by C. C. Gibbs
‘Thanks. Dominic bought it. He’s the one with taste. I’m lucky.’
‘But you’re the one who makes the clothes look good. He’s the lucky one.’
‘No argument there,’ Dominic said, sliding his arm around Kate’s shoulder and leaning over to kiss her cheek. ‘I’m the luckiest man in the world.’
Kate blushed.
So he kissed her again, always captivated by her sweet naiveté. She was unique in his sophisticated world, a far cry from all the women he’d known, completely natural, fresh and artless, irrepressibly eager for sex. His constant wet dream. Shifting slightly to disguise his rising erection, he dropped his arm from Kate’s shoulder and quickly turned his attention to the discussion of wedding gowns.
‘This short swingy dress would be easy to wear.’ The designer pointed at a drawing of a crème silk dress, with a stand-up collar, small cap sleeves and a shirt-front neckline buttoned with three silk-covered buttons. ‘Or this chiffon would disguise your tummy.’
‘That’s not necessary,’ Dominic said. He turned to Kate. ‘Don’t worry about that. Once we’re married, the whole world can know for all I care.’
‘Maybe I don’t want the world to know just yet.’
He quickly raised his palms. ‘Forgive me, baby. It’s your call.’
The women ignored Mrs Hastings’ sniff.
Dominic looked at her, his brows creased. ‘Problem?’ he said.
‘No, no, I have … a little touch of … a cold,’ she stammered. Even for a woman who prided herself on her stout pluck and mettle, she found the chill in Dominic’s blue eyes alarming.
Calmly turning back to the drawings, Dominic pointed at a simple sleeveless, A-line design in ivory shantung. ‘I like this one. And it has a matching coat in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.’
‘I like the one with the collar,’ Kate said.
‘Then get it.’ He smiled at the young designer. ‘How soon can you have the dress finished? I don’t know if Mrs Hastings mentioned it, but the price is unimportant. So if you need to hire extra seamstresses, please do.’
‘I could have it finished in two or three days.’
‘Perfect.’ He smoothly rose from the sofa, held out his hand to Kate and pulled her to her feet.
‘I will need some measurements,’ Abigail said.
Kate groaned.
‘If we send this dress back with you,’ Dominic said, indicating Kate’s tunic. ‘Would that help?’
‘I’ll still need a final fitting.’
‘After that? How much time would you need to complete the dress?’
‘A day, no more.’
He dipped his head so his eyes were level with Kate’s. ‘One fitting, that’s not so bad. You can do that, right?’
‘After work if you don’t mind,’ Kate said, turning to the designer.
Dominic glanced at Abigail.
She nodded.
‘That’s settled then. We’ll send the dress down in a few minutes. It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms Strahan. And as always, Mrs Hastings, you’ve been most helpful. Whatever questions either of you have can be addressed to Martin. He’ll arrange everything from this point on. I’ll send him in.’
‘Thank you,’ Kate said. ‘It was nice meeting you both. And I love your dress designs,’ She added with a smile for Abigail.
‘Maybe we could talk Ms Strahan into doing some maternity clothes for you.’ Dominic draped his arm over Kate’s shoulder. ‘We’re both novices in this department. Think about it at least,’ he said when Abigail hesitated. ‘Katherine thinks maternity clothes are gross. Perhaps you could change her mind.’
‘I’ll think about it. But it’s not my area of expertise.’
‘Katherine likes your work, so I’m hoping you’ll agree. I’ll have Martin give you my number. Call anytime.’ He turned to Kate, dipped his head. ‘Is that OK with you, baby?’
‘Yup, yes,’ Kate quickly corrected, grinning at Abigail. ‘I like the simplicity of your designs.’
‘You’ve impressed my fiancée, Ms Strahan. She normally has no interest in clothes. Make sure you call me.’
As Dominic and Kate walked away hand in hand, Mrs Hastings murmured, ‘I wouldn’t refuse if I were you. The man has no qualms about paying any price.’
‘He’s in love with her. He wants to make her happy.’
‘Umph. That may be, but he wants what he wants more. Men like Dominic Knight are ruthless. I wouldn’t want to be his wife when it comes to divorce time. He won’t be so accommodating then. And they all divorce. They find some new toy and move on.’
