He liked that she was prodigal in play. ‘Better. I have a new toy for you.’

‘Now there’s incentive,’ she said, sweetly.

‘You’ll be able to come whenever you want with the toy. How’s that for incentive?’

She clicked off the TV and jumped from the bed, her breasts still jiggling from her leap as she walked towards him.

She pointed as his erection surged under his sweats. ‘I think he likes me.’

He smiled. ‘Every minute of every day. But we’re going to have breakfast first. You have to wait for your new toy. Hold out your arms.’

She blew him a kiss then lifted her arms.

A few minutes later, they were at the breakfast table. The flowers had been changed, various shades of yellow glowed in the morning light.

‘I suppose the bedroom flowers will be different when we return.’

‘I don’t know. We’ll see.’

She grinned. ‘Have you no control over your staff?’

‘Not much,’ he lied. ‘Coffee first? I see chocolate milk in that pitcher.’

‘Coffee, please. I love when you serve me.’

‘As do I when you serve me,’ he said, glancing at her, wilful intent in his gaze.

Defenceless against his pointed look, as willing as he was wilful, she softly groaned. ‘Oh, God, don’t start,’ she whispered as a flutter of arousal shimmered deep inside her. ‘I have to eat first.’

He smiled. ‘Don’t you always. Fortunately my ego is resilient. Those are yours.’ He pointed to three domed plates.

Two quick calming breaths and she lifted the first silver cover. An omelette.

‘It has lobster in it. I hope you eat shellfish. Open the other one.’

Having been distracted by the food, she lifted the second cover with more composure. A beautifully displayed petite bacon sandwich cut in small triangles lay on a bed of creamy slaw.

‘Did I do well? One last one,’ he said, gesturing at the third covered plate.

Kate lifted the lid. Three truffles were set inside a diamond tennis bracelet.

‘Thank you for yesterday,’ he quietly said.

‘It’s too much.’ She picked up the bracelet. ‘This is too much.’ Each stone was at least a carat.

‘It’s not nearly enough,’ he casually replied. ‘Now eat. I know you’re hungry.’

‘I’ll argue later.’

He grinned. ‘I like when you argue.’

‘Because it always ends with sex.’

‘That must be why.’ He lifted his coffee cup. ‘To a pleasant day.’

He had salmon just as he’d had the day before, an omelette with some kind of sausage and peppers, fried potatoes, a fruit plate like hers, a bowl of spicy noodles and some buns stuffed with a meat mixture. Kate ate a bite of each when he offered it to her. ‘Diversify your tastes,’ he said, coaxing her to try each item. ‘It’s a big world out there.’

‘I like this cosy one.’ She surveyed the small room that opened on the courtyard, the morning light wintry and pale, the scent of roses drifting on the air. ‘I like when we’re alone.’

‘Speaking of alone, that reminds me,’ he said, pulling her birth control pod from his sweats pocket and setting it on the table. ‘Should I give you one or not? Do we want to add to this small company? Should we discuss it?’

‘There’s nothing to discuss.’ Pithy and direct.

He paused for a moment, then ignoring her comment, said, ‘Why don’t we decide later. Take off your robe now.’ An infinitesimal lift of his brow. ‘If you don’t mind.’

‘And if I do mind?’

A fraction of a second. ‘Take it off anyway.’

A small, chafing glance, a snappish note in her voice. ‘You’re lucky I’m willing to play your games.’

‘Very willing, I’d say.’

She flushed under his insolent gaze. ‘I want one of those pills later,’ she said, determined to put some limits on what she would allow him.

‘I heard you the first time.’

‘I know what you’re doing and you can just stop this ultimate control shit.’

‘Make me,’ he softly said.

‘It’s not a game, Dominic.’

‘Everything’s a game, babe. Business, life, fucking.’ He smiled. ‘But any game with you is extra special. And yes, I am lucky, very lucky that you like to play. Now would you please take off your robe. I’d be very grateful.’

‘I should say no.’ But her body was already responding to the deep, rich cadence of his voice, to the vivid heat in his eyes, to the soft, insistent command, to the high-testosterone signals of latent male power.

‘Please don’t.’ It was a warning, no matter how softly uttered.

A shiver of arousal went through her at the threat in Dominic’s voice. She fidgeted restlessly against the instant, cruel desire, the wild, subversive need, the willingness to be corrupted by his capacity for mastery. ‘It’s unnerving,’ she whispered, gripping her chair arms as though to resist. ‘Wanting you this much. Craving you. Losing my reason because of you.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with wanting pleasure,’ he murmured.

She took a deep breath. ‘Even if it takes over your life?’

‘Even then,’ he said gently, glancing at her white knuckles. ‘Do you need help with your robe?’