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  “I’ll take him through to the kitchen. He needs a bath, I’m afraid. Can I get you a drink?”

  “No, thanks.”

  The way he’s looking at me is giving me tickles inside.

  I rub my clammy hands down my leggings and join him back on the sofa.

  His smile is wolfish, sending an aching lurch of want rippling through me. It’s insane how I react to him.

  Totally insane.

  He takes my hand and places it on the bulge between his legs. “Can you feel what you’re doing to me?”

  I nod; my mouth has gone completely dry.

  “But first, I want to know if you’re comfortable with what we did yesterday.”

  “I think so. I mean, I know so little about you.”

  He kisses my wrist. “You know that I’m a good father.”

  The pain in his dark irises pangs in my gut. I wish I could see what he’s trying to hide… see past his hidden despair.

  Sudden tears well in my eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” He leans into me, tracing the tracks of my tears down my cheeks. “Are you having second thoughts?”

  I shake my head. I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing.

  He crushes me to him and kisses my neck, hot wet kisses down to my collarbone. Tingles tickle up my spine and my nipples pucker.

  With a growl, he pins my arms above my head. “I’m going to taste you. Make you come with my tongue. I bet you’re sweet as honey.”

  I gasp. Just the thought of it is making me wet.

  He drops my arms and his hands find their way down to the top of my leggings. He lowers them, and then removes my thong. In a beat, he’s manoeuvred me so I’m lying on the sofa with his face between my thighs. I moan wantonly as his strong tongue presses into me.

  I take hold of my tits and thrust my hips up, needing more. He stops licking and grabs my left leg, raising it and propping it against his muscular shoulder. I’m completely and utterly exposed. My heartbeats quicken, and I feel myself blushing.

  “You’re beautiful,” he says, lifting his face and staring into my eyes. “Watch me while I give you pleasure.”

  My breath catching, I stare down at him; his gaze locks with mine as his tongue spears into me. It’s electrifying. “Daniel,” I moan.

  He reaches up with one hand and squeezes my left breast through the thin material of my blouse, pinching my taut nipple. I rock against him and give a whimper; trembles are building deep in my core.

  He penetrates me further, his tongue filling me, his beard brushing against the softness of my inner thighs. Ah….

  I twist my fingers into his thick hair; I’m about to come.

  He rumbles deep in his throat as he pushes his face into me, the vibrations setting me on fire.

  “I’m coming.”

  Without warning, he stops what he was doing. “I did not give you permission, Catrin. Your orgasm belongs to me.”

  What the…?

  He puts my leg down, grabs my hips and flips me over, pressing my cheek into the sofa cushion. He slaps my buttocks twice, then wraps his arm around me, pulling me to my knees, my ass in the air. He kicks my legs open and clamps his hot wet mouth to my slit from behind, sucking on it like he’s dying of thirst.

  Oh, oh, oh…

  He shoves two fingers into me; I let out a needy whimper. If I thought what he was doing to me before was hot, this is even hotter. The intimacy of having not just my pussy, but my ass exposed is making me lightheaded. I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on containing my release.

  “You want to come?” his voice is muffled against me.

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Beg me, Catrin.” His words vibrate against my clit, sending me into a frenzy.

  “Please, Daniel. Please.” My thighs are shaking. If he doesn’t give me release, I swear I’ll dissolve into a puddle of want.

  “Break for me, baby.” He presses down on my clit with his thumb. His fingers curl to find my spot.

  Pleasure grips me in powerful paroxysms, followed by rolling waves of bliss. He keeps thrusting his fingers until my orgasm subsides, then leans me backwards into his powerful chest while my ragged breathing slows. He kisses the nape of my neck, sucking on it. “You’re so beautiful, Cat. I love making you come.” He strokes my hair. “How are you feeling?”

  “Amazing,” I sigh. “But what about you?” I dare to ask the question. “Don’t you want to fuck me?”

  He laughs. “Not now, darling. When I fuck you, as you so charmingly put it, we’ll have more time on our hands. In any case, I don’t have any condoms…”

  “It’s alright,” I blurt out. “I’m on the pill to regulate my periods.”