‘Yet you plan weddings for men like him.’
Mrs Hastings offered up one of her rare smiles. ‘Divorce is excellent for my business. Some of these titans of industry have been married four times. And always with considerable fanfare. Actually, I’m surprised at the modesty of Mr Knight’s wedding.’
‘I don’t think his fiancée is interested in fanfare.’
‘Perhaps. He’s been married once already. Did you know that?’
‘No. So maybe he’s following your pattern in terms of serial marriages if not in the gala of the occasion.’
‘He is rather more odd than most of my clients. More demanding,’ she shrugged, ‘more generous too. But … ah, here’s his man.’
CHAPTER 7
‘I forgot to mention, Justin’s wife Amanda called today and invited us to dinner tomorrow,’ Kate said as they moved down the hallway. ‘It’s casual she said. Thank God. And she apologized for the late invitation, but with the new baby it’s hard to schedule ahead she said. Is that OK with you?’
‘Sure, whatever you want.’
‘I already talked to Joanna. So I don’t have to go into work on Saturday.’
Dominic smiled. ‘Good. I’ll have you to myself Saturday.’
‘And I’ll have a day of vacation.’
‘You could have more.’ He glanced at her.
‘You know that.’
‘We’ll see,’ Kate said, with a flicker of a smile. ‘Don’t get pushy.’
Had Joanna already spoken to her? ‘The offer’s always open. That’s all I’m saying,’
‘If I decide to become part of Knight Enterprises,’ Kate twirled her hand in a little genuflect towards Dominic who had all the trappings of CEO in his bespoke suit and custommade everything from head to toe, ‘you’ll be the first to know, Mr Knight.’
‘Hmmm, now I’m really interested,’ Dominic said with a wicked grin. ‘Deference from you, addressing me as Mr Knight. It sounds as though you’ll be a model employee, Miss Hart.’
She laughed. ‘As if that’s what you want.’
‘I do from everyone but you. I run a tight ship. But you’re allowed anything. You know that.’
She gave him a flirty smile. ‘I am your favourite, aren’t I?’
‘In every possible way. So while we’re on the subject,’ he carefully said, ‘if you should decide to come on board, we could run Knight Enterprises together. Equal partners. You’d have the same veto, the same authority, the same command structure. All you have to do is say yes.’
‘That’s crazy,’ Kate said on a caught breath. ‘I don’t know the first thing about—’
‘Sure you do. You know business where it matters – the bottom line. How the money comes in and goes out, how much, how often, whether the margins are good or bad. And I can teach you the deal-making. So no false modesty. You can do anything and you fucking know it.’
‘You sound like Gramps.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’
‘It is,’ she said quietly, swallowing hard.
He saw her eyes mist over and quickly scooped her up in his arms. ‘I can’t ever take his place, baby, but I love you the same way. Unconditionally,’ he murmured, dipping his head and kissing her lightly as he strode down the corridor. ‘And no pressure on the job offer. I just wanted it on the table. Whatever you decide is fine with me. Now,’ he added, turning the conversation to a
less emotional topic, ‘what time is our dinner tomorrow? Eight?’
She smiled. ‘You should be a diplomat.’
‘They don’t make any money. And I’d probably punch out the first person who gave me shit. But thank you,’ he said with a grin, ‘for your wildly misplaced belief.’ He recognized the hall porter with a faint nod as he moved towards the double staircase rising from the large entrance hall.
‘The invitation was for eight,’ Kate said, acknowledging Dominic’s question. ‘But I asked if we could come at seven. I get tired so early now. Amanda said that was fine with her since even with a nurse and nanny, she’s sometimes short of sleep.’
‘We’ll make it an early night then.’ Dominic began smoothly ascending the right bank of stairs. ‘I’ll pick you up at five, we’ll come home, change and then drive to wherever they live.’ Which he knew wasn’t far.
‘You’re sure you don’t mind going?’
‘Nope. And since they just went through a pregnancy and birth, maybe we can learn something. I don’t think it matters if we tell them, so long as they don’t broadcast the news.’
‘You sure?’
‘You can trust Justin, right?’
‘Of course.’ Kate grinned. ‘I’ll take notes then.’
