by C. C. Gibbs
So Dominic and his dick paid attention and took it slow and easy. Kate was still half sedated and indolent. Both were lazy; they’d not slept much lately. And Katherine was tender after days of fucking. But a smouldering desire burned in them both, like an eternal flame, all-consuming, prodigal, insensible to reason.
‘I need to feel you inside me and over me, touching me,’ Kate whispered, lifting her mouth for a kiss as Dominic languidly slid inside her. ‘Always …’
‘That works out then,’ Dominic murmured, smiling as he kissed her. ‘Because we have this insatiable craving for you.’ But she was swollen, tight. ‘Tell me if I’m hurting you.’ He stopped to rest, waited for her flesh to relax. ‘You sure you’re OK with this?’
Her green-eyed gaze was sleepy. ‘You feel good,’ she whispered. ‘Big.’
No shit. Because she was super tight. He gently flexed his legs, advanced a fraction more, felt like a fucking explorer mapping new territory. But her sleek tissue slowly turned supple, yielded and ultimately he reached his goal. ‘Is that too far?’
‘Ummm … no … ummm,’ she groaned. ‘Oh, God – do … that again.’
He always felt absurdly pleased when he could give her pleasure, as if he were placed on earth to indulge her, a bizarre thought always quickly forgotten after sex. ‘Like this?’ He barely moved, but he shifted his hips enough to exert a tenuous pressure on her favourite sweet spot.
‘Oh, God, Jesus, Dominic,’ she panted. ‘You can’t ever leave …’
‘Just a little,’ he murmured, withdrawing enough to add friction to the pressure when he thrust in again.
Her protest died in her throat, altered to a low, rapturous moan. Then she jerked his head down hard and hissed, ‘You’re perfect, dammit. I hate you for it. Now do that again.’
He did, several times and in several different ways, until she’d come, he had, she had, until much later she finally punched him hard in the chest.
‘Sure?’ he said with a faint smile.
‘We’re not all machines,’ she gasped.
‘You’re the boss, baby.’
She rolled her eyes.
‘You don’t get it, do you?’ he said with a smile, having altered his entire life for her. ‘But no complaints.’ He kissed her lightly. ‘And thanks for wearing these.’ He touched one of the gold cuff bracelets on her wrists. They’d agreed last night that she’d wear them in the house or rather he’d promised her a laundry list of sexual pleasures if she accommodated him. And she’d given in like she always did when she was offered an enchanting quid pro quo of personal gratification.
She grinned. ‘My pleasure, oh lord and master.’
He laughed. ‘Are they fucking magic bracelets or are you too exhausted to fight?’
‘Maybe I’m just in a submissive mood,’ she purred.
‘Perfect,’ he softly said. ‘That doesn’t happen often.’
‘Consider me temporarily obedient,’ she lightly said.
He smiled and rather than start an argument about temporary versus permanent, he asked, ‘Time for a soak in the tub?’
She almost said, How do you know that’s exactly what I want at this precise moment? But after all those lovely, gentle, balmy morning orgasms, she wasn’t in the mood to grill him about his expertise in gauging women’s desires; she was too tranquillized to care.
They were in the tub when Patty arrived, the kitchen noises drifting up the stairway an indication she was setting up for the day.
‘Hungry?’
Kate was sitting between Dominic’s legs, her back against his chest, her head on his shoulder, half asleep. She nodded.
‘Want breakfast in bed or downstairs?’
‘Whatever you want.’
‘Can you stay awake to eat?’
‘Coffee,’ she murmured.
‘Coming right up, baby. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.’ Easing out from behind her, he stepped out of the tub, saw that she was resting comfortably against the tub back and turned on the faucet to warm the water while he threw on a pair of sweats.
Semi-dressed, his wet hair dripping on his shoulders, he flicked off the tap and frowned; Katherine’s eyes were shut, her breathing slow. ‘Should I lift you out? I wouldn’t want you to drown in your sleep.’
‘I won’t drown,’ she whispered. ‘Hurry.’
He was in the kitchen moments later, rubbing his hair with a towel. ‘Morning, Patty. I need coffee five minutes ago.’
