Knight's Mistress

  ‘Hardly,’ Kate shrugged faintly. ‘He’s just a control freak.’

  ‘Heavens, no. Not in public like this. Beyond the superficialities, he’s indifferent to women.’ She smiled. ‘Present company excluded.’

  ‘He doesn’t look too indifferent right now,’ Kate murmured, eyeing the crowd of women vying for his favours.

  ‘Nonsense, my dear. He’s always polite but totally disengaged. It’s habit, of course. There’s been so many.’ Liv’s pale hair swung on her shoulders as she glanced at Dominic, her diamond earrings caught the light. ‘Although you can see why. He’s outrageously good-looking.’

  Olivia spoke in an offhand way, Kate decided, as a friend, not an admirer. ‘I agree, he’s definitely dazzling.’

  ‘You’re good for him, you know.’ Olivia half lifted her glass in Dominic’s direction. ‘I haven’t seen him smile like this for’ – she shrugged – ‘since Julia’s death.’

  Kate was momentarily speechless.

  Olivia seemed not to notice Kate’s lack of response; perhaps she’d had more than one gin and tonic. ‘Julia challenged Dominic to think about more than just himself. Made him better for it. She was deeply committed to her charities and causes and she adored adventure sport as much as Dominic. They holidayed in the most dangerous locations. They climbed Everest together – he actually met her on that trip. She was unstoppable. That’s why it was so crushing for him when she died so unexpectedly.’

  ‘A traffic accident, wasn’t it?’ Kate found her voice because she desperately wanted to hear more, why he loved his wife, how much he loved her; she wanted to know everything about him. And until tonight she’d had no one to ask. Dominic had offered her a temporary place in his life a short time ago, but that didn’t mean he was going to immediately bare his soul to her after only a few days. He was the most private person she knew.

  ‘A completely unnecessary traffic accident. Julia wasn’t even in a car. She was standing in line at Starbucks when an elderly man stepped on his accelerator instead of his brake, drove through the front window and ran over Julia and two other people.’

  ‘How awful.’

  ‘Dominic fell apart. He withdrew from the world, spent a year sailing from one port to another. In fact, Max met him in Cape Town where Dominic was having a mast repaired. It was all quite sad.’

  Kate couldn’t visualized Dominic incapacitated. He was so powerful, commanding, assured. ‘He must have loved her very much,’ she said, a painful anguish settling in the pit of her stomach.

  ‘They were inseparable. It was a beautiful marriage; they were partners.’ Olivia smiled. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen any pictures of her. Oh dear, forgive me. How rude of me. As if you want to talk about Dominic’s wife when he’s so enthralled with you.’

  ‘No, I’d like to know. He doesn’t talk about his life. Not that I know him very well.’ She blushed furiously. ‘I mean I’ve only known him for a few days.’

  ‘He adores you. Don’t blush. I think it’s sweet. And to be perfectly honest, it’s wonderful seeing him smile again.’

  ‘I have seen pictures. His wife was very beautiful.’

  ‘Julia was almost as tall as Dominic. They made a stunning couple.’ Olivia slapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Stop me. I’ve said enough.’

  ‘No, really, you’re the only one I can ask.’

  ‘Dominic doesn’t talk, does he? Julia complained about that. His childhood was very unhappy, apparently. Max said you’ve met the mother so I don’t have to tell you much more.’

  ‘I didn’t get the impression he’s close to his father either.’

  Olivia snorted a fine mist of gin and tonic. ‘The understatement of the millennium. Dominic despises his father. He won’t stay in the same room with him. Max said they walked into a private club in London not too long ago where the elder Knight was having dinner. Dominic made a scene. He told the steward that either his father goes or he would. It was a simple decision for the club steward. Dominic has so much more money than his father. And his father isn’t a poor man.’ She paused, shot a quick glance towards Dominic before turning back to Kate. ‘What I’m about to say is probably the result of one too many gin and tonics, but I was wondering if you’re aware of Dominic’s … well – there’s no other word for it – vices.’

  Kate’s cheeks flamed bright red.

  ‘I see you are.’

  ‘I researched Knight Enterprises before my interview. It’s standard operating procedure. I found a video. He’s since had it taken down.’

  ‘I just didn’t want you to be surprised. And men will be men. I’m no prude.’

