Kingsley opened his hand again and traced the edges of the f leur-de-lis key chain.
“Why not?” he repeated. “I can give you one reason why not. Because you’re perfect the way you are, Sam. And I love you the way you are. And you never have to change for me. And I hate to admit it and never tell him I said this, but S?ren is right. I have all the lovers I need. What I could use is a partner and a friend and a second-in-command.”
“I am your partner and your friend and your second-incommand already.”
“Then I have all I need.” Kingsley pressed the keys to his chest over his heart. “But don’t think I’m not tempted. But I also know you’re a little relieved, aren’t you? Hmm?” He tapped her under the chin.
Sam winced. “A little,” she admitted. “But also sad. Sort of. I wanted to do something special for you.”
“You gave me my kingdom. You gave me all of this.” He swept his hand around the room, the perfect room she’d created for him.
Sam took two steps forward and wrapped her arms around him. He held her close and tight and tears escaped her eyes.
“Can I tell you something crazy and inappropriate while standing in the middle of your new kink playroom?” she asked.
“Please,” he said.
“I think you’ll make an amazing father someday.”
“I think that is the best thing to say in the middle of this room,” Kingsley said. “If I’m going to be a father someday, the child will likely be conceived in here.”
He gazed once more around the room. It was everything he could ever ask for. Almost everything.
“There is one thing I’d like to do in this room before we open. With you. I think I need to get it out of my system.”
“Anything,” she said. “I’m your girl.”
Kingsley put the keys in his suit pants pockets and took a deep breath. He reached out and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, the other arm around her waist. He dipped her back as if they were in an old Hollywood movie and kissed her. And Sam, God bless her—Sam kissed him back as if her life depended on it. He kissed her mouth, she kissed his tongue. He bit her bottom lip. She bit his top. She ravished his mouth and he ravished her in return. He raided her, plundered her and sundered her. The world turned to light and heat, and if he opened his eyes and found himself standing in the middle of the desert with the sun blazing down on to them, he wouldn’t be surprised, the kiss was that shockingly, knee-knockingly, world-rockingly hot.
And then it was over.
Kingsley stood her up on her feet and took a step back.
“Bon,” he said, and straightened his jacket. “I needed that. Merci.”
Sam blinked a few times.
“You are very welcome.” She smoothed down her vest, feigned a faint and Kingsley hauled her back to her feet. “Thank you, Captain.” She gave him a jaunty salute. “No fainting.”
“That was a helluva kiss. Maybe I’ll just go lie down until it’s time to open the club. Maybe over here on the bed with my hand down my pants.” She started for his bed, but Kingsley grabbed her by the arm.
“Later,” he said. “I have a gift for you, too.”
“A gift? For me?”
“Pour toi, oui.”
“What is it?” Sam asked as Kingsley led her out into the hallway.
“Nothing much,” Kingsley said. “A small token of my affection. You went above and beyond the call of duty. I thought you should be rewarded.”
“You already pay me to do the best job in the world. I don’t need anything else from you.”
“You need this.”
“If it’s big I’m going to feel shitty,” Sam said. “I only gave you a key chain. I didn’t even give you one of those World’s Greatest Boss coffee mugs. I should do that. I’m going to get you a World’s Greatest Boss coffee mug.”
Kingsley unlocked a door—an allwhite door with an allwhite doorknob.
“Your gift,” Kingsley said and opened the door.