Knight Takes Queen Read online

  ‘Back at you, baby.’ He brushed her grin with his fingertip. ‘And I don’t share. Don’t ever forget that.’

  ‘Why would I want to?’ She lazily stretched in a languorous motion that brought her lush pyjama-clad breasts into contact with his chest. ‘I’ve never been so happy, so filled with lust and love.’

  When she looked all warm and sexy, when her plump, showy breasts were resting lightly against his body, when her comment about never getting enough paralleled his own libidinous impulses, he suddenly felt the need to firmly underline the perimeters of their relationship. Or more pertinently for a man of his controlling temperament, to decisively mark his territory. Lightly touching the flawless forty-two-carat emerald-cut engagement diamond newly installed on Kate’s outstretched hand, Dominic quietly said, ‘This ring means we stay together. Today, tomorrow, for ever. All of us. You, me, the baby. Nothing and nobody gets in the way. Got it?’

  She nodded, gulping down the tears that had risen in her throat. ‘I cry … all the … time now,’ she hiccupped. ‘Especially … when I think about the baby. You’re going to be revolted … at how clingy … and weepy I’ve become.’

  ‘After seventy-two days,’ he turned his wrist to glance at his watch, ‘ten hours and twenty-three minutes without you.’ He shook his head. ‘Uh-uh … no way, baby. Not a chance.’

  She bit her lip as her tears spilled over.

  ‘Hey, hey, everything’s good from now on.’ Bending his head, he licked away her tears, then grabbed the quilt and wiped her cheeks. ‘We’re not going to fuck this up. We’re going to make each other happy. And speaking of happiness,’ he murmured, leaning back enough to reach the buttons on her pyjama top, ‘let’s see this new baby-making body of yours.’

  CHAPTER 2

  Dominic’s blue gaze was warm with pleasure as he freed the top button on Kate’s top. ‘I feel like a kid at Christmas who gets to open his special present.’

  ‘Then if you’ll undress for me,’ Kate’s voice was lazy with content, ‘we’ll both get a special present.’

  His grin was wickedly sexy. ‘That’ll take two seconds.’

  ‘Maybe you’d like to reword that,’ she said, instantly testy, the blur of women in his playboy past, the sex photos, tabloid and otherwise, not easily forgotten.

  He looked up into her stormy eyes and his fingers stilled. ‘How about I take my time undressing? This is all about what you want.’ Because he had what he wanted. ‘Just let us know the schedule.’

  Mollified or embarrassed or both, Kate softly sighed. ‘Lord, I’m even more jealous than before. I’m going to blame my crazy baby hormones because I don’t want to think of myself as some jealous bitch.’ She smiled faintly. ‘Tell me you don’t mind or I’ll burst into tears again.’

  He laughed. ‘Whatever you do is fine, baby.’ Then his voice went soft. ‘If there were nine circles of hell, I was in the tenth without you, OK? Nothing you can do will even begin to replicate that fucking misery. So jealousy, tears, whatever – hit me with it, I don’t care.’

  Her smile was sunny again. ‘Really? I have carte blanche?’

  ‘Damn right. You’re nurturing this baby for us. You’re allowed anything. You want something, let me know. I’ll find it for you. You need a shoulder to cry on, I’m here. You have a craving for something, it’s yours.’ Framing her face in his palms, he dipped his head. ‘Because I’m good at getting what I want,’ he whispered.

  ‘And you want me.’

  ‘You have no idea, baby.’

  ‘Even if I’m fat?’

  He grinned. ‘Depends how fat, I suppose.’

  She punched him.

  His gaze was lit with amusement. ‘OK, so we’ll take all the scales out of our houses.’

  ‘Your houses.’

  ‘Hey.’ He looked at her, his mouth pursed.

  ‘Our houses – in three weeks,’ she added with a grin.

  ‘I might have to spank you softly now, but don’t think I won’t do it if you get too mouthy, Katherine. We’re not going to argue about money. What’s mine is yours. End of discussion.’

  She wiggled her hips.

  ‘Are you trying to change the subject?’ But his dick got the message loud and clear and swelled noticeably.

  ‘I am,’ she purred. ‘I hate talking about money, and for your information, pregnancy makes me feel even more sexy.’

  He stared at her. ‘It does?’

  ‘No doubt in my mind.’

