‘You’re not alone in being unreasonable.’ He smiled. ‘I have my moments too.’ Like monitoring her activities the last month. ‘Now, can you wait a few minutes while I scope out some toys?’
‘What’s a few minutes?’ She grinned. ‘No pressure.’
He smiled. ‘You tell me.’
‘Five.’
‘Ten. This is a big house.’
‘Eight.’
‘Nine.’
She glanced at the bedside clock. ‘And counting.’
‘Do I get a prize if I come in under the limit?’ But he was already halfway to the door.
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Do that or maybe I won’t give you a choice; maybe you’ll have to—’ Whether promise or threat, the door shut on the rest of his sentence.
Dominic returned in record time to find an empty bedroom.
The doors to the veranda hadn’t been opened. Katherine wasn’t likely to be playing hide and seek; the corridor had been empty. That left his dressing room. Dropping the items he’d found on the bed, he strode towards the closed door.
Quietly opening it, he stood on the threshold of his dressing room and felt a chill run up his spine. Kate was halfway down his wardrobe wall, several doors left open behind her; she was currently flipping through his neatly hung shirts. ‘Could I help you with something?’ His voice was ultra soft.
She swung round, his long robe brushing the floor. ‘Sure you could,’ she said softly, smiling.
‘I meant could I help you with something in here?’ He’d never considered himself gullible. This might be a first.
Another smile. ‘Here’s fine.’
He didn’t smile back. ‘What are you looking for?’
‘Women’s things. With your track record at the Garden House, I’m inclined to trust but verify. Maybe you’re not the only one with control issues.’
He felt his muscles relax, felt a profound sense of relief – dicey issues of mistrust resolved. ‘You? Controlling? That could be interesting.’
She shot a quick glance over her shoulder as she turned back to the wall of closets. ‘Call it morbid curiosity if you like; this is what I do in my line of work. Look for things: clues, patterns, details that don’t make sense in the grand scheme of the universe.’
He leaned against the door jamb. ‘Curiosity killed the cat, baby. Just kidding,’ he said quickly as she spun round. ‘Look all night. You won’t find anything. I’m a monk here.’
‘That must make up for you not being a monk everywhere else,’ she retorted pithily.
He shrugged. ‘It was a phase. I’m moving on to better times.’
‘With me.’
She was the only woman he’d allow such unreserved presumption and he wondered whether it was because she was the only woman who’d ever left him. But more interested in the present, he said pleasantly, ‘That’s the plan. You and me. Good times, happy times. Sunshine and fucking roses from now on.’ He gestured towards the wardrobe with a flick of his finger. ‘Come on, you’re wasting your time. Let me entertain you instead.’
She grinned. ‘I’ll hurry. How’s that?’
He rolled his eyes and she went back to opening doors and flicking through his clothes. ‘Christ, you have lots of … well … everything,’ she said, reproachful and chiding.
‘I do.’ His voice was mild; he had no intention of arguing.
‘How can you possibly wear all this?’ She began systematically opening and shutting drawers in a built-in bureau.
‘Three hundred and sixty-five days a year times two or three years before most clothes go out of style. You do the math.’
‘It’s still seriously plutocratic.’
‘I’m sorry if it offends you.’
‘No, you’re not.’ Shutting a drawer full of blue socks, she opened another filled with black socks and scooped them up in her hands. ‘This many of one colour – really?’ She dropped them back in, slammed the drawer shut, gestured at the remaining drawers. ‘Brown, tan, white, I suppose. That still leaves two drawers. What – argyle grey? What am I missing?’
‘I fund several charitable foundations if that helps,’ he said, his voice scrupulously neutral. ‘I could show them to you if you like.’
She turned, lips pursed. ‘Would you?’
‘Certainly. Later. I thought you wanted to play.’
‘Are you trying to change the subject?’
‘No, just the schedule of events. You won’t find anything but my clothes in here because I’ve never had a woman in this house.’ He briefly raised his hand. ‘Scout’s honour – not even my mother. She prefers shopping in Hong Kong. And I apologize for my wealth but making it helps keep me sane.’ A faint smile. ‘I consider that a good cause too. Now, I found a few things you might like. Could these policy issues wait?’
