Page 4 of The Tycoon (The Douglas Brothers #1)

Dolly

I haven’t been sure about a lot of things in my life, but right this second, I know two things for certain. One, I haven’t been this full of food since last Thanksgiving and two, Sutton Douglas could charm the panties off a nun.

Men like him usually give me the ick, but there’s something about him that’s drawing me in.

Admittedly, I haven’t had the best luck with men, but it seems like he genuinely likes me.

I’ve never had a man hang on to my every word like this, and I’ve never had one ask me such thoughtful questions.

I don’t think he would be going through all this trouble if he wasn’t going to see me again.

Especially now, when he has a snowball’s chance in hell of seeing my brand-new lace panties.

I’m really disappointed that I can’t bring him back to my apartment tonight.

I was fully prepared, and eager, to break my “no sex on the first date” rule just for him.

But maybe this is a good thing? It will give me a chance to cool down and think.

Which I need to do, because right this second, I’m invested. Very invested.

I’m probably a moron, but I need to see where this goes.

At worst, my heart gets broken yet again but at best?

Maybe I’ve just met my future husband and father of my children?

Sutton would be the most loving, protective girl dad.

I already have images in my head of three little girls running up to greet him after a long day at work.

Oh my God, did I really just think that? We’ve only just met in person and I’m already planning our future? Ugh, I’m insane. I hate that I always fall too quickly. Why can’t I be a man-eating bitch like my sister?

Swallowing down my second bite of strawberry shortcake, I made a show of slapping my open hand against my stomach. Shaking my head, I let out an exaggerated sigh. Sutton is right, it is delicious, but I am sufficiently stuffed.

“Ok I think I’m done, Sir. I can’t take another bite.”

Pulling his lips into a pleased smile, I see a hint of amusement behind his soulful blue eyes. They’re so deep that I swear I could drown in them. I’d bet our daughters would have the same color as his blue, rather than mine.

Oh, God. I have to stop.

Pausing for a long moment, he seems to study me.

“Good girl, I’m proud of you for eating so well, but just a moment, you’ve got something on your-”

Leaning in towards me, his words trail off. Lifting his hand, he moves to brush the tip of his index finger over the corner of my lips. Holding out his finger, I notice a tiny dollop of whipped cream that didn’t make it into my mouth.

“You messy little thing, here.”

Blinking at him, my mind locks in confusion. I’m not entirely sure what he wants me to do. After a moment, the instincts from my childhood kick in. Lifting my cloth napkin from my lap, I try to wipe his finger.

Immediately yanking it back, he critically clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Arching a dark brow, he lowers his voice to a buttery deep tone and makes me ache.

“No, Princess. Lick me clean,” he commands.

Internally squealing, my stomach does a sharp somersault. I swear he’s five of my book boyfriends rolled into one real, live man. Why do I think this is so hot? I should be cringing right now.

Taking a steady breath, I give an obedient nod. Heaven help me, I really want this man and I need him to follow through with his promise to see me again. Channeling my sister’s boldness, I make the quick decision to show him what he will be missing tonight.

My hand lifts to hold his wrist as he brings his finger back to me. Accidentally touching the warm metal of his gold watch, I instinctively recoil. He probably doesn’t want me to get it dirty with my sticky fingers.

Shaking his head, he motions to my hand with a lift of his chin.

“Go on. You have my permission to touch whatever you want on me, whenever you want, my little Dolly,” he says.

The squealing in my head intensifies to a pitch that renders me deaf for a handful of heartbeats.

I let out a barely there laugh, my fingers fully touching the expensive wristband.

Pulling his hand towards me, I open my mouth to lick the whipped cream from his fingertip.

Slowly and deliberately, making sure to keep my gaze directly on his face.

He all but growls as the tip of my tongue swipes over his skin. His eyes narrow before darkening to nearly black. I’m not imagining it this time, his eyes truly do change. I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life.

Emboldened by his reaction, I bring his finger fully into my mouth. Sealing my lips around it, I swirl my tongue as I suck. Moaning softly, I try my best to tease him. Working his finger in the exact same way that I will work his cock if he takes me out again.

“Oh, you wicked little thing,” he husks.

Shaking his head, his lips curl into a smirk drenched in sin as he watches me play. He allows me to have my fun for a few more seconds before yanking his finger from my mouth.

“Dolly. I have to walk you back to your car as soon as the waiter comes back with my credit card, and now I’m going to have to leave this damn restaurant with my hard cock on full display.

Now I am going to forgive you this one time, but in the future…

if you do something like this again, I will punish you. Is that understood?”

Licking the spit from the corners of my lips, my eyes widen from his warning.

There’s a hint of humor on his face, but I can tell that he’s extremely serious.

I can only imagine what his punishment might entail, it piques my curiosity.

I doubt it’s anything too extreme, though. I don’t think Sutton could hurt a fly.

“Yes, Sir, I understand,” I reply.