  He swivels me in his arms so that I’m facing him. His beard is damp, and I can smell myself on his hot breath. His kiss tastes of me. Far from being a turn-off, it makes my nipples tingle. I trail my fingers down to his groin, but he grabs my hand. “I don’t want to be late picking Ben up from school.”

  I stare at the clock on my wall. There’s time for a quickie, but I guess that’s not what he wants. I tilt my chin down and frown.

  “Hey,” he lifts my face. “All good things come to those who wait.”

  “But…. What about you?”

  “When you submitted to me, Catrin, it gave me more pleasure than you could have imagined.”

  I tilt my head, confused. Daniel is the most confusing person I’ve ever met. And the most interesting. He’s hot as hell, granted. When we touch, he unravels me. But it’s not just his sexiness that’s pulling me towards him. It’s more than that.

  I squirm from his embrace. “We should get a move-on, then. You’re right. We mustn’t be late.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Daniel

  My thoughts drift as I work on my latest painting. I put down my paintbrush, unable to concentrate. Cat was testy with me after I refused to fuck her yesterday. I could see she was down after her endorphins crashed; we should have spent more time talking.

  There’s a lot we have in common… the kids and our enjoyment of outdoor life spring to mind. I could have asked her to share her other interests with me. I was a prick to treat her like she’s just a fuck buddy; she’s more than that. She’s my friend, and it feels good to have a friend after so long. I hope I haven’t screwed things up.

  I stare at the canvas in front of me, so different to my usual work. Eric wasn’t sure about it when he saw it yesterday afternoon, but I don’t give a flying fuck. I’m painting this one for myself, and I fucking love it.

  I pick up my phone and check to see if he’s messaged me. His visit was brief, but he said he’d find out if there’s any way for me to meet with Gleb on neutral ground. Somewhere far from here, maybe even abroad. It might take a while to set up... Hmm, I hope Eric isn’t spinning me a line. He’s two-faced, goes with his job, and he’d say anything to keep me calm.

  But I’m not calm.

  I’m not calm at all.

  I’ve kept my distance from my brother the past three and a half years. I haven’t seen him since he returned to Moscow, shortly after I discovered the truth. A bitter taste fills my mouth. I looked up to Gleb my whole life. I thought he was a god, but he was the devil in disguise.

  My hands clench into fists. Gleb’s contacts want to take their revenge, and the fuckers would stop at nothing to use Ben against me. If they found out about Catrin and Becca, they’d try to use them as well. I might have to put myself in the firing line to keep them safe. It’s a no-win situation, but I can’t see any other way out of it.

  Just thinking about Catrin makes me want to see her. Fuck it, I don’t want to lose her... I don’t want to lose what’s growing between us. What if she wants to end our friendship? She wasn’t at the school gates this morning. Was she avoiding me?

  I go to wash the paint off my hands, grab my keys, and head over to her cottage.

  She answers the door like she did yesterday, her gaze wide with surprise.

  “Would you like to h
ave lunch with me?” My question comes out of the blue. I hadn’t even thought about what to say before I got here.

  “Thank you.” Her smile wavers.

  “Only heated up soup and a couple of ham sandwiches,” I apologise. “Cooking is not one of my skills.”

  She looks at me and then looks away again. “I’ll just grab my coat.”

  Within minutes, she’s sitting at my kitchen table sipping from a glass of sparkling water while I stir a pot of minestrone that’s come straight out of a can. I come right out and say it. “I missed seeing you at the school this morning.”

  “Becca had a sleep over at Aldridge House last night, so she went in with Olivia and Jack.”

  “Ah.” I pour the soup into two bowls and quickly spread butter on bread slices before placing the ham between them.

  I sit opposite and start to eat, watching her surreptitiously as she does likewise. An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air between us.

  She takes a deep, steadying breath. “Tell me more about your wife.” Her brows crease, but sympathy shines in her eyes. “That’s if it’s not too painful for you.”

