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Chapter Four

Kenna woke feeling well rested and stretched without opening her eyes—and realized she was in bed alone.

Where was CJ? Had she left already?

She sat upright, her heart pounding, and was about to throw back the covers when CJ came in from the hallway, still in her boxer briefs and sports bra, looking hot as hell with her blonde hair sticking up all over from sleeping.

“Good morning, sleepy baby. You don’t happen to have an extra toothbrush, do you? I have dragon breath this morning.”

Kenna felt a wave of relief wash over her. Not that she really thought CJ would just leave without saying goodbye, but she was so glad to see her, especially half-dressed and in her bedroom.

“Yep, I do,” Kenna answered, getting out of bed.

As she tried to slip past CJ and through the doorway, CJ grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close, murmuring into her hair, “I’d kiss you good morning, but the breath thing is a real issue.”

Kenna giggled. “Mine isn’t so great, either. Come on, I’ll find you a toothbrush.”

CJ released her and followed her across the hall to the bathroom, where Kenna dug in a basket inside the linen closet.

“I love this old green tile in here,” CJ said. “All the original details in a house like this. It’s really beautiful.”

“Thanks. I’ve always loved this house. I still sort of can’t believe it’s mine,” Kenna said. “Ah, found it!”

She handed a new toothbrush to CJ, who took it with a smile. “Toothpaste?”

“Coming right up.”

Kenna grabbed her own toothbrush and the toothpaste from the medicine cabinet, and they stood over the sink, brushing their teeth, and this simple thing just felt so incredibly cozy and intimate, somehow.

Once they’d both rinsed, CJ asked her, “I know you had coffee at the club, but are you a regular coffee drinker or do you prefer tea?”

“Mostly tea for me in the morning these days, but I have coffee, too. Want me to make some?”

“If you tell me where everything is, I’ll do it.”

“CJ? Are you never going to allow me to do anything for you?”

“Maybe. If you’re a very good girl.”

“I can be very, very good.”

“Mmm, there you go with that adorable little purr again,” CJ said, wiggling her eyebrows at her. “But come on; I need coffee before we have that conversation.”

They moved to the kitchen, and CJ made coffee, then insisted on preparing Kenna’s cup of tea. They stood in the kitchen leaning against the counters, catching up on all the years that had passed since they last saw each other.

“So, tell me more about working at the rescue,” CJ prompted. “I know you’ve always loved animals, and I think you were getting your degree in animal science?”

Kenna nodded. “Yep. I ended up with a master’s in animal science and behavior, plus a business degree.

I worked at two different rescues in the Seattle area while I was in school, then after I graduated, mostly with dogs and cats, and the occasional goat or pot-bellied pig.

Then my Aunt Diane passed and left me this house, so I looked for a job here and was lucky enough to find one almost right away. ”

“I’m so sorry about your aunt. I remember that you two were close.”

“We were, and it still stings, to be honest. I miss her. She was that person I could talk to about anything. She was the first person in my family I came out to.”

“You weren’t out back when I knew you. I hope it wasn’t too rough for you.”

Kenna shrugged, not wanting to revisit those emotions, but at the same time, she really wanted CJ to know her, to know everything about her.

“Well, I told my parents I was bi at first. I mean, I still had myself convinced I was, although over time I realized I only wanted to be with a woman. My mom and step-dad were pretty dismissive at first. They always said it was just a stage girls go through in college, but when I asked my mom if she went through it, she totally shut down. And when I told them I was a lesbian, everything changed. They just… stopped inviting me home for holidays. My mom didn’t even tell me when my grandmother died—it was my Aunt Diane who called me, and she’s my bio-dad’s sister, so it wasn’t even her mom.

She was my support through all of it. Through everything.

She sort of became my other mom. And then…

she left me this house, and it was such a gift.

It allowed me to start a whole new life.

I couldn’t afford to live in this city otherwise. Rescue work doesn’t pay a whole lot.”

“Yeah, but you’re doing such wonderful work, especially given that your place caters to dogs that are the hardest to find homes for.

My dog, Deacon, passed last year. He was a blind senior I rescued—he was my best buddy for six years.

He was my boy, but there were definitely challenges.

Not too many people would make the kind of sacrifices you have to be willing to make to work in that environment. ”

“That’s true, but I love my work, even when it’s hard. But those good moments, when a dog finds its forever home, make it so worth it. I really can’t imagine doing anything else.”