‘We’ll both take notes.’ He turned at the first landing and moved up the second, shorter, tier of stairs. ‘Which reminds me, Max talked to Liv and she recommended a woman obstetrician so I called and made an appointment.’
‘I suppose we have to.’
‘It might be a good idea. I don’t like being clueless.’
‘True,’ she said with a sigh. ‘When?’
‘Next Monday.’ His shoes were noiseless as he strode down the plush hall carpet. ‘Three thirty. It was the latest appointment I could get. It’s her last one of the day.’
‘Speaking of getting things,’ Kate purred, as Dominic came to a stop at a set of double doors. ‘You said if I gave the wedding planner and designer ten minutes I got you all night.’
‘I meant it, baby. Your menu.’ Opening one of the levered latches with his knuckles, Dominic shoved the door open with his foot, carried Kate in, set her on her feet and pulled the heavy door shut with a soft click.
‘Wow.’ She scanned the huge room: cream-coloured walls, sleek painted furniture, a large canopied bed hung in mint-green silk, ceiling murals of cavorting nymphs in an Etruscan landscape – and a wall of glass doors opening on a balcony with a view of the gardens. The golden glow of sunset lent a luminous quality to the air.
‘No kidding, wow.’ He never tired of looking at her. ‘You’re beautiful, baby,’ he murmured, thinking how she’d redefined his life, how she’d actually given him a life. Then she turned and smiled that smile that always made him feel like the luckiest man in the world.
‘Keep that thought,’ she said, ‘as I get fatter and fatter. I warn you, I’m going to need constant flattery. I’ve never been fat before.’ Her gaze took on a faint kick-ass glint. ‘And I don’t mean the kind of smooth-talking flattery you’ve been handing out for years.’
‘Don’t worry. That world’s long gone, baby. You’ll be getting virgin flatter. Just tell me if I’m doing it wrong.’
‘As long as you love me deeply, madly, fiercely, nothing’s wrong.’
There was a demand he would have run from short months ago. ‘Always, baby. Every superlative in every language I know are yours, along with my heart – my unfrozen heart,’ he added with a grin and a soft fist bump to his chest. ‘Not to mention all my worldly possessions.’
Meeting his blue-eyed gaze, she grinned back. ‘If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I’m only interested in one possession right now.’
He glanced down. ‘He’s way ahead of you.’
‘Oh my God, Dominic,’ she whispered, her gaze on his blatant erection lifting the fine wool of his suit pants. ‘We have to stop talking. I need him now. My crazy new hormones are on some rocket trigger and—’
‘I’ve got this,’ he brusquely said, spinning her around, unzipping her dress, and pulling it off. ‘Get into bed.’ He slapped her butt. ‘I’ll be right back.’ Striding across the room, he opened the door, walked out, and swiftly travelled down the corridor to the top of the stairs.
‘Heads up!’ he called out. When the hall porter looked up, Dominic pitched the dress towards the man. ‘Give it to Martin,’ he said loud enough to be heard twenty feet down. ‘And tell him I don’t want to be disturbed.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Suppressing his smile, the young man picked up the dress. ‘I’ll tell him,’ he added, although he was talking to himself by then.
Dominic was already half-way back down the upstairs hall, stripping off his suit jacket with one hand, loosening his tie with the other. Entering the bedroom a few moments later, he threw the clothes on a chair, jerked his shirt off over his head, dropped it and unbuckled his belt. Intent on his expeditious undressing he didn’t look up until he heard a soft whimper.
Kate lay in the centre of the bed, lush and succulent, searingly desirable, earth mother and Venus rolled into one as she indolently reclined against a mass of crisp linen-covered pillows, the quilt in a crush at her feet. She was even more voluptuous in pregnancy, her breasts a lavish gift to the eye, the curve of her hips slightly more rounded, the small rise of her tummy always stealing his breath away as if their child was some rare achievement.
‘Dominic.’ Her eyes were half shut, her voice breathy with need.
He emerged from his lover’s trance. ‘Two seconds, baby.’ Kicking off his shoes, he unzipped his suit pants with a swipe of his hand.
