I hurry into the bathroom because I wantto have some time to work myself up to what I’m about to do. Not that I haven’tstrategically planned. The idea came to me Tuesday when I was sitting in Cole’soffice waiting for him to finish up a meeting. I’ve been able to keep myemotions at bay, but now, with it’s looming around the corner every time Ithink about it, my stomach does a flip-flop in a good and bad kind of way. I’mgoing to do this. I just need to man up. I’m glad Laura is here to hold myhand. I was going to go by myself while the guys went out tonight. But now thatLaura’s here, it’s turned out perfect.
I push the ladies’ room door open,walking out into the dim neon lit hall and stop in my tracks. Cole is proppedup against the wall. Uh-oh, I turn and try to walk away, but Cole is faster. Hegrabs my arm, dragging me further down the hallway. He pushes me gently upagainst the wall, locking me in with his hands on either side of my face. Colelowers his head, running his lips along my jaw and neck. He gets to thesensitive spot just below my ear, sending a delectable shiver down my spine.“Mmmm.” I stretch my neck, giving him better access.
“You moved so I couldn’t see you.” Coleflicks his tongue out against my skin. His breath is hot on my neck and hesmells of mint and bourbon.
“You should have told me you were comingto the same restaurant.” I fist my hands into the front of his jacket and nipat his jaw. Cole doesn’t say anything, he lowers his hand, running it up mythigh and under my skirt. His fingers skim along the lace of my panties.
“I told you I wouldn’t ask again.” Coleflicks his tongue along the seam of my lips.
“I know.” I try to capture his mouth, buthe backs away, giving me a wicked smile, and slowly lowers himself to hisknees. “Cole!” I grasp the front of his jacket tighter, trying to get him tostand, but it’s no good.
His hands skim up my thighs. My bodyignites with want and I feel heat spread from my chest up to my neck and face.Someone could walk around the corner at any moment and catch us. Cole trailsone of his hands around, settling it on my butt, giving it a light squeeze. Hisother covers my pelvis. I watch him cautiously, waiting for him to press hisfingers into me, but he just holds his hand there. My legs shake withanticipation.
“Shh, Cookie, it’s okay.” He moves hishands, rubbing my thighs. But all it does is cause more sensations to shoot upmy legs and settle in my core. His hands skim up my hips and they trace theband of my underwear. I watch him. His eyebrows are bunched, like he’s tryingto decide something. Finally, he looks up at me with that beautiful smile onhis face, and he starts to pull my panties off.
“Cole.” I grab his hands, stopping him,my eyes wide.
“I told you I wouldn’t ask again, Cookie.This is the consequence. I get your panties.”
I give a pleading look. “Please.”
“Oh no baby, let me have them.”
“But, my—”
He cuts me off. “No but’s. Give them up, Kate.”His smile is bright and his eyes are glazed and dark. I shake my head, lettinggo of his hands. He drags my underwear down my legs and helps me step out ofthem. I pull at the hem of my skirt. I feel naked and vulnerable and not in agood way.
Cole stands, and I watch him fold up hisprize, my punishment, and place them in the inside pocket of his jacket. Heleans into me for a kiss, but I turn my head. “Katie,” he breathes into myneck. “Don’t be upset. You had a choice, baby. Thank you for the gift. Have funshopping. I’ll see you later at Nightlifer.” He grazes his teeth on my neckgiving me a wet open mouth kiss and leaves me standing there.
I take a couple of deep breaths and tryto get my emotions under control. After a minute, I walk back to Laura. “Holyshit,” Laura hisses. “What the hell happened to you?”
I grit my teeth. “Cole.”
“Oh.”
“Hey ladies, are you ready for yourticket?” Emil, our server, gives us a dashing smile.
“Um—well, see those guys over there?” Iwave at Cole, who gives me his smile and a wink, and then waves back. “Theysaid they’d pick up our tab.”
“Okay, I’m going to need to check withthem first.” Emil gives me a friendly smile, but he isn’t buying my story.
Laura stands up. “Here.” And she shovesfour stacks of ones in his hands. “For being such an amazing server.” She licksher lips. “Best I’ve ever had.” Laura shoves my clutch in my hand, puts theduffel bag of cash over her shoulder and drags me away from the booth.
“Thanks,” I wave at him. Poor guy juststands there looking dumbfounded.
Outside, we spot the Escalade parked nextto the limo. I knock on the passenger side door, hoping to scare Keaton, but heonly looks at me with a smile, shaking his head. The locks pop and Keatonstarts to get out. “No need, we’ve got to get a move on.” That and I’m afraid Imay moon him trying to get in the car. He smiles and shuts his door. “Standbehind me while I get in.”
“Why?” Laura gives me a confused look.
“Just do it.” I crawl in the car, holdingmy skirt down behind me, but I know Laura sees more than she wants.
In the car, she puts the partition up.“Wait.” Keaton stops her.
“The Empress.”
Shock crosses his face. “You want to goshopping at the Empress?”
“Yes, please.”
