’s wrong. So, no, it’s never too soon for a safeword, princess.”

Her light blue eyes darken, my words lingering between us. Finally, she nods. “Okay. But I’m not yours to punish. And you can’t come over here whenever you want. I could have had plans.”

I clench my jaw, squeezing her hips even tighter. “Did you have plans, princess? Because if you did, call him right over here, and I’ll make sure he knows you two will never have plans again.”

She gasps, her mouth hanging open. “Grady! That’s not what I meant. I’m not seeing…or dating…or whatever with anyone.”

Thank fuck. I was already pretty sure that was the case, but hearing it from her mouth settles the persistent doubt that’s been hovering.

“That’s good, baby. And you won’t be seeing or dating or doing whatever with any other man ever again. The only man you’ll do those things with is going to be me.”

I’m being pushy, but I can’t help it. I need her commitment. I need to know that she’s not going to talk to, call, text, entertain, smile at, fuck, or fall for any other man. That she’s as committed to me as I’m ready to be with her.

“Grady, I don’t understand.” She blinks several times, her face twisted with confusion. “We’ve only known each other for a week. We come from two different worlds, and you could surely do better than someone like me.”

Rage rips through me, and I tighten my hands until she lets out a whimper from the bruising touch on her hips. “If I ever hear you say something to put yourself down like that again, you’ll be in trouble.”

What I really want to tell her is that I’ll bare her ass and put her over my knee to paddle her until she’s a sobbing mess and understands that putting herself down is against her rules.

“I’m not putting myself down, Grady. It’s fact. I’m basically poor and you’re rich. We’re from two different worlds, and they don’t tend to mix well.”

“Is that so, princess? You think you and I wouldn’t mix well? I think we’d be perfect together. I’d protect and take care of you, and you’d be the softness I need after a long day. You’d be my everything. You wouldn’t be poor because my money would become yours. Fuck society. I dress in a suit, but I’m a criminal. You’re classy and way too good for someone like me, but you think that’s going to stop me? Sure the fuck not.”

We’re so close that the soft swell of her tummy presses against my cock. She can feel it, and from the glassy look in her eye, I’d say she likes it.

“You’re crazy. I don’t know why you want me,” she murmurs, her shoulders hunched slightly.

I push her against the counter, blocking her in. Taking a fistful of her hair, I carefully pull her head back and stare into those mesmerizing eyes.

“I want you because you’re sweet,” I say quietly before I press a kiss to her cheek. “Because you’re beautiful.” Another kiss to her neck. “Because you’re smart and generous.” My lips find her exposed collarbone. “Because you’re mine, princess. That’s why I want you.”

When I press my hips forward, she whimpers and squirms against me, her hands coming to my chest to hold on.

“What if I don’t want to be yours?”

I pause, a small smirk crossing my lips. “Tell me you don’t want to be mine, Katie. Tell me honestly right now that you don’t want me, and I’ll back off. No lying, though. We only have truth between us, baby.”

Then I raise my head so I can look her in the eye. As soon as I do, I know she’s not going to say those words. She might not be sure about us, but she knows she doesn’t want it to stop.

“Daddy,” she breathes out.

“Yeah, princess?”

She shudders, her entire body trembling against me. Her lips are swollen from nibbling on them, and her pupils are blown wide. She’s practically panting. And fuck, I want to feed my cock into her open mouth.

“I need…” she whispers, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “I need something.”

10

KATIE

What am I doing? I went to the edge of the cliff and leaped right off it. I’ve never been so bold, and I’ve definitely never asked for a man to make me feel good. He probably thinks I’m some desperate hussy. And that’s pretty accurate because right now, I’m pretty damn desperate for him. Only him.