‘She must be hot. You don’t fetch and carry.’ Flicking her blonde braids over her shoulder, Patty pulled out a tray and set two large cups and two spoons on it.
‘She is.’ Dominic grinned, tossing the towel on the white marble counter. ‘So I fetch and carry. Some pastries?’
‘Warm chocolate croissants?’ The coffee was poured, sugar and cream added to the tray.
‘You’re a saint.’
‘We already determined that years ago.’ Patty took two croissants out of a warming oven drawer and placed them in a napkin-lined basket. ‘Have your special babe tell you what she wants for breakfast. I’ll see what I can do, or maybe,’ she said with her usual cheek, ‘I’ll just cook what I want.’
Dominic gave her a look. ‘Maybe you’ll cook what Katherine wants today.’
‘Whoa … did I really hear that?’
‘Just be nice, Patty, OK? Do that for me?’
‘Sure, Nicky. No problem.’ Folding the napkin ends over the croissants, she handed the tray to Dominic. ‘But I’m expecting to meet a goddess after seeing you actually move your ass for a woman,’ she said with a wink.
He swore at her; she grinned. ‘Just for starters I’ll make French toast with caramelized bananas and crème fraîche. But I’m open to orders, boss. You know that.’
He didn’t, of course, because Patty hadn’t taken an order in the sixteen years she’d worked for him. But she cooked like she surfed – perfect form, to-die-for creativity – so he’d never complained. And she was looking serious and sincere which was a hopeful sign. ‘Thanks, Patty. Now be nice to Katherine. I like her.’
No shit, Patty thought, watching Dominic’s retreating form. Let me mark this day on the never-thought-it-would-happen calendar.
When Kate and Dominic came down to breakfast, Kate did a quick double take because Patty was close to Dominic’s age, blonde and beautiful in a cool, Nordic way, in great shape, and she wondered if they were more than employer and employee. But she reminded herself that Dominic had been relatively open with her last night – or as capable as he was of openness – so she had to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Dominic introduced the women.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Patty said, taking in Kate’s cuff bracelets without expression.
‘Same here.’ Kate smiled, ignoring Patty’s glance. ‘The coffee and croissants were to die for. Did you make the croissants?’
Patty nodded and grinned. ‘That’s why Nicky pays me the big bucks.’
Dominic didn’t know where Patty was going with that smart-ass grin, so he said, ‘Breakfast smells good. Are you ready for us?’
‘Sure, boss.’
Patty calling him boss wasn’t reassuring. Dominic gave her a warning glance as he followed Kate to the table. And whether she acknowledged it or not, she was super polite as they ate.
Patty’s French toast was truly decadent, as was a fruit plate that could have been on display in a museum, and the coffee was everything coffee should be: hot, a teeny bit sweet, strong with just a trace of austerity to remind you of the reason you drank coffee.
Patty sat at the kitchen table with them and talked about her husband and children. She got up to point out pictures of her family on the kitchen walls – on Dominic’s kitchen walls, Kate reflected. And she was actually a little brusque with Dominic at times. She called him Nicky too, like Melanie did. Kate liked that Dominic had people around him who were a part of his life – that he wasn’t completely alone.
Dominic worried that Patty was bein
g too friendly and solicitous, but Katherine didn’t seem to notice. And when she praised Patty’s coffee, asking how she made it, what type of coffee she used, wondered if she could get some for her grandmother, the ice – if there had been any – was broken, melted and evaporated into the atmosphere.
Patty couldn’t do enough for Katherine. Because she figured, one, the very first woman Dominic had brought to this house warranted special treatment, and two, those cuff bracelets Katherine was wearing were really out there for someone like Dominic who kept his kink private. So Patty actually ran her day’s menu past Katherine in the event some of the food didn’t appeal.
Kate said, ‘I eat anything,’ then blushed so sweetly, Patty didn’t wonder that she appealed to Dominic after years of women who wouldn’t know how to blush if their life depended on it.
And when they left after breakfast to go up on the roof to sit in the sun, Patty murmured as Dominic left the kitchen, ‘She’s a keeper, Nicky. You did good.’
