‘Not really. I couldn’t go through with it.’ Missoula had been a huge mistake. She cringed every time she thought about it.
‘Go through with what?’ A narrow-eyed, steely look.
‘My roommate set me up. I thought I could forget you if I slept with someone else.’
A visible tick flickered across his jaw. ‘You slept with someone?’
‘No, I only kissed him.’
‘What’s his name?’ To be filed away for possible reprisals.
‘Ben.’
‘Last name,’ he said curtly.
‘I have no idea. I was just doing it to do it.’ A touch of sarcasm entered her voice. ‘Surely you know the feeling.’
He dragged in a breath, well acquainted with casual sex. ‘Did Ben touch you?’ He kept the fury from his tone by sheer will.
‘Don’t, Dominic. It was nothing. I burst into tears and locked myself in the bathroom. OK? It was totally embarrassing.’
‘And he just left? He didn’t try and talk you into anything?’
‘Unlike you,’ she said pointedly, ‘some men understand a refusal.’
His mouth firmed, but he held his tongue, not about to mention that she almost never meant no when she said it. ‘I see,’ he said tersely.
‘I doubt you do. Now tell me about your dinner date,’ she said with the same green-eyed jealousy.
‘There’s nothing to tell. We ate dinner, my driver took her home.’
‘What’s her name?’
A brief pause, instinctive male wariness. ‘Why?’
‘Maybe I could introduce her to Ben,’ Kate murmured sardonically.
Dominic exhaled softly. ‘Her name’s Victoria Melbury.’
‘That doesn’t sound French.’
‘It isn’t.’
‘Where’s she from?’
He sighed. ‘Does it matter?’
‘Only if you don’t tell me.’
An eye roll. ‘Jesus, you’re troublesome. She’s from London. She’s in the phone book but I hope like hell you don’t call her because she doesn’t matter. Now, could we talk about something else?’
‘My, you’re testy.’
‘Like I’m testy about Johnny Chen slobbering all over you, and probably Ben too. I should punch them out.’
‘Please don’t. And I won’t call Victoria. Deal?’
‘Deal.’ He suddenly grinned. ‘I suppose it wouldn’t be you unless we were arguing over useless shit. Could we get the hell out of here?’ He nodded at her drink. ‘Are you done?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘There. Finally.’ He made a writing gesture to the waiter keeping an eye on their table from a discreet distance. ‘That makes my twelve-hour flight worthwhile.’
‘Speaking of worthwhile,’ she said, ‘what are we going to do about condoms?’
The waiter, who’d arrived at the table, pretended not to hear, but Kate blushed red to her hairline.
Dominic didn’t care if he’d heard or not. ‘Send the charges to my trading station,’ he said politely to the man. ‘And have my car brought up.’
He took one look at Kate and murmured as the waiter walked away, ‘I’m sure the man has heard the word condom before, Katherine.’ Slipping a bill from the money in his pocket, he left the tip on the table, looked up and smiled. ‘But I do enjoy your modesty. Not quite as much as I enjoy your lack of modesty in private.’
‘Please,’ she whispered. ‘People might hear.’
His nostrils flared. ‘Christ, don’t blush like that or I’ll fuck you right here.’
‘Dominic!’ A more forceful whisper laced with alarm.
Coming to his feet, he walked around the table to pull out her chair and, bending low, murmured in her ear, ‘There’s a quiet hallway not twenty feet away where I could fuck you if you promise not to scream.’
‘Don’t you dare!’ she hissed. But her body was instantly engaged, eager and willing, the impetuous pulsing between her legs sending out hard-core signals of availability.
‘Don’t challenge me, Katherine,’ he said quietly, then stood upright, eased back her chair and held out his hand. ‘That always has predictable results.’
‘I’m not touching you until you promise to behave,’ she said as quietly, looking up at him, not moving.
