Knight Takes Queen (9 page)

Wide-eyed, Kate watched the baby drift back to sleep. ‘You do know what you’re doing.’

‘More than you, apparently. Didn’t you ever babysit?’

She shook her head. ‘Well, twice, and Nana was there.’

‘So you didn’t babysit,’ he said with a grin. ‘I can see who’s going to be taking care of the baby.’

‘While you’re busy at work no doubt,’ she scoffed.

‘Not a problem. Although, you’re going to have to stay close because we’re going to need your milk.’ He looked up, brows raised. ‘You could have the office next door to mine. We could work together on everything. Sound like a plan?’

‘Tempting, Mr Knight,’ she purred.

‘Did I mention, most of my offices have a bedroom for the nights I work late? Once the baby’s sleeping, we could put him or her in the crib, shut the door to the bedroom and make use of the couch in my office. Interested?’

She dropped back against the sofa cushions and shut her eyes. ‘Jesus, Dominic, it sounds like heaven.’

‘I’ll give you the heaven of your choice if you agree to work with me.’

She opened her eyes. ‘You mean it, don’t you? You’re not teasing about Knight Enterprises?’

‘I never tease about business. Especially my own.’

‘You’re saying we could take care of the baby together.’

‘We could or – if you don’t want to – I could.’

She gave him a small stunned look. ‘You’d do that?’

‘I’d do anything for you, Katherine,’ he said softly. ‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do.’

She started sniffling. Shifting the baby to his other arm, he pulled Kate into the solid warmth of his body. ‘It’s OK, baby, cry all you want. Just not too loud or you’ll wake Bee, OK?’

She punched him softly so she wouldn’t wake the baby.

‘There’s a handkerchief in my back pocket.’

Reaching behind, she dug the handkerchief out and wiped her eyes. ‘Boy Scout,’ she whispered. ‘Always prepared.’

‘Tell Martin that. He put it in there. His daughter had two babies. I guess he knows.’

She sat up, looking shocked. ‘He said that?’

‘Relax, baby. He didn’t say anything. I just saw I had a handkerchief and put two and two together. I don’t usually carry a handkerchief in my jeans pocket, so you should thank him. Hey, I’m just teasing,’ he quickly added at her look of alarm. ‘I’ll thank him.’

She snorted. ‘You’re very annoying.’

‘But you love me anyway.’

‘How can I not when you know how to take care of babies?’

‘There you go. Done deal. Now give me a kiss, then we’ll eat and get the hell out of here. I’m actually starved.’

‘You’re always starved,’ Kate murmured. Grabbing the neck of his ocean blue Cucinelli polo shirt he’d worn in deference to Amanda’s style of casual, Kate stretched up.

Dominic dipped his head and met her quick kiss, then smiled from close range. ‘I’m just making sure I get enough
to eat to keep my strength up, baby. You like to fuck a lot.’ His smile widened. ‘Ready?’ Cause the sooner we eat, the sooner we leave.’ Rising from the sofa with the baby in one arm, he held out his other hand and pulled Kate up.

‘I was just checking with the cook,’ Amanda said, bustling back into the conservatory from the hallway where she’d been keeping watch. ‘Let me get the nurse for Bee and we’ll have dinner.’

The table was beautifully laid with the fine china, silver, wine glasses, and a colourful display of mostly roses in a tall silver epergne that some artistic florist had created in order to leave the sight lines at the candle-lit table free.

Amanda served as hostess with the aplomb of someone to the manor born, directing the progressive courses with an imperceptible glance or gesture. And her idea of casual, as Dominic had known, meant pearls instead of diamonds and a street-length skirt rather than an evening gown. But Justin wore jeans like Dominic and neither man paid any attention to who was serving, only to what was served. Both men ate with appetite.

‘You’ll get used to it,’ Justin kindly said, after watching Kate’s gaze follow the young woman who was serving them dinner. ‘I put myself through Columbia on scholarships and student loans and I barely notice anymore.’

‘I’m sure you’re right,’ Kate politely said, when she knew she would never get used to servants. In fact, she was wondering where the young woman waiting on them lived, did
she have children, how late did she work on an evening like this, how did she get home?

