Knight's Mistress (32 page)

She groaned louder this time.

‘My exact reaction. Max ignored me.’

‘You’re sure it’s OK with Max’s wife if I show up?’

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’

She shrugged. ‘Because I’m your current fuckee.’

‘You’re also a contractor for Knight Enterprises. And Olivia couldn’t care less. If I like you, she’ll like you. End of story. Don’t argue.’

A doleful grimace. ‘Do I get a reward for this miserable assignment?’

‘The minute the two hours are up.’ He didn’t have to ask what she meant.

‘So we’re talking nine-oh-one?’

‘Or as soon as I can chase you upstairs. We can stay at my house, if you like. My mother’s gone.’

‘I don’t care. You decide.’

‘We can decide later.’ He liked the isolation here. But it didn’t matter enough to dispute the point should Katherine prefer the house. ‘Would you like someone to come in and do your hair and make-up?’

She slammed him with a look. ‘Do I need it?’

‘God no, I was just being polite. Some women – don’t glare at me – I meant women in the generic sense. I’ve
never had anyone
ever
brought in to do make-up and hair, here or anywhere.’

‘Greta,’ she reminded him with a narrowed glance.

‘They were her clothes. Who better than she to help you?’

‘Because I needed help?’

‘No, because I needed her to convince you to wear them.’

She sighed. ‘A part of me still thinks I should have refused.’

‘No, you shouldn’t have. You look gorgeous in all her things. It pleases me.’

‘So I must please you?’ The small familiar rebellion in her voice, her intrinsic need for autonomy in a constant struggle with her sexuality.

‘You never have to do anything you don’t want to do,’ he softly replied. ‘You know that.’

She studied a chess piece briefly, then looked up and met his gaze squarely. ‘I like to please you.’ She smiled. ‘You’re my dangerous unknown, my high-risk rush, my obsession. And best of all, I always get rewarded.’

‘We both do. You constantly delight me in every possible way.’ He was silent for a moment, feeling as though he’d said too much. ‘So one more game? Loser has to bath the winner?’

This game he deliberately lost.

His tub was an oversized claw-foot model placed on an oriental carpet in the centre of an alcove adjacent to the bathroom. The arrangement, long an aristocratic practice, allowed servants to bath their masters, a circumstance not unlike that taking place at the Garden House. Not that anyone would characterize Dominic Knight as hired help, but he was definitely helpful in this instance for his own selfish reasons.

Needless to say, the bath took longer than usual because ultimately Dominic joined Kate, one thing led to another and by the time they climbed out of the tub, the carpet was soaked. Dominic placated Kate with conciliatory remarks about his well-paid staff who didn’t mind in the least if there was a little water on the floor as he led her into the bedroom and shut the door behind them.

‘Don’t think I didn’t notice your out-of-sight-out-of-mind ploy,’ she muttered, giving him a disapproving look. ‘I could have wiped up the floor.’

‘No you couldn’t have wiped up the floor. I wouldn’t let you. Don’t start, OK? It’s a stupid fight.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Thank you,’ he said curtly. ‘Oh, God, now what did I do?’

Her eyes were suddenly wet with tears. ‘Nothing. Really, you didn’t do anything.’ Then her tears spilled over.

‘Jesus, don’t cry,’ he whispered, pulling her against his body, holding her close. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t snap at you.’

‘I shouldn’t argue all the time.’ Her voice was muffled against his chest.

‘I don’t mind, really. I’ll try to be better.’ If anyone in Knight Enterprises had heard Dominic’s response, they would have thought their CEO had finally gone over the edge into some neurotic psychosis due to overwork.
I’ll try to be better.
Mea culpas weren’t his style. Although if anyone had had the nerve to point it out to him, he would have brushed them off. She was unhappy, he would have said. Why wouldn’t I soothe her?

‘I’ll try to be better too.’ Kate’s words were barely audible, although her little hiccuping delivery was revealing.

Lightly cupping her chin, Dominic lifted her face, lowered his head and gently licked away her tears. ‘Baby, don’t cry. Maybe we can make it less than two hours at the party?’ His voice was low, husky. ‘Would that help?’

‘Maybe,’ she said on another hiccupy little breath, not
even sure why she was crying, her nerves shaky, her body in wistful overload, her emotions caught up in a riptide of frightening, tumultuous change. Because she was stupidly falling in love with a man who wouldn’t remember her name in a month … or probably a week.

He kissed her then, not deeply, just an affectionate, tender nuzzle.

