The look in his eyes is goading, self-satisfied, like he’s daring me to try and be a brat now when I’m so entirely at his mercy. I hold my eyes open as long as I can, looking into his fierce, possessive ones, but then I’m over the edge, my head thrown back.
My orgasm releases me and I gasp for breath. Dieter’s not done with me, though. He grabs one of my knees and presses it to one side so it meets the other, but my hips are still pushed tightly against his. He thrusts harder than ever and manages to feel like he’s going even deeper. He’s rough and fast now, and I reach up and put my hands against the headboard, offering him resistance.
“Come again for me, babygirl.”
I look up at him through slitted eyes, feeling myself hovering close t
o another orgasm. “Say please.”
He gives a gasping laugh. “Always a little brat, aren’t you?”
But I can’t answer now, and I feel his rhythm stutter and his body clench as he comes too, and when I look up his head is ducked and the muscles of his shoulders are clenched tight. He pushes into me once, twice, and then stills.
His chest heaving, he gathers me into his arms, still deep inside me, and holds me close. I bury my face against his neck, breathing him in.
“Why did you give in?” I whisper into the curve of his shoulder.
Easing back onto his elbows he looks down at me. “And make love to you, you mean?”
“That, and all the rest. You seemed so determined to keep things professional.”
He fists a hand gently in my hair and kisses me. “When you’re happy and calm you act rationally and you don’t put yourself in danger. When you’re not happy you’re so impulsive and thoughtless I’m certain you’re going to do yourself a mischief. Feeling you become centered and let go of all the emotions you work so hard to suppress and conceal from me...it’s the best thing I know how to do.”
I grin at him. “So this is still you acting professionally, then?”
He tucks my hair behind my ear and kisses me. “Hardly. I worry, you know, because I need to protect you. But you, sweet thing, got under my skin the moment I saw you and I couldn’t resist.”
Having Dieter take me to bed is wonderful, but maybe the best part is that he pushes me to face my feelings. “Maybe it’s even better this way, for my protection. I like being good for you,” I admit.
He looks amused and draws me closer against him, one hand reaching down to squeeze my behind. “Is that your way of saying thank you for spanking the living daylights out of you?
“Nuh-uh. No way. I’m too proud to say thank you for that.”
“Oh, you will. You’ll slink over my lap saying please, daddy and thank you, daddy in that adorable little voice of yours, and I’ll be only too happy to oblige.”
I give an indignant laugh and try to buck him off, though not very hard. I’m too proud to say thank you, but I wonder if he can tell just how much it means to me that he cares about making me happy, despite everything he’s seen me do and heard me say to him. I want to tell him, but the words catch in my throat, so I bury my face in his shoulder, thinking it very loudly and hoping he can hear.
Chapter Nine
While Adrienne sleeps I ravel and unravel a curl of her hair round my finger, watching her. Her mouth is parted and very pink from being kissed and caught between her teeth.
I want to lie like that and watch her sleep all day, but there are things I have to do. Leaving her sleeping peacefully in my bed, I collect my laptop and take it downstairs. There’s an email I have to write and it’s not going to be an easy task.
A cup of coffee at my elbow, I stare at the screen for a long time. It’s not that I feel guilty, exactly, but I know how this is going to look from the outside. If I was Mr. Westley I’d want to punch me in the face for sure. How to explain the reasons I have for crossing this line with Adrienne? How to explain the complex snarl of emotions that drew us inexorably together?
There’s no way to explain in a letter, so I don’t even try. Opening a new email pane I begin to type.
Mr. Westley,
Adrienne is safe and well. Beyond the hate mail that continues to arrive at the house I have detected no threat against your daughter, but I will remain vigilant.
I can no longer accept payment for the services I am providing. I will continue to provide the highest level of security protection and care for Adrienne. Her safety and happiness are my utmost concerns.
Regards,
Dieter Vanderbroeck
I read the letter several times over and add, If you wish to discuss this matter further you can reach me on my cellphone.