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Silently, both assistants leave, giving Kathleen and me some privacy in the closed-off conference room.

“It is a lot of money,” I respond. “When my father told me a while ago about this new investor, I admit that I was wary. My father can be an idiot in his personal life, but not so much the business side of things. He wouldn’t have agreed to this investor if he thought it could possibly fall through. I wonder what’s happening. Xan Ravenwood is one of the biggest names in the Pacific Northwest.” Twenty years ago, that wouldn’t be saying much. Now, however, quite a few businesses are popping up over there. There’s even a conference for bigwigs like us every year. Not that I’ve ever gone…

Maybe I should. I’ll take Katie with me, and we’ll have a great time.

“I’ve vaguely heard of him,” she says, her voice soft. She looks at my hand on her knee but does not otherwise react. “He’s not really in my line of business if you know what I mean.”

“He’s more corporate and investment, less helping out the little guy.” Xan Ravenwood pharmaceutical company focuses on treatments and cures for terminal diseases. Last I heard they were close to a promising cancer cure, but their lead researcher keeled over dead. Probably put a dent in Ravenwood’s profits for a while. “Enough about that. How are you feeling?”

Kathleen raises her eyebrow. “I’m fine. Even better after waking up like that.”

I chuckle. Can’t be helped. When a woman tells you she likes you in bed, you’re going to react. “I took a chance that you would like that. What better chance than when I’ve got this collar on you?” I tap it with my finger. Light reflects off the diamonds, illuminating Katie’s smile.

“It’s not something I would want to do every day… Mistress.”

“Of course not.”

“I enjoyed it, yes. I enjoy almost anything we do.”

Her smile is infectious. Not just infectious. Heartwarming. It’s not her usual smile of wily thoughts or about to lunge and eviscerate me. It’s a kind smile. Adoring.

I can’t help but lean in and kiss her cheek, my hand sneaking toward her inner thigh. “I’m glad to hear that,” I say, squeezing her flesh. “I’ve got some more ideas, you know.”

“I’m sure you do, Mistress.”

“Let’s stay in tonight and do more of what we did last night.”

“You mean a whole lot of nothing?”

“Now, now…” My tongue plays with her ear, sending shivers, shudders, and trembles through her muscles. “Let’s start with dinner. Know how to cook anything good?”

“Oh, so now I’m cooking for you?”

“Nothing complicated. Unless you want to, of course.” I don’t peg her as a chef, but I could be wrong.

Katie brushes her lips against mine, and now it’s my turn to shudder from this feeling called love. “I find myself wanting to do a lot of strange shit with you, Ira. I mean… Mistress.”

I tuck an errant golden hair behind her ear, my lips playing with the tip there. “And I find myself unable to keep my hands off you, my love.”

Her hand finds my leg. “Same here.”

We have work to do, but I don’t want to. I want to pull my lovely into my lap and have my way with her, nibbling her collar and feeling every intimate part of her body. I think I’ll forego the games tonight. All I want to do is make love to Kathleen. Slow, sensual love that ends with me whispering how much I love her.

Why fucking wait?

“I love you, Katie.” My words are so quiet, yet I don’t doubt that she heard me.

Her head rests against my shoulder. I can’t think much about missing money. All I can think about is this wonderful woman and how much I want to make this work.

I’m delusional, aren’t I?

Chapter 61

Kathleen

How can Ira be so predictable yet keep surprising me?

I predicted that she would want to fuck me at work at some point. What I did not predict was oral sex and a further quickie in a closet in between a meeting and heading down to The Ace to see the latest renovations.