Dominic smiled at the patent fraud in Kate’s reply. ‘Katherine has an anarchist soul, don’t you, baby? You don’t have to change.’

She gave him a grateful smile. ‘I’m not sure I could.’

‘Or would want to.’ He grinned. ‘Right?’

‘Probably,’ she said very softly, becoming increasingly embarrassed with Justin and Amanda watching them like spectators at a tennis match.

‘We’ll work something out,’ Dominic said, equally softly. ‘I don’t want you unhappy. You’re not drinking your cider?’ he added, a touch of concern in his voice. ‘Or eating much. Do you feel all right?’

‘Really, Dominic, I’m fine.’ Kate wasn’t going to say she didn’t like the salmon tartar, although the citrus dressed watercress was tasty. And mushrooms had never appealed. She’d tried to eat around the mushrooms in the risotto without making it too obvious. She
had
eaten the au gratin potatoes and some of the steak, until the sizzling grease made her think about barfing.

‘You didn’t like the steak?’ Dominic gently asked. Both men had had seconds.

‘It was wonderful.’ Kate smiled politely at Amanda. ‘I just don’t have much of an appetite at the moment.’

Amanda nodded. ‘That’s perfectly understandable.’

‘Still, baby, you have to
try
and eat,’ Dominic urged softly.

‘Would you like something else? Peanut butter and toast? You like that.’

‘Not right now. I’m good.’

Justin and Amanda were mesmerized; neither had ever heard Dominic speak to a woman with such solicitousness. He’d barely noticed women before – other than as sex objects.

Dominic suddenly turned his gaze on Amanda. ‘You wouldn’t happen to have chocolate milk?’

He might have asked whether she cleaned her toilets herself, she was so shocked by his question. ‘Ah … we … might – I’m not entirely—’

‘I’ll go ask the chef.’ Dominic was on his feet and moving towards the butler’s pantry before anyone at the table – mainly Kate – could protest.

Could she please just melt into the floor?
Embarrassed to the max, Kate rolled her eyes and said in almost a whisper, ‘Sorry. As you see, Dominic worries about me not eating.’

‘How sweet of him,’ Amanda said, having regained her composure. ‘I’m sure he means well.’

Kate sighed. ‘In his own overpowering way. I’m used to eating a lot of pizza and Dominic doesn’t approve.’

‘Pizza can be nourishing,’ Amanda politely noted, when it was clear she was actually saying,
Pizza
, really?

Justin smiled. ‘My mother made pizza from scratch. I grew up on it and I’m not exactly what you’d call stunted.’ He was a big man like Dominic.

‘Maybe you could tell that to Dominic,’ Kate said, grateful for the reinforcement. ‘And save me a hassle.’

‘I heard that,’ Dominic said with a grin, carrying a large glass of chocolate milk. ‘We’ll get that recipe from you, Justin. And if you drink your milk, baby, I’ll do something nice for you.’

Everyone at the table understood what he meant.

Or interpreted what he meant from individual, enshrined memory.

Pulling up a chair beside Kate, rather than take his seat opposite her and blithely ignoring her
if looks could kill
stare, Dominic handed her the glass. ‘Drink, baby. It’s good for you.’

‘We’ll talk about this later,’ she said under her breath, taking the glass.

‘Be happy to,’ he cheerfully replied. ‘Would you like a straw?’

What she’d like to do was beat the shit out of him
. Since that wasn’t an option and he damned well knew it, she drank the milk, under Dominic’s sunny gaze and the barely concealed amazement of her hosts.

Opportunely, since a patent awkwardness crackled in the air, the chef suddenly walked through the swinging pantry door carrying a Baba au Rhum, magnificently decorated in sugared kumquats and green grapes. She placed it on the table with a flourish, then deftly cut and served her masterpiece. The dessert was as delicious as it looked, topped with mounds of whipped Chantilly cream and rum sauce.

Kate had no trouble finding an appetite for it.

Although she understood Dominic’s concern, and the need for good nutrition in pregnancy the fact was that other than sweets and carbs, very little appealed to her right now.

‘You liked the Baba,’ Dominic said, glancing at her almost empty plate. ‘And thanks for drinking the milk,’ he quietly said.

‘Thanks for getting it.’ She spoke as softly. ‘That was nice of you.’

Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, ‘I’ll be even nicer when we get out of here.’

She sucked in her breath as a flutter of arousal stirred her senses and settled with a delectable ripple between her legs.

‘Just a few minutes more,’ Dominic whispered, then looked up, smiled at Justin and reached for the port decanter Justin was pushing his way.

A few minutes later as the dessert plates were being taken away and the men were enjoying their port, Amanda understood that if she wanted her question answered, her window of opportunity was quickly closing. ‘I have to ask,’ she said, her glance swivelling between Kate and Dominic. ‘And you may tell me it’s none of my business, because of course it isn’t, but are you planning on getting married?’

‘Jesus, Mandy,’ Justin muttered, giving his wife a sharp look. ‘That’s a little personal.’ He glanced at Dominic and grimaced. ‘Sorry.’

‘It’s all right.’ Dominic gave Justin an easygoing smile.
‘We’ve already talked to a wedding planner. Mrs Hastings is taking care of things’

Amanda’s eyes opened wide. ‘Really, Mrs Hastings?’ She spoke like one would on seeing a Martian for the first time – in a tone of breathless wonder. ‘She’s incredibly difficult and overbearing.’

‘I’m paying her well. She seems agreeable.’

‘Agreeable? I didn’t think she understood the word.’

‘It costs a little more, but she understands. We’re still not certain exactly what we’re doing.’ Dominic glanced at Kate. ‘But if we decide on a public occasion, you’ll be sure to get an invitation.’

‘I’m dithering,’ Kate interjected. ‘Dominic doesn’t like me dithering.’

‘I’ll get used to it,’ he said, smiling at Kate.

‘Like I’m trying to get used to a control freak,’ she playfully retorted.

Dominic’s lashes lowered faintly. ‘You see the adjustments we’re making.’

Amanda bit back her startled response.

Justin choked on his port.

And a short time later, as the front door closed on their dinner guests, Amanda looked at her husband, dumb-founded. ‘Did you
ever
think you’d see the day when Dominic Knight made
adjustments
?’

‘Not unless he was adjusting some babe’s handcuffs or leg restraints,’ Justin drawled.

‘Exactly.’ Amanda had been apprised of Dominic’s
excesses from her husband who’d known Dominic prior to their marriage. ‘Do you think he’ll actually marry her?’

‘It looks like it. Remember, Dominic’s been stalking Katherine for at least four months. That’s not only unusual but unprecedented for him. His arrangements with women have always been in hours not months.’

‘Except for his wife.’

Justin snorted softly. ‘You saw them together. He treated Julia like a friend. A best friend, but still a friend. Unlike tonight. Dominic touched Katherine every chance he had. And he and Julia never talked about having children. He really
wants
this child. And if the size of the ring he gave Katherine is any indication of his feelings, he’s definitely serious.’

‘That’s true. I’ve never seen a diamond that large.’

‘Most people haven’t. One like that rarely comes on the market.’

‘He can afford it, of course.’

Justin quirked a brow. ‘But he’s never chosen to buy one before.’

Amanda smiled. ‘So what should I wear to the wedding?’

‘Is that my cue to say – you should buy something new?’

‘That must be one of the reasons I love you. You can read my mind.’

Justin grinned. ‘Can you read mine?’

Amanda laughed. ‘I can always read yours. It never changes.’

‘So?’

‘So no one will hear us in the study downstairs.’

‘That’s what I was thinking,’ he said, taking her hand, pulling her close and kissing her. ‘Now all you have to do is tell me what you want,’ he whispered against her mouth.

They were home by nine, Kate was sleeping by ten and Dominic had the rest of the evening to himself. Pulling on pyjama bottoms, he brought a chair up to the bed, picked up his laptop, and worked on until midnight.

If it was possible to paint a picture of content, he thought, this was the living image and he was living proof. His beautiful wife-to-be, who was carrying his child, was close enough to touch and their recent lovemaking had warmed his senses. Add in time for business in the quiet of the night … fuck – he had it all.

Also, Katherine no longer seemed entirely averse to joining Knight Enterprises. He half smiled. At least, her refusals were less vehement: that was encouraging.

