There was no point turning down orgasms because he wasn’t willing to name a wedding date. He wasn’t Prince Charming, she wasn’t Cinderella; this wasn’t a fairy tale. “Okay,” she said.

His smile broadened. “All at once?”

“No, not all at once, wiseass. It’s not humanly possible.”

“You sure?”

“Funny.”

“I’m not being funny.”

“Now you’re making me nervous.”

“You can say no—anytime.”

“Then no thanks.”

He shrugged.

A flush rose on her cheeks. “I suppose they always say yes.”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t do ad hoc sex games. Someone’s always paid to provide the equipment. There’s no need for me to go out on search missions. Oh, shit, now you’re mad about that. Look, let’s just live in the Zen moment. I’ll take care of you tonight. All you have to do is tell me when to stop.” His voice drifted lower. “Or not.”

“Arrogant man.” But her voice was velvet soft too. “If I wasn’t tied up, I’d hit you.”

“Untie yourself.” He held his arms out wide, dipped his handsome head. “Hit me.”

“Now you’re just showing off.” He was the picture of strength, sitting cross-legged on the bed in an easy quasi yoga pose, all brute power and machismo, his lean, muscled body flexing beautifully from abs to pecs to biceps when he’d lifted his arms.

“Speaking of showing off,” he murmured, dropping his arms and reaching out to gently tug on her peaked nipples, watching them swell under his fingers. “You’ll win that contest. I remember saying I was going to fuck these fantastic tits that first night in Hong Kong, but I never did. Tonight might be the night,” he said softly.

“If I let you.”

His sharp glance was shot through with surprise for a flashing moment before a polite shield fell into place. “I can only hope then,” he drawled, releasing her nipples and leaning back on his hands. “Are we done talking? Just asking. Does your pussy like it when I tug on your nipples?”

“A little.”

He smiled. “Want more?”

“Don’t say it like that, Dominic. I’m not asking or begging tonight. You said the agenda’s mine. So make me feel good.”

“With pleasure.” He leaned to his right, stretched out his arm, and picked up the small, gleaming eggplant he’d placed on the bed. “All washed and clean—I soaped and rinsed it twice. Apparently, protocol requires a condom on it—not that I’d know personally so you don’t have to scowl. But since condoms are a problem for you”—he smiled—“we went to plan B.”

“We?”

“The royal we,” he blandly lied, not about to disclose the staff’s aid in his search for objects to satisfy Kate. She didn’t understand the concept of personal retainers. They were well paid to see that his life ran smoothly. Tan had even come up with some silver ben wa balls, still new in the box, that he’d intended as a gift for his wife. “Now, lie back, relax, and we’ll see about making you happy.” He reached out again, picked up the last two items, set the Asian cucumber next to the eggplant, and opened the small red silk-covered box. “Have you tried these before?” He held up the ben wa balls, scrupulously washed, and shook them so she could hear the little bells inside.

She made a moue. “That’s not exactly improvising. Where did you get them?”

Since the truth was awkward—for her, not him—he resorted to another lie. “I found them in the room where Danny stays when he’s in town. I figured if anyone was likely to have playthings, he would.”

“So he has women here but you don’t?”

He shrugged. “When I’m not here he can do as he pleases.”

“You really are careful.”

“It saves time, money, and lawsuits.”

“So the drawbridge is always up?”

“Basically. Could we talk about something else? My life isn’t that interesting.”

“More interesting than mine, but”—she glanced up briefly at her fettered wrists and smiled—“not at the moment. Especially since you probably know what to do with”—she dipped her head in the direction of the ben wa balls resting on his palm—“those pretty silver things.”

He smiled, lifted his palm marginally, and said, “Why don’t we just say I’m here to make your life more interesting. Once these are in place I’ll be able to hear you when you move or walk. Or when you climax, because these little trinkets will keep you hot and wet and horny. I’ll take you shopping some day or out for dinner and see how long you last before I have to find somewhere to fuck you. Would you like that?” he asked softly, sliding one of the silver balls up her slick, pulsing cleft.

She shook her head.

“Sure you would.”

“No, Dominic.” But her voice caught at the last because he slipped the second silver sphere upward where it struck the first and the faint ringing sound was adjunct to the most delicious ripple of pure, unspoiled pleasure. A soft, involuntary moan issued from her mouth in a breathy shimmer of sound.

“See you were wrong.” A matter-of-fact observation. “Now let’s see where else you’re wrong. Not humanly possible you said.” He forced the ben wa balls deeper, which arrested her dissent and gave rise to a tantalizing little purr instead. “Don’t worry, this is small,” he needlessly said with her attention internally focused and hot desire swiftly rising unchecked in spiraling ripples to every trembling nerve in her body. He spread her pouty sex with his thumb and forefinger, eased in the convex end of the cylinder-shaped eggplant, and gently pushed until a third of it disappeared; he glanced up. “Good so far?”