‘No women ever?’ She wasn’t so easily diverted.
‘Only you last month when you came to talk to the bankers.’
‘No female staff? You see, I’m incredibly jealous.’
‘None. I’m incredibly careful.’
She grinned. ‘So there’s a possibility I could take you to court and wring some money from you if I play my cards right?’
‘You could try,’ he murmured, although he’d gladly give her whatever she wanted for the pleasure she afforded him.
‘I suppose you have phalanxes of attorneys guarding you and your assets.’
‘Yes. Offices full.’
She smiled sweetly. ‘But not from me.’
She knew. ‘But not from you,’ he quietly agreed.
‘I have no defences against you either.’ She swallowed hard so she wouldn’t cry. ‘Not a single one.’ Her eyes were suddenly wet with tears.
He was at her side before the first tear spilled over and, drawing her into his arms, he held her close. ‘We’re both helpless against our feelings,’ he whispered, wiping the wetness from her cheeks with his fingers. ‘But happy too, right?’
She nodded and stretched up on her toes to kiss him.
Dipping his head, he met her lips and whether fate or destiny, accident or chance had brought them together, they understood that what they had was an astonishing gift.
Actually a goddamn miracle, Dominic reflected, inured as he was to the concept of benevolence. A miracle he intended to preserve.
CHAPTER 10
A short time later, Kate was reclining against a mass of pillows, nude, her arms raised over her head, her wrists tied to the bedposts with the belts from their robes.
‘Now look, baby,’ Dominic said, sitting back on his heels after securing the last tie, pointing above her head. ‘Those are slip knots; the belts are tethered to the bed loosely. You can reach the tie ends with either hand. Pull them free whenever you want … if you want. OK? I told you before, the agenda’s yours tonight. I’m just here to help.’ Picking up his discarded robe, he shoved it out of his way.
‘So you’re entirely unselfish.’
A twitch of his lips. ‘Not entirely. But my control issues work both ways. I’m generally pretty well disciplined.’
Her gaze flicked downwards to his monstrous erection hard against his stomach. ‘Him too? He looks restless.’
‘We’re working on that. You first then we’ll see.’
‘But I don’t get him until morning?’
His eyelids fell fractionally. ‘Think of it this way: tomorrow he’s yours for the duration.’
‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning, we’re completely at your service.’
No commitment timeline, but what did she expect from a man who was interested in an exclusivity contact?
Rather than continue a conversation that wasn’t going anywhere he wanted it to go, Dominic smiled and said, ‘So, in the interim, how do you feel about this?’ He held up a small Asian cucumber. ‘Or this?’ He picked up a miniature lavender Japanese aubergine. ‘Or these?’ Dropping the vegetables, he wiggled his fingers and stuck out his tongue.
There w
as no point turning down orgasms because he wasn’t willing to name a wedding date. He wasn’t Prince Charming, she wasn’t Cinderella; this wasn’t a fairy tale. ‘OK,’ she said.
His smile broadened. ‘All at once?’
‘No, not all at once, wiseass. It’s not humanly possible?’
‘You sure?’
‘Funny.’
‘I’m not being funny.’
‘Now you’re making me nervous.’
‘You can say no – anytime.’
‘Then no, thanks.’
He shrugged.
A flush rose on her cheeks. ‘I suppose they always say yes.’
‘I wouldn’t know. I don’t do ad hoc sex games. Someone’s always paid to provide the equipment. There’s no need for me to go out on search missions. Oh, shit, now you’re mad about that. Look, let’s just live in the Zen moment. I’ll take care of you tonight. All you have to do is tell me when to stop.’ His voice drifted lower. ‘Or not.’
That sexy or not implying uninterrupted sex really personalized the Zen moment. Counterproductive jealousy was summarily dismissed. ‘Arrogant man.’ But her voice was velvet soft too. ‘If I wasn’t tied up, I’d hit you.’
‘Untie yourself.’ He held his arms out wide, dipped his handsome head. ‘Hit me.’