And suddenly, a part of her was scared, knowing time wasn’t on her side. ‘Do we have to go? I know we do.’ She tried to smile. ‘Sorry, I’m losing it, for some reason.’

‘Hey, count me in. It’s the last thing I want to do.’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Better times in a couple hours – right?’

She chewed on her lip, nodded.

Moments mattered in life; you missed them or they zipped by too fast, or you were looking the other way when you should have been paying attention. Either way you missed them. Dominic had learned that the hard way. So, vague misgivings aside, he wouldn’t look back on this moment with regret. Taking Kate by the hand, he drew her to a chair, sat down with her on his lap, his blue gaze half shuttered by his lashes. He took a small breath before he spoke. ‘I don’t want to fuck this up.’ He saw the sudden wariness in her face so he chose his words carefully. ‘There’s something I’d like to tell you. I’ve been thinking about me, us’ – he sighed – ‘my fucking calendar. I have to leave Hong Kong soon.’

Her heart stopped beating; it’s absolutely true what they say. Fear can make your heart stand still.

‘I’ve pushed everything aside for five days. I can’t do that for any length of time. So I thought –’ he paused, sure of what he wanted, not completely sure about his approach ‘– and this is just a proposal …’ Her silence, the stubborn tilt of her chin causing him to pick his words as if he were negotiating a ceasefire after a ten-year war. ‘I understand you don’t want to work for me. I wish you would – you know that – but if you’d rather not, at least come with me when I leave Hong Kong.’ Her mouth was starting to tighten. ‘Hey, don’t get hot till you hear me out. You set the guidelines, the rules, the game plan. Time, place, how often I can touch you. See, I really mean it. I’ll agree to whatever you want. I want you with me. On your terms. You’re in the driver’s seat on this one, babe.’ A man of action, he didn’t question his motivation, nor her willingness – only her stubborn streak. And he’d manage that too like he managed everything else in his life.

Her heart started beating again. She was being offered any version of paradise she wished to draft. An exceptional, extraordinary paradise with a man who in only a few short days had become essential to her happiness. To her continuing and future happiness. One starring Dominic Knight if she wished.

As the silenced lengthened, he dipped his head, held her gaze. ‘Say something.’

She could feel her heart pounding. ‘I’d like to think
about it,’ she whispered. ‘If life didn’t get in the way I’d unequivocally answer yes. But –’ she dragged in a small breath, seriously overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the man and his life, not entirely sure she could stand up to the tidal wave of power, not sure she even wanted to when she loved him so much – ‘I don’t know about—’

‘Nana?’

‘For one, yeah.’ She bit her lip; he hadn’t mentioned love once. But maybe that was asking too much. ‘And I left a few job offers hanging.’

All manageable.
‘Understood.’ Dominic had only lost once in his life and if he’d been with Julia that day, he would have saved her. Other than that, he’d always won. He was confident of ultimate success. Why wouldn’t he be? A woman had never said no to him. ‘Take your time. Think about it. We’ll talk later.’ His smile was boyish, open and warm. ‘Now, would you like help dressing?’

‘From you?’ Her tone was deliberately teasing, preferring to move on to something less fraught with angst and unlikely romantic fantasies.

‘Who else?’ An amiable, wholly immodest response from a man who could do anything.

She grinned. ‘How much time do we have?’

‘Not that much time. But I can zip, buckle, whatever.’

‘I’m definitely interested in the whatever,’ she playfully said.

He glanced at the clock, frowned slightly. ‘Later, I
promise. A car will be out front soon. Here, you sit and I’ll find you something to wear.’

A moment later, he lifted a grey wool dress off a hanger, tossed it on the bed, rummaged through the bureau drawers and pulled out a bra and panties. ‘Something conservative to go with a conservative dress. Since you’re a business associate you should look the part.’

‘Is that what I am?’ Sliding her hands under her breasts, she raised them into lush mounds. ‘Are you sure?’

He gave her a pointed look. ‘I’m sure for the next few hours because if you fuck with me, you’ll be sleeping alone.’

She dropped her hands. ‘Jeez, don’t get surly.’

‘You don’t want to see me surly,’ he murmured and crooked his fingers. ‘Let’s get this show on the road. Seriously, babe, if I could fuck you now, I would. People are waiting, that’s all.’ His voice went soft. ‘And I want you with me.’

Such simple words but divinely beautiful in her ears, capable of persuading her to be anything he wanted her to be. She rose from the chair.