Whether it was the late hour, Katherine’s presence or whether he’d drifted into some quixotic land of starry-eyed imagination, he visualized Katherine as his partner in marriage and at Knight Enterprises. A pleasant conceit which would pretty much fast track his last thirty-two fucked
up years into the realm of transcendent perfection or the equivalent in terms of a religious experience for less warped souls. Assuredly a miracle by any standard.

As if some dark spirit from his past suddenly realized it was about to lose its job, a voice out of nowhere grunted, ‘Uh-uh, dude, that happiness shit is reserved for other people … not you.’ And all his familiar demons reappeared: warning him against chasing rainbows, about trusting people, reminding him of the countless betrayals in his life, ripping off all the scabs.

His jaw clenched at the memory of all those lonely anchorless years.
Fuck off
,’ he muttered under his breath, shaking away the oppressive feelings, struggling to resist the desolation and punishing cynicism that had once been his life’s burden. ‘
Fuck the hell off
.’

Kate’s eyes fluttered open. ‘What time is it?’ Her cheeks were flushed, her voice liquid with sleep.

‘Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to wake you.’ He could feel the tension in his body melt away, his fight reflex chill. The warmth in Katherine’s eyes was a balm against the ruin of his past. ‘It’s a little after midnight,’ he added. ‘Go back to sleep.’

‘Ummm … come to bed.’ Her fingers slid over the top of the quilt and fluttered in silent appeal. ‘I need you to hold me …’

‘You should sleep,’ he murmured, polite and virtuous.

‘Don’t want to,’ she mumbled with that little bunny
twitch of her nose that always made him smile. ‘I need you …’

So much for virtue
. ‘Give me a minute.’ He shut his laptop and leaned over to set it on the carpet.

‘Hurry.’ He looked up at the dulcet whisper.

She’d tossed back the covers and rolled on her side, so the curve of her hip was silhouetted against the bed curtains, her large, ripe breasts were softly mounded one on top of the other, her swollen nipples pink and huge and imminently suckable.

‘Jesus, baby … I’m never going to get enough of that,’ he whispered, moving out of his chair in a surge of honed muscle, his fingers on the tie of his pyjama pants. A second later, he stepped over them and moved towards the bed.

He kissed and sucked her lush nipples, watched her gently dissolve through two dreamy orgasms, half asleep, deliciously aroused and when she murmured sweetly, ‘Thank you, Dominic, I’m going back to sleep,’ he spread her thighs and inhaled her lush moan as he pushed his dick into her smooth, sleek body. She was immaculately soft and beautifully receptive and all his, he thought with naked pleasure. All his demons were laid waste. By wistful desire and hot passion, by mutual appetites beguiled and quenched. By an abundance of happiness.

It turned out to be a lazy weekend. They mostly stayed in bed. The food they ordered was left outside in the hallway; once they moved into the room next door when the staff came to change the sheets and clean the bathroom. Until
finally, late on Saturday, they went downstairs for a special dinner Quinn had prepared for Kate.

Uneasy about Kate’s lack of appetite, in the wee hours of Saturday morning Dominic had emailed Nana for some of Kate’s favourite recipes. Quinn had done yeoman’s duty preparing everything since Nana’s reply arrived at four that afternoon.

Dominic and Kate, barefoot and semi-dressed in pyjamas, walked into the large, candle-lit dining room.

‘Everything’s so beautiful,’ Kate breathed as someone shut the doors behind them. ‘So many flowers.’ The scent of roses perfumed the air, Torchieres with cascading white roses framed the double entrance doors as well as the buffet on the far wall where the food was waiting under silver domed dishes. Four large candelabra marched down the twenty-foot-long mahogany table in the centre of the room, bowls of white roses were strategically ranked between the candelabra and two place settings were visible on one end of the polished mahogany surface. She smiled up at Dominic. ‘You must keep the floral economy going.’

‘I do now,’ he said with a flicker of a smile. ‘These are for you. I usually eat in the library.’

‘How do you ever get used to this’, she half lifted her hand, ‘splendour?’

The Chinoiserie wallpaper was a faded azure in the diffused light, the lush apricot-coloured moiré draperies covering the soaring windows and puddled on the parquet floor shimmered softly in the candle glow, the large
furniture scaled to the dimensions of the enormous, high-ceilinged room diminished in size by the flickering shadows.