‘Now you’re just showing off.’ He was the picture of awesomeness sitting cross-legged on the bed in an easy quasiyoga pose, all brute power and machismo, his lean, muscled body flexing beautifully from abs to pecs to biceps when he lifted his arms.
‘Speaking of showing off,’ he murmured, dropping his arms and reaching out to gently tug on her peaked nipples, watching them swell under his fingers. ‘You’ll win that contest. I remember saying I was going to fuck these fantastic tits that first night in Hong Kong, but I never did. Tonight might be the night,’ he softly said.
‘If I let you.’
His sharp glance was shot through with surprise for a flashing moment before a polite shield fell into place. ‘I can but hope then,’ he drawled, releasing her nipples and leaning back on his hands. ‘Are we done talking? Just asking. Your pussy felt me tug on your nipples, didn’t she?’
‘A little.’
He smiled. ‘Want more?’
‘Don’t say it like that, Dominic. I’m not asking or begging tonight. You said the agenda’s mine. So make me feel good.’
‘With pleasure, babe.’ He leaned to his right, stretched out his arm and picked up the small, gleaming aubergine he’d placed on the bed. ‘All washed and clean – I soaped and rinsed it twice. Apparently, protocol requires a condom on it – not that I’d know personally so you don’t have to scowl. But since condoms are a problem for you’ – he smiled – ‘we went to plan B.’
‘We?’
‘The royal we,’ he lied blandly, not about to disclose the staff’s aid in his search for objects to satisfy Kate. She didn’t understand the concept of personal retainers. They were well paid to see to it that his life ran smoothly. Tan had even come up with some silver ben wa balls, still new in the box, that he’d intended as a gift for his wife. ‘Now, lie back, relax and we’ll see about making you happy.’ He reached out again, picked up the last two items, set the Asian cucumber next to the aubergine and opened the small red silk-covered box. ‘Have you tried these before?’ He held up the ben wa balls, and shook them so she could hear the little bells inside.
She made a moue. ‘That’s not exactly improvising. Where did you get them?’
Since the truth was awkward – for her, not him – he resorted to another lie. ‘I found them in the room where Danny stays when he’s in town. I figured if anyone was likely to have playthings, he would.’
‘So he has women here but you don’t?’
He shrugged. ‘When I’m not here he can do as he pleases.’
‘You really are careful.’
‘It saves time, money and lawsuits.’
‘So the drawbridge is always up?’
‘Basically. Could we talk about something else? My life isn’t that interesting.’
‘More interesting than mine, but’ – she glanced up briefly at her fettered wrists and smiled – ‘not at the moment. Especially since you probably know what to do with’ – she dipped her head in the direction of the ben wa balls resting on his palm – ‘those pretty silver things.’
He was so grateful for her tact in changing the subject that he almost said, What kind of jewellery do you prefer? But she wasn’t like all the other women he knew; she would have been offended. So he smiled, lifted his palm marginally and said instead, ‘Why don’t we just say I’m here to make your life more interesting. Once these are in place I’ll be able to hear you when you move or walk. Or when you climax because these little trinkets will keep you hot and wet and horny. I’ll take you shopping some day or out for dinner and see how long you last before I have to find somewhere to fuck you. Would you like that?’ he asked softly, sliding one of the silver balls up her slick, pulsing cleft.
She shook her head.
‘Sure you would.’
‘No, Dominic.’ But her voice caught at the last because he slipped the second silver sphere upward where it struck the first and the faint ringing sound was adjunct to the most delicious ripple of pure, unspoiled pleasure. A soft, involuntary moan issued from her mouth in a breathy shimmer of sound.
‘See, you were wrong.’ A matter-of-fact observation. ‘Now, let’s see where else you’re wrong. Not humanly possible you said.’ He forced the ben wa balls deeper, which arrested her dissent and gave rise to a tantalizing little purr instead. ‘Don’t worry, this is small,’ he said, needlessly since her attention was internally focused and hot desire was swiftly rising unchecked in spiralling ripples to every trembling nerve in her body. He spread her pouty sex with his thumb and forefinger, eased in the convex end of the cylinder-shaped eggplant and gently pushed until a third of it disappeared; he glanced up. ‘Good so far?’