CJ moved closer and tucked a strand of Kenna’s hair behind her ear, making her melt all over. It was the tenderness in the simple gesture, and the way CJ’s eyes gleamed at her, the gold flecks shining as though she were lit up from the inside.

“You’ve always been one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known,” CJ told Kenna, her voice quiet. She stroked a fingertip over her cheek. “So, sweet girl, are you ready to talk about going kitten for me?”

Kenna’s insides felt as if they were blossoming. “Yes, please.”

“Oh, ‘please’, is it?”

Kenna nodded enthusiastically. “But you have to tell me a little more about what being a kitten means for you.”

“Well, it can be a bit different for everyone. But for me, it means I’d spoil you like I would a kitten.

You’d get petted and pampered in my lap.

I’d buy you toys and brush your hair. You might get scolded now and then, but not very often.

And possibly expected to lap milk from a bowl on the floor, although we’d have to negotiate taking it that far.

And spanked, of course, but more for pleasure than for punishment.

I would be your caretaker. Your Dominant, but there would be a different level to it.

I’d want to be your Daddy Dom. I’d care for you even when we weren’t in scene.

And it means that at some point, you would be mine, that I’d collar you—if we both wanted that, of course. ”

“So, it would be like you were sort of… fostering me before adoption?”

CJ laughed. “That’s one way to look at it, I suppose. And you are fucking adorable. See? A perfect kitten-girl.”

Kenna’s cheeks heated with pleasure and a little self-consciousness. “Am I?” she asked, needing reassurance.

“Yeah,” CJ answered, stroking her hair from her face, her brown gaze intent. “Perfect in so many ways. But tell me, what do you think about being a kitten?”

Kenna bit her lip, thinking. Thinking about how much she wanted exactly what CJ had just described. “I think I’d like that very much. To be honest, I don’t ever really… turn myself over to anyone to that degree. But with you, I feel like I can. Like I want to.”

“That means more to me than I can say. I’ll take such good care of you, Kenna.”

Other people had said the same sort of thing to her, but had never carried through with those promises. But Kenna knew CJ meant every word.

CJ tucked a finger under Kenna’s chin and raised her face to hers, then moved closer. “Come here, kitten.”

It started as a soft kiss, just a sweet press of her lips.

Then Kenna melted against her with a groan, and without breaking the kiss, CJ took the tea mug from her hand and set it down beside her, then lifted her and sat her on the counter.

She parted Kenna’s thighs and moved in between them, her hands going into Kenna’s hair as she deepened the kiss.

Her tongue was soft and slick as it slid between Kenna’s lips and explored, tasting of coffee, and Kenna’s body went into overdrive, need pouring through her like a tide.

When she tried to wrap her arms around CJ’s waist, CJ took her hands and pinned them down on the counter, making her understand that she was absolutely, undeniably in charge.

She sighed against CJ’s mouth as desire roared through her system, her pussy going wet, and as CJ kissed her, her tongue exploring, commanding her somehow, a persistent ache began between her thighs.

God, she needed her. Needed CJ to touch her. To fuck her.

She groaned once more, and CJ surged against her, letting Kenna know she wanted her just as badly.

When CJ pulled back, Kenna let out a little mewling sound; she couldn’t help it.

CJ murmured against her lips, “I want to take a shower with you. I want to be naked and wet and slippery. I need to fuck you under the water, maybe spank you a bit.”

“Oh, yes, please,” Kenna said, feeling as if she might die if it didn’t happen right now .

CJ lifted her to her feet and had Kenna lead the way to the bathroom, where she reached into the big, tiled shower to turn the water on.

As it heated and the floor-to-ceiling glass that enclosed the shower fogged up with steam, CJ stood before her, those gorgeous brown eyes so dark and gleaming, seeming to look right inside her, making her breathless with anticipation.

“I need to undress you now,” CJ told her.

Kenna nodded, unable to speak, her entire system thrumming, barely able to wait. She needed to be naked with her. Needed it.

CJ’s hands were gentle, her gaze almost reverent as she slipped the narrow straps of Kenna’s nightgown from her shoulders, drawing the fabric down her body until it fell on the floor.

“God, you’re so beautiful, baby.”