He hooked the sensible white cotton bra, she put on the white cotton panties, he slid the sheath dress over her head, zipped it up, adjusted the small black satin cap sleeves on her shoulders, pulled the black-satin-lined scooped neckline up a fraction of an inch to cover the strip of white bra that showed and handed her a black satin belt. ‘Choose some shoes,’ he said, turning to the closet. ‘I’ll get dressed.’

After slipping on plain black pumps, she clasped the jet studded belt buckle, and surveyed herself in an ebony and gold framed cheval glass. ‘This bra still shows,’ she grumbled, tugging the neckline higher.

Dominic shot her a look as he buttoned his shirt. ‘Don’t bend over like that and it won’t show.’

‘I should wear a black bra.’

He smiled. ‘I like the contrast, that hint of plain white cotton is real sexy.’

‘For you and everyone else.’

‘Just don’t bend over, Katherine.’ He held her gaze as he reached for his trousers. ‘Understand?’

A ruinous tremor stirred inside her, a flush rose on her cheeks at the stark authority in his voice. She inhaled sharply as hot desire ignited, bust into flame; she struggled to suppress it.

‘I expect you to behave tonight, so keep that hot body of yours in check. Got it?’ He shoved his shirt into his trousers with a few swift thrusts, pulled up his zipper. ‘Damn it, Katherine, I need an answer.’

His gaze was as uncompromising as his voice. ‘Yes, yes, I understand.’ She took a breath, felt the ripples slow, regained her emotional footing once again.

‘Good.’ He buckled his belt. ‘I’ll introduce you to Olivia when we get to the house. You already know Max. They’ll see that you meet whomever you wish to meet. I’m keeping my distance so your reputation won’t be compromised. That’s about it.’ He slid a smoke-grey and carnelian
check tie under his collar and smoothly tied it. ‘Any questions?’

‘No, but I need a better tone of voice or I’m not moving from here.’

He swung around from the bureau mirror, dazzled her with a smile and said, silken soft, ‘Please accept my apology. I’d really like you to come with me. I want to show you off.’

She unclasped her arms that had been folded across her chest. ‘That’s better.’

‘You look stunning, Katherine.’ He slipped his arms into a black jacket, shrugged his shoulders to adjust the fit, buttoned one button, then held out his hands. ‘Come here, babe. I’m the lucky guy with the best-looking girl at the party.’

She’d pulled her hair up with a diamond-studded clip, leaving a few wild tendrils to escape. A touch of dark eyeshadow and a splash of brilliant red lipstick dramatized the paleness of her skin.

‘You clean up rather well yourself,’ she said, keeping it casual rather than offering him her undying love.

‘So we’re good now?’ He cupped her hands in his. ‘No tantrums?’

‘Don’t look at me. I’m Miss Mellow.’

‘I wish
I
were. I’d like nothing better than to rip off that dress and fuck you all night.’ He groaned. ‘Unfortunately …’ He gave his head a shake. ‘OK, I can do this.’ He released her hands and crooked his arm. ‘May I escort
you to two hours of hell, Miss Hart? I promise to make it up to you.’

‘In that case, Mr Knight,’ Kate said with a sweet smile, ‘I’d be delighted.’

Max and Olivia were at the house to greet them when they arrived. After Kate and Olivia were introduced, Olivia gave them a tour through the various reception rooms that had been readied for the occasion. The staff was still busy with last-minute arrangements: setting out food trays, adding a few more vases of flowers, stocking the two bars that had been set up – all under Leo’s cool orchestration. Dominic thanked Leo for his Herculean effort in such a short time frame, praised the gala splendour of the rooms, said he hoped they could hustle everyone out the door by nine – to which Leo responded with an eye roll.

And Dominic groaned.

‘You only have to smile for two hours, Dominic, and it’s over,’ Olivia lightly said.

He sighed. ‘I’ll do my best, Liv.’

Kate glanced at him, her eyebrows going up delicately. ‘It’s a good cause. I’m sure two hours will go by quickly.’

Dominic’s sharp look gave way to a grin. ‘My conscience,’ he drolly said.

Olivia smiled. ‘Then how nice that you brought Katherine along, Dominic. The philharmonic is grateful. Shall we?’ She waved toward the entrance hall.

Moments later the small party was standing near the door, waiting for their guests to arrive – the ladies with a glass of champagne in hand, the men with whiskies. ‘You have my permission to escape after two hours, Dominic, whether guests are still here or not,’ Olivia said with a gracious smile. ‘And thank you again for stepping into the breach at such short notice.’