LITMIR.BIZ

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      She found her voice with difficulty. ‘But we—’

      ‘Married to please our respective parents, ensure the business stayed in the family?’ He brushed a thumb along the curve of her lower lip. ‘Do you really believe that?’

      Her mouth quivered. ‘You said—’

      ‘I asked you to marry me.’

      ‘I thought—’

      ‘You think too much,’ Miguel chastised gently. ‘I love you. You,’ he emphasised. ‘For everything you are.’

      ‘You loved me?’ she queried as hope began to unfurl. ‘From the beginning?’

      ‘Do you really believe I’m the kind of man who would tie himself legally to a woman, contemplate making her the mother of my children—’ He broke off, and shook his head. ‘Querida, haven’t you come to know me better than that?’

      Yes, she had. Or, at least, she’d thought she had before Camille had begun playing her games.

      ‘Camille—’

      ‘I barely refrained from strangling her. As to Luc—’ A muscle tensed at the edge of his jaw, and his eyes took on a dangerous gleam. ‘The temptation to break his jaw was never far from my mind.’

      Something that had been evident on occasion, Hannah reflected. Although at the time she’d thought Miguel was simply playing the part expected of him.

      And Camille?

      ‘Notice that an interim apprehended violence order would be filed against Camille was issued yesterday. I understand she chose to take the option of dropped charges if she remove herself from the state and the country within twenty-four hours,’ Miguel informed her, reading her mind.

      His words were so clipped and hard, Hannah didn’t doubt he had delivered the ultimatum in a manner Camille couldn’t fail to understand.

      ‘I see,’ she said slowly.

      One eyebrow slanted with musing humour. ‘What do you see, amante?’

      She lifted a hand, then let it fall to her side.

      ‘Where do we go from here?’

      ‘Now?’ Miguel pulled her gently back into his arms, and nuzzled the delicate curve at the base of her neck. ‘I’m going to make love with my wife.’ He drew the soft skin into his mouth and grazed it with his teeth.

      A tremor shook her slender frame as liquid fire flooded her veins, heating her body to fever pitch.

      ‘Show her how infinitely precious she is to me.’ Slowly and with infinite care, he freed the buttons on her blouse, then slid it from her arms and discarded it. Next came the zip fastening on her skirt, and he skimmed slip and briefs over her hips in one easy movement. Hannah stepped out of her heeled shoes as he unfastened the clip of her bra.

      ‘And ensure she never has reason to doubt my love for her.’ He traced the curve of one breast, then brushed his fingers back and forth across a rosy peak, watching as the bud protruded before lowering his head to capture it in his mouth.

      Her body arched as he suckled, and a gasp emerged from her throat when he rolled the tender bud with the edge of his teeth, leaving her teetering on the brink between pleasure and pain.

      ‘This isn’t fair,’ she inclined, reaching for the buckle on his trousers, then the zip, and seconds later he kicked aside his trousers and briefs.

      ‘Better?’

      ‘Much.’

      ‘I intended to take you to dinner,’ Miguel informed her as she began a subtle exploration that soon promised to have dangerous consequences.

      ‘Maybe later.’

      ‘With champagne,’ he added for good measure, then drew in a deep breath and held it as she enclosed him.

      ‘Room service,’ Hannah offered an instant before he carried her down onto the bed.

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

      THEY did eat, well after the witching hour of midnight.

      The lovemaking had been hard and fast, then afterwards they’d indulged themselves with a sensual feast that surpassed anything they’d previously shared. Vibrant, erotic, it was sensual magic at its most primitive.

      Following a leisurely shower they donned courtesy robes, and sipped fine French champagne while they waited for room service.

      When they finished the food, she leaned back in her chair. There were questions she wanted to ask. Words she needed to say. Now, a tiny voice prompted. Say them now.

      There were tiny lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes, and his features showed evidence of emerging dark stubble.

      She looked at him carefully, seeing the strength, the aura of power he projected, and knew that it would always be there. For her.

      ‘I love you,’ she revealed with quiet sincerity, and saw his features soften.

      His eyes were dark, so very dark, their expression unguarded so as to almost make her catch her breath at the wealth of emotion evident. ‘Gracias, mi mujer,’ he acknowledged gently.

      ‘I always have. If I hadn’t,’ Hannah assured him, ‘I would never have agreed to marry you.’ She swallowed a small lump that suddenly rose in her throat. ‘You’re everything I need. All I could ever want.’ Her eyes became luminous with shimmering tears. ‘My life.’

      Was it possible for a heart to stop beating? That emotion could be so intense it could cut off the ability to speak?

      Miguel stood and pulled her into his arms. His mouth was an erotic instrument as he kissed her, gently at first, then with increasing passion.

      Hannah became lost, adrift in a sea of emotion and she simply held onto his shoulders as she met and matched his fervour.

      How long did they stand there, locked in each other’s arms? She had no recollection of time.

      Slowly he eased his mouth from hers, pressing soft kisses to her swollen lips as she sighed in protest, and she groaned a little when he disengaged her arms and crossed the room.

      She watched idly as he extracted something from his jacket pocket, and returned to press a slim jeweller’s case into her hand.

      ‘I have something for you.’

      ‘Miguel—’

      ‘Open it.’

      She did so, carefully, and felt the sudden prick of tears. Nestled in a bed of velvet was an exquisite drop necklace and matching earrings. Beautifully delicate, it linked Argyle pink and white diamonds alternately with a pear-shaped pink diamond at the base of the drop.

      ‘They’re beautiful,’ Hannah whispered, feeling the moisture well, then spill to run down each cheek in a slow rivulet that paused momentarily at the edge of her jaw. ‘Thank you.’

      ‘Tears, Hannah?’

      At his teasing query she blinked them away, and brushed shaky fingers across each cheek. ‘I can’t seem to stop.’

      Miguel removed the necklace, placed it in position and fastened the safety clip. Then he leant down and brushed his lips to her temple.

      The intricate centre star-burst lay just beneath the hollow of her throat, with its single line of pink sapphires and diamonds dropping several inches towards the soft swell of her breasts.

      The fact he had remembered was one thing. Since the description had been her own and didn’t refer to anything she’d seen, it meant he’d consigned a jeweller to craft it to this specific design.

      ‘Don’t

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