He chuckled. ‘Thanks, I think. But I know what you mean. I’m going with kismet or karma or that long shot that turned into a win for us because this thing we got going – this fucking craving – is crazy. Good crazy. But definitely not business as usual.’

‘I wouldn’t know about business as usual.’

A direct hit, typical Miss Hart. ‘Good thing I’m here then,’ he said soft as silk. ‘Because I can show you. Take off your robe and bra.’

‘Why don’t you?’

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then smiled. ‘My pleasure.’ Opening his fingers, he let go of the leather strap he was holding and Katherine’s new toy dropped to the bed. Reaching out, he untied her robe, pulled out the birth control pills from her robe pocket, set them on the bedside table. ‘We don’t want those going through the laundry. Sit up a little, there – that’s it.’ Sliding her robe down her arms, he pulled it out from under her, unclasped her bra and cast both items away.

‘Someone has to pick those up.’ She saw that small startle reflex that never failed to disarm her flicker in his gaze – his shield against the world slipping for a second, the trappings of power briefly faltering.

Then he rolled his eyes, turned, picked up both items from the carpet, swung around, holding them out. ‘Any place special you want them?’ he drawled.

‘Besides up your ass?’

‘Or yours?’

It felt like a slap, a hot, sexy slap in just the right spot. ‘Sorry, should I say, sorry? I should, shouldn’t I?’

‘Damn right you should.’

‘Or,’ she purred.

‘Or I’ll see that you learn better manners.’

A small heated glance. ‘How would you do that – exactly?’

He laughed. ‘You’re one horny babe, Katherine.’

‘Is that good or bad?’

‘Both. Although I’ll probably end up screwing myself to death. At least my sister will be happy. She gets all my money.’

‘We might be happy in the interim.’

‘True.’ A lift of his dark brows. ‘So is this a death match?’

‘I’d prefer not, if you don’t mind. Just make me happy. You know how to do that.’

Happy. Such a strange word in relation to raw, profligate sex. Unique to Miss Hart and honest-to-God true. A thought he locked away the second it surfaced. ‘Let’s start with your new toy,’ he said casually, picking up the dildo, focusing his attention on more relevant issues. ‘Take note, the straps are deerskin for softness and warmth on the skin, the dildo is stainless steel for hygienic reasons, the size hopefully adequate to satisfy you.’ He winked. ‘You may thank me later in your own personal way.’

‘Maybe I won’t want to when I can climax with’ – she nodded – ‘that.’

‘I’m not worried,’ he said with an impudent grin and held out his hand. ‘Come. Stand up.’ After helping her down from the bed, he knelt before her, nudged her thighs. ‘Spread your legs a little.’

Her body instantly recognized his tone of voice and sent out arousal signals to each and every sexual receptor, putting her on high alert and drenching her sex.

He looked up, smiled. ‘Really? I only have to touch you?’

‘Consider it a compliment.’

He looked amused. ‘I’m not sure I can take all the credit.’

‘I don’t know about …’ Her words ended in a low breathy moan as he slowly inserted the stainless steel dildo into her dewy cleft.

‘Now that sounds like a complimentary moan,’ he murmured. ‘Hold your legs together.’ She didn’t move. Sliding his hand between her legs, he gave the dildo a nudge to gain her attention. ‘Listen to me. Put your legs together.’

With her brain focused on the high pressure incitement, the shuddering, seething frenzy touched off by Dominic’s nudge, it took her a moment or two to respond.

‘There’s a good girl,’ he softly praised when she finally managed to comply. ‘Now hold still for a minute.’ Sliding the leather belt through the front strap, he touched her hip. ‘Turn around,’ he said. ‘Pay attention.’ A curt command that raised her eyelids; she turned. He slid the belt through the back strap, smoothly slid it between her buttock cheeks and buckled the belt around her waist in back. He began adjusting the Velcro cinches so the dildo would be firmly lodged and anchored fast.

Her eyes went shut at the first soft jerk of the cinch and clenching her thighs, she softly moaned. When Dominic tightened the second cinch, she gasped. She was fully gorged now with unyielding metal, the pressure on her clit staggering, shocking her nervous system with continuous waves of delirium. ‘Oh, God, oh God, oh God,’ she panted, the raw assault on her clit merciless.

‘Come, walk for me,’ he said softly, grasping her hips, slowly turning her, then rising to his feet. ‘And you’re not allowed to come until I give you permission.’

‘I can’t do it.’ She shook her head, eyes shut and panting, waves of arousal coursing through her, so close to coming she was teetering on the edge.

‘You have to, Katherine, or I’ll take the damn thing out, throw it away and you won’t come at all,’ he said sternly. ‘There, you see, you can do it if you try.’ He watched her take a small step toward him, waited for her to stop shaking. ‘Now another step, you’re doing well. Now another.’