  “Victoria was taller than you,” I huff out a sigh. “Blonde, and she had beautiful eyes like you, except they were blue not green.”

  “Becca looks just like Josh did. She’s a constant reminder, but in a nice way.” Her voice is soft. “Ben looks like you.”

  My face twitches as my jaw tightens. “He might look like me but thank God he hasn’t inherited my personality.”

  “The Brute,” she whispers.

  “Ha. You’ve got me there.” I laugh. “I know that’s my nickname in the village.”

  She’s thoughtful for a moment, then asks, “Did you play at BDSM with Victoria?”

  “She was a natural submissive.” A lump comes into my throat, and I swallow it down quickly. “How about you and Josh? Did you ever try anything kinky?”

  “We got together when we were teenagers, so it never occurred to us.”

  “Do you have any siblings?”

  “One sister. Megan.” Cat’s eyes meet mine and hold firm. “Five years younger than me. Just graduated from uni and is training to be a primary school teacher. As you’ve probably gathered, I come from an ordinary family.”

  I want to tell her I came from humble origins; but I don’t, of course. I think about the small flat in Moscow where we lived until Papa made his billions. Wealth is an illusion most of the time. It can buy you a certain lifestyle, that’s all.

  We lapse into silence again, but it’s more relaxed now. After finishing our lunch, she helps me stack our plates in the dishwasher.

  “Can I see your paintings?” she asks out of the blue as we head towards my living room.

  “Why not?” I take her hand and lead her into my studio, turning on the lights as we step across the threshold.

  “Wow,” she says. “Just wow.” Her eyes are bright, and she lays a hand over her heart. “This is stunning. So powerful.” She stands back, her gaze sweeping over the blues and greens.

  “It’s inspired by you,” I tell her. “By your beautiful eyes.”

  “Wow,” she says again. “I don’t know what to say.”

  I grab a sketchbook and a stick of charcoal. “Stand still. I want to capture your profile.”

  She does as I ask, standing like a statue while I draw. It only takes a couple of minutes and then I’m done. I show her the result, and she blushes beautifully. Then she turns and walks towards a second canvas, propped against the wall. “This one is so violent,” she shudders. “It’s hard to believe you could have painted it too.”

  “It’s what I’m known for, the anonymous me that is. Apparently, buyers can’t get enough of them.” I jut out my chin. “They’re going to be disappointed, I’m afraid. This one will be the last.”

  “I’m not an expert, but I do know what I like. Your new work is much more appealing.”

  “Eric isn’t sure it will sell.” I give a dismissive shrug of my shoulders. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t need the money, and I can hang this one and future work in the cottage.”

  We return to the living area. She glances at me shyly but doesn’t speak.

  Lust stirs in my loins.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Catrin

  I excuse myself and go to the bathroom. Am I being reckless allowing myself to get so close to a man whose barriers are so strong it would take a sledgehammer to break through them?

  It’ll be alright, I tell myself. He’s a good father, and I can’t help thinking he’s a good man… despite his sometimes-brutish attitude. The way he looks after his son melts my heart. Call it a gut-feeling, but I trust my instincts; I’ve always been a good judge of character.

  I give myself a curt nod in the mirror. I’ll find the chinks in his armour, little by little; he won’t be able to hide behind his defences forever. It’s early days yet. One thing Daniel Collins will discover about me is that I’m persistent. I’ll be the sledge-hammer that breaks down his defences. I might be submissive in bed, but I’m not a pushover elsewhere.

  I smooth down my leggings, press my lips together and step into the corridor. Daniel is leaning against the door-frame of what I can only presume is his bedroom. He’s taken off his shirt, and I rake my gaze over his gorgeous body. I freeze, rooted to the spot, my confidence shrivelling like an autumn leaf. I take a quick breath, and my heartbeat thuds in my ears.

  “Come here, Catrin.”

  His tone is commanding, his voice hypnotically low; I swallow hard and take slow steps as I walk towards him, my eyes locked with his smouldering gaze. He reaches out his hand and I slip my fingers into it. Warmth flushes through me at his touch, soothing my nerves, and a smile flickers across my face.

