Keeping Katie (Syndicate Kings Book 5)

By the time I’d gotten back to my apartment, I’d told myself that Grady had only said all of those amazing things because he was in the moment. I should have known better. Grady doesn’t say anything he doesn’t mean. Moving in, though? This soon? I want to talk to Chloe about it and ask her what she thinks. Will I regret it?

He did say I could keep my apartment for as long as I wanted. That’s considerate of him. I’ve never lived with a man other than my dad before. What if I’m bad at it?

“Baby.”

The single, gentle word relaxes me, almost like a soothing touch to my soul. “Yeah?”

Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, he gives me a light squeeze. “It’s all going to be okay. Let’s go slow. We’re going to be great together.”

“Okay.”

“Good girl.” He closes the front door behind us, and the light click of the lock settles me.

I’m not sure what I was expecting Grady’s home to look like. I guess I didn’t think about it too much, but as I look around at the soft gray walls and muted décor, it feels perfect for him. He leads me down a hall, and we pass a set of stairs.

“Upstairs, there’s an entertainment room, several guest rooms, a couple of linen closets and bathrooms, and an empty room that you can turn into whatever you want. Our bedroom is down here, along with the library and a couple of offices. And, of course, the kitchen and living room.”

I nod and glance at the pictures hanging on the walls. All of them look to be of Ireland. When I come to a photo of four people, I stop. A man and a woman have their arms around two young boys, smiling like they’re all so happy just to be together. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

“That’s my parents and my brother. It was taken only a few days before they were killed.” His voice comes from right behind me. I lean into him, finding comfort in the warmth of his body.

“I’m so sorry, Daddy,” I whisper as tears fill my eyes.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to think about what Grady went through without feeling the overwhelming urge to cry. It’s amazing that he turned out to be so wonderful and kind.

He slides an arm around me and pulls me back so his chin rests on top of my head. “Thank you, baby. I’ve had a hole in my heart for a long time, but now I feel like you’re filling it and making me whole again.”

Wow. I could say the exact same thing about him. It felt like the moment I met him, my world was right again.

“Come on, I want to show you the rest of the house.” He holds out his hand and leads me into a huge, open living room and kitchen. The granite countertop sparkles under the black metal chandelier that’s hung over the large island. Sheesh. The kitchen is a baker’s dream come true.

“Your house is gorgeous. It’s so comfortable and homey. I love it.” I turn in a circle, taking everything in, and when I face him again, he grins.

“It’s yours too, baby girl.”

My heart flutters, and a flush rises to my cheeks.

He takes my purse and small backpack, setting them on the counter. “My realtor is going to meet you at your parents’ house tomorrow morning. She’s already done a drive-by of the place and thinks she knows a buyer who would be interested.”

Relief floods me. Oh my God. That would be a huge weight off my shoulders. But…

“Really? I haven’t gotten everything done to get it ready, though.”

He shakes his head. “She said the list that asshole gave you is a bunch of bullshit. She’ll walk through with you tomorrow and tell you what she thinks.”

My lips tremble, and my tummy twists in the best way possible. If I get one more collection call from the insurance company before I have a resolution for them, I might have a full-on breakdown.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice wobbly.

I’m not sure what I did to deserve a man like Grady, but I’m not going to keep questioning it.

“You’re welcome. If you’d like me to be there with you, I’m happy to go.”

I quickly shake my head. “No. Thank you. I need to do this myself. It’s the closure I think I need.”

He keeps his gaze on me, studying me for several seconds before he nods. “Okay, baby. But I’m here if you need me. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing; I’ll drop everything and come.”

Unable to resist, I fling my arms around his waist and let out a huge sigh. “You’re the best man,” I murmur into his chest.

Chuckling, he wraps me up in his embrace and squeezes. “We’ll see if you’re still saying that after I punish you for disobeying me.”

My butt tingles, and I take a quick step back. “But I didn’t do it on purpose.”

He moves closer, and I take another step away.

“It doesn’t matter. I gave you explicit instructions, and you didn’t listen.”

Well, he’s got me there.

