She sighed. While he hadn’t been fully forthcoming with her, he still hadn’t lied. He had answered her question honestly and even offered to talk to the owner on her behalf. He’d been under no obligation to share more with her, even if she wished he had.
Kate wanted to push away from Dex and wrap her anger and hurt around her like a protective blanket, but being in his arms felt too good to ruin with tantrum theatrics.
Her anger ebbed as she thought the situation through. The hurt, however, might take longer.
Dex eased away from her, just enough so he could capture her gaze. “I’m sorry I had to leave so quickly. And I’m sorry you had to see what happened with Min.” She saw in his gaze how sincere he was on both subjects, and how much anger and guilt he carried over the latter. She wondered why there would be guilt.
Kate swallowed hard and forced words through her tight lips. “I was sorry you had to leave so quickly, too. I had hoped for more time before you were recalled.”
There. That wasn’t too bad.
She hadn’t babbled about how she had wanted to see him again, and how much she wanted his hands on her, or gushed over how she had hoped to have more nights like the one they’d shared.
Just a simple statement that she hoped he couldn’t read too much into.
“Why don’t we sit?” He led her to the love seat where she and Sandra had sat while they were talking to Brent before he’d been paged.
Once more, she sank into the soft leather, but this time, Dex sat next to her, pulling her against him, as if he had every right to do so.
She thought about pulling back. Setting a boundary. But then she shook her head as she admitted that he did have that right.
She might logically try to deny it, but if Dex wanted her, she definitely wanted him. Both as a Dominant and as a man.
Kate tried to caution herself that she was reading too much into the situation.
Again.
And was only setting herself up for more heartache. But logic was apparently beyond her. Especially in the face of Dex’s strong presence beside her.
“Kate.”
She turned to look at him, and sucked in a breath at the desire she saw in his expression. “Yes, sir,” she said, before she could think better of using the honorific and giving him that position of power. Especially since she loved having him as her Dominant.
A slow smile curved his lips. “It’s good to see you here. I didn’t know how soon you were planning a trip to Phoenix.”
Warmth filled her chest that he seemed happy she was here.
“Where are you staying?” His voice reverberated deep inside her, reminding her of when he had massaged her G-spot until her eyes had nearly rolled back in her head. Kate basked in the warmth from his body and decided to enjoy the experience and analyze later.
“My grandmother left me her house here in Paradise Valley when she died.”
He nodded. “Is Rusty enjoying having a house to run around in?”
Kate frowned. She wondered how he knew she had brought Rusty. Normally people didn’t travel with their cats.
“I figured you wouldn’t be able to leave the little guy behind when he could have a house to run around in while you’re busy exploring the city.”
Kate nodded, feeling stupid that she had jumped to the conclusion that something was suspicious. Dex was already very good at reading her, and he knew how attached she was to Rusty. “There’s a large back patio door. And Grandma Hatcher had cats for many years, so there’s a tall cat tree right there. Rusty already claimed the highest platform so he can bird-watch.” She chuckled. “Cat TV.”
Dex slid one large hand across her shoulder to skim his fingers over her sensitive nape. She shivered as arousal speared through her.
She expected him to grab her hair and pull her head back since he seemed to love having his hands in her hair, and controlling her that way, but he only continued to gently tease the sensitive skin and slowly drive her crazy.
A few minutes later, when she was squirming in her seat and fisting her hands to keep from reaching for him, he leaned forward as if to catch her attention.
When she looked at him, his expression was soft and open. “Am I forgiven for leaving so abruptly?”
She searched her feelings, and while the hurt still stung, he’d made a good start to mend that rift. She nodded with a small smile.
“Not to push my luck, but could I ask for something? To show me your sincerity?” She smiled as she gave him her best mischievous look.
In a swift movement, he grabbed her hair, pulling her head back, and lowered his mouth to her throat. His rough kisses sent fire lancing through her and left her gasping. She would carry more marks from Dex, and she would wear them proudly.
The scrape of his stubble only added to the erotic maelstrom churning inside her.
When he finally leaned back, disappointment threatened, until he pulled her against him so he could capture her mouth in a rough kiss that thrilled her.
She wasn’t sure when Brent or someone else would come back to the office and catch them like this.
That only added to the excitement.