  Bending, he kisses the ridge of my shoulder and then the base of my throat. His hot lips trail up my neck; I release a shuddering sigh, my knees wobbling so much I’m in danger of crumpling to the floor. As if sensing this, he lifts me, like I weigh nothing, and carries me across to his bed.

  He sits me down and joins me, the mattress dipping as he laces his strong fingers through mine. “First, we talk,” he says. “So you’re clear about what will happen.” He pauses, breathing in and out. “I don’t want to scare you.”

  “I’m not scared,” and I’m not. A tad nervous, maybe. He’s probably read it in my body-language…

  I listen while he outlines what he refers to as a ‘scene’. It makes me think of the theatre. Maybe this is all an act for him? I’m supposed to call him ‘sir’ while we’re ‘playing’ and I wonder if Daniel needs to do this to escape from reality… whatever that reality could be.

  Nah, he did this with his wife; he must simply be into the kink.

  My tummy tickles with apprehension, but, God, I want him so much. “Let’s do it,” I say.

  He lifts a brow. “Sure?”

  “Absolutely.” My mouth has gone dry.

  “If, at any time, you think I’m pushing you beyond your limits, your safe-word is Wales, okay?”

  Safe-word? Holy shit.

  “I won’t forget.”

  His mouth descends on mine; I tip my head back and open my lips for his questing tongue. He presses me into the mattress and I become a different Catrin, someone I barely recognise, a Catrin who wants this man so badly she rubs her body against him, twisting her fingers into his thick hair and gripping him tight. My senses are reeling. I run my hand down to the swell in his pants and squeeze his hardness.

  He breaks the kiss, untangling himself from me. Then he pulls me to my feet and reaches for the hem of my sweater. I stand silently while he lifts it off. He pulls down my leggings and kneads my ass cheeks. “You’re doing brilliantly.”

  “Thank you, sir.” I almost laugh out loud but manage to contain myself.

  Me, calling a man, sir? I’m only doing this because the man is Daniel…

  “Are you ready?” He reaches into his bedside table drawer and retrieves a thinly coiled rope.


  “Yes, sir. Ready, sir. I want this.” My pulse ricochets.

  No need for me to try to keep a straight face. It’s no longer funny.

  Daniel gently grasps my forearms and rotates them, so they are folded at right angles behind my back. I feel the rope sliding through, rough against my skin. My heart thuds as he ties my wrists together, his hot breath burning me up. He binds my breasts next, the snug fit holding them firmly, then he ties a knot over my spine. He carries on binding me, breathing slowly through his nostrils as he concentrates. My tits have tightened, and my nipples are standing on end. He strokes the points and I release a needy moan.

  “You’re stunning,” he says, stroking my hair.

  He comes around to the front of me and eases the knots around my flesh. I throw my head back, and my breasts jut out, dark red, engorged with blood. “That’s perfect,” he says. “Your nipples are rock-hard.” He pinches and flicks them, making me whimper. Christ, my tits are so swollen they’re burning, but the burn feels amazingly good.

  “All well?” He kisses me, his tongue around mine, lingering… caressing. He nips my lip between his teeth, and then stands back. “I’m going to punish you.”

  He told me this would happen, and I agreed to it, but now I’m not so sure. Except I won’t let myself renege, even though fear lurks beneath my bravado. If I’m out of my depth, either I’ll sink, or I’ll swim.

  Holding my breast, he whacks his fingers against the distended nipple and, shit, it hurts. I gasp as he does it again. Then he holds my other breast. The sharp sound of each spank is exciting, though, and the pain, God, the pain is surprisingly blissful. My hips lurch and I feel myself getting wet.

  “That’s enough,” he grunts. “Baby steps until you are fully trained.”

  Trained? I’m not a performing seal…

  He runs his hands down my back, his fingers tapping over the knots, and I’m too breathless to speak. Suddenly the ropes loosen around my chest, my lungs expand fully and my breasts spring free with a pleasant ache. The cord slackens even more, falling to a heap at my feet.