“But…” I say again, trying to think of another argument. Surely, he won’t spank me twice in one day.

“But, what, baby? I’m listening. You might want to start heading to the bedroom while you try to think of another excuse.”

He’s enjoying this. I didn’t take Grady for a sadist, but I also don’t hate it. I’m a little afraid for my butt, though.

“I was overthinking things, and I didn’t want to assume I was going to stay here for more than one night.”

Right. That’s a good excuse. He’ll definitely understand that one.

“Really? Even though Daddy told you specifically you’d be staying with me for the foreseeable future? Here’s the thing about our dynamic, baby. When I tell you what to do, I expect you to obey. If intrusive thoughts start to cloud your mind, all you need to do is what Daddy said. It’s supposed to make it so you don’t have to think so much, and you can just relax and enjoy being my good girl.”

“That sounds kind of wonderful, actually.” I bite my bottom lip and take in a breath. “What if there’s something you say that I really don’t want to do or I don’t feel comfortable with?”

He gently nudges me forward. “Then you say red, and everything stops. That’s during discipline and sex, too. Now, bedroom. I have something for your naughty bottom.”

I yelp when he smacks my ass and scurry forward toward a hallway that leads to a set of double doors. The room is enormous. The sitting area in the corner near a set of floor-to-ceiling windows makes me want to curl up with a book on a rainy day.

“You can look around later. Right now, go to the bed and bend over the edge.”

My heart skips faster, but when I turn around, he doesn’t look angry or upset. He stares down at me lovingly, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“You’re going to spank my poor butt again? It still hurts from earlier.”

That might be a little dramatic. It’s more sensitive than anything. Although the thought of him spanking me again sends a thrill down my spine right to my core. Why was it so hot being punished by a man in a black suit with tattoos all over his body? I’ll definitely be fantasizing about that for many years to come.

“I didn’t say anything about spanking you. Now, do as I said, or I’ll restrain you.”

Oh, crap. I hurry to the edge of the bed and bend over, taking just a second to soak up the silky bedding against my face. The fabric smells like Grady, which comforts me.

“Good girl. See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” His voice is laced with amusement, and I can’t help but giggle softly. He is such a big meanie. A hot one and a fun one, but still a meanie.

“Daddy,” I breathe.

“Yes, baby?” he asks as he reaches around to undo my pants.

When he tugs them down—along with my panties—my butt clenches. I think I want a spanking over what he’s about to do.

“I’m scared.”

He pauses and leans over, his gaze meeting mine. “I’ll never harm you, baby. This is a punishment, but it will be a fun one. Remember, you can say red at any time and I’ll stop. Understand?”

I’m in love with him.

Wow. I think I knew I was falling hard, but I’m actually deeply in love with Grady O’Brien. Since the first day we met, all he’s done is take care of me, just like he is now by reassuring me how safe I am with him.

It’s far too soon to tell him because the last thing I want to do is scare him away. He’s the first man I’ve ever felt this deeply for. I doubt men like him want women getting clingy and all that.

“Yes,” I whisper. “I understand. Thank you, Daddy.”

The corners of his lips tip up into a smile before he presses a kiss to my mouth. He strokes my lower back and uses his tongue to explore while I do the same. Sometimes, he can be so sensual, and other times, he’s rough and wild. I love it all, and I hope it never changes.

When he pulls back, he strokes my hair away from my face. “Ready?”

Heat rises to my cheeks. “Are you going to stick something in my butt?”

My question must catch him off guard because he stares at me for a beat before he throws his head back and laughs. “Yeah, baby girl. I’m going to stick something in your butt. It’s going to feel good, though. I need you to trust me.”

Taking a deep breath, I nod and do my best to relax on the mattress. “I do trust you.”

He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Thank you. I’ll never abuse your trust. Ready?”

I shoot him an incredulous look that makes him chuckle before he moves behind me, opens a drawer to the bedside table, then pulls out a small bottle and something he hides in his palm.

Oh, God. He’s going to look at my butthole. And put something inside of it. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. What if I scream? Or toot? I would absolutely die of humiliation. I squeeze my eyes shut and take inventory of how my stomach feels. Are the odds in my favor or not? That would be the worst possible thing that could happen.

