Seduction: The Billionaire's Bride of Vengeance. Miranda Lee

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СКАЧАТЬ of romantic crap Hugh came out with. James wasn’t going to fall in love with Megan any more than he’d fall in love with Nicole Power.

      Russell didn’t delude himself about the ruthless individual he’d become over the years. His plan to cold-bloodedly seduce his enemy’s daughter tonight was wicked enough. To even consider marrying her was truly wicked.

      But that was getting ahead of himself.

      She might tell him to get lost later tonight. In a way, he hoped she would. Because if she didn’t, she would put him on a path from which there might be no turning back.

      Frankly, to have anything to do with her was risky, even downright dangerous. He could pretend she was his prey, but for how long? He was the besotted one here. She was the one with all the potential power.

      