‘Oh … God …’
Kate’s cheeks were flushed, her pale flesh pinked from head to toe with arousal – her hands pressed over her mons as though to contain her ravenous desires. ‘Don’t you dare come without me,’ Dominic growled. ‘Dammit, Katherine, open your eyes.’
Her lashes slowly lifted. ‘Then you’d better fucking hurry,’ she said, her eyes hot with longing, the boundaries of the world narrowed to her wanting him this second
‘Now that I have your attention,’ he murmured, grinning as he shoved his pants and boxers down his hips.
‘I don’t know about you, but he’, she pointed at his massive erection, fully visible again as he stood upright, ‘has my attention. I thought about this all day long.’
‘Then open up, baby,’ he gruffly said. ‘We’re coming in.’
She shivered as a hard jolt of lust shot through her senses, his brusque command triggering a flood of audacious memory.
‘I saw that,’ he murmured, kicking the last of his clothes aside. ‘But I can’t get in unless you open wide.’
She instantly spread her legs.
He came to a stop at the side of the bed. ‘I said, wide, baby.’ He flicked a glance downward. ‘He’s not going to fit unless …’
Quickly sliding her hands downward, she slipped her fingers over her slick pouty flesh and eased her sex open.
‘More, baby,’ he gently said. ‘Unless you don’t want him inside.’
She softly moaned as his deep voice, the soft threat or shameless promise, stoked her raging desire.
‘I’m waiting,’ he whispered, then smiled faintly.
Because she’d slid her fingers deeper and opened herself in a lush offering of ripe, carnal pleasure.
‘That’s a girl,’ he softly said. ‘You get a reward when you do what you’re told.’ Leaning over, he delicately stroked her exposed clit, watched it swell into a hard little bud, ‘Uh, uh, don’t move your hands,’ he warned as she began panting, and tapped her clit hard enough to make her squeal.
Her eyes snapped open. ‘I have a simple request,’ she said between tight teeth.
He smiled faintly. ‘You always do. Maybe I want to play for a couple seconds.’
‘And maybe I don’t,’ she hissed.
He ran his finger up his rock hard dick. ‘He does.’
She unconsciously licked her lips at the splendour
of his engorged, up-thrust erection pulsing against his stomach.
His grin was insolent. ‘You like?’
Half breathless, frantic and feverish, it took her a moment to reply. ‘You know I do.’
It had never mattered before – the degree to which a woman wanted him. ‘Good,’ he whispered. ‘Now tell me you’re mine, baby. That all your hot horniness belongs to me.’ He gracefully lowered himself between her outspread thighs, guided his rigid dick to her cleft, paused. ‘Only me …’
‘Yes, yes, only to you … oh God, Dominic, please …’ Her voice trailed off in a sumptuous moan as Dominic slowly slid into her wet, welcoming heat.
He shut his eyes against the flood of fierce pleasure swamping his senses. ‘For always and ever, baby,’ he said, taut and low. ‘You and me.’
She nodded, incapable of speech with rapture bombarding every shuddering nerve in her body, with feverish lust driving her towards orgasm. But in lieu of a verbal answer, she tightened her arms around his neck, slid her feet over the back of his thighs, and opened her body completely to him.
‘Thank you, baby,’ he whispered, his breath light on her lips.
He felt her faint smile and marvelled at how small a gesture accorded him such inexplicable pleasure. But she was wet and wild and almost immediately forcing the pace. He kissed her gently. ‘In a hurry, baby?’
‘Now, now, now,’ she panted. Helpless, shivering, she’d been waiting all day. For this, for him, for the feel of him, the sublime, hard, thick feel of him plunging, pressing, stroking. Driving all the way in. Yesyesyes. Oh, too much – no, just right … oh God, oh God, Jesus God! Suddenly, she was choking on pleasure, shuddering and surging at the same time. Screaming.
But she was greedy and fierce and remorseless in her need and he continued to indulge her wild, orgasmic desires until he finally whispered, ‘Enough, baby. We’re going to stop. You’re trembling.’ Then he deliberately climaxed. Calling a temporary halt to her demands.
Staring up at him, she pouted a little. ‘What if I want more?’
‘You can have more. Just not right now. Neither of us knows what’s permissible until we see a doctor. Let’s not overdo.’
