This was the last thing Aurelian wanted to talk about right now, but there was little choice.Steady on, Ari. You can be honest without being too graphic.
“Everything’s okay,” he said with a sigh. “The Shazlik gave me a name then went for my throat. I zapped him unconscious, and a friend is coming to take care of him.”
“Takecareof him?” repeated Kait, appalled.
Aurelian nodded. “I’m afraid so. I tried to bargain with the creature. I don’t want to take anything’s life! But the moment I gave him the opportunity, he tried to kill me, so I knocked him out again. He’s a professional killer, Kait,” he said sadly. “I had to make a hard choice, and I chose your safety over his life.”Please, please understand.
Kait swallowed and winced. She touched her neck, where the assassin’s garrotte had left a red weal. Finally, she nodded. “I understand, Aurelian,” she said. “It’s an impossible situation, really. I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision,” she added fervently. She looked up. “But I have made a hard decision of my own.”
Aurelian held his breath.
Kait got up and stood in front of him. “Aurelian Reynard,” she said, “I choose to submit to your training. Show me what I need to learn. No games. I will bind myself to your teaching.” She dropped to her knees and lowered her eyes.
Aurelian felt the sun rise inside him. He let his breath out, a little shakily, and cupped Kait’s cheek with his hand.
She seemed to nestle into it while still keeping her gaze down.
“Kait, look at me,” he said softly. She looked up at him, her eyes large. Aurelian wanted to capture the image of her looking up at him like that and store it in his memory forever. This was a magical moment, a sacred moment, and he suddenly knew—heknew, without any doubt—that she was the only woman he wanted to look at him this way.
“My dear Kait,” he began again, “the gift you offer to me is beyond words, it is so glorious. I accept and cherish the gift of your submission and will not abuse it or take it for granted.”
She took the hand cupping her cheek, turned it slightly, and softly kissed his palm. “Thank you, Sir. My master is most kind.”
Aurelian’s heart skipped a beat, and his cock strained against the confines of his pants. Other women had kneeled before him, but it had never, ever felt like this. He closed his eyes, savouring the moment, before the realities of their situation demanded he pay attention to them.
“Okay.” He took her hand and helped her stand then led her back to her seat on the sofa.
Kait looked at him inquiringly.
“In a perfect world, Kait Pyne, we would take this moment and extend it into an odyssey. But we’re not in a perfect world, sadly. Someone is trying to kill you and frame me. We have an assassin chained up in the playroom.”
Kait nodded.
Damn it, damn it, damn it. But things don’t just go away because we want them to. I have to think with a cool head, not a hot cock.
Hellfire and damnation!
“I think it would be better if you stay here tonight,” said Aurelian. “We need to keep you safe, and, believe me, this place is pretty damn safe.”
“The assassin was waiting in your lobby,” Kait objected.
“Yes, because he couldn’t get into my apartment,” Aurelian answered. “If he could have, he would have. Much easier to frame me in here. The foyer is open to anyone; this apartment most definitely is not.”
“I’ll have to get some things.”
“Of course. But that’s a task for tomorrow, and you won’t go alone. Tonight, you stay here,” he said firmly.
“Okay, I guess that makes sense,” agreed Kait. She tilted her head. “All right, question. I know I’m submitting to you for training, but…that doesn’t mean I have to obey you abouteverything, does it?”
Aurelian laughed. “My dear Kait, I doubt you could even if you wanted to. You are a very strong-willed woman! No, I suggest we attack our problems as partners. When we are going to enter training, I will say, ‘Let’s begin, Miss Pyne.’ That is your signal to behave yourself.” His eyes sparkled.
Kait gave him a wry grin. “That’s probably a good idea. Otherwise, I’ll be spending all my time over your lap, and we’ll never get anything done.”
Aurelian continued to chuckle. “Over my lap…over a chair…over a spanking bench…there are many variations.”Oh, so many variations. Glorious variations.His cock sprang to life again.Dammit! My fault, I admit, but down, boy!
Kait flushed. “So I see,” she murmured. Then her eyes gleamed, and she asked mischievously, “But aren’t most of those variations currently in the same space as a murderous alien?”
“Ma foi,” muttered Aurelian, tugging at his hair, “you are entirely correct. Practicalities, practicalities,ma cherie. My friend will be here within half an hour. And we should get you squared away for tonight. I have a spare bedroom I think will suit your needs.”
