When they reached her bedroom, and Kate flipped the light switch to illuminate the room, Dex smiled.
A large four-poster bed with a cream-colored bedspread dominated the room, and forest-green sheets showed where the comforter had been turned down. It had a large custom-built headboard done in the same wood as the living room, with built-in cabinets and cubbies. It was cluttered, but not messy.
There was a nightstand and an entertainment center that held a TV and stereo along one wall, and a large, comfortable-looking leather recliner next to the picture window, which was most likely where he had seen Rusty’s silhouette when he’d first arrived. He could picture Kate sitting there with her laptop, working and glancing out the window while thinking.
A large floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelf took up half of one wall next to a door that he assumed led to the bathroom.
He bit back a smile. More green highlights were scattered throughout the bedroom. Everything was loosely arranged and organized, except the headboard and where books spilled off the bookshelf in seemingly haphazard piles. The thing that caught Dex’s attention to detail was that the books on the floor or stacked in front of the shelf appeared to be about an arm’s length from the bed.
Most likely, Kate read before falling asleep. If the book was finished, he guessed, she reached out to add it to the growing pile, meaning to put it away the next day and never getting around to it.
Two more books sat on her nightstand with frilly green bookmarks sticking out of the tops, which only reinforced his impressions about the finished pile in front of the shelf.
“This room is definitely you.”
“I know. More green.” She laughed as she gestured around her. “I think I’m something of an addict.” She set Rusty on the bed, then turned back to Dex. “I’ll be right back. Have a seat.”
Dex crossed to the recliner and sank into its butter-soft leather. He didn’t bother raising the footrest, but used the time to study the room and Kate’s belongings on the shelves and hung on the walls.
Everything about her living space told him she was organized where she needed to be, but relaxed or haphazard where it wasn’t a necessity—like the books in front of her bookshelf and the slightly cluttered headboard. Her living room was clean and organized, but she would meet guests and entertain out there. This was her inner sanctum, which she most likely organized only if she knew well in advance that someone might come into her bedroom during their visit.
He would bet if he used her bathroom he would find a tidy medicine cabinet and linen closet but a disheveled vanity, where things would be arrayed in front of her and she could just grab and go as needed.
Rusty startled him when the cat jumped up on the windowsill and settled in to watch the outside world. That was probably the feline’s normal perch while Kate was working in the recliner.
Dex started to smile at the purring tabby and then stopped himself. He would not let his sister talk him into adopting a cat. He wasn’t home enough. Even though the little buggers were independent and he enjoyed their company, as she pointed out every time he saw her, without much success.
Kate walked into the room, and all thoughts of anything but her vanished. She wore a flowing moss-colored green robe that made her green eyes stand out. A sash held the robe closed, and the silky garment was long enough to brush the tops of her bare feet.
Her long, black hair flowed over her shoulders, making her even more beautiful. He still couldn’t believe a Dom had cut off Kate’s hair. The man should have had more punishment from Ralston than just a fine that went to The Dungeon and not to Kate. Yet not even that would make up for what the asshole had done.
He ran his gaze over Kate again, taking in the entire package, and swallowed hard as desire punched him in the gut. His cock was now so hard it was uncomfortable. There would be no way for him to stand without her seeing the results of her entrance into the room.
He wasn’t in high school, he reminded himself. And they had met inside a BDSM club, so she wouldn’t be surprised if she caused a reaction in him.
He stood and faced her.
Her gaze immediately zeroed in on his straining erection. He loved the sinful smile that she wore just before she raised her gaze to his face.
Dex remained silent, holding back an answering smile the best he could. He wasn’t going to raise the subject, so to speak, if she wasn’t. “You make quite an entrance.” He gestured toward the bed, ignoring the elephant in the room that they both knew was there. “Why don’t you lie on your stomach so I can look at those marks?”
Chapter 10