Page 16 of Collars & Kittens
I didn’t tell him about my doubts about us having compatible kinks. He’s a perceptive little shit. This isn’t how I pictured this conversation going, but then again, when does life ever go the way I expect?
I groan and drop my head back onto the couch cushion and close my eyes. “I suppose.”
“You’ve got time,” Travis offers. “You really need to relax. She’s twenty-four, for Christ’s sake. You’re ancient. I bet she just wants you to bang her a couple of times.”
God, I wish this was a simple thing. It would be easier if the entire town didn’t want to know every detail of the date. There’s no way they won’t continue to ask for regular updates on our status if there’s a hint we’re together.
“Yeah.” I don’t sound convincing.
If the situation was different or if we lived somewhere bigger, where no one knew us, I’d be able to take her out and enjoy myself. But in this tiny town, everyone is up in my business and watching my every move. What the fuck was I thinking, entering the contest?
I sigh again, feeling tired and frustrated. “Listen, thanks for the advice, but I need to go.”
Travis is the only one who knows I entered the contest to use it as a platform to bring awareness to taking care of pets in cold weather, and talking to Travis clarified a few things. When Olivia gets here, I’m goingto tell her this won’t work long term. Just one evening with her has me in a tailspin. What would I be like if we were actually dating?
After ending the call with Travis, my appetite is gone, so I head downstairs to the clinic to finish out my afternoon while my thoughts spiral. Shit, I hope she doesn’t cry when I tell her I don’t want to date. The thought of her looking at me sadly with tears in her eyes makes me sick to my stomach.
Chapter 10
OLIVIA
The pink dog collar studded with fake diamonds fits perfectly around my neck. When I look in the bathroom mirror, the diamonds twinkle in the light and make my heart sing with happiness. Thank God I thought to measure my neck before I went to the pet store. How embarrassing would it have been to be trying on collars in the store to figure out my size?
I woke up this morning with a grand plan on how to thrill Dalton, and as soon as my yoga class was over, I headed to the pet store in Ditzel Springs to buy the collar and leash. There’s no fucking way I’d buy a blinged-out pink dog collar in Hazy Cove when everyone here knows I have a cat. How does anyone in a small town hide their kinks? Hopefully, no one ever has a reason to check my internet search history.
I already had the leather body harness and black cat ears. I never had time to wear the harness with the asshole ex—we broke up soon after I bought it—and the cat ears are left over from last year’s Halloween costume...of course, I went as a cat.
The harness is made of straps that run over my shoulders, down along my sides, and around my breasts. There are buckles that allow me to tighten the straps. There’s a thick belt strap that goes around my waist and more straps that circle around my thighs. Just the act of putting it on makes me feel submissive. As I tighten the last buckle, I think of Dalton holding onto the straps while he fucks me and a zing of pleasure through my body makes my nipples harden in anticipation.
I really hope I’m not wrong about Dalton liking this plan.
Now to find an outfit to cover all of this up. Luckily, since it’s winter, I won’t look out of place in a turtleneck. I match it with a long woolen skirt and ballet flats. A glance in the mirror tells me that no one will realize that all I have on underneath is the body harness and collar. I slip a rolled-up leather leash and cat ears into my purse and smooth my hands down my skirt to relax.
This has the potential to be an amazingly hot encounter or an epic fail. My heart pounds from the uncertainty as I walk out the front door. Time to head to the clinic and hopefully get what I’m craving—his cock in my mouth and a spanking. I don’t care in which order.
I arrive at the clinic a few minutes before they close. The parking lot is empty, and the window blinds are closed. That’s convenient.
The woman at the front desk is packing up to go home when I enter. “Hey, Olivia,” she says brightly, a big smile on her face, and she turns her computer off. “I’m not sure I introduced myself last time. I’m Sue.”
“Hey,” I reply, smiling back as I try to hide my nervousness.
Sue’s demeanor changes, and she cocks her head. “What’s wrong?”
Ugh. I guess I didn’t fool her. I shake my head and give her a weak smile. “Nothing.”
Sue doesn’t look convinced. “If you say so. But just so you know, he’s a good guy and will be worth the effort.”
A warm glow spreads through my mind, and I smile at her. “Thank you.”
It’s nice to know he treats his employee well enough that she’s trying to convince me to stick with him. I can’t tell her I’m just here for the kinky sex.
She nods, as if satisfied she said her piece, and stands up, gathering her coat and purse. “He’s in his office. He said to send you down there. Everyone else is gone, and I’m locking the door behind me. Have a wonderful night!”
She gives me a wink as she glides out the door, firmly shutting it behind her. As soon as the jingle of the bells on the door fades, I kick off my shoes, shrug off my coat, and remove my turtleneck and skirt. I laymy clothes on the counter with my purse and dig out the leash and cat ears. Once the leash is attached to the collar and the cat ears are perched on my head, I’m ready to find Dalton.
My hair is in a ponytail, and the end swings against my bare shoulders, teasing my sensitive nerve endings. I’m barefoot, and the floor is cold as I head down the hallway. As I get closer to his office, doubts about what I’m doing try to sneak in, but I push them aside. I need to act confident and sexy to pull this off.
His door is open, and I’m surprised to see a lighted candle next to him. His office smells like sandalwood, and it seems to fit the sexy mood I was going for. He’s so focused on his laptop that he doesn’t notice me. I tap softly on his door. “Sir, your Kitten is here,” I announce, giving him my best sultry gaze.
