Knight's Mistress (29 page)

‘You make it sound easy when I’m panic-stricken or maybe sad, no, mostly sad.’

He felt every nerve prickle. He went quiet. Then he blinked and said, ‘Don’t be sad. It’s not a death sentence. We’ll figure something out. OK?’

She nodded because her throat had closed up.

He touched her cheek with the pad of his finger. ‘You’re lovely, this is lovely, you make me happy. No more tears. Only good times for you and me. Now pay attention,’ he said with a small smile, changing the subject in the way he knew best. ‘Now, hush. Do you feel that?’ He moved his hips so he touched all her soft, moist flesh, carefully, slowly, lazily, as if he had all the time in the world when they both knew they didn’t. ‘How about this?’ he flexed his hips upwards, ‘Better now?’

She shivered with delight, whimpered, moving her hips restlessly, asking for more.

She came the first time in under two minutes. No surprise. What was a surprise was the fact that he came with her the second time because he couldn’t wait. He was like a kid fucking for the first time, his heart pounding, his blood surging, ready to explode in seconds.

Her high thin scream was like getting a personal best at the Olympics, like winning a gold medal. Her happiness washed over him in a warm, white glow, illuminated him from inside, offered him a momentary glimpse into a world he’d never known.

Lying quiescent in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, her body momentarily sated, her unquenchable need for him temporarily quenched, she was wildly happy, foolishly lovesick. He was too perfect, she wanted him too much, it was madness on a grand scale.

All too soon, or inevitably, the orgasmic splendour dimmed and the real world returned with a vengeance –
reminding Dominic of who he was, who she was, and why they were here. Abruptly lifting Kate from his lap, Dominic set her on her feet, handed her a cloth napkin from the table, took one for himself, used it, pulled his sweats up, tied a quick slip knot. Then he rose, picked up her robe, helped her on with it, grabbed her birth control from the table and slid it into her robe pocket. ‘You’d better take care of this,’ he said brusquely. ‘I’m not operating with a full deck on this issue.’

He needed time to bring his life back to normal, to let the crazy die down. To return to the fun and games instead of this bullshit earnestness. It was the last thing he wanted: major emotional upheavals he could do without. A goddamn relationship with a woman wasn’t in the cards. He knew better. He knew how much misery it could bring if things went wrong.

He dipped his head so their eyes were level. ‘Are you OK with that?’

She nodded, unnerved by his sudden coolness.

He held out his hand. ‘Come see your new toy.’

She quickly took his hand, wanting to please him, to erase his cool, clipped tone. She’d never wanted to please a man before; it was unnerving. On the other hand, she was addicted to his touch, to the pleasure he offered, to the brand new world of carnal desire he’d revealed to her. And her insatiable appetite for the incomparable Dominic Knight, for the sweet, wild joy of fucking him took precedence over any unnerving doubts.

When they entered the bedroom moments later, Kate stopped, wide-eyed. ‘How large a staff do you have here?’ The flowers were all new, masses of purple iris, dramatic contrast to the brilliant colours in the room. The bed was pristinely made, piles of fresh white towels had been placed on a table at the foot of the bed, their clothes from yesterday removed.

‘I’m not sure.’ He glanced down at her. ‘Would you like me to ask?’

She sniffed. ‘Very funny, Mr Plutocrat.’

He shrugged. ‘It’s adequate, that’s all I know. Leo does the hiring.’

‘Are they all ninjas? You never see a soul.’

‘I didn’t think you wanted people around. If you do, just say the word.’

‘How accommodating you are.’

‘That’s the idea, Katherine.’ He smiled for the first time since his arctic freeze. ‘Adjust, adapt’ – his brows flickered, humour warmed his gaze – ‘oblige you in all things.’

‘So you’re done being grumpy?’

He looked surprised. ‘Was I grumpy?’

‘Yes, you scared me.’

‘Sorry,’ he said as though he didn’t quite understand but was willing to accommodate her.

‘Thank you.’ She drew in a small, shaky breath, her eyes huge, liquid. ‘Because when you’re unhappy, I’m unhappy.’

‘Jesus, don’t cry anymore,’ he whispered. Lifting her in his arms, he bent low and kissed her softly, then not so
softly, his kiss deepening, taking what he wanted, plundering, pillaging, devouring her, open-mouthed and impassioned.

