Chapter 7
The Uber driver was waiting outside for them by the time they said their goodbyes to Greyson and Willa. Deacon's fingertips and palm had found their way to the small of her back and the feel of his large, warm hand on her skin sent a thrill through her body. She tried not to think about how long it had been since a man touched her. She didn't want to melt before they were in the car.
“That dress is enough to send a man in a tailspin,” he said, slipping into the car next to her and closing the door. Greyson hadn't been lying when he told Deacon that Kate was beautiful. The immediate attraction to her was definitely there, and when she'd accepted his offer to leave the crowded club, he couldn't have been more excited. To say he was intrigued was an understatement.
“It's too much isn't it,” she said, tugging the short hem down as she squirmed on the seat.
“Just enough, Katie,” he said. “Just relax,” he took her hand in his as the driver pulled off the curb. Normally she would have insisted that he call her Kate, but Katie sounded good coming off his lips. For just one night, she'd let him call her whatever he wanted.
The excitement, coupled with the feeling of him sitting next to her started to cause a tightness in her chest. She took in a deep breath and slowly released it. She shouldn't have been so nervous. People her age did this kind of thing all time. Going home with someone from a bar was not that big of a deal in this day and age. God, she wished she was cooler. She wished she could enjoy spontaneity.
“Listen,” he said, slipping a hand up to her face and turning her toward him. “Tonight only has to go as far as you want it to. We can just talk and that'd be fine by me,” he said sweetly. “No need to be nervous.”
Kate shook her head, fighting the urge to turn her mouth to his hand and kiss it. Even more, she fought the urge to lunge toward him and plant her lips on his. She may have just met him, but there was something about him that she trusted. That made her feel safe. Of course that may have just been the alcohol too and her will to not be so predictable. Her inner lawyer started to formulate an interrogation.
“So how do you know Greyson again?” she said, causing him to release his hand from her face.
“We went to Southern together,” he said. “We were roommates for a couple years.”
“And where do you live now?”
“Here and there,” he said with a chuckle.
“That's vague,” Kate countered.
“I know you're a lawyer, sweetheart,” Deacon said. “Grey told me,” he added. She nodded. “But if you're going to interrogate me I'm gonna need a drink in my hand.”
“Deal,” Kate said. She smiled.
“There you go,” he said. “There's that smile.” Deacon leaned over and softly placed his lips on hers. The feel of it caused her body to react in a way she hadn't felt in while. Slipping her hand around his neck she let his skillful lips and tongue explore her mouth, until the car came to a stop.
“Your stop,” the driver said, causing them to break their kiss.
Kate giggled when Deacon whispered “to be continued,” in her ear and opened the car door. Like an honest to God giggle. That hadn't happened to her since she was a teenager. Oddly enough she was in the backseat of Danny Evan's car for said giggle, but the situation was completely different. Where Danny was a boy, Deacon was a man. A man that she was really looking forward to taking up to her apartment to do things that teenager her would have never done.
“Thank you,” Kate said to the driver as Deacon helped her out of the vehicle.
“This is quite the place,” Deacon said as they stood on the curb. Kate fished her keys from her purse and looked up at her apartment building. The thirty-three floors that stretched up into the Chicago skyline were quite telling of Kate's success.
“Took me a while to get here,” she said.
“I'm sure.”
“Ready to go up?” she asked, holding up her keys. “I think I promised you a drink.”
Deacon nodded and followed her in to the building and onto the elevator. As they stood there shoulder to shoulder, Kate realized that she had no idea what she was doing. She'd invited a total stranger back to her apartment. She swallowed hard as Deacon's shoulder brushed against hers and when his hand found the small of her back once again she stiffened her body. Her heart felt like it was in her throat. She swallowed roughly.
“Relax,” he said with a chuckle. “I promise I don't bite.” He looked down at Kate, his frame suddenly seeming much larger than it had before. Strapping and masculine in every way that drove her wild. “Unless you're into that,” he teased with a playful smile. Kate felt her nerves subside a little as he gently brushed her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She wanted him to kiss her again, but the elevator doors opened with a ding prompting her to walk out.
“You coming?” she said, looking back to Deacon who was standing there with a smile. He followed her into her apartment. A wide bank of windows let the city lights in, and the sleek finishes and color pallet screamed “you've made it” to Kate. It was everything she'd ever imagined having for herself when she was in law school.
“How about that drink?” she said. “I could use one,” she mumbled under her breath as she walked over to a small wet bar in the corner of the living room. She poured each of them a small glass of Bourbon before kicking her shoes off and walking over to where Deacon had taken a seat on her sofa. Tucking her legs underneath her she sat down and watched as he took a sip from his glass.
“Okay, counselor,” he said. “Fire away.” He braced himself for the line of questioning and she laughed.
“That obvious?”
“A little,” he said. “But I get it. It's in your nature.”
“It really is,” she said, taking a drink. “So what do you do, Mr. Yates?”
“Finance,” he said. “I manage portfolios and help build retirement funds.”
“Interesting?” she paused. “And you're successful?”
“As successful as I want to be,” he answered. Kate let his words digest. As successful as I want to be. He must have seen her stuck on his answer. “I do all right for myself,” he explained.
She nodded.
“I can tell by this place that you do all right too,” he said. “Does it make you happy?”
“The apartment or my job?”
“Both.”