  He softly exhaled, ran through a few quick trial questions because even with Max’s surveillance during their separation, there was the possibility someone had been missed. Then drawing in a breath, he carefully said, ‘I’ll only ask this once and I apologize in advance because I have no right to ask when we weren’t together, but did you—’

  ‘Only my vibrator, or yours actually,’ she interjected because he was trying so hard to be polite.

  He blew out a breath. ‘Sorry. It shouldn’t matter but it does.’

  ‘Tell me about it,’ she muttered, shoving him away as jealousy instantly soured her mood again

  He wouldn’t have had to move; he was more than a hundred pounds heavier than her. But considering their very recent reconciliation, he did. Smoothly rolling away, he rested beside her in a lounging pose, his head propped on his hand. ‘Come on, baby, the nightmare’s almost over,’ he softly said. ‘And the minute my divorce is stamped by that judge in France, we’re getting married. You should tell Nana.’

  ‘Don’t change the subject. I should whip your ass,’ she said, although after Dominic’s sweet earnestness, her tone was less grumpy.

  Encouraged, he smiled. ‘If that changes the subject, be my guest.’

  She grinned. ‘Really?’

  ‘Fucking A. I don’t want to talk about the clusterfuck I just went through or even think about it.’ In a deal that had gone bad and threatened to burn him and, more importantly, Katherine, he’d agreed to a temporary three-month marriage because Katherine’s life had been on the line – although she was unaware of her danger. When, at the time, he’d tried to explain it all to her, in a severely edited version that didn’t mention the danger she was in, she’d gone ballistic. ‘But seriously though, baby,’ he added, moving the conversation to a less controversial topic, ‘you should give Nana a head’s up. I’ll send a plane for her, but still, she might like some warning.’

  ‘I can’t call her and tell her that you’re married, I’m pregnant and if all goes well, you’ll soon be divorced and should that happen, then we’ll get married. Not only does that sound like some scam, but I’d like to see your divorce papers before I call her. Nana will have her shotgun loaded and pointed at you when she gets off the plane unless everything’s settled. You met her. So that can’t be a surprise.’

  ‘She didn’t seem unreasonable,’ he said. ‘We got along.’

  ‘Jesus, did you charm her too?’

  He grinned. ‘You mean I actually charmed you?’

  ‘To the extent that we’ll soon be parents,’ she sardonically noted, running her hand over the slight rise of her belly.

  ‘Lucky me,’ he murmured, placing his hand on her stomach. ‘I mean it, Katherine. You don’t know how pleased I am that you’re having my baby.’ Leaning over, he took a chance, kissed her cheek and gave himself a mental high five when she didn’t baulk. ‘But if you prefer, call Nana when everything’s resolved.’

  ‘Jeez, Dominic, you make it sound as if you forgot your umbrella and as soon as someone brings it to you, life’s on track.’

  ‘The degree of difficulty doesn’t concern me, so long as we get our lives back.’ A muscle twitched along his jaw, a sudden chill invaded his eyes. ‘And I promise you, we will.’

  ‘You sound like you did with those bankers in Singapore. Can you stop? It’s scary.’

  He ran his hand over his eyes in a literal gesture of nullification. ‘Sorry,’ he said smoothly, the cold belligerence extinguished from his gaze. ‘And now if you can wait
a few minutes before you whip my ass,’ he added, cupping her small belly in his large palm, ‘I’d like to say hi to our baby.’ Bending low, he murmured, ‘I’m your daddy. We’re going to have fun, you and me and mommy. You’re going to be the centre of our world, did you know that? And if you want a pony you can have one,’ he playfully added, then looked up and rolled back. ‘They can hear, right?’

  ‘I think so. I’m completely ignorant. I almost had a pony but Gramps balked at cleaning the stall. Did you have one?’

  ‘Uh-uh. I never wanted one, but maybe the baby will take after you. Did you hear that?’ He brushed his palm over Kate’s belly. ‘Your mommy wanted a pony.’ He glanced at Kate. ‘I think we’d better get some baby books. Neither of us knows what we’re doing. In fact, let me call Melanie. She can overnight some to us.’ He pulled his phone from his jeans pocket and started dialling his sister in San Francisco.

  ‘Now?’