“Take some breaths, baby girl. I can practically feel your panic. Trust that I’ll take care of you. Always.”

His velvety tone helps, and I let out a deep exhale. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Despite the fact that I’m nervous as hell, I’m also warm all over and hoping he can’t see how turned on I am by all of this. I’m giving myself over to him and letting him do what he wants to me. I’d wondered before if I was submissive. Based on how hot all of this makes me, the answer is pretty freaking clear.

He brings his hand to my lower back and slowly strokes down my crack. He doesn’t stop at my hole, and I’m a little relieved but also disappointed. Why am I excited about this? Is it good excitement or bad excitement? I can’t figure that out.

Then a drop of something cold hits my ass, and I jump. He keeps a hand on my lower back, steadying me. I whimper but am quickly distracted when he moves a finger over the tight ring of my hole and strokes it. Oh my God. That feels so weird. And good. And naughty.

“Daddy,” I whisper.

“You’re being such a good girl, Katie. I know you’re going to take your punishment so well because you’re always my good girl.”

My nipples bud, and my pussy clenches. I’m quickly distracted from those two things as he starts to make slow thrusts into my ass.

It burns, but there’s another sensation, too, and it’s surprising the heck out of me. I didn’t expect to feel such pleasure from this. Maybe it’s the mix of taboo and anticipation adding to it. Whatever it is, I love it.

“One day, I’m going to fuck this ass, baby.”

I shudder at the thought. His cock is huge. Probably ten times the size of his index finger, and I already feel full that.

He squirts some more lube on my ass and starts to add a second finger. I stop breathing and grip the bed, squeezing my eyes shut.

“Let your breath out. You need to relax, baby.” He pauses his movements and waits until I obey. “Good girl. Another one. Keep going.”

With each one I take, he presses in deeper, stretching me around him. The more I breathe, the better it feels. Soon, I’m moaning out loud.

“I love watching your ass swallow my fingers. I can hardly wait to see my cock sinking in there.”

I let out a whine of protest when he pulls his hand away, leaving me feeling empty.

“My baby likes her ass being played with,” he says as he touches something smooth and cold to my hole. “Don’t worry, baby. We’re not done.”

He presses gently, the toy stretching me wider and wider. I wiggle, then startle when he smacks my ass.

“Naughty girl. Stay still. This is a punishment.”

It might be a punishment, but it’s a pleasurable one so far, and I think he’s enjoying the hell out of it too. Especially considering I can see his enormous cock outlined in his pants when I look back at him.

“Deep breath in and then out.”

I do what he says. As I exhale, he presses on the toy until it pops into place. Suddenly, I’m full and hornier than ever.

“That looks so pretty, baby. I’m going to have to invest in a princess plug with real diamonds at the base. I’ll have you wear it for me with nothing else on.”

Holy espresso beans. Grady is kinky. Hell, maybe I am, too, considering I’m loving every second of this.

“Crawl up onto the bed, baby. On your hands and knees.”

When I don’t move, he smacks my ass again. “One. Don’t make me get to three, Little one, because this can go from fun to serious in a heartbeat.”

Letting out a squeak, I shuffle awkwardly onto the bed, the plug moving inside me.

“Good girl. Turn so your head is facing the headboard and your toes facing the end. Then, lower your chest to the mattress so your perfect ass is in the air.”

A blush heats my skin, but I do what he says and rest my cheek on the bed so I can look at him.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to wash my hands. Stay just like that.”

It feels like hours pass as I listen to the water running before he returns. I’m sure it’s only a few seconds, but the time away only amplifies my excitement. Why does obeying him turn me on so much? I’ve never felt submissive like this, but it comes so easy with him. Maybe because I trust him so much already.

He strips out of his clothes, leaving only his underwear on, then grabs something from the nightstand that I can’t see. When he steps up to the bed, his bulge is right at eye level. He pulls his cock free and slowly strokes it.

“You’re going to be a good girl and suck my dick while I play with your pretty pussy, aren’t you?”

