He leaned against the door jamb. “Curiosity killed the cat, baby. Just kidding,” he quickly said as she spun around. “Look all night. You won’t find anything. I’m a monk here.”

“That must make up for you not being a monk anywhere else,” she murmured.

He shrugged. “I’m moving on to better times.”

“With me.”

She was the only woman he’d allow such unreserved presumption and he wondered whether it was because she was the only woman who’d ever left him. But more interested in the present, he pleasantly said, “That’s the plan. You and me. Good times, happy times. Sunshine and fucking roses from now on.” He gestured toward the wardrobe with a flick of his finger. “Come on, you’re wasting your time. Let me entertain you instead.”

She grinned. “I’ll hurry. How’s that?”

He rolled his eyes and she went back to opening doors and flicking through his clothes. “Christ, you have lots of, well… everything,” she said.

“I do.” His voice was mild; he had no intention of arguing.

“How can you possibly wear all this?” She began systematically opening and shutting drawers in a built-in bureau.

“Three hundred sixty-five days a year times two or three years before most clothes go out of style. You do the math.”

“It’s still seriously plutocratic.”

“I’m sorry if it offends you.”

“No you’re not.” Shutting a drawer full of blue socks, she opened another filled with black socks.

“I fund several charitable foundations if that helps,” he said, his voice scrupulously neutral. “I could show them to you if you like.”

She turned. “Would you?”

“Certainly. Later. I thought you wanted to play.”

“Are you trying to change the subject?”

“No, just the schedule of events. You won’t find anything but my clothes in here because I’ve never had a woman in this house.” He briefly raised his hand. “Scout’s honor—not even my mother. She prefers shopping in Hong Kong. And I apologize for my wealth, but making it helps keep me sane.” A faint smile. “I consider that a good cause too. Now, I found a few things you might like. Could these policy issues wait?”

“No women ever?” She wasn’t so easily diverted.

“Only you last month when you came to talk to the bankers.”

“No female staff?” She smiled. “You see I’m incredibly jealous.”

“None. I’m incredibly careful.”

She grinned. “So there’s a possibility I could take you to court and wring some money from you if I play my cards right?”

“You could try,” he murmured, although he’d gladly give her whatever she wanted for the pleasure she afforded him.

“I suppose you have phalanxes of attorneys guarding you and your assets.”

“Yes. Offices full.”

She smiled sweetly. “But not from me.”

She knew. “But not from you,” he quietly agreed.

“I have no defenses against you either.” She swallowed hard so she wouldn’t cry. “Not a single one.” Her eyes were suddenly wet with tears.

He was at her side before the first tear spilled over and, drawing her into his arms, he held her close. “We’re both helpless against our feelings,” he whispered, wiping the wetness from her cheeks with his fingers. “But happy too, right?”

She nodded and stretched up on her toes to kiss him.

Dipping his head, he met her lips, and whether fate or destiny, accident or chance, had brought them together, they understood that what they had was an astonishing gift.

Actually a goddamn miracle, Dominic reflected, inured as he was to the concept of benevolence. A miracle he intended to preserve.

TEN

A short time later, Kate was reclining against a mass of pillows, nude, her arms raised over her head, her wrists tied to the bedposts with the belts from their robes.

“Now look, baby,” Dominic said, sitting back on his heels after securing the last tie, pointing above her head. “Those are slip knots, the belts are tethered to the bed loosely so there’s a lot of give. You can reach the ends with either hand. Pull them free whenever you want… if you want. Okay? I told you before, the agenda’s yours tonight. I’m just here to help.” Picking up his discarded robe, he shoved it out of his way.

“So you’re entirely unselfish.”

A twitch of his lips. “Not entirely. But my control issues work both ways. I’m generally pretty well disciplined.”

Her gaze flicked downward to his monstrous erection, hard against his stomach. “I don’t know. He looks restless.”

“We’re working on that. You first, then we’ll see.”

“But I don’t get him until morning?”

His eyelids fell fractionally. “Think of it this way. Tomorrow he’s yours for the duration.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, we’re completely at your service.”

No commitment timeline but what did she expect from a man who was interested in an exclusivity contact?

Rather than continue a conversation that wasn’t going anywhere he wanted it to go, Dominic smiled and said, “So—in the interim, how do you feel about this?” He held up a small Asian cucumber. “Or this?” He picked up a miniature lavender Japanese eggplant. “Or these?” Dropping the vegetables, he wiggled his fingers and stuck out his tongue.