  ‘It’s early afternoon in San Francisco. If she buys them today, we’ll have them tomorrow. We can’t shop for them or the paparazzi might see us. If some of my staff buy them, we’re no better off. So Melanie’s safe.’ He grinned. ‘Instant gratification. I want to learn about babies. Not that I didn’t help Melanie with her first two, but when it’s not really your job, you just do what you’re told. This is our baby. I want to know everything. Hi, Mel. We need some baby books. All you can find. Send them overnight. No shit, I’m excited. Why wouldn’t I be? Yeah, yeah, cute. How about it’s better, OK? Like a hundred times better. Don’t give me any more grief. Just send them. No, you can’t talk to Katherine now because I’m talking to her. Yeah, actually talking. Goodbye.’ He ended the call and tossed his phone on the bedside table.

  ‘What’s a hundred times better?’

  ‘Nothing. Mel was being clever, that’s all.’

  ‘Tell me.’

  ‘It’s raunchy.’

  ‘Now I really want to know.’

  He made a face. ‘It was a long time ago.’

  ‘Jesus, Dominic. Do you ever want a piece of ass again?’

  ‘Watch it, baby. That’s not negotiable.’

  ‘Maybe I have something to say about it.’

  ‘Not as much as me,’ he said in a soft growl.

  She sighed. ‘I couldn’t anyway. This pregnancy makes me so horny. But I could be too tired for sex. I am tired a lot.’

  ‘Oh Jesus … OK. But don’t get pissed. It’s just surfer slang. When you’re surfing in waves that should kill you and you’re in the jaws of a wind tunnel that should destroy you and you know you can’t control it, you just let go. You lay into the warp and ride it clean through a cannon blast of green spit. And when you come out the other side alive, we call that kind of ride the next best thing to a three-way. That’s all.’ Or that’s all he was going to tell her. She’d freak at the real, three-way stuff.

  ‘That’s not so raunchy. It’s cute.’

  ‘Glad to hear it.’ Really glad. He was off the hook. ‘So.’ He pointed at her pyjama buttons. ‘May I?’

  ‘It’s always a yes, damn you. Sometimes I wish I had more control.’

  He smiled, looked up from sliding a second button free. ‘I like that you don’t.’

  ‘Still, it’s always too easy for you. It always has been, I expect. I hate to be one of the crowd.’

  It stopped him for a flashing moment, the thought that he’d do any of this for anyone but her. Risk his life, offer an open-ended bribe of millions to the low-life Gora, who’d threatened Katherine, marry Gora’s horny little mistress who was looking to augment her family’s bank account. ‘You’re one of a kind, baby, not one of a crowd,’ he gently said, back to his unbuttoning. ‘I’ve never asked anyone to marry me before. I’ve never considered having a baby with anyone before. I’ve never been in love like this before. Would you like that in writing? On a billboard somewhere. I could do a press release. In all modesty,’ he said with a small smile, sliding the last button free, ‘it would be a worldwide news flash.’

  ‘I want it in skywriting,’ she said, deadpan, before she grinned. ‘And thank you. For someone who always had more confidence than I needed, this baby is screwing with my head. It’s really strange.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. I like you strange or any way at all. Ummm … this I like a lot,’ he murmured, having brushed aside her pyjama top. ‘They’re bigger.’ He looked up. ‘When did that happen?’

  ‘Are you sure? I haven’t noticed.’

  ‘I’m sure, baby. You’ve been working too hard if you haven’t noticed these.’ He slid his hand under the curve of one large breast and gently lifted. ‘We’re going to have to fly Mrs Hawthorne over to see that you have some bras that fit.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Later then.’ He sat up and cupped her other breast.

  ‘No, not later either.’ They’d had this fight before.

  ‘Then you’re going to have to wear some bulky sweaters because these aren’t for public display.’ He moved his fingers and very gently squeezed her swollen nipples. ‘These are for me.’

  ‘I’m guessing the baby gets first dibs on my boobs. Oh God, that feels good.’

  He looked up, smiled. ‘Then I’ll settle for seconds. Apparently, parental self-sacrifice starts early.’

  ‘Even earlier than that.’ She raised her brows. ‘My breasts are incredibly sensitive now and I’m in heat practically all day, every day. So I’m going to need some of your personal attention – like, constantly.’

  ‘Jesus,’ he breathed. ‘My dick heard that. Are you sure it’s OK?’

  ‘Don’t you dare even think that,’ she hissed.

