Her stomach sank as she realized she’d have to explain it to Naomi. And she’d have to call building maintenance and explain it to them. Basically, she was going to have to broadcast her trashy origins to all and sundry.

Kate sank down onto the couch, pressing her forehead into the heels of her hands. Post-adrenaline nerves were making her whole body shake like she’d had too much caffeine. She wanted to scream, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t be like that.

Taking a deep breath, she reached for her phone and called Anna. Anna already knew all about Kate’s family. She wouldn’t be judgmental. She’d listen. She’d talk Kate out of the restless, disordered feeling that was making her mind race and her hands shake.

Except she wouldn’t. The call went to voicemail. Swearing softly, Kate tossed the phone onto the coffee table.

She was staring blankly into space, willing her nerves to settle, when the phone lit up. She snatched it, expecting a message from Anna.

Instead, it was Mikhail. I just landed in Chicago.

Ah. Here was an outlet for this cagey feeling. Are you headed home right now?

I will if you command it.

I do command it. Go home. Undress. Then video call me.

Yes, knyazhna.

Half an hour later, the call came in. Kate shut herself in her bedroom and climbed into bed, accepting the call. Mikhail filled the screen, naked and kneeling. The silver Marian medallion gleamed against his dark chest hair. He was half-hard, hands clasped behind his back, head bowed.

“Hello,” Kate said softly. “Have you been a good boy for me?”

He looked up, eyes burning with excitement. “Yes, knyazhna.”

“You haven’t been touching my cock, have you?”

His eyes darkened, a shudder tracing down his back. His cock pulsed, growing harder, thicker. “No, knyazhna.”

“That’s my good boy,” she purred, settling back against her pillows. “I reward good behavior.”

Mikhail’s breathing staggered, audible even through the phone.

“I’m going to let you come, but you have to follow my instructions.”

“Yes, knyazhna.”

She smiled. “Do you have any toys?”

“Yes. I have… several.”

“Any that vibrate?”

“Yes. Two plugs, a cockring, several—”

“A vibrating cockring?” Kate sat up excitedly.

Mikhail grinned. “It can be controlled remotely.”

Wicked heat unfurled in Kate’s belly, sending shocks of anticipation up and down her spine. “You shouldn’t have told me that. I wanted to reward you for good behavior, and now all I want to do is tease you until you’re begging for relief.”

Mikhail’s grin dissolved into a look of dark longing. “Yes, knyazhna. Make me beg.”

Kate considered the logistics. “I’ll have to come over to get the remote.”

“You are of course welcome, but you don’t need a remote. It’s controlled through an app.”

She debated between the merits of being able to tease him in-person versus the fun of making him suffer from a distance. Finally, distance won out. She was wearing sweatpants and had no makeup on. She didn’t feel like getting dressed and done up. “Send me the link for the app and then go get the cockring.”