Knight's Game (11 page)

‘As long as this isn’t one of your games, Mr I’m-in-Charge,’ she said fretfully.

‘I wish it were. I’m just being practical.’

‘As always. Isn’t that your motto with women?’

‘Not with you – never with you … which is the problem. Look, it’s only a few hours and, admit it, you don’t want … well … unintended consequences anymore than I do. Right?’

She didn’t immediately answer. ‘I suppose,’ she finally said with a rueful grimace. Then she sighed softly. ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ she added, flushing slightly as she acknowledged his good judgement. ‘And I don’t mean as usual so don’t get a big head.’

He smiled. ‘Thank you. I won’t.’ Dropping a kiss on her knuckles, he released her hands. ‘Now let me find something to get you through the night.’

A lift of her brows. ‘You have toys here? Why didn’t you say so before and we could have avoided all this bullshit?’

This wasn’t the time to point out to her that he
had
offered her alternatives. ‘Because I don’t have toys here, that’s why,’ he said instead.

‘Really?’

‘Really.’ He didn’t elaborate because he didn’t want any discussion of toys that might bring up memories of the Garden House video. ‘I should be able to manage a substitute of some kind to make you happy.’

Her sudden smile was the familiar one he remembered from their many arguments. The wide-open, cloudless smile that instantly beguiled. She never held grudges; she didn’t even much care whether she won or lost once the controversy was over. ‘How do you do it?’ she murmured, running her finger along his jaw in a small possessive gesture he would have found objectionable from any other woman. ‘You always stay uber-reasonable when I’m freaking out. Thanks too about … well … the unintended consequences issue. Really. I’m grateful.’

‘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.

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 was 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.