A Ring To Claim His Legacy - Rachael Thomas

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tell her that he owned the entire island, not when she’d spent the week being with him simply because it was what they’d both wanted. He knew very little about her, but he did know that she wasn’t at all like the kind of spoilt societal ladies he usually encountered as billionaire Marco Silviano. She seemed so in awe, so in wonder of everything his island offered, as if she was unused to such luxury. But Julie’s words about ‘Daddy suggesting they take a luxury break’ warned him she must be accustomed to such a world. Neither of them had talked much about their real lives and maybe that was for the best. She would linger in his memory, the perfect antidote to the constant friction between him and his family.

      ‘I guess I do.’ He smiled at her. ‘And to prove it I have arranged for somewhere special for us on our last night. It’s just a short ride in the utility vehicle.’

      ‘Now I am intrigued.’ She laughed and the way she reached out, placing her hand on his arm, sent a frenzy of fiery need hurtling through him, so fast he was in serious doubt if he could get through the meal he had planned without giving in to his desire for her.

      ‘Then let us go,’ he said as he held out his hand to help her in, trying not to think too much about where his thoughts had just led him. All he wanted was to enjoy the escape of tonight and be nothing more than Marco enjoying Imogen’s company. Who they really were, what their lives really entailed, didn’t matter one bit.

      Imogen settled herself next to him and looked around her with interest as he manoeuvred the small buggy down the track which led to his private part of the island. He’d liked the place so much that during renovations he’d sectioned part of it off for his exclusive use. His own private retreat from his family and the constant pressure to be what he didn’t want to be.

      ‘And how many other ladies have you bestowed this kind of special treatment on?’ There was laughter in her voice, but the nervous glance she cast him made him question if she wasn’t as experienced as she’d had him believe all week. Like the moon slipping out from behind a cloud, innocence shone from her briefly, before being cloaked once more in the cloud of the seductress.

      ‘None.’ He stopped the vehicle at the top of his private beach where a table, set for two, was waiting. ‘Now, if you have finished quizzing me, here is our table for us to enjoy dinner as the sun sets.’

      ‘It’s beautiful,’ Imogen whispered as she stood beside him looking at the trail of lanterns lighting the way to the intimate table.

      The sun was beginning to slip towards the horizon as he took her hand. ‘I want this night to be special. A final night of escape with a beautiful woman in beautiful surroundings.’

      ‘This truly is a night of escape, Marco. You have no idea how different this is from real life for me.’

      Marco ignored the slight opening of the door to the real Imogen, not wanting anything to intrude. He took her hand and led her to the table, pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit down. As she sat on the chair, the temptation to kiss the soft skin of her neck, exposed because of the sexy way she’d piled her hair up, was too much. He leant down and traced a trail on her skin and a jolt of satisfaction shot through him as she trembled slightly.

      The need to know more about this enigma of a woman got the better of him. ‘Tell me about the real Imogen.’

      She turned and looked up at him, her blue eyes wide. ‘Not tonight,’ she whispered seductively. ‘Tonight I want to escape from everything. Tonight I want to be just Imogen and I want to be with you—all night.’

      She might not be prepared to tell him about herself, but she had given him a loud and clear signal that she wanted him, that being with him was already a foregone conclusion. His pulse leapt with anticipation. After a week of nothing more than gentle kisses he knew he wouldn’t have much restraint left, but he’d see this meal through, and then it would be time to put into motion the final part of his seduction plan.

      * * *

      Imogen had skilfully avoided talking about herself or her normal life all evening and now, as the stars were shining and the moon rising, she knew the moment she’d wanted since that very first kiss, when he’d bought her champagne, was finally here. All week she’d longed for more than the soft, lingering kisses he’d given her at the end of each night. She’d longed for him in a way she’d never experienced before, not even with the man she should have married.

      ‘I have one more surprise,’ Marco said, his voice husky as he walked across the beach holding her hand, the soft sound of the waves as seductive as being with Marco. She really didn’t want this moment to end, this fairy-tale holiday romance that was so far removed from normality it didn’t seem real—or possible.

      ‘I don’t think you can beat that,’ she teased, the champagne making her head light, making any inhibitions she had slip away like the sun. As they’d dined with the soft sound of the waves close by Marco had raised a toast to her once more, just like their first night, and just like that first night she’d wanted so much more.

      ‘Is that a challenge, Imogen?’ His voice was soft and seductive as he stopped and took her in his arms. She looked up into his face, searching his eyes, seeing nothing but desire and passion—for her. It made her feel special, alive, but more than anything it made her feel desired.

      He lowered his head and his lips claimed hers, sending a shock wave of need hurtling through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers into his thick, dark hair as his hands slid over the silk of the dress she’d asked Julie to buy on her behalf, not caring of the cost, wanting only to be who she wasn’t, who she could never be, for one more night.

      His caress moved lower until he cupped her bottom, bringing her against the hardness of his erection, making her shudder and drag in a deep breath of pleasure. She didn’t know how much longer she could play this game of seduction. All she wanted was him. All of him.

      ‘Marco.’ She breathed his name against his lips as he ended the kiss, still holding her intimately close. ‘I want more than this. Much more.’

      She shocked herself as her admission slipped wantonly from her. She’d never been the one to initiate things between her and Gavin, never been the seductress, but something about Marco made her feel different. It was that strange sensation that they were meant to be here, doing this, that they were destined to find each other. Or was that her incurable romantic side getting the better of her, finally resurfacing after the utter indignation of being left standing, practically at the altar?

      ‘Since the night we met, I’ve wanted to make love to you.’ The deep, hoarse notes of his voice betrayed the desire he had been keeping control of, sending sparks of anticipation through her. She had never wanted a man the way she wanted Marco. This ultimate fantasy had to play out tonight—right to the very end. She couldn’t return to her life and wonder what might have been. She wanted to take with her something special to cherish in her memory.

      ‘I want that too, Marco. Tonight.’ She looked up at him from lowered lashes, shy at such an admission.

      In answer he kissed her, deeply and passionately, the soft swish of the waves blending with the thumping of her heart as his tongue plunged deep into her mouth, forcing a sigh of pleasure to rush from her. The kiss became frantic and wild as he held her head between his hands, keeping her exactly where he wanted her, where she wanted to be, so he could plunder her lips, ravish her mouth with such delicious control. Her whole body was on fire and she trembled as he let her go, holding her away from him as if he thought they would both lose control at any moment.

      His gaze raked down over her body, lingering on her breasts as she breathed deep and hard with unquenched desire. She watched him, waiting for his next move in this desire-filled game he’d started.

      ‘I want you, Imogen.’ The guttural growl of his words left her in no doubt he was fighting hard to remain in control, forcing himself to hold back now. The idea that she’d done that to him, that he wanted her so much, only intensified her need for him.

      ‘And I want you,’ she whispered as he moved closer to her, putting

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