A knock on the door and Leo’s announcement, ‘She’s gone,’ brought a smile to Dominic’s face. He called out his thanks, then glanced at the clock. Ten twenty. Just under the wire.

Moving from behind his desk, he walked towards Kate who was seated by the windows, engrossed in one of his first editions.

Looking up at the soft creak of leather as he’d come to his feet, she watched him cross the room with lithe, athletic grace and thought him too beautiful for his own good. Or more to the point, hers. He was stunningly handsome and blatantly male: hard, lean, disturbingly powerful in every sense of the word, physically, professionally, sexually – his virility like a living force. ‘May the force be with you’ wasn’t just a line from a movie when it came to Dominic Knight’s unrestrained libido. He was like a fucking machine that never wound down. Oh, God, she was starting to get wet just thinking about last night.

‘I have a request,’ he said, stopping before her.

She smiled. ‘I think I have the same one.’

He shook his head. ‘It’s something else.’ His voice was restrained, his gaze too cool.

‘That sounds ominous.’

‘No, not at all.’ A very faint smile. ‘It’s just a small challenge.’

‘If it’s about your mother, I won’t embarrass you. I’ll behave.’

‘No, it has nothing to do with my mother. She’s a problem, but nothing to concern us.’

His voice was softly dismissive when he spoke of his mother, the same tone he’d used in Singapore before he scared the shit out of those men. And glory, hallelujah, he’d said ‘us’. So how bad could it be? ‘Well, tell me about this request. I’m listening.’

He softly exhaled. ‘Promise to hear me out before you get all indignant.’

She groaned, the ache between her legs gaining strength. ‘Don’t say you’re not going to keep your promise. You said two hours and—’

‘God, no. Of course I’ll keep my promise. But first I want you to do something for me.’

Her gaze narrowed. ‘I don’t want to be whipped.’

‘Christ, I wish you’d never seen that website.’

‘Don’t forget, I saw the Amsterdam show too.’

‘That wasn’t my idea.’ He glanced at his wristwatch and, pressed for time, hoped he was choosing the right words. ‘What I’m asking of you is perfectly innocuous.’

‘Then why all the build-up?’

A roll of his eyes. ‘Because you fly off the handle over nothing.’

‘Your nothing and my nothing are usually different,’ she replied with a lift of her brows. ‘So what’s this innocuous request?’

It took him a fraction of a second to answer, a surprise for a man who could strong-arm an opponent without a qualm. ‘First, I’d really like you to do this for me. And second, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. I have someone coming over with some lingerie for you.’

She groaned. ‘Really? Is this one of your stupid rules?’

‘No. But Mrs Hawthorne comes highly recommended. You might like some of her lingerie. And if you do this for me, I’ll do something for you in return. Just tell me what you want.’ He held up a finger. ‘So long as it doesn’t interfere with our six days.’

‘You’re crazy.’

A roguish smile. ‘Define crazy.’

‘All this dressing me up stuff,’ she muttered. ‘I wonder what a therapist would say about that?’

‘Maybe he’ – Dominic smiled – ‘or she would tell you to relax. It’s just a gift.’

‘A really expensive one,’ she grumbled.

‘Not for me.’

‘So this is like a pack of gum for you.’

‘Pretty much.’

She slid down in her chair, looked up at him, then said, ‘It’s not some weird lingerie, is it?’

‘No, it’s perfectly normal lingerie. Tell me what you want to do this for me. I have vast resources at my disposal. There isn’t much I can’t give you.’

‘Jesus, you don’t have to buy me. In fact, the whole notion pisses me off. What the hell’s wrong with you?’

‘My detractors have a long list. My mother does too, although I’m less inclined to give credence to hers. Look, I’m sorry if I offended you.’

‘That’s a really sweet smile. Does it always work?’

He laughed. ‘Barring a couple family members, yes, always.’

‘For your information it still does. But I don’t need gifts to stay here. Clear?’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ he murmured. ‘Perfectly clear. Does that mean you’ll stay if I give you something?’ he said with a twitch of a smile.

A sulky scowl. ‘You never give up, do you?’

‘Not usually, no.’

‘And I’m locked in here,’ she said, her scowl deepening.

‘You’re not and you know it.’ He gestured behind him. ‘The key’s in the door.’

‘So I could leave.’

‘Of course.’ A slow drawl, an easy smile. ‘So long as you go back to the hotel. Six days, Miss Hart. They’re not going away.’

‘Oh fine, then.’ Her sulky look gave way to a speculative squint as she weighed her options. Perhaps the most pleasing option was standing before her in all his scorching sexiness. That his trouser fly was at eye level and it was clear he preferred his dick on the left, may have affected her decision. ‘You’re sure now, that it’s average, everyday lingerie.’