Humming low, he sits back in his chair. Adjusting his black slacks, he settles into his seat. I hate that there’s a table in the way, I’d love to see what exactly he’s working with. I bet it’s massive.

Sitting in comfortable silence, we merely stare at one another. His gaze is so intense that I have to drop mine every so often for fear of combusting. I’m glad the waiter is taking his sweet time bringing back Sutton’s card, I’m not ready for us to part ways.

“Have you ever been a submissive before, Dolly?” he asks, breaking me from my thoughts.

Pulling my attention back to his handsome face, I shake my head. The very limited information I know about the lifestyle is from fanfiction I read as an unsupervised teenager.

“Good. I don’t want to have to retrain you,” he replies, his eyes dragging over me.

Swallowing hard, I feel like I could faint. I need to read up on BDSM as soon as I get back to my apartment, I don’t want to be so naive about what he wants next time.

Giving a small grin, I reach down to grab my pink clutch from the floor. Cradling it in my lap, my face scrunches as I think. I do want to have a small bit of understanding before I jump fully into this, so I ask him the one thing that concerns me.

“Are you really into hurting your partners, Sir?” I ask.

Humming softly, he doesn’t answer me right away. His eyes travel to the side briefly before moving back to mine.

“Not my partners, no. Now sometimes it’s necessary, especially after a heinous transgression, but I prefer to treat my women. To give them pleasure. That’s what I’m really into.”

Sighing in relief, the tension in my body eases from his answer. Now I’m really looking forward to my next research session, a Dom that enjoys giving pleasure sounds like a good time to me. Opening my mouth to ask one more question, he interrupts me before I can get the words out.

“I’m driving you home,” he states matter-of-factly.

Scrunching my face, I turn my ear towards him. His statement catches me off guard, I’m not sure that I heard him correctly.

“You’re what, Sir?” I ask.

“I’m driving you home. I need to make sure you make it to your apartment safely. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”

Shaking my head, I stammer as I try to wrap my head around this. He either really likes me and is serious about wanting to make sure I arrive home safely, or he’s a serial killer. There’s no in-between.

“But what about my car? I can’t leave it here,” I ask.

Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, he looks as cool as a cucumber. His being completely unbothered reminds me of just how wealthy he is. Only rich people are afforded freedom from the anxiety I’m feeling. I’m rather jealous.

“Give me your keys and I will make sure my family’s driver brings it back to your apartment.

I promise you, it will be there before you even wake up.

He’s been driving my family for the last twenty years, hasn’t gotten in one accident nor has he received a single speeding ticket.

I promise you, it will be in good hands.

But, on the off chance that something does happen, I’ll buy you a new car. ”

Laughing from the absurdity of his response, I give him a disbelieving look.

Arching an eyebrow, his expression silently demands that I stop laughing.

“I’m serious, Dolly. I’m driving you home. End of discussion.”

Nodding my head, my hand grips the cheap clutch on my lap. I think I need to relax just a little. Sutton Douglas, one of the most well-known men in all of Dallas, isn’t going to steal my run down, twenty-twelve Volkswagen Jetta.

“Good girl,” he praises.

Giving me a wink, he turns his attention towards the waiter as he steps up behind me. Addressing the teen with a tiny flick of his chin, he reaches out to take the black leather check presenter. Placing it down on the table, he reaches into his pocket for his wallet.

“Thank you, Ben, for taking such good care of us tonight. I’ll be sure to let your manager know how much of an asset you are to this fine establishment.”

Smiling wider than a jack-o-lantern, Ben bows his head. I’m sure his mind is filled with the thought of a huge tip and hope of a raise. I’m certain he will probably be receiving both.

“Thank you, Mr. Douglas. It was my pleasure serving you and Mrs. Douglas. I hope y'all have a lovely evening, and that y'all come back to see us again,” Ben chirps.

Opening my mouth to correct the young man, Sutton stops me with a purposeful clearing of his throat. Turning my head to look at him, he renders me speechless by a devilish, lopsided smile.

“Mrs. Douglas and I will most certainly be back, the whipped cream on that strawberry shortcake is too good not to come back. Isn’t that right, Princess?” he asks with a wink.

I’ve heard of moments like this, but I thought they only happened in books or in movies. It’s like I’ve been living my entire life with blurry vision, and now I can see in crystal clear, twenty-twenty. Oh my God. This is it. I am going to marry this man.

“Uh, yeah! It was delicious, we’ll definitely come back,” I respond, trying not to seem phased by Ben’s honest mistake.

Nodding like a bobblehead, Ben lifts his hand in an awkward wave. Pleased to have done a job well done, he takes a step backwards and leaves us to ourselves.

Turning back to Sutton, my heart jumps straight into my throat. There’s a simmering hunger just beneath his pleased expression. He feels our destiny, too, I know he does.

“Well, then,” he begins, his deep voice effectively turning me into a needy mess. “I suppose I ought to get you back home, wife.”