‘Don’t be silly. You don’t like me to behave. We’ve always agreed on that if nothing else. Now take my hand. People are beginning to stare. I don’t care, but I know you do. Or would you like to be the centre of attention? I could start undressing you if you like. I could have them clear the room’ – he smiled wickedly – ‘or not if you’re in an exhibitionist mood. I could fuck you on the table.’ He glanced round, smiling at all the staring faces before returning his gaze to Kate. ‘What do you say, baby? Round one here or are you going to take my hand?’
‘I’ll make you pay for this later,’ she said fretfully, placing her hand in his, aglow with lust after Dominic’s provocative offer of exhibitionist sex. ‘After I’ve come a few times.’
He pulled her to her feet with a knowing grin. ‘Sounds like fun times ahead. We can discuss your agenda in the car.’
CHAPTER 6
Once they were in the car, he asked, ‘Where to?’
‘A pharmacy first.’
He grinned. ‘Is that all I mean to you? A hard dick?’
She ran her hand over the bulge in his crotch, enjoying his quick intake of breath, then flashed him a grin of her own. ‘Let’s just say it’s priority one through twenty at the moment. I think I wore out my vibrator, or actually your vibrator. Thanks, by the way, it was better than mine. I won’t ask how you knew that because I do have an agenda. Afterwards you can explain.’
‘Maybe there won’t be an afterwards. Maybe I’ll just keep fucking you.’
She briefly shut her eyes, then smiled up at him. ‘Right now that sounds absolutely heavenly. This has been a very long month.’
‘Thirty-six days,’ he muttered, looking grim for a split second. Then he turned and hit the switch for the intercom. ‘A pharmacy, Chu. The first one you see.’
As the car pulled away from the hotel entrance, he spoke in a modulated tone, intent on concealing the full extent of the possible risk, avoiding any explanation of the Balkan mafia, the reasons they might be in Singapore, the fact that he’d had Max line up security for Katherine. ‘Would my place suit you? I don’t mean to alarm you, but it might be safer. We’re having slight problems with a business competitor,’ he improvised. ‘A matter of industrial espionage on our research lab here. They might be doing some surveillance.’
She shot him a look. ‘Was that them following me today? I had a creepy feeling someone was following Johnny and me when we left work. Although I can’t imagine why I’d have anything to do with your research lab.’
‘No, of course not. Perhaps it was some of our security people.’ He pulled out his phone. ‘Give me a minute. Max will know.’
His conversation was circumspect after Max said his men weren’t in place yet, each word after that deliberately guarded. After ending his call, Dominic turned back to Kate, his expression neutral. ‘Max said he’d talk to our men. If you saw them, they weren’t doing their job. You should be fine now.’ His comment was only half a lie because she would be fine as of tomorrow morning. ‘So no more creeping you out,’ he added with a smile.
‘Just out of curiosity’ – a quick grin – ‘are you stalking me?’
‘Maybe a little.’
‘So no one actually saw me in the lobby at Raffles.’
‘Not really.’ That got him off the hook about CX Capital; better she thought he was keeping tabs on her. And, of course, he was; he’d known her assignment was closing down before he’d left Paris.
‘You’ve been monitoring my activities.’
He smiled. ‘It’s become a habit.’
‘That leaves me somewhere between pissed off and flattered.’
‘Hold that thought.’ Chu was stopping at the kerb outside a small shop w
ith a green neon Pharmacy sign. ‘Let me take care of this first.’
‘Wait,’ she suddenly ordered, putting her hand on his arm. Faced with the all too obvious danger of becoming involved with Dominic again, she wavered. ‘Why am I doing this,’ she whispered, ‘when I promised myself I wouldn’t?’
‘For the same reason I flew half way around the world. We’re both blind to reason, obsessed, infatuated …’
‘Probably deranged,’ she muttered.
‘But in a good way, babe.’ Leaning over, he kissed her, quickly, heatedly, then sighed softly and sat up. ‘It’s going to be fine. I promise.’
‘Easy for you to say. You’ll get on your plane and—’
‘And nothing. We’re both in the same place. It’s no easier for me than for you. If it was, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be—’
‘Sleeping with some bitch in Paris.’