‘It’s only splendid with you here,’ he gently said, seeing the room with fresh eyes. Or perhaps for the first time. His London agent had purchased the house after Dominic had seen it online. He was rarely here; he generally slept at his office or club when he was in London.

Taking Kate’s hand, Dominic moved from the doorway. ‘Come, see what Quinn put together for us.’

The buffet table must have been built for giants. Kate had to stand on tiptoe to survey the domed silver platters and bowls as Dominic lifted the covers one by one. A tureen of tomato soup was surrounded by dainty grilled cheese sandwiches; perfectly cooked barbecue ribs with Nana’s sauce glistening; crunchy mac and cheese the way Kate liked it, three-bean salad and a towering carrot cake with a cream cheese frosting.

Recognizing the familiar menu, Kate turned to Dominic ‘You talked to Nana again?’ Alarm vibrated in her voice.

‘Don’t panic. I emailed her.’ He drew her to the table. ‘And I didn’t mention anything but recipes. I told her you were missing her food, that’s all.’ He pulled out a large wing-backed chair for Kate at the head of the table. ‘Sit, baby. I’ll serve us. See that footstool? Need it closer?’ Leaning over, he drew it under her dangling feet.

‘I’ll tell her about the baby soon.’ Kate ran her toes over
the soft blue velvet on the footstool. ‘Just not yet,’ she said with a faint grimace.

‘Whenever or never, I don’t care. Just so long as you’re within touching distance of me all the time,’ he said with a smile. ‘I have my priorities.’

She leaned back and smiled. ‘I like it just us too.’

‘Good. That saves me the hassle of locking you up somewhere,’ he said over his shoulder as he walked back to the buffet.

‘Funny.’

‘I’m not joking, Katherine.’

‘You better be.’

He turned around, a muscle jumped at the back of his jaw. ‘You know what you mean to me, right?’

His voice was so soft it barely carried the few feet to the table. ‘Still, Dominic, you can’t even
think
about locking me up.’

It took him a moment to answer. Then he smiled his super charming smile that had always gotten him whatever he wanted from a woman. ‘I know, baby. You’re right. I was out of line.’
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it
. Another quick smile, boyish and sweet. ‘Are you as hungry as me? Or is it just because Nana’s food smells so good?’

Dominic did the serving honours. Kate preferred not having staff around and he preferred not being disturbed. After carrying over several plates so they each had a full array of food, he sat in a chair to Kate’s right. Everything was delicious, like farm cooking he thought, although he’d
never been on a farm. But the food was wholesome, salt-of-the-earth and he watched with pleasure as Katherine ate with an appetite he hadn’t seen since his return.

Although after thirty straight minutes of eating, after numerous servings of ribs and cake, he cautioned, ‘Maybe you should take a rest. Let your food settle.’

‘I adore you for doing this,’ Kate said, licking the barbecue sauce off her fingers as Dominic pushed a finger bowl her way. ‘Don’t you like carrot cake?’

‘I had three pieces, baby.’

‘There’s still lots left.’

He smiled. ‘Maybe later.’

‘I think I can eat one more of those cute little grilled cheese sandwiches your chef cut into bunnies.’

Dominic raised one brow and handed her a small sandwich. ‘Nana said you liked bunny shapes.’

‘But these are like Dürer’s rabbit – almost real looking with those little olive eyes and macaroni whiskers. How does he make them furry looking?’

‘Beats me.’

She took a bite. ‘We don’t have anything this fancy at home. Nana just uses a cookie cutter,’ she said, chewing, then swallowing. ‘You can tell they’re bunnies, but just barely.’ The second and last bite disappeared in her mouth and she shut her eyes in bliss as she chewed. ‘Oh Lord, that cheese is fabulous,’ she said a moment later. ‘Although all the butter the sandwiches are fried in helps too.’ She wiped her fingers on a napkin Dominic handed her. ‘You spoil me
absolutely rotten, but thank you.’ She blew him a kiss. ‘It feels really good to eat.’

He caught her kiss and grinned. ‘I like to see you eat. I’m guessing the baby does too. We’ll keep Nana in the loop when it comes to recipes so you have food you enjoy.’

