The Wedding Ultimatum. HELEN BIANCHIN

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СКАЧАТЬ law.’

      ‘You believe that?’ The tone was silk-smooth and dangerous.

      She studied him carefully, attempting to see beneath the façade, aware he would permit only a chosen few to get close. ‘I think you did whatever was necessary to survive.’

      ‘A chequered past, hmm?’

      To have acquired great wealth in his lifetime meant risk-taking, and living on the edge.

      ‘Is any of it fact?’

      His expression didn’t change. ‘Some of it.’

      A street warrior, shoulder-length hair tied back, dark clothes, with attitude. A leader, rather than a follower.

      ‘Somewhere along the way you cleaned up your act. One assumes crime didn’t pay?’

      He had a hard-nosed cop to thank for turning his life around. A man who had seen potential beneath the bravado, and fostered it, directing the anger towards oriental combat skills in a back-street dojo, where discipline was of the mind as well as the body, a spiritualism that channelled energy into something meaningful. That, and one man’s faith in his ability to succeed.

      He had gone back to school, gained a college scholarship and worked his butt off, graduating with honours. The cop had pulled in a favour that gave him a chance…and the rest was history.

      No one knew he’d arranged a retirement package and heavily supplemented the cop’s superannuation plan. Or that he’d organised privately funded assistance to provide street kids with sports centres. Centres he personally visited each time he returned to the States.

      ‘Let’s just say I made the decision to walk on the right side of the law,’ Rafe declared with thinly veiled mockery.

      ‘That’s all you’re going to tell me?’

      ‘For now.’

      ‘You didn’t answer my original question,’ she pursued.

      He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. ‘I was nine years old.’ And life, as he knew it, had changed forever. Tension, friction, and a disenchanted father unable to get steady work had eventually split the family. Lack of money had ensured a downhill spiral that fashioned his youth and robbed him of both parents at an early age.

      Dusk encroached, and Danielle watched as the day’s colours began to fade. There was almost a surreal quality as night descended, an eery stillness before electric lights sprang to life, providing illumination.

      ‘More champagne?’

      Danielle met his gaze and was unable to determine anything from his expression. ‘No, thanks.’

      ‘We’ll move into the sitting-room, and I’ll have Elena serve coffee.’

      ‘Does Elena live in the house?’

      ‘No. She comes in Tuesday through to Saturday with her husband, Antonio. Elena looks after the house, prepares and leaves me an evening meal when required, and Antonio takes care of the grounds, the pool, any minor maintenance.’

      Danielle took her coffee sweet and black, and she sipped the brew slowly. How long before he would suggest they go to bed? An hour…less?

      There was a part of her that wanted the sex over and done with. Another that wished she could slip into an accomplished seduction mode.

      ‘The Toorak boutique is ready for Ariane to move in her stock,’ Rafe informed. ‘I’ve organised for transportation tomorrow.’

      ‘I’ll ring and arrange to meet her there.’

      ‘Aren’t you forgetting something?’

      She looked askance at him in silence.

      ‘You’re now my wife.’

      ‘Ariane and I are business partners. It wouldn’t be fair of me to expect her to set up stock alone in our new premises.’

      He examined her features, taking his time before offering comment. ‘What if I’ve made arrangements that preclude you being available to assist your mother?’

      ‘Have you?’

      ‘We’re due to attend a tennis party in a private home at two in the afternoon.’

      ‘Which leaves me the morning free to help Ariane,’ she responded evenly.

      ‘You have no need to work.’

      ‘You expect me to sit in this house twiddling my thumbs while I wait for you to service me at the end of the day.’

      ‘Por Dios.’ The oath slipped softly from his tongue. ‘Service you?’

      There was a quality evident in his voice that sent apprehension scudding down the length of her spine.

      ‘Given that pregnancy is the main objective, sexual activity should be restricted to my fertile cycle.’

      It was impossible to ascertain anything from his expression. As a card player he would be brilliant, she perceived. Yet this was not a game.

      ‘Rather like a brood mare put to stud?’

      The softness of his tone was deceptive, and although she was willing to swear he hadn’t moved a muscle his posture seemed to have assumed a menacing ruthlessness.

      ‘Why not call it what it is?’

      His gaze was unwavering, and it took all her courage not to flinch beneath the silent power emanating from the depths of those dark eyes. Evident was a hard intensity that was almost frightening.

      ‘We occupy the same bed each night,’ he said with dangerous softness.

      ‘You intend to enforce conjugal rights?’

      ‘Did you hope that I wouldn’t?’

      ‘Yes!’

      ‘Your mistake,’ he refuted simply.

      ‘That’s—’ words temporarily failed her ‘—barbaric.’

      ‘I doubt you’ve experienced the true meaning of the word.’

      Her chin lifted fractionally, and her eyes blazed with open hostility as she watched his lengthy frame uncoil from the chair.

      ‘You expect me to walk calmly upstairs with you?’

      ‘On your feet, or slung over my shoulder.’ He effected a negligible shrug. ‘Take your pick.’

      ‘You have the sensitivity of an ox!’

      ‘What did you imagine? Pretty words and romance?’

      Danielle stepped ahead of him and made her way towards the elegant staircase. ‘I should be so fortunate.’

      Careless, СКАЧАТЬ