Page 291 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“Mmmm.”

Of course Fox picked that moment to barge in, as locks were completely ineffectual at keeping vampires out. His fangs shot out and he hissed. “What the fuck are you doing to her?”

He pulled out of Kate and held up his hands as Kate jumped off the desk in search of her panties and shorts. “It was consensual,” he said quickly, pulling his own pants back up. A vampire with his fangs out is nothing to mess with—even if he is your friend. “You can ask her.”

Kate nodded. “Absolutely.”

“You took advantage of her.” The fangs had retracted a little but Fox was still pissed, and Dom couldn't blame him. He would feel the same way if he knew someone hijacked Kate while she was in an obvious state of intoxication.

Fortunately, Kate spoke up. “Do I look like I didn't like it? It's totally cool,” she said firmly.

Fox looked doubtfully from one to another, but his fangs were back where they belonged. “I came up to make sure you were okay,” he mumbled.

Kate rubbed her head where it had been bleeding. “Yeah, just a cut and bruise, I think. No real harm done.”

“You want to go to the after-party at Andrew's?”

“Sure. I'll meet you downstairs,” she said.

Fox left, throwing one last doubtful look over his shoulder and Dom reached into his pocket for his cash. He paid almost everyone under the table at No Return. It saved him money and they all appreciated it. “Here's your pay for tonight. I ought to dock it because you didn't finish the last set, but…” he stroked and then gently slapped her firm little butt, “I feel like we're even.”

She flushed, clearly not sure how to take that.

He ran his finger over the bump on her forehead, feeling like it was absolutely tragic that her perfect face would be shadowed with a bruise. Something about her made him feel protective. “Be careful tonight, okay?”

“I will,” she promised.

“All right. Good night, Kate,” he said, giving her soft lips a quick kiss.

“Okay, yeah. Bye.” She seemed a little flustered. Sobering up, maybe.

When she had left, he sat down in his chair and closed his eyes. Oh hell. That was a mistake. He had enjoyed every moment of it, but from start to finish—on every level—it had been a colossal mistake.

Chapter Two

He had spanked her. Kate shut the door to the office lounge and stood out on the landing. She felt totally discombobulated. Her body felt relaxed and pleasured in every way, yet she still was turned on by what had just happened with Dom. And totally embarrassed.

She couldn't think about it without getting butterflies in her belly and a pulsing between her legs. Her whole life she'd been fascinated by spanking. She used to rub her dolls’ bare backsides and spank them in private in her bedroom, and the interest had only increased with puberty. Spanking was her most closely guarded secret—something she'd never told anyone about. She found it completely embarrassing. It made her feel like a deviant.

And now, having just had her number one fantasy fulfilled by the man who often starred in those daydreams, she felt as raw and open as an oyster pulled out of its shell. She felt like bursting into tears, but not sad tears, just… tears. And she definitely didn't feel like going downstairs in her bra and spankies, no matter how comfortable she had been prancing around on stage in them an hour ago. She sat down on the top of the stairs to get herself together.

“Are you okay?”

She jumped and turned around. Dom had left the office and was standing behind her. As she started to stand, he came around and sat down on the stair next to her. He was so attractive to her—the muscles of his chest stood out under his black No Return t-shirt and his long dark hair was tousled and hanging in his face. She leaned against him, grateful for the company. His company.

“Are you feeling… vulnerable?” he asked softly.

Wrong question. How on earth could he know that? Suddenly she lost it completely, tears spilling out of her eyes before she could even take a breath. He stood and gently pulled her to her feet, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leading her back into the lounge. There, he pulled her down with him on the couch and she somehow ended up straddling him on his lap, her arms twined around his neck, her face buried there, sobbing. He stroked her back and didn't say a word until she'd finished. She sat back and wiped her tears. “I'm sorry—I don't know why I did that.”

“No, I'm sorry,” he helped her wipe a tear. “I just wanted to turn you on—I meant you no disrespect.”

She shook her head. “I didn't feel disrespected.” It was her habit to automatically reassure people when they apologized, but she thought it was mostly true. She did feel ashamed, though. But she probably would have from his lecture, anyway. “Why did you think it would turn me on?” she asked meekly, almost afraid of what his answer would be.

He tapped his nose. “Vampires have a great sense of smell.”

“You can smell—?” She didn't know what to call it.

He smiled and nodded. “Yep. Can't hide much from us. Especially now that I've had your blood, I have a certain bond to you—I can feel your emotions.”

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