  ‘I found it a little shocking at first.’ Kate kept it simple, but she could feel her face heat up again.

  Fortunately Olivia’s attention had been drawn away. She swung back and smiled. ‘See Dominic over there, see that woman clinging to his arm? You might want to go and save him. The Principessa thinks she has special rights to Dominic because they were friends once.’

  ‘Friends?’

  Olivia shrugged. ‘Whatever Dominic calls them.’

  ‘Maybe she does have special rights.’ Dominic had been surrounded by women all evening and he hadn’t seemed unhappy.

  ‘No, she doesn’t,’ Olivia firmly said. ‘In fact, Dominic told Max to save him from Antonia if necessary. She can be difficult. But I don’t see Max. He must be in another room. Would you like to intervene or should I?’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Kate quickly glanced towards the group of people, the woman hanging on Dominic’s arm movie-star glitzy. And he didn’t look like he was fighting her off. ‘I don’t want to embarrass anyone.’

  ‘Well, first, you can’t embarrass Dominic. Second, Antonia doesn’t know what the word means. She stole her current husband from under his wife’s nose at Cannes two years ago, without so much as a blush. And third, if you ask me, Dominic looks as though he’s trying his best to ignore Antonia, her silicon-enhanced breasts jammed into his arm notwithstanding.’ A faint lift of her pale brows, a flare of her aristocratic nostrils, a teasing smile. ‘So either you or I have to ride to the rescue.’

  Dominic glanced up as Kate approached, although he continued listening to an older man who was the centre of attention in the small cluster of guests. Save for Antonia, her adoring gaze was fixed on Dominic.

  There was no question why Dominic had been interested in the Principessa, Kate decided. She was flawless from the top of her glistening black, carefully tousled hair, past her dark-kohled eyes and full-lipped pouty mouth, down her tall, shapely body to her long, sleek legs and perfectly manicured toes that were slipped into expensive Louboutin heels. Only a few inches shorter than Dominic in her spike heels, she was glamorous with a capital G.

  Kate stopped at Dominic’s elbow not currently in Antonia’s grip. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt you, Mr Knight, but there’s an attack on your Romanian server. I was just notified. It’s urgent.’

  Antonia glared at her.

  Dominic’s gaze narrowed. ‘Impossible. We took care of it.’

  Kate tried to assume a modest, demure expression. ‘A renewed attack isn’t unusual, Mr Knight,’ she said with a small deferential dip of her head. ‘I wouldn’t bother you, sir, but you’re the only one with the password.’

  He debated arguing with Katherine, didn’t relish the possibility Antonia would step in, particularly with the President of Hong Kong watching. ‘I seem to have no choice, Miss Hart,’ he brusquely said, knowing he was breaking protocol by walking away from the President of Hong Kong while he was speaking.

  ‘I’m afraid not, sir, unless you’d care to give me the password.’

  ‘That probably wouldn’t be wise.’ He turned to the older man. ‘My apologies, Mr President. Apparently I have a crisis on my hands.’ Unwinding Antonia’s arm, he nodded to the group at large. ‘If you’ll excuse me.’ Then he turned and strode away.

  ‘What the hell are you doing?’ he growled as they walked away.

  ‘Olivia
sent me.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘She said you needed rescuing.’

  ‘Her timing could have been better,’ he muttered. ‘I was speaking with the President of Hong Kong. People don’t as a rule walk away from him when he’s talking.’

  ‘Sorry, she didn’t mention it. She only said you’d asked to be saved from Antonia.’

  He sighed. ‘True. Oh, what the hell – a crisis is a crisis. The president might even have believed you. So, Katherine’ – he flashed a bad-boy smile – ‘now that you’ve saved me, what do you have in mind?’

  ‘Not much with people staring at us.’

  ‘Not us – you. All the men want to get in your pants,’ he muttered. ‘I almost came over to you a dozen times and dragged some guy away.’

  She turned scarlet. ‘Thank God you didn’t.’

  ‘You were too friendly.’

  ‘I was not!’

  ‘If you say so.’ But she could tell he didn’t mean it. Taking her elbow in the cup of his hand, he propelled her out of the room, moved them briskly down the corridor, nodding at the few knots of guests they passed, smiling at a woman who started to approach. ‘Call me tomorrow, Isabelle,’ he said, not stopping. ‘I’m dealing with a business crisis right now.’