From the rooftop, the view of the Golden Gate Bridge was postcard worthy, the sun warm as they lay side by side on chaises, the sense of contentment thick enough to cut with a butter knife.
‘Happy?’ Dominic touched Kate’s hand, slid his finger over the gold bracelet.
She smiled. ‘Oh, yeah. You?’
‘More than you know,’ he said gently, looking forward to being with her in London. ‘Sleep if you want. We have till ten.’
‘And?’
‘The attorney comes at ten.’
‘You sure you want to do this? You don’t have to do it for me. I’m not going anywhere unless you want me to.’
He kept his voice benign – previous talk of shackling her to his bed hadn’t been greeted with approval. ‘Contracts are routine for me. Humour me if you don’t mind.’
‘I don’t mind. You’re the one who’s used to exercising his sexual freedom. Exclusivity isn’t a problem for me. I don’t want anyone else. You know that.’
She made it sound so simple when it had never been simple before.
When he’d never been interested in simplicity when it came to the women in his life. Even Julia had brought with her exotic adventure and thrill-seeking world travel. Now he was happy and content doing nothing, lying here with Katherine, the sun warm on his face, the person who gave meaning to his life beside him.
It was enough.
He didn’t need anything more.
And this time he was determined to keep the subversive demons at bay.
While he couldn’t cancel his past, nor wash away a single bitter memory, he could shape a new destiny, create a new world, perhaps learn to understand the meaning of love.
CHAPTER 21
Dominic’s attorney was well-dressed in a navy suit that was beautifully cut by some tailor who knew his business, charged what some people made in a year and sent his clients out in the world with the authority serious money commanded.
Dominic hadn’t changed out of his sweats and T-shirt and Katherine was equally dressed down, but Chris Robbins smiled politely when Katherine was introduced, pretended he didn’t see the cuff bracelets and treated Dominic and Kate with professional deference. Or more likely with the extra-professional deference awarded to a billionaire client and this woman who’d warranted a change in Dominic’s will.
Patty brought in a tray with coffee and cookies, set it on a small table between Katherine and the two men and left. While Chris (he and Dominic had known each other since college, it turned out) extracted several documents from his briefcase, the men discussed basketball: they talked about the Golden State Warriors season and the score of last night’s game that Dominic was aware of despite not having seen it. They agreed that they needed more rain, that the opera needed more funding, after which Dominic suggested Chris send them whatever he thought appropriate and let Roscoe know the amount.
Chris set a small stack of papers on the table, carefully lined up the edges and took out a lacquered black pen, quite beautiful, like fine jewellery. He unscrewed the cap and handed the pen to Dominic.
Gee, rich people don’t even have to get up and get their own pen, Kate thought, glancing at the desk where several pens resided in a leather canister.
Dominic leaned forward in his chair. ‘Show us where to sign.’
‘Would you like to read it?’
‘The draft was fine.’ Dominic turned to Kate. ‘You should read it, though, Katherine.’ He nodded at the attorney, who slid a copy towards Kate.
‘I don’t want to.’
Dominic gave her a quick look. ‘I’d advise you to read it. Tell her, Chris.’
Chris smiled politely. ‘I always suggest a contract be read before signing.’
Kate pointed at the papers. ‘Do I have my email out? That’s all I need.’ It meant she could leave, as they’d agreed in Singapore, whenever she wished.
The attorney glanced at Dominic, ran a quick hand over his thinning hair.
Dominic stared at him for a heartbeat, his expression blank. ‘Katherine’s referring to the revocation clause.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Chris swallowed. ‘The clause is in there.’
Kate sat up a little straighter in her chair. ‘Then show me where to sign.’
Dominic gave her a jaundiced look. ‘I’m going to make sure your CX Capital contract is reviewed before you sign it. They won’t be as amenable as I should you change your mind.’
‘You’re amenable? Really?’ She grinned playfully. ‘Since when?’
‘Enough, Katherine,’ Dominic warned softly, flicking his eyes towards the attorney.