‘Right. So obviously this is something we have to deal with, although, if you don’t mind, I’d like to do it in five minutes.’ He dipped his head. ‘Someone else might buy all their condoms. Neither one of us wants that.’
‘We could go to another pharmacy.’
‘Or we could be at my place fucking.’
She grinned. ‘When you put it like that.’
‘You always were eager,’ he said with an answering grin.
‘I was thinking reasonable.’
He bit back his critical dissent and smiled. ‘I couldn’t have said it better. Now, be a sweetheart and let me get out of this car.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘They might close soon.’
She watched him lope across the sidewalk, stiff-arm the door open, and stride to the back of the small shop. He walked right up to the counter and said something to the elderly customer the clerk was serving, giving them both a dazzling smile. The elderly man laughed and stepped aside. The sales clerk was struck dumb like women were within Dominic’s force field, but he pointed and chatted with the elderly man while the clerk cleared her display of condoms; then he helped her shove the boxes into two bags.
Leaving a bill on the counter, Dominic waved and bolted for the door.
‘Nice old guy,’ he said, entering the car, pulling the door shut and dropping the bags on the floor. ‘The clerk was a little slow, but hey’ – he held up his thumb – ‘success.’
‘Do you have enough?’ she inquired sardonically.
He grinned. ‘Don’t want to run out. Remember, I’ve seen you in action, babe. More, more and more is your motto.’
‘I hope you’re not complaining.’
‘No way. Thrilled, excited, champing at the bit enthusiastic. How’s that for an uncritical endorsement of your sexual appetite?’
‘That’s better.’
‘You haven’t even seen better yet.’ Leaning forward, he rapped on the privacy glass. The car immediately picked up speed and, falling back against the seat, he pulled Kate into his arms. ‘Have I mentioned how much I missed you?’
‘Once or twice.’
‘In about ten minutes, I’m going to show you how much I missed you.’
‘We wouldn’t have to wait.’
‘Yeah, we do,’ he whispered, bending his head, kissing her forehead lightly. ‘I have plans.’
‘Good, because with my assignments done at CX Capital, I’m on vacation.’
His dick really liked the sound of the word vacation.
She noticed – her body noticed –memories of Dominic’s versatile dick sending out feel-good sensations to every one of her senses. Reaching over, she cupped his balls, gently squeezed, watched his erection rise higher. ‘I don’t want to wait,’ she whispered, moving her hand to his zipper.
‘You never do.’ He lifted her hand away. ‘Luckily, I can help you out.’ He eased her back on the seat.
‘I want you, though,’ she pouted.
He smiled and, leaning over, nibbled on her pouty bottom lip. ‘I’m yours, baby. But ten minutes isn’t long enough for me. Not after I’ve waited over a month. So let me help you relax a little. Something simple, quick’ – he bit her lip – ‘satisfying. Don’t say no.’ He stopped her with a finger on her mouth. ‘You know I don’t like that word.’
Jesus, he only had to look at her like that, talk to her in that softly threatening way and she turned liquid inside, was instantly primed and quivering.
‘Just say yes, baby, and I’ll make you feel good.’
She nodded.
His brows rose.
‘Yes,’ she said and watched him smile.
After a quick glance out the window, gauging their progress, estimating their time to the trading station, he slipped off her shoes, unzipped her slacks, eased them and her panties down her hips and legs, tossed them aside and, kneeling on the car floor, spread her legs and bent his head. As his tongue slid over her swollen clit, he heard her breathy little sigh and smiled.
Jesus Christ, she made him happy.
After a month without Dominic, and infinitely less disciplined than he, Kate slid her fingers through his silky hair and with a low, throaty groan, wholeheartedly gave herself up to the ravishing, unequivocal pleasure. To the delight, contentment and seething lust that was all wrapped up in one vital, indispensable man.
Then Dominic slipped two fingers deep inside her, found her precious nerve centre, measured it with his fingertips with such delicacy she thought she would surely expire with bliss. But he made it even better like he always did, fiercely better, flame hot, sensationally better.