Giddy with happiness, she clung to him and kissed him back, hard, hard, hard – her world sunshine bright again because she could tell he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

When he finally raised his mouth, he said, ‘I’m sorry if I made you unhappy. I don’t want you unhappy. Tell me if you are and I’ll fix it somehow.’ His blue gaze was very close, touched with concern, his voice the kind you’d use to coax a kitten in from the cold. ‘There’s nothing I can’t fix. OK?’

She nodded.

He blew out a breath. ‘Good.’ He scanned the room as though seeing it for the first time, preoccupied with how best to keep Katherine happy. A novel position for him here at the Garden House where generally only his pleasure mattered, where he’d only brought women who were disposable. Where he’d never brought a woman who mattered to him. The word ‘mattered’ made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. But he ignored the sensation, shook it away. He had better things to do. ‘Now, I’m just asking,’ he said gently, carrying her to the bed. ‘If you don’t want to play, that’s fine with me. We’ll do something else. Do you like cribbage, chess, baccarat? Or we could watch some movies.’

A little tic of surprise. ‘You have a theatre here?’

‘A small one. Would you like to see a movie?’

She shook her head.

He seated her on the bed as if she were made of glass, kissed her cheek, then drew up a cushioned chair and sat. ‘This is a new experience for me,’ he said with a small smile, sliding into a lounging pose as if he had all the time in the world. ‘You tell me what you want to do and we’ll do it.’

‘You’re sure you’re not mad at me any more?’ God, he was gorgeous sprawled on the chair, half undressed, his sweats low on his hips, his broad shoulders resting back against the black and white silk upholstery.

‘I never was mad at you.’ He ran his hands over his hair in a small restive gesture. ‘I was mad at myself. I don’t like to lose control like that. I don’t like to make mistakes. Especially life-altering ones like that.’

‘Oh, good – then it wasn’t something I did.’

He smiled. ‘Not directly.’

‘So I really can ask for anything?’

‘I told you before, I have vast resources at my command and now at yours,’ he added with a dip of his head. ‘Surprise me.’

‘Show me my new toy.’

He laughed out loud, amused at his misguided notions. He should have known that money meant nothing to Katherine. ‘You are so fucking adorable,’ he said. ‘You make the world all blue skies and sunshine.’

‘Back at you,’ she said with a buoyant grin. ‘For five more days if you’re keeping track.’

They both knew better; they both knew it was only play – the future untouchable. They also knew these few days were the cherry on the sundae of life and worth savouring.

Shoving himself out of the chair, Dominic came to his feet, a wide grin radiating his happiness. ‘I have something else to make you smile. Don’t move. I’ll be back in five seconds.’

Playfully goading, Kate sang out, ‘One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand, four-one thousand, five—’

Dominic slapped a small shagreen-covered box into her lap and grinned.

‘You’re fast. I’m impressed.’

‘You should be.’ He nodded. ‘Open it. It’s something you’ll like.’

‘You know that, do you?’

‘I do.’

‘Because?’

He knew how to answer that question and that squinty-eyed look. ‘Because I know what you like.’

She smiled. ‘You are
so
smooth. I’m in awe.’

‘Let me show you some new awesome wonders, Miss Hart,’ he said softly, his smile lush with promise. ‘Open it.’

She did, then looked up at him.

‘For your own personal use. Want me to show you?’

‘Now that I have this I won’t need you any more.’

‘I’m more versatile, babe. You need me. But you’ll enjoy
this too.’ He took the dildo from the nest of white velvet and tossed the box aside. ‘Are you warm enough?’

‘Incredibly warm. In fact, I’m getting hot.’

He laughed. ‘Why do I even ask? I hardly have to do anything and you’re primed to go.’

‘It’s not me, it’s you. You’re drop-dead beautiful and I like your face too.’

He chuckled. ‘Thanks, I think. But I know what you mean. I’m going with kismet or karma or that long shot that turned into a win for us because this thing we got going – this fucking craving – is crazy. Good crazy. But definitely not business as usual.’

‘I wouldn’t know about business as usual.’

A direct hit, typical Miss Hart. ‘Good thing I’m here then,’ he said soft as silk. ‘Because I can show you. Take off your robe and bra.’

‘Why don’t you?’

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then smiled. ‘My pleasure.’ Opening his fingers, he let go of the leather strap he was holding and Katherine’s new toy dropped to the bed. Reaching out, he untied her robe, pulled out the birth control pills from her robe pocket, set them on the bedside table. ‘We don’t want those going through the laundry. Sit up a little, there – that’s it.’ Sliding her robe down her arms, he pulled it out from under her, unclasped her bra and cast both items away.