Her eyes were shut, her nipples taut, stiff peaks, her breathing erratic, the rosy flush rising up her neck and face, manifesting arousal.
‘Answer me, baby. Are we good?’ He didn’t require an answer; he just wanted one.
She recognized the small gruffness in his voice. She could have refused to answer, but swamped in blissful delight, she was more than willing to appease him. Her lashes lifted slightly, she held his cool blue gaze and smiled. ‘Everything’s perfect.’
‘Right,’ he said. Shoving the smooth lavender object deeper, he watched her face. ‘How’s that? More perfect?’
She gasped as the pressure on her G-spot intensified and the invading mock dildo nudged the ben wa balls deeper so they slid titillating and smooth as silk along the rich network of seething, skittish nerves that were switched on to hot and horny. Greedy for more of that exquisite, carnal jolt, wildly impatient, she flexed her hips, reaching for the next flame-hot, explosive thrill, the tinkle of bells marking her restless urgency.
‘You like that?’ he whispered, neither expecting a reply nor requiring one with conciliation his watchword tonight. It was her playtime. He was only the means to that end.
Placing the heel of his palm just above the cusp of her pubic bone, he pressed gently, and was gratified when she instantly went still. It wasn’t that he’d doubted her abstinence the month past – or at least not much – but her swift response soothed any niggling suspicions. She was hungry for sex, her orgasmic trigger rocket ready.
Oh, Christ. Since when did he micro-manage a woman’s personal life?
Then the first small orgasmic ripple flared through Kate’s long-deprived, Dominic-famished senses and she gasped, ‘Sorry … I can’t wait.’
He smiled. Some things never change.‘Don’t be sorry, baby; that’s why I’m here. So you don’t have to wait.’ And his uneasy thoughts gave way to more immediate issues. Increasing the pressure of his palm on the immovable object solidly submerged in Katherine’s lush sex, he gently massaged her sweet spot, fully aware of her breath-
held, eyes-shut, on-the-brink tremors. Her back was arched, her body taut, the slight, irresistible quiver fluttering under his palm signalling her imminent climax. ‘Need a little help?’ A whisper-soft rhetorical question he answered himself. ‘Try this.’ Slipping his other hand between her legs, he gently eased his middle finger between the makeshift dildo and her swollen clit, and delicately stroked the sleek, distended nub. Listening to her tiny, vaporous whimpers quicken as her arousal began peaking, he softly caressed her impressionable little clit with a well-practised facileness, and enchanted – as always – with her complete lack of discretion, he watched her wild, headlong, careening race to climax.
Then, moments later, as she hurtled over the edge, he smiled indulgently, pleased with his complicity in what would surely be an extraordinary night. He was even more pleased with the degree and intensity of the powerful, roiling orgasmic tidal wave engulfing her.
He calmly waited for her inevitable scream.
But Kate was holding her breath against the sheer, stunning ecstasy melting through her body, instinctively preserving what she had so long missed – the fathomless splendour, the incomprehensible rapture, the hot, hot, hot delirium.
Until ultimately her lungs rebelled.
She gasped for air.
Taking advantage of the minute pause, Dominic placed the tip of the slender cucumber where his finger had been, forced the additional dildo deeper, gently jammed it against both her clit and G-spot, then nudged it an infinitesimal distance more. ‘Is it too much?’ he murmured just before he placed his palm against the portion still visible and pushed.
Her wild scream shattered the stillness, her entire body went still. And a second tempestuous orgasm overtook the remnants of the first in an overwrought, mind-blowing, scorching explosion of pleasure piled upon seething pleasure that lasted and lasted and lasted …
Because Dominic was technically adept at sustaining orgasmic sensation and particularly intent on pleasing the beautiful young woman who had sabotaged his entire way of life, reconfigured his notions of personal freedom and brought him inexplicable happiness.
This was his version of welcoming her back.
Sometime later, Kate felt the world return by slow degrees: sound, marginal perception, smell – God, she loved Dominic’s shampoo if that was what made him smell so good: musky and sweet, with a faint undertone of cedar that reminded her of home. She opened her eyes.