Until finally, desperate for release, she climaxed with a wild, frenzied cry.
CHAPTER 7
When they reached the trading station, Dominic helped Kate on with her clothes, escorted her into the main house and came to a halt in the entrance hall. ‘Tan will show you to the conservatory,’ he said with a glance at the young man who’d opened the door for them. ‘Give me a minute to clear up a few things.’
She gave him a spiking glance, tinged with suspicion. ‘I hope that doesn’t mean you have to hustle some woman out of your bedroom,’ she said under her breath, not as cavalier as Dominic when it came to staff who were close enough to hear.
‘Ye of little faith,’ he said with a full-out smile. ‘It’s business.’ And he’d deliberately not had her escorted to his bedroom as a matter of courtesy. Tact and conciliation – that was his plan.
‘Don’t keep me waiting too long.’
Whether it was a threat or a plea, he understood the message. ‘Literally, two minutes.’ He brushed her cheek with a kiss. ‘Don’t get too comfortable.’
But of course it wasn’t two minutes. It was closer to fifteen minutes by the time Dominic had seen that his security understood the newest mafia threat in the city and he was assured that the trading station was securely locked down. Tan’s relatives would be summoned as well. His family came from a warrior culture slightly tamed by modern legalities, but not entirely pacified.
When he walked into the conservatory – home to a superb collection of orchids – he glanced at the coffee service on the table and the cup in Kate’s hand and grinned. ‘Coffee? Am I expected to be up all night?’
‘You are.’ She gave him a happy smile buttressed by her recent orgasm and some delicious chocolate petit fours. ‘Otherwise, I’d be wasting my time.’
‘We certainly wouldn’t want that,’ he said, taking a seat opposite her, stretching his legs out, making himself comfortable on the cushioned rattan chair.
She pointed at the silver pot. ‘Coffee?’
‘I’m good, thanks. My adrenalin is pumping big time.’
‘How nice for me,’ she murmured, setting her cup down.
‘And me. Now all you have to do is tell me what you want. I’m going to be real careful not to cross any red lines tonight so the agenda’s entirely up to you.’
‘Well, first I want to come again. I don’t care how.’
His lashes lowered infinitesimally. ‘You’d better watch your choice of words, Katherine.’
‘How about the usual the
n.’
A flicker of a smile. ‘Your usual or mine?’
‘I’ll take potluck.’
His smile broadened. ‘Here, I’m trying to be a good boy and you’re breaking the game wide open. You sure?’
‘With that look, probably not.’
An extravagant shrug. ‘So we’re back at square one.’
‘Not necessarily,’ she said, a teasing light in her eyes.
He exhaled softly. ‘Now you’re just fucking with me.’
‘You’re better at this than I am. If you’re doing something I don’t like, I’ll just say no.’ She drew in a small breath. ‘That’s probably not going to happen.’
The raw need in her voice was like a drug to an addict, the elixir that stole through his senses and made him feel as though, for this moment in time, the world was perfect. ‘Why don’t we begin with something simple,’ he murmured, ‘and we’ll go on from there. Open your blouse for me.’ She was wearing her own clothes – not Greta’s couture designs that he’d bought for her in Amsterdam – the army-green slacks he’d seen at her first interview, a plain white blouse, no jewellery, tan lace-up shoes.
A small start. ‘Here?’
‘Yes, here.’
‘Your staff,’ she nervously said.
He dipped his head faintly. ‘Just do it, Katherine.’
She hesitated, quickly scanned the plant-filled conservatory, the colourful orchids spilling down the trunks of trees, the open door to the terrace and the tropical night.
‘None of it’s a problem,’ he said gently, watching her quick survey of the nineteenth-century glass house. ‘I thought you wanted to come again,’ he prompted, his lounging pose unaltered, his voice mild. ‘Open your blouse and we’ll get started.’
‘Please, Dominic,’ she whispered, shifting slightly in her chair. ‘There’s people around.’
‘I don’t see anyone.’