‘I expect the nature of our friendship isn’t in doubt since Mr Robbins drafted this contract for you, Dominic,’ she said as softly.
Dominic sighed. ‘Then just sign the thing.’
‘That’s what I was going to do before you started giving orders.’
Dominic’s mouth clamped shut, a twitch appeared high over his cheekbone and he handed her the pen.
Chris Robbins said afterwards to his partner, who could be trusted not to gossip since they both preferred to keep Dominic Knight as a client, that not only had Dominic wanted this woman badly enough to sign an exclusivity contract, but Miss Katherine Hart apparently was not the docile type because she’d argued with Dominic until he’d clenched his jaw and given up. ‘Except for the handcuffs,’ he said with a grin and went on to explain the pricey bracelets.
‘That’s her appeal,’ Bob Thorp, his partner, said, grinning back in that cocky way typical in male discussions of sex. ‘Docile when it matters, otherwise fiery. Keeps Knight guessing.’
‘Her only interest was in the revocation clause. She refused to look at the contract. Dominic pressed her and she resisted.’
‘Did you tell her the revocation clause is worthless?’
‘She didn’t ask.’
‘She doesn’t know about the codicil to Knight’s will either, right? Or do you think she does, hence the lack of concern with the revocation clause.’
‘No, Dominic was absolutely clear on that. She doesn’t know. The codicil was in a separate envelope I was told to put in his desk. I was ushered into his office first.’
‘So what does this potentially rich woman look like? Something above the ordinary, I’d say?’ Bob adjusted the cuff on his twenty-grand suit. ‘Maybe she’ll be looking for a new friend.’
‘She’s way out of your league, Bobby, my boy, so don’t get excited. And she’s only rich if some meeting Dominic has on Tuesday goes wrong. He’s not expecting trouble, he said, but just taking precautions. He didn’t give any details beyond that. But Knight Enterprises does business in some dodgy regions of the world. Even with security, there are always risks.’
‘I still don’t know what this extremely clever and apparently too-beautiful-for-me woman looks like.’ Bob Thorp didn’t take his partner’s put-down personally. Very few men could challenge Dominic Knight when it came to looks.
‘Here.’ Chris tapped some icons on his phone. �
�I downloaded the photo from my pen camera. Here.’
Bob Thorp laughed. ‘You and your spy shit,’ he said, taking the phone. ‘Oh, baby … she’s fine. No make-up, no fancy clothes, and she still blows you away. Leave it to Dominic to find her.’
‘It’s not as though he hasn’t been checking out female perfection around the globe both before and after his marriage. His percentages were good he’d find something he liked.’
‘To the tune of what?’
‘Half.’
Bob’s eyes bulged out like a cartoon character. ‘You’re fucking kidding me.’
‘Uh-uh. Half. Signed, sealed, delivered.’
‘Jesus, she must be good in the sack.’
‘Don’t ever say that to him. The guy’s serious about her.’
‘Yeah, I got that.’
CHAPTER 22
‘You have no discretion,’ Dominic muttered after the door closed on the attorney.
‘You of all people complaining. I’m not the one who doesn’t care if I’m video-taped whipping some woman’s ass. And considering your attorney drafted that contract’ – she lifted her brows – ‘what’s the point?’ She held out her hands, displaying the cuff bracelets. ‘Speaking of discretion, you didn’t seem to care about these. Because you like this, don’t you?’
He smiled. ‘Very much.’
‘So who’s indiscreet now?’
He dipped his head. ‘Agreed.’
She made a check with her finger in the air. ‘Won that one.’
He laughed. ‘You like to win, don’t you?’
‘Damn right. You do too. Yin, yang, never a dull moment. That’s why—’
‘Katherine.’
‘What?’
‘Come here.’
She shot a quick glance at the door. ‘Patty might come in.’
‘She won’t.’
‘How do you know?’ But her voice trembled.
‘I know. Now get up and walk over here.’
Their eyes met.
‘Slowly,’ he said, his voice serene, his arm resting on the table, his fingers lightly placed on the contract they’d just signed … as though to remind her that her addiction had become legal. To remind her of his incredible power over her.
