The Billionaire's Blackmail Bargain. Margaret Mayo

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СКАЧАТЬ ‘And, if you care as much about MM Charters as you profess, you really have no other option.’

      Exactly, thought Simone. But she sure as hell wasn’t going to let him walk all over her. She was no pussycat; this cat had claws, and she would use them if necessary. However she felt about Cade, the thought of becoming his mistress was both exhilarating and devastating at the same time. It would be the ultimate humiliation for her—but would the saving of her company more than make up for it?

      ‘I’ll need to think about it,’ she said quietly.

      But Cade shook his head. He had no intention of letting her go that easily. When he’d seen her in the restaurant it had set off a chain of emotions, and he’d known there and then that he had to have her one more time. Treading gently wasn’t part of his make-up, and if he wanted something he went all out to get it. He’d applied that principle in every aspect of his life, both business and personal, and he wasn’t about to change. ‘I’m sorry, Simone, but I need an answer now or the offer’s withdrawn,’ he told her none too gently.

      He enjoyed watching the battle she had with herself. She turned away from him and crossed towards the window, folding her arms and staring out blindly into the night.

      ‘Perhaps,’ he said quietly, following her, ‘I should give you a taste of what you’ll be missing should you turn down my offer.’ And without even waiting for a response he twisted her round into his arms. He felt her limbs go taut and he knew that she would hate every moment. Nevertheless he snaked a hand round the back of her neck and lowered his face to hers.

      When their lips met sensations flew in all directions. His body flooded with red-hot desire. He kissed her deep and hard, running his tongue inside her mouth, tasting the sweetness of her, feeling her involuntary response.

      Fire raged in his chest, in his loins, and he wanted her so badly that it hurt. She smelled so heavenly, tasted so good, that he didn’t want to let her go.

      If this was an indication of things to come, should Simone agree to his conditions, then the whole experience would be well worth the cost. He’d be getting the business he wanted and the sweetest of revenges into the bargain.

      Simone’s heart drummed unsteadily. It felt like a live thing in her breast, hollering to be let out. Panic stations had set in when Cade had kissed her, and despite lecturing herself on the stupidity of returning his kiss she’d been unable to help herself. It had been an instinctive response to a man who could liquefy her bones with one glance. A man who could turn her world upside down without even speaking.

      One touch and she was putty in his hands. One dark glance out of those devilishly golden eyes and she was his. She hated herself for being weak, but in truth she wanted his kisses; she wanted him to make love to her.

      He created excitement such as she had never experienced before. Not even when they’d been going out together. Everything had intensified. But to barter her body for a business deal—could she even consider doing such a thing? Her answer was a resounding yes. MM Charters meant everything to Simone, and she had to be honest and admit that it wasn’t as though she wouldn’t enjoy sleeping with Cade. It would be mind-blowing, like it always had been between them. But it was the afterwards that bothered her. How would she feel then, when it was all over? When Cade had finished using her and had discarded her—would she be able to walk away too?

      She dared not think along those lines. She had felt dead inside for months after he’d gone last time. She had to think of this moment, of the trouble she was in now, and Cade’s offer of help.

      Simone drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes and then snapped them open, finding herself looking into a barrier of intense gold. ‘I’ll do it,’ she said quickly before she could change her mind.

      His response was to kiss her again. She felt the hot strength of his body against hers, the throbbing of his heart almost in unison with her own, and the urgent need that rose inside her. It almost made her ashamed of herself. She was selling her body—and yet kissing Cade felt so right. It always had done. Their sex life had been incredible. He had taught her so much.

      The kiss was fierce but short. She was disappointed when Cade took her shoulders and put her from him. ‘Good, I’m glad that’s settled,’ he said matter-of-factly. ‘Let’s start our dinner.’

      Humiliation filled Simone, hot and strong. Stark realisation hit hard in her chest. This was nothing more than a business deal to Cade, whereas she had stupidly felt a stirring of old emotions. He was going to take her body whenever he felt like it, but there would be no love involved, no tenderness. It was as simple as that.

      They ate their meal in silence, Simone simply picking at the oysters and the excellent barramundi that followed, shaking her head when Cade suggested dessert.

      ‘Do you remember the Valentine’s Ball?’

      His question took her by surprise. How could she not remember? It had been the first time Cade had taken her out, and she had worn a beautiful off-the-shoulder dress in emerald satin. He had told her that she looked a million dollars, and she had glowed beneath his compliment.

      When he’d seen her home at the end of the evening she had felt as though she was walking on air. And after that their romance had blossomed sensationally.

      ‘I will remember it for ever,’ she answered, unaware how wistful her voice had gone.

      ‘You were stunning even then.’ His eyes made a study of her face, watching every fleeting expression, resting for several long seconds on the soft contours of her mouth.

      Hiding her reaction was a sheer impossibility, thought Simone, as she touched a nervous tongue to lips that had gone dry. And when those same gorgeous eyes visited each part of her body in turn she felt an even more dramatic arousal of feelings.

      She had no idea that her breathing had deepened, that her breasts were rising and falling a little faster than usual. Or that Cade had observed this tiny detail. ‘Maybe we should drink our coffee somewhere more comfortable,’ he suggested.

      But not sit together, decided Simone, choosing an easy chair rather than one of the sofas. Lamps in the beautifully appointed apartment bathed the whole room in softly seductive light. At any other time…

      Cade fixed himself a drink at the bar, and Simone was pleased at the temporary respite from his presence. Nevertheless she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She watched every movement he made. His clothes both hid and revealed a body that was in great shape. One that had once belonged intimately to her.

      He was the one man she had truly loved—and then lost for ever.

      ‘Are you sure you don’t want one?’ He looked up and smiled, and her heart did a flip.

      ‘I’m sure,’ she answered, her voice kitten-soft.

      When he returned to his seat she avoided looking at him. He was seriously sexy and out to charm her again—but for no reason other than she was part of his business plan. She must remember that.

      Everything inside her had sprung into life, until she felt as though she was wired to a machine that kept shooting electrical impulses through her veins. She wished he had never come back. She’d had her heart broken once by him, and if a heart could be broken a second time then Cade was the man to do it.

      Long minutes ticked by when neither СКАЧАТЬ