  ‘She didn’t believe you.’ The woman’s glare was still zapping Kate’s brain.

  ‘Ask me if I care.’

  ‘A little discretion wouldn’t hurt,’ Kate muttered, trying to shake off his grip. ‘People are staring.’

  His grip tightened. ‘Sorry.’

  Kate snorted. ‘You don’t even know what the word means.’

  ‘Sure I do. It means I heard you.’ Then he laughed. ‘Come on, baby, smile for me. These were the longest two hours of my life.’ He stopped at his office door, opened it, waved her in.

  ‘I thought we were going back to the Garden House.’

  He grinned. ‘I figure you owe me a favour first for letting all those guys look down your dress.’

  ‘For heaven’s sake, Dominic, this isn’t the—’ She glanced over his shoulder and winced. ‘Some guy just gave you the thumbs up.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it.’ Pushing her into the room, he shut the door, locked it and kicked off his shoes.

  She scowled at him. ‘I’m not in the mood.’

  ‘I am, if you don’t mind.’ He flicked his finger in a quick up and down motion. ‘Take off your dress.’

  ‘You always say “if you don’t mind” before you do exactly what you want. But I’m not doing this now – not with all the people walking by outside.’

  ‘We could be working on that bogus attack for all they know. Just don’t scream when you come,’ he said, looking up from untying his tie and smiling faintly.

  ‘Jesus, Dominic, be reasonable.’

  ‘I have been for two long fucking hours. Now take it off or I will.’ He slipped off his jacket, tossed it on the floor. ‘I’ve been watching you talk to all those men, smile at all those men who want to fuck you. It pissed me off. Jack MacKenzie in particular, damned lecher.’

  ‘I was smiling at everyone. So were you. It’s just courtesy.’

  ‘How about you show me some of your courtesy?’ He pulled off his tie, let it drop from his fingers. ‘Let’s see that boarding school underwear. Then take it off.’ He unbuttoned the top button on his shirt.

  She looked at him with distaste. ‘I’m sorry. Were those orders?’

  ‘They were.’ His shirt unbuttoned, he threw it on his pile of clothing.

  ‘And you’re the boss?’

  His smile was wicked. ‘In every possible way, Katherine.’ He quickly disposed of his socks. ‘I thought we both understood that. And after two hours of ass-kissing and watching you flirt, I’m a little grouchy so it would be best if you cooperated.’

  ‘And if I don’t?’

  He went motionless, his fly half unzipped. Then he smiled and went back to unzipping. ‘We’ll have to play it by ear, although I doubt you want that dress ripped to shreds.’

  ‘Jesus, Dominic, you’re in a mood.’

  He looked up, about to step out of his trousers. ‘I am. Sorry.’ He grinned. ‘Or whatever meaningless apology you prefer.’

  ‘Well, that’s bluntly honest.’

  ‘You might think about being honest too. You always like to fuck. I don’t see the problem.’

  ‘The problem is the house full of guests. Or someone could walk by the windows, for God’s sake,’ she said with a jerk of her hand towards the bank of French doors.

  ‘I’ll shut the curtains.’

  She watched him stride away, naked and beautiful, all rippling muscle and casual ruthlessness. He wasn’t used to asking, or braking hard when an obstacle got in his way; he just reached out and took what he wanted. But it wasn’t as though she was averse to fucking him.

  ‘There. You’re safe now,’ he said, walking back.

  She stared at his beautifully formed erection flat against his stomach. It was large and intimidating, immodest, arresting. She began to quiver inside. ‘I suppose if you must have your way,’ she said, in one last grating poke at his authority, wondering if every other woman he knew responded to him with the same inexplicable longing. Wondering if her monstrous sexual need was her fault or his or no one’s fault – just some transcendent mystery. ‘Ask me nicely,’ she said though, because she wanted to be more than one of the crowd. She always had.

  ‘Please, darling. I’d be extremely grateful, if that helps,’ he added gently.

  ‘I’m not sure it does.’ But she was like an alcoholic needing that next drink, and unbuckling the jet buckle at her waist, she held out the belt and slipped out of her shoes.

