“You mean that you couldn’t control him.”

She nodded. “He’s fantastic sexually.” She made a face. “I hate to admit it, but maybe better than me. I might have given him a second week free if he’d agreed to—Nah, that wouldn’t have been professional. I keep personal and business strictly compartmentalized.” She glanced at Catherine. “But I could handle Cameron. I don’t know if you can. You’re strictly an amateur, and I’ve never seen Cameron as aroused as he was with you this morning. It was … unusual.”

“Most people are amateurs compared to you.”

“But most people don’t have to deal with Cameron.” She frowned. “Look, don’t fight him or push him away. It will only make him more intense and determined to get his own way. Just take him and enjoy it.” She added ruefully, “And I promise you will enjoy it, Catherine.”

“Thank you for the advice,” she said reservedly.

“Which you’re not going to take.”

“I have other things to do than worry about Cameron’s sexual needs and attitudes. That’s not why we’re here, Celia. The entire world isn’t about sex.”

“No, but it rules.” She added softly, “Everything else comes and goes, but sex and passion are always there. For a moment, an hour, a decade.” She repeated, “It rules, Catherine.”

“I don’t agree.”

“You will.” She stirred the mixture. “You have your son here in the house. There’s a summerhouse on the other side of my little garden that will allow you and Cameron privacy. You’re welcome to use it. I’ll tell Cameron.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“I always dare. It makes life more interesting.” She turned to Luke as he came into the kitchen. “Ah, you’ve brought some fine specimens.” She took the garlic. “Could I talk you into eating another small omelet, Luke? Your mother won’t want to eat alone. That’s one of the things that I learned in cooking school. Everything tastes better in good company.”

He nodded and sat down at the table. “I’m hungry again.”

“Young boys are always hungry,” Celia said. “Or so I’ve been told. It will just be a few minutes…”

DAKSHA PALACE

“I’ve just heard from San Francisco.” Brasden threw down a photo. “No word on the interior security cameras yet. But this was taken by the outside camera by the garage entrance. Nagle was able to negotiate a copy on this one while the police are examining the others. It’s a shot of the car that pulled up shortly after the ambulance took off. It’s a little hazy and dark from the rain. Familiar?”

“Cameron.” Excitement was soaring through him. “The bastard looks like he’s having a hell of a good time.” He looked closer. “And the driver is Catherine Ling.”

“Right.”

“Did you get the license?”

“It didn’t show up in the videos, but it’s a rental car. We’re checking.”

“Find it. Find him. You were looking in the wrong place. He’s not here in Tibet.” His hand crushed the paper on which the photo was printed. “He followed Erin Sullivan. She must mean more to him than I thought. She was free of me. Why go after her?”

“But he’s with Catherine Ling,” Brasden pointed out. “Maybe he has business with her and not Sullivan.” He smiled. “Or not. She’s a beautiful woman. Not everyone is obsessed by your mystical city.”

“But Cameron is obsessed by Shambhala. No woman could take its place.” He glanced at Ling. “Still, it would do no harm to probe a little deeper into Ling and see if we can use her as a weapon. See to it.”

“Please,” Brasden said. “Say please, Kadmus.”

Restraint. He had been looking into Brasden’s claim that he could take over his forces at any time. There was some evidence that Brasden did have some influence with the men and he had to be careful. He did not want an uprising at this crucial moment. But he had already started to reinforce his power, and he wouldn’t have to put up with Brasden for much longer. “Please, see to it.”

“I’ll do it right away.”

“And arrange for me to get to San Francisco right away. I’m not going to trust anyone else to zero in on Cameron.” He smiled gently, imagining all the torture he was going to inflict on this asshole. “If you please, Brasden.”

CHAPTER

15

“Aren’t you two going to bed soon?” Catherine shook her head at Luke and Hu Chang sitting over the chess board before the fire in the library. “It’s almost midnight. You’ve been playing for hours.”

“I almost beat him the last game.” Luke didn’t look up from the board. “I’m close this time.”

“Not close enough.” Hu Chang smiled. “But you’re making it interesting.” He glanced at Catherine. “Run along to bed. I’ll tell you how I triumphed in the morning.”

Luke snorted. “Someday I’ll beat you. Maybe tonight.”

“A competitive spirit is good. A humble spirit is even better.”

“I don’t think so.”

Hu Chang chuckled. “Actually, neither do I.” He moved his knight. “No word from Cameron, Catherine?”

“No,” she said curtly. “Not unless he contacted you.”

Hu Chang shook his head. “I believe any communication will be with you from now on. I sensed a change today.” He waved his hand. “Now go away and do not distract me. I’m having to concentrate on this game. I did not think he’d reach this degree of expertise for another year.”

She shook her head ruefully as she left the library and closed the door. Luke had been changing, making all kinds of advancements, since the day she had arrived in Hong Kong. It was even surprising Hu Chang. He was busily adjusting and accepting. She must do the same.

God, it was hard. It was like dealing with an adult and she wasn’t ready for that yet. She needed a little time to—

“Good. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to search the house for you.” Cameron had blown into the hall like a strong wind. His eyes were glittering, and Catherine could almost feel the tornado of excitement and exhilaration that surrounded him. “Come on.” He grabbed her wrist and was pulling her toward the front door. “I have something to show you.”

“What?” They were outside, and she was having to half run to keep up. “Where are we going?”

“The trap. I’ve found the trap.” They had stopped beside an orange-and-blue motorcycle, and he handed her a helmet and large-lensed protective glasses. “Tuck your hair under the helmet.” He was putting on his own orange-striped helmet and dark glasses. For the first time, she noticed he was still in the jeans he’d worn earlier in the day but had somewhere acquired biker boots and a black leather jacket. He got on the bike and revved up the engine. “Jump on.”

She got on the broad seat of the bike behind him, her arms around his waist. “Where’s the Mercedes?” she asked as he tore down the street. “And where did you get this motorcycle?”

“The Mercedes is discreetly dumped in a place that will lead Kadmus to step into the trap. The bike I bought from a man in a bar along with his gear.” He smiled. “It’s as close as I could come to a bona fide disguise that would allow us to move around Chinatown. The young people love their bikes. Not surprising, considering the terrible traffic.”

He was right—the helmet and glasses were a decent disguise. “It took you long enough. If you’d taken me along, I could have split up the search by—”

“And I would have been distracted,” he interrupted. “I didn’t need you. I got everything done. Now be quiet and enjoy the ride.”

And she was enjoying the ride, she realized suddenly. Why? A roaring motorcycle wasn’t the place to enjoy a conversation and yet she was having no difficulty hearing or communicating. Cameron? It didn’t feel like intrusion but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a more subtle form of manipulation. Hu Chang had said he didn’t know the extent of Cameron’s skills.

Oh, what the hell, if it was an intrusion, it was minor.