I lick my lips and shift my gaze to his face. “I might not be good at it.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t you be good at it, baby? Your mouth is perfect.”

“I’ve just never done it before.”

“You’ve,” he says, his words slow and controlled, “never sucked a man’s dick before?”

“No.”

His pupils go wide, and he rolls his head back, murmuring something in Gaelic.

When he looks down at me again, he’s almost angry. But then he nudges my mouth with the tip of his cock.

“Open your lips and suck like a lollipop. Watch your teeth.”

I do exactly what he says and moan as a salty bead of his arousal touches my tongue. I lick and suck, stretching my mouth open as wide as possible to let him in.

He groans and gently pets my hair, closing a fist around a chunk of it every so often. He doesn’t push me, though, instead letting me take my time.

I get into a rhythm, then startle as he presses something to my clit. Vibrations pulsate through my core, and I nearly scream, but I can only gag as the tip of his cock touches the back of my throat.

Every time he puts pressure on my clit with the vibrator, I jolt, and my asshole clenches. My body tenses. I’m so incredibly close to coming, but he pulls the toy away time and time again. I moan around him, but he chuckles and thrusts his hips, gagging me on the crown of his dick.

“This is a punishment, sweetheart. Did you think I was going to let you come so easily?”

I flick my gaze to his, pleading with my eyes. He winks at me and holds a handful of my hair as he starts fucking my mouth. Tears run down my cheeks. My arousal drips down the inside of my thighs. I might actually die if he doesn’t let me come.

A moment later, he puts the toy to my clit again and turns it on. He circles it and flicks through different vibration settings until my eyes nearly roll back in my head. Just as I’m on the verge of explosion, he takes it away. I whine and try to pull my mouth off his cock in protest, but he tightens his grip on my hair to keep me in place.

“I didn’t say you could take your mouth off my cock, baby. We’re going to have to work on you following instructions, aren’t we, naughty girl?”

I nod, and he turns on the vibrator. He does this several times. Torturing me. Getting me close, then backing off. I kind of want to bite his dick, but I have a feeling I’d get a very unpleasant punishment if I did that. Besides, I’m pretty sure he’s going to let me come. Eventually.

“When I tell you to do something, Katie, I expect your obedience. I don’t care how big or small of a thing it might seem to be. The only time I will allow disobedience is if you use your safeword.”

I bob my head the best I can. I’m not sure why I didn’t do what he’d asked. Maybe subconsciously, I rebelled on purpose to see what his reaction would be.

I suck on him harder while riding the edge, trying to prepare myself for when he pulls the toy away again. He doesn’t, though. Instead, he turns it up to a higher speed. Sweat coats my skin; every muscle goes tight.

“That’s it, my sweet girl. You’re sucking my dick so well. Fuck, you look like an angel. I’m going to fuck your pretty mouth, and when I come, I want you to swallow it all. Put your hand on my thigh and tap if you need me to stop.”

I quickly slide my arm out from under me and rest my palm on his thigh. He thrusts, holding my head in place by my hair. Every time he pulls back, I moan as the toy takes me higher and higher.

“Come, baby. Come for Daddy,” he growls as he starts to thrust faster.

Almost like I need his permission, the second the words come out of his mouth, I explode. Pleasure rips through me like a tidal wave, spreading all the way to the tips of my toes. At the same time, Grady lets out a low grunt, and hot semen spurts into the back of my throat.

I drink it down, moaning as the flavor passes over my tongue. Using his free hand, he reaches over to my ass while I continue to whimper and moan through my orgasm and tugs the plug free, dropping it onto the floor beside him.

When my body stops spasming, I let out a deep sigh and relax onto the mattress, feeling like a limp pile of goo. Who knew butt play could be so hot? So dirty, yet such a turn-on.

Grady quickly tucks his softening cock into his underwear, then sits on the edge of the bed and starts rubbing my back.

“You did so well, sweetheart. Fuck, that was so beautiful. You’re such a good girl. My girl. I’m so proud of you.”

I blush, the corners of my lips slowly curling into a smile. “You weren’t so bad yourself,” I mumble.