‘If your chef doesn’t mind making such pedestrian fare.’

‘He doesn’t mind.’

‘You’re just saying that. He’s probably tearing his hair out.’

‘Quinn hasn’t had hair for years. It’s not a problem. So if you want peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or a bowl of cereal, you’ve got it, OK? By the way, Nana sent her bread recipe so its bacon sandwiches for breakfast tomorrow.’

‘Oh my God! I love you wildly and totally! With mayonnaise?’

He laughed. She looked like a child with her red curls finger-combed-messy, her eyes alight, her wide, flashing smile radiating happiness. ‘Yes, baby, with mayonnaise. Nana sent the recipe for that too.’

‘You are so sweet, Dominic. I don’t know how to thank you for thinking of bacon sandwiches.’

‘If you’ve finished eating, you could thank me by opening your pyjama top,’ he said softly, a lazy smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

Sitting back in the large cushioned chair, she swiftly unbuttoned the pearl buttons on the blue gingham top, pulled it open wide and grinned. ‘Ta-da!’

‘Very nice.’ His voice was velvet soft, his gaze predatory. ‘I might have to suck on your tits.’

‘Here?’ She touched her nipples with the tips of her index fingers.

‘There and then we’ll move on …’

Drawing her legs up as Dominic’s deep voice triggered a lush, heated response deep inside, she rested her head against the luxurious azure-and-white striped silk of the chair back. ‘Did you tell them to put this chair here? For me. For this?’

Dominic smiled faintly. ‘I manage a global empire, Katherine,’ he said, lounging beside her in a mahogany armchair, perfectly at home in this luxurious room wearing a grey T-shirt and flannel pyjama pants. ‘I can manage one woman.’

‘Maybe,’ she purred, her eyes half lidded, the shimmering green aglow with desire.

‘No maybe about it, Katherine. Take off your top.’

‘And if I don’t?’ Half teasing, a playful lift of one brow.

‘Then I will.’ Pushing his chair back, he stood up, moved the candelabrum down to the far end of the table, pushed the flower bowls in the same direction and cleared a large space on the table.

She sat up. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m going to eat you for dessert.’

‘Not here!’

‘Here, Katherine. That’s why I’m making room.’

‘People might come in,’ she restively said, making a choppy little gesture towards the door.

‘They won’t,’ he said, not looking up, smoothing out the tapestry table runner, pulling it closer.

‘They could. Dominic! Stop!’

He glanced at her, softly inhaled, then standing upright, he turned and walked across the large room to the double doors facing the hall. He locked them, crossed the room and did the same to the two doors used by the staff. Returning to the table, he held her gaze, one brow raised. ‘Better?’

‘Not really. Now they
know
we’re fucking.’

He thought of all the times he’d been in private sex clubs, where everyone fucked everyone. Tamping down his small impatience at such unnecessary modesty, he said, mildly, ‘Make up your mind, baby. Locked or open. The fucking part is a given.’

‘I could say no.’

‘But you won’t.’

‘I might.’

He laughed. ‘That would be a first.’

‘Don’t be smug.’

‘It’s not about me being smug, baby. It’s about you needing to fuck. Look.’ He glanced downward. ‘I’m guessing you’re going to be wanting this.’

She sucked in a breath as his erection swelled before her eyes, wondered if she could resist that gorgeous, huge dick pressing against the soft fabric of his pyjama pants. Wished her body wasn’t turning liquid with the longing so her decision could be made with more confidence.

‘Come here, baby. Get your little ass up on the table.’ His voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Or do you want me to come and get you?’

A small pause while she struggled with submission, with wanting him more, wanting him too much – as always. She slid from the chair.

With a smile he moved towards her, bent to kiss her cheek and leaning down, picked up the blue velvet footstool. Taking her hand, he led her to the cleared space on the table without speaking, dropped her hand, set the footstool on the tapestry runner and ran his hand over the smooth velvet as though vetting its softness.

Dominic was curiously quiet, intent, looked slightly forbidding in the candlelight, the shadows highlighting his stark features and dark brows, the inky black of his hair – his size amplified in the small pool of light. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ She tried to suppress the disquiet in her voice. ‘I mean we—’