“Of course,” she answered. “I've worked really hard for all of this.” Deacon answered with a nod before taking another drink. “What about your family? Do they live in Chicago?”
“That's a second date line of questioning, Miss Beckett.”
“This isn't a second date kind of hook-up, Mr. Yates,” she answered, feeling herself grow a little more comfortable. Leaning over she placed a hand on his chest and whispered into his ear, the same way he'd done to her. “I'm not really looking for more than just tonight.”
“We'll see about that...” She felt every muscle in Deacon's chest tighten. As much as she wanted to let his whispered promise go in one ear and out the other a part of her wondered if he was serious. Before she even realized what was happening, he'd taken her hand in his and pulled her onto his lap. With a knee on each side of him and her chest practically heaving in his face, he smiled up at her. Her fingers threaded through the back of his hair as she lowered her mouth to his. The kiss was much deeper than the one on the car ride. Kate felt powerful sitting above him. She felt in control. At least in her mind. Her body on the other hand felt like putty in his hands as he moved them up and down her sides, his thumbs brushing past her breasts with each pass. It felt nice. Beyond nice. She let herself sink down on his lap and felt his cock firm with each passing second.
When Kate threw her head back, desperate for a breath, Deacon's mouth found her skin. Slowly, he placed kisses from the curve of neck and shoulder, to her collarbone, to the tops of her breasts peeking out from her dress. His fingertips slipped underneath of the delicate straps of her dress, teasing her will to sit still and enjoy. The tight coil she felt deep in her stomach was threatening to tear her apart at any second. When he paused to make sure she wanted to continue, she nodded before placing her lips back on his.
Gently he moved the straps of her dress off of her shoulders and directed her to sit back. The silky, fabric slid down her body revealing her breasts to him.
“I've wanted to do that since the moment I laid eyes on you,” he said in a rough whisper.
“I know,” she said, meeting his hungry stare with one of her own. She kissed him again, deeply, as his hands found her breasts. His fingers skillfully caressing the sensitive flesh. When he dropped his head and sealed his lips around one of her nipples, she nearly leaped from his lap. His arms wrapped around her waist holding her in place as he lavished attention from the left to the right. Each flick of his tongue, causing her to press her weight down and increase the friction between him. She desperately wanted more of him. More of his mouth. His hands. His clothes on the floor.
“Take me to the bedroom,” she said, catching his attention.
“You sure?” he asked. A true gentleman if ever she'd seen one. The night may have been completely out of character for her, but her instincts, and libido, were telling her to enjoy tonight.
“I am.” With that, he carefully stood, taking her with him. Her legs wrapped around his waist as his hands cradled her ass. She nodded toward the bedroom before placing her face in the crook of his neck. She inhaled the sexy scent of him before placing her lips on his neck and returning the attention he'd given her.
When they reached the bedroom, much to her dismay, he placed her feet on the floor. The moment she stood, her dress fell from her body and into a heap around her feet. Deacon took a moment to stare, and Kate fought the urge to cover herself. In nothing but a pair of black silk panties she felt completely vulnerable.
“You're beautiful,” he said, offering her a hand so that she could step out of her dress. She smiled, feeling more confident in her own skin than she had in a while. As she sat down on the edge of the bed, she began unbuttoning the crisp, blue shirt that he was wearing. The moment skin was revealed, she placed her mouth on it. Button by button, she uncovered his chest and stomach, thoroughly enjoying what she found underneath. Tight muscles and smooth skin that she wanted to explore every inch of with her mouth. And she did. His hand tangled in her hair as she made her way up his body, slowly rising up on her knees as she kissed his skin. By the time she was face to face with him, both of them were struggling for a breath.
“Come here,” he said, pulling her body against his and taking her mouth with his once more. As their bodies melded together, Kate reached for the buckle of Deacon's belt and began to unfasten it. As soon as she waistband of his pants was undone, she slipped her hand inside, palming the length of his hardness. “That feels unbelievable,” he said as she stroked him as much as she could with his pants still on. She felt his cock throb in her hand and increased her hold on him. She wanted to make him come undone on the spot, but he had other ideas. “Slow down,” he said, gently pushing her back onto the bed. “We've got all night,” he reminded.
Her hand fell from his lap, as she laid out on the bed and watched as he pulled a condom from his pocket before pushing his pants to the ground. His cock sprang free catching her eye and causing her to swallow. He wasn't like any other guy she'd ever been with. The men she usually dated were far too busy to work out, their bodies unremarkable, but Deacon's... it was the kind of body that women fantasized about. Long, lean, and hard in all the right places. She smiled as he leaned his perfection over hers and kissed her lips before moving all the way down her body. When he reached the spot just below her belly button, his lips and tongue toyed with her skin until she was writhing beneath him, urging him to continue his downward movement.
“We'll save that for another time,” he said, a promising phrase if ever she'd heard one. It almost didn't register as she watched him raise up and slip the condom over his length. Another time. This guy was serious about a second date.
Pulling her to the edge of the bed as he re-centered himself between her legs, she let herself imagine that there would be a next time. That this wasn't just a one night stand. When he teased her entrance, her legs tightened around his hips, trying to draw him in deeper. Inch by inch he pressed into her and Kate felt a wave of euphoria wash over her entire body, and for the first time in a very long time, she let her mind completely shut off and enjoy the moment.