Page 52 of Degrees of Innocence
“Katarina, this is the participative part of the conversation,” he says, looking slightly bemused.
“It’s just that you are very wealthy. I’ve worked for Torzial since I was eighteen years old and while it’s an excellent job, I will never be in the same class as the women you’ve probably dated.”
“That’s for damn certain. One day I will share with you my definition of classes of women, but let’s suffice it to say that you’re in a class of your own, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. There’s a reason I’m not with the women I have dated in the past. Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about the money, Katarina. It’s sort of a package deal and I have never dealt with a partner who had an aversion to it,” he says, pausing for a second.
“Now that we’ve covered that, tell me what you like,” he says, smiling widely.
“Well, you’re everything I ever wanted in a partner— caring, gentle and kind. I even like it when you're a little overbearing and possessive… it makes me feel like you really care,” I admit, feeling the flush rise in my cheeks.
“Baby, I do care or I wouldn’t be asking you to move in with me,” he says, capturing my eyes with his own. “And what about the sex?” he asks, grinning.
“Oh, God, I seriously never dreamed it could be this good,” I say, bemused at the smile on his face.
“So, with all that, you still need to think about moving in with me?” he asks.
“Chase, I don’t want you to purchase another condo for seventeen million dollars when we would probably spend most of our time together anyway. I know you care about me and I would feel much better about living with you than having you buy me a condo.”
“It will not take the paparazzi long to make the connection once they see you coming in and out of the condo. They will put articles about us in all of their magazines and people will talk. Are you sure you’re ready for all that?” he asks.
“Yes, I know you are concerned about the security, but for me, it’s about not feeling kept, if you can understand that,” I say.
He kisses me gently. “I don’t ever want you to feel kept, I want you to feel protected and cherished. I didn’t think you would want to move in with me given your aversion to having a relationship with someone you work with. That’s the only reason I showed you the condo downstairs. I would much rather have you under my own roof,” he says, caressing my cheek.
“I’m still trying to work through some of this. I need to talk to my mom and get our relationship out in the open. I’m just nervous about how she’ll take it,” I say.
“You’ll find a way to discuss it and once we meet each other, I’m sure it will be okay,” he says, tracing his finger from my cheek, along my neckline, and across my erect nipples. My body moistens in response and I moan softly as he takes a nipple into his mouth, sucking until I can feel the moistness of my arousal.
“I want you right now, Katarina, fast and hard,” he says, his eyes darkening.
My body responds shamelessly, losing sight of everything but him as he guides me above the water and onto his rigid cock. His arms are supportive, holding me in place, as he pulls me upon him. I am overcome by the feeling of fullness as he penetrates me. He caresses my clit with one finger while keeping one hand on my hip helping me maintain our rhythm. I am so close and can’t help but grind myself onto his finger and only then does he increase the pace grasping both hips firmly, beginning a steady rhythm at first and then increasing the pace as he skillfully builds the intensity, driving us both over the edge with a passion that takes my breath away. We lay together, sated, my anger long forgotten, joined as one below the warm, silky feeling bubbling water until our breathing returns to normal.
He kisses me, caressing my neck with his hands. “I’m glad that you decided to move in with me,” he says, keeping me held close to his chest and I relish in the way his heart beats strong and steady against my cheek.
“Baby, we better put some clothes on, or I am going to end up having you again right here in the whirlpool. Besides, you’ve taken all my energy and I need to replenish. Do you mind having a light lunch and working from here for the afternoon?”
“Sounds like a good plan to me. I’ll see what’s in the refrigerator and put something together,” I say.
“So, you think you can stand the country house on weekends?” he asks, helping me out of the water and into a robe. “I try to get home at least once during the week, too,” he says.
“I don’t mind at all. I absolutely love it there, Chase. I just hope Gaby will like me.”
“She already likes you,” he says, kissing my forehead.
“I hope so, she’s important to you.”
“She is and you will both get along fabulously.”
I find roasted chicken breast, lettuce, and vegetables for a salad in the refrigerator and in no time at all we are enjoying lunch on the balcony.
“I have some documentation to complete this afternoon. I don’t typically have the owner in the room all week, so I generally develop a presentation.”
“Having the owner in the room sounds like it saves a lot of rework,” he says, grinning.
I laugh at his apparent attempt to show me his Lean learnings. “I’m impressed, you were actually listening.”
“Of course, I was. I believe in the process or I wouldn’t have hired your company. The only reason I didn’t intend to stay was because Brian was planning to be there all week. He manages the operational aspects of the business well. I am definitely glad you invited me, though,” he says. “I’ll get some calls out of the way while you’re working and we can celebrate moving in together with an evening out. I’ll have someone bring your briefcase and laptop up from the car,” he says.
I’m just finishing all of the event documentation when I hear the familiar swoosh…