  ‘In any case, I thank you for indulging me,’ Dominic said, taking the belt from her and dropping it. ‘Turn around. I’ll unzip you.’

  Kate sighed, in surrender and rebuke. ‘Remind me never to come to a cocktail party with you.’

  ‘Remind me never to bring you to one.’ He stopped her turn with a hand on her hip, reached for the zipper. ‘It was hell watching you talking to all those men.’

  ‘That works out then, because I didn’t like you talking to all those women.’

  ‘Asking them for money,’ he coolly pointed out. ‘There’s a difference.’

  ‘I’m sure they were more than willing to oblige you in hopes you might reward them for their generosity.’

  ‘But I didn’t,’ he said. ‘I turned them down. You’re the only one I want.’ He slid the satin sleeves down her arms, eased the dress down her hips, let it slip to the floor while her heart swelled with happiness that he wanted her and the queue of breathless women all were left behind. ‘There now,’ he whispered, picking her up by her waist, kicking the dress aside, turning her to face him. ‘After an evening of bullshit, I finally have my reward.’

  ‘So tell me,’ she murmured, a modern Circe practising her arts, ‘does my plain white cotton underwear intrigue you?’

  ‘It has a certain virtuous charm. Apparently Mrs Hawthorne supplies props for every illicit and perverse fetish.’ He smiled. ‘I believe this is where I ask you how old you are?’

  ‘Old enough,’ Kate purred.

  He shook his head. ‘Not the right answer. I try to avoid sex that has legal repercussions.’

  ‘If I were underage I’d still want to fuck you.’

  ‘But you wouldn’t because I’m not stupid.’

  She sighed theatrically. ‘Very well. I’m twenty-two.’

  He laughed. ‘And available.’

  ‘And really hot for you after years in a convent school. Oh, you liked that one I see.’ She pointed at his surging dick.

  The convent school comment triggered high school memories, but it was the hot babe standing in front of him that added inches to his dick. ‘We like everything about you, Katherine.’ He smiled. ‘Who would have thought cotton underwear was such a turn-on.’

  ‘It doesn’t take much for you.’

  ‘Or you. Come here.??
? He flicked his index finger. ‘Let’s see if you’re wet.’

  She moved closer and on reaching him, stopped, looked up and smiled. ‘I’m always wet when you’re around. Maybe it’s your shampoo.’

  ‘Or maybe you just like to fuck all the time,’ he said, smiling back.

  ‘I hope that’s not a problem.’

  ‘It isn’t, so long as it’s only me you’re fucking.’

  ‘A shame we’ve moved out of the Middle Ages,’ she sardonically noted.

  ‘But I still outweigh you by a hundred pounds,’ he said, soft as silk. ‘So maybe the century doesn’t matter.’ Taking hold of her arm in a deliberate act of constraint, he leaned over, slid his hand between her legs and gently rubbed her sex through the damp cotton knit fabric. ‘You’re really wet, Katherine. And you said you weren’t interested in having sex. Too many people, you said, too indiscreet, you said.’ He looked up, his gaze mocking. ‘Did you change your mind?’

  ‘Don’t look so smug. You make me horny, that’s all.’

  ‘Or do you suppose all those men looking down your dress tonight made you horny?’ Sliding his finger under her panties, he delicately stroked her slick cleft before standing upright and licking his fingertip. ‘That’s definitely horny, babe. Ready for fucking.’ He brushed her nipples with his palms, a casual gesture of possession, lightly pinched the rising crests as they swelled against the soft fabric. ‘Maybe all those men looking at your tits made you wet?’

  She shivered at his touch. ‘No one was looking.’

  ‘Liar.’

  ‘Well, I didn’t ask them to.’

  He smiled tightly, his gaze cooled. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Dominic, stop it. It was nothing. Cocktail conversation. The most banal chitchat.’

  ‘Tell me what Jack MacKenzie chatted about.’

  She flushed.

  ‘That lurid – my, my.’

  ‘It was his idea of flirting.’

  ‘Did he ask you to come see his yacht in his usual obscene way?’

  She blushed again.

  ‘He thinks women like that. Did you flirt back?’ The tone was threatening.

  ‘No!’

  ‘But he must have been hopeful. You chatted with him a long time.’