‘Someone has to pick those up.’ She saw that small startle reflex that never failed to disarm her flicker in his
gaze – his shield against the world slipping for a second, the trappings of power briefly faltering.

Then he rolled his eyes, turned, picked up both items from the carpet, swung around, holding them out. ‘Any place special you want them?’ he drawled.

‘Besides up your ass?’

‘Or yours?’

It felt like a slap, a hot, sexy slap in just the right spot. ‘Sorry, should I say, sorry? I should, shouldn’t I?’

‘Damn right you should.’

‘Or,’ she purred.

‘Or I’ll see that you learn better manners.’

A small heated glance. ‘How would you do that –
exactly
?’

He laughed. ‘You’re one horny babe, Katherine.’

‘Is that good or bad?’

‘Both. Although I’ll probably end up screwing myself to death. At least my sister will be happy. She gets all my money.’

‘
We
might be happy in the interim.’

‘True.’ A lift of his dark brows. ‘So is this a death match?’

‘I’d prefer not, if you don’t mind. Just make me happy. You know how to do that.’

Happy
. Such a strange word in relation to raw, profligate sex. Unique to Miss Hart and honest-to-God true. A thought he locked away the second it surfaced. ‘Let’s start with your new toy,’ he said casually, picking up the dildo, focusing his attention on more relevant issues. ‘Take note, the straps are deerskin for softness and warmth on the
skin, the dildo is stainless steel for hygienic reasons, the size hopefully adequate to satisfy you.’ He winked. ‘You may thank me later in your own personal way.’

‘Maybe I won’t want to when I can climax with’ – she nodded – ‘that.’

‘I’m not worried,’ he said with an impudent grin and held out his hand. ‘Come. Stand up.’ After helping her down from the bed, he knelt before her, nudged her thighs. ‘Spread your legs a little.’

Her body instantly recognized his tone of voice and sent out arousal signals to each and every sexual receptor, putting her on high alert and drenching her sex.

He looked up, smiled. ‘Really? I only have to touch you?’

‘Consider it a compliment.’

He looked amused. ‘I’m not sure I can take all the credit.’

‘I don’t know about …’ Her words ended in a low breathy moan as he slowly inserted the stainless steel dildo into her dewy cleft.

‘Now that sounds like a complimentary moan,’ he murmured. ‘Hold your legs together.’ She didn’t move. Sliding his hand between her legs, he gave the dildo a nudge to gain her attention. ‘Listen to me. Put your legs together.’

With her brain focused on the high pressure incitement, the shuddering, seething frenzy touched off by Dominic’s nudge, it took her a moment or two to respond.

‘There’s a good girl,’ he softly praised when she finally managed to comply. ‘Now hold still for a minute.’ Sliding
the leather belt through the front strap, he touched her hip. ‘Turn around,’ he said. ‘
Pay attention
.’ A curt command that raised her eyelids; she turned. He slid the belt through the back strap, smoothly slid it between her buttock cheeks and buckled the belt around her waist in back. He began adjusting the Velcro cinches so the dildo would be firmly lodged and anchored fast.

Her eyes went shut at the first soft jerk of the cinch and clenching her thighs, she softly moaned. When Dominic tightened the second cinch, she gasped. She was fully gorged now with unyielding metal, the pressure on her clit staggering, shocking her nervous system with continuous waves of delirium. ‘Oh, God, oh God, oh God,’ she panted, the raw assault on her clit merciless.

‘Come, walk for me,’ he said softly, grasping her hips, slowly turning her, then rising to his feet. ‘And you’re not allowed to come until I give you permission.’

‘I can’t do it.’ She shook her head, eyes shut and panting, waves of arousal coursing through her, so close to coming she was teetering on the edge.

‘You have to, Katherine, or I’ll take the damn thing out, throw it away and you won’t come at all,’ he said sternly. ‘There, you see, you can do it if you try.’ He watched her take a small step toward him, waited for her to stop shaking. ‘Now another step, you’re doing well. Now another.’

She climaxed with a stifled sob, her knees gave way.

He caught her, his hands at her waist. ‘What am I going to do with you?’ he scolded softly, holding her trembling
body, her orgasm still flooding through her. ‘You can’t seem to control yourself. Look at me,’ he said with a sudden sharpness.