The Morning After The Night Before
Katie peeked in. Seeing it was very empty and quiet this morning, she slipped in and sat at the piano. She didn't intend to stay long this morning, but it had become habit to slip in here for at least a few moments every morning. Fingers began to move, her lips curving in a gentle smile, her eyes closing as she played.
Nate slipped through the crack in the doorway, closing it behind him. A little worse for wear, his attire was subtly rumpled, as if he'd worn it for longer than intended. He smiled, hearing the tune played on the piano, something he'd mentioned before he stepped out to get some fresh air. And there she was, the woman he'd spent the night with, playing that tune.
Katie didn't see him come in, but her head turned at the sound of the door closing. Her eyes met his over her shoulder, her chain settled on the middle of her neck, the link through the hoop dangling down towards her décolletage. She was dressed casually, a large beige cable knit sweater, and a soft pink chenille skirt. On her legs, she wore knit thigh-highs, along with a pair of warm boots. She let the song finish and then tucked her tablet in her messenger bag, slinging it over her shoulder as she walked towards him, smiling tenderly.
Nate smiled, listening, watching, waiting. He took a few steps in as she finished up, turning down the collar of his leather jacket from where he had it turned up against the wind, sliding the zip down to reveal his wrinkled navy blue shirt. He'd have to do something about that, but he still needed to ask her about the offer he'd thought of the previous night. His smile matched hers as she arrived, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead, then leaning all the way down to press a more intimate kiss to her lips.
Katie still smiled, her eyes closing as he pressed a kiss to her forehead, and then came a soft hitched breath through her nose as he kissed her a second time, on she reciprocated tenderly, her fingers coming up to lightly flutter against his jaw. She opened her eyes then, her hand falling from his face, down along the leather of his jacket, to twine her fingers with his and give a soft squeeze. Only when he parted from their kiss did she speak, her voice low as though meant for him and him alone. “Hello, Master.”
Nate felt her fingers through his jacket as she slipped her hand the length of his arm, his fingers twisting to allow her hand into his grasp. They separated and he kept his steely grey eyes locked upon hers. And then she said the word. That one word that buried her deep within his soul, made her His Kitten. The one that also made Him hers. Even as quiet as it was, it affected him as if she'd shouted it to the world. He returned that greeting, his voice quiet, controlled. Meant for her. “Hello, Kitten.” It was all that was needed.
Katie actually showed pearly whites a tiny bit in the grin her smile widened to when he responded. His fingers were warm tangled with her own and she squeezed his hand lightly. “What are we doing today, Sir?” She asked. Master or Sir, she used them both interchangeably, to her they had the same meaning, the same beautiful definition in the very fabric of her soul. Him.
Nate had finally seen her lips part when she smiled, something to fill more of the cracks in his heart. He lived to make the one he loved happy. He lived to make her happy. That she lived for him, to make him happy, to give him purpose, it thrilled him. That natural high created from nothing his desire to be served, her desire to serve, the way those desires intertwined on a level above and beyond anything anyone else could see.
He pulled her over to the nearest couch, sitting down and placing a Nate-sized dent in the cushion with his derrière. He patted his lap, then asked the question that had been playing on his mind since last night. Or at least, he started to ask. “I've been thinking. How would you like to get your things out of storage?”
Katie couldn't help but giggle softly under her breath as he pulled her to the couch, parking her own posterior in his lap the moment he patted it. The thought of not listening, or disobeying him didn't even occur to her, it simply wasn't something she wanted to do. She remembered things he'd said, the look on his face when he had said some of them. She just wanted to make him smile, to make him feel the happiness and joy he deserved.
“I'd like to, but I'm not sure I should. There are ways I could partition the studio off..but I'm reluctant to do that, I think it would ruin the acoustics.” She mused out loud, then looked up at him. “What are you thinking of, Master?”
Nate grinned broadly when she followed without question. So natural. So submissive. So… His. He wrapped his arms around her when she sat where he wanted her to, the old leather of his jacket creaking slightly where it stretched. Just having her close made him happy, made him smile.
That word. Every. Damn. Time. Never stop.
He tilted his head. She hadn't picked up on the subtle hint. Something a little more… Obvious? “I have a house on the edge of town.” Still vague, still guiding. Still, an offer. Still inviting.
Katie met his gaze, the cupid's bow of her upper lip giving a slight twitch as her lips parted slightly. Good things didn't happen to Katie. Not without her wrestling it and beating it out of the hands of life. That Master had accepted her so readily, that they had fallen in sync together so effortlessly had been a most pleasant shock. Everything she had that was good up until Him she'd had to fight tooth and nail for. Her brain knew what he was offering. Katie was used to struggling. Most wouldn't guess it by looking at the quiet, unassuming young woman, but the soul of a fighter burned within her. Even her very existence had been fought viciously for.
Tears welled in her eyes. She wanted to ask if he had a shed, a garage, something to give her time to accept that this good and wonderful thing was happening, that she didn't have to pretend everything was okay and then cry herself to sleep at night. “It's…I don't have to…” She stammered for the words. She prayed he'd know she wasn't struggling with hesitation. “Master? I…don't have to fight alone anymore, do I?” finally asked, a tear slipping down her cheek, her gaze dropping to fidgeting fingers, one hand lifting to touch her neck over her hair.