  ‘My mistake. Although, we should talk to a doctor just to make sure.’

  She glared at him.

  ‘Tomorrow. Not now. A female doctor. I didn’t like Clifton.’

  ‘You’re not undressed yet,’ she said, ignoring his comments, only half-listening, her attention focused on her impatient desire, on the steady throbbing between her legs, particularly on Dominic’s opened jeans and his obvious erection beneath his blue-and-white striped boxers. ‘I’d like the two-second undressing, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Would it matter if I did mind?’ he said with a grin, ripping off his T-shirt.

  ‘I am going to whip your ass if you don’t hurry.’ Then she drew in a shaky breath, her eyes filled with tears and she whispered, ‘I’ve really missed you.’

  He was undressed in less than two seconds. So grateful for the love radiating from her eyes, he would have given her the world wrapped up in a bow and delivered by pixies if she’d asked.

  But the one thing he knew she need he delivered. Quickly settling between her legs, he smoothly entered her, drove in more gently than usual despite her protestations that everything was fine.

  Her fine and his were still in contention.

  ‘Dominic! Please!’ she cried, hot-headed and hot-blooded, hurriedly wrapping her legs around his hips, her arms around his back, dragging him closer.

  He carefully moved deeper, ignoring or rather disregarding her nails sinking into his back. It wasn’t possible to actually ignore them.

  ‘I’m going to cry if you don’t let me come!’

  So he compromised, not because her tears disconcerted him, but because he wanted to please her. And in lieu of added depth he flexed his stiff, thick dick upward and rubbed it back and forth over her pulsing G-spot. ‘We’re seeing a doctor tomorrow,’ he said, rough and low. ‘Say yes or I’ll stop.’

  ‘Yes, yes, yes … oh yes,’ she sighed, her nails relaxing against his back. ‘Do that again.’

  ‘This?’ His pain level blessedly reduced, he obliged her with his well-trained dick and steel-hard thigh muscles, pressing gently against her G-spot and clit, once, twice, several more times before moving slightly in and out, side to side, then back to her favourite entertainment site while she panted and gasped in wonder and delight, softly moaned in rising hysteria.

  And he did what women around the world love
d him for, over and above his money: he fucked like an artist; with natural talent, an almost indecent technical competence and the well-honed gift of accurately gauging female arousal.

  Like just about now, he decided, sliding his long, slender fingers over the curve of Kate’s hips, under her soft, round ass and lifting her so his rigid erection pressed hard into her throbbing cushiony mound of tightly concentrated bliss.

  ‘Oh God, oh God, oh God …’

  He watched with a faint smile and a well-behaved, disciplined dick as, nearly breathless now, she careened at volatile, breakneck speed over the orgasmic edge and climaxed with only the tiniest of screams.

  Which served as musical background to his own satisfying climax.

  ‘Don’t move,’ he whispered, a few minutes later, unwrapping her legs and setting her feet on the bed. ‘We need some towels.’

  ‘I can’t move,’ she breathed, her eyes still shut. ‘I may never move again.’

  Her sweet naiveté always pleased him. Sex was so fresh and new to her. Every climax received with unalloyed delight. ‘So I don’t have to worry about you escaping while I’m gone?’ he said, rolling off the bed.

  ‘You don’t have to worry about me ever escaping. That should frighten the hell out of you.’

  She still hadn’t opened her eyes, her voice syrupy with content.

  ‘On the contrary, baby,’ he said, over his shoulder as he strode away. ‘It saves me the trouble of dragging you back. Because you’re mine as in permanently, till the end of time.’

  The sound of his voice died away as he walked into the bathroom.

  Instantly feeling deprived of his warmth, as if the light of the world had dimmed, she suddenly opened her eyes, sat up and cried, ‘Dominic!’

  He appeared in the bathroom doorway, holding a stack of white towels. ‘I’m here, baby.’ He didn’t take exception to the panic in her voice because he knew too well that feeling of loss. ‘I’ll always be here. In fact, I’d like to tie you to my wrist if you’d let me,’ he added, walking into the bedroom. ‘We have to talk about that.’

  Falling back on the bed, she felt her heart rate begin to slow. ‘Everything’s suddenly so intense, super emotional, bordering on hysteria. I’m jumpy and misty-eyed over everything and nothing at all.’