“I don't have much…” She whispered. It was a yes.
Nate placed a kiss on her cheekbone, tasting those salty tears where they slipped down her cheek, at least on the side closest to him. He could hear her internal struggle as she finally understood what he was offering. A place to stay. Somewhere she could live, rather than just exist. Somewhere he could keep an eye on her, protect her, do as he promised.
“No, you don't.” Although it was an answer to her question, it was also an assumption based on what he'd seen at her studio.
Her hand listing to her neck, rather than pushing her hair behind her back, that was new. Since the chain around her neck, even. He liked it. It gave her something new to think about, something of His. While he knew her answer, he needed confirmation. Again, not obvious. “You'll have your own room, your own space. Somewhere for your books.”
Katie leaned into that gentle kiss, her eyes closing as he spoke. She let out a heavy breath. She'd have her own room? Her own space for her books…her useless…books…her eyes flew open and she looked up at him, realization running wild in her eyes. No longer paying storage would enable her to resume tuition payments. She'd be able to…
She struggled to maintain her composure. You're in public, Katherine Nora… She reminded herself. A little shiver ran through her. He had come into her world, turned it upside down in the best ways and now he was handing it back to her, and himself along with it. “Will I sleep with you though?” She asked. “Master, do you have any idea what you're doing?” She asked, her voice shaking. She was trying so very hard to remain composed, but her expression said it all. “I accept…yes. Yes!”
Nate watched her eyes flutter closed as he kissed her, heard her breath. Could hear the cogs turning as thoughts flew through her mind. He'd almost given her too much to think about. Her own little library, in his house. Her space to do with as she pleased. To get away from him if needed. He hoped beyond hope that she wouldn't need it for that last part.
He nodded. “Uh-huh.” Again, “uh-huh.” He knew exactly what he was doing. He could tell her composure was breaking. He kept pushing her, finding her limits, then going over them. “Good.” He reached up, stroking her hair, giving her something to relax against, both his body and that action.
Katie would be able to finish her semester. She'd have her degree. She'd be able to keep the studio. Her breath was fast, shallow, her eyes wide as she clung to him, shaking. Her arms squeezed as he stroked her hair. No one knew how heavy her burdens had weighed on her. He couldn't have known…how could He not have known? He knew. She knew He knew. He'd connected the dots and offered her what was an inevitability anyways, offered it to her in a way that didn't push the wrong buttons, even as he felt out her limits. She hid her face between his shirt and his jacket, the hair he was stroking covering her face.
Katie cried. Relief, gratitude, and touched joy.
Nate held her close to him. He could feel the stress flow from her body just from that simple offer, her simple acceptance of it. He'd offered her more than just a place to stay, he'd offered her more than just a place to live. He'd offered her a place close to him, a place in his broken heart. He didn't know exactly that he'd offered her more than that, only suspected from what he'd seen last night.
He just held onto her, giving her that solace against his chest. Images of last night coming to his mind, giving him even more cause to smile. For her. Because of her.
“I will call tomorrow to rescind my withdrawal from classes…I…I'm within the two week period….” She whispered. “Thank you….thank you so much, Master…” She mumbled into his shirt as she slowly calmed down, her fingers rubbing along his back as she still held tight to him.
Nate placed a kiss on the top of her head, something affectionate and loving. “You're welcome, Kitten.” As wound up as she was, he let her sit there and do what she needed to calm her nerves, letting her relax. He hadn't realized it had been weighing on her so heavily when he made the offer, but it still stood.
Katie took all the time she needed, and when her face finally emerged, she turned her eyes to him, unashamed of the wet cheeks, the red-ringed eyes. She wanted to ask if he wanted anything, maybe some coffee…but all she could do was touch his cheek and slowly touch her lips to his in a soft kiss.
Nate leaned into the touch on his cheek, then the kiss pressed against his lips. He melted into it, spreading his lips and allowing her in, not just physically, but emotionally. She had already taken residence in his heart, and her very actions proved it was all worthwhile. When he leaned back, he looked around, searching for somewhere to get a tissue, before remembering he kept a small pack in his pocket. He reached into his jacket, pulling out one of them and separating it with both hands around her, then dabbing away her tears.
Katie was wholly at ease around him as they shared that sweet, gentle kiss, a flicker of humor in her eyes as she playfully poked his lower lip with her tongue for a quick, brief moment before he pulled back. Her fingers lightly cupped his elbow as he dried her tears and she smiled at him. “Would you like some coffee, Master?” She asked finally, giving him a gentle peck on the cheek.
Nate 's eyes glinted as he finished clearing away her salty tears, balling up the tissue and dropping it next to the couch to deal with later. “I would, Kitten. Remember how I take it?” She should. She'd figured it out without asking yesterday.
“I do.” She replied, then held up a finger in an 'I have an idea' motion. “Actually…let me make you a real cup, Master. I know a place where they have all the equipment I need to make you the best cup you'll ever have.” She smiled and stood, slinging her messenger back over her shoulder. She waited until he stood, then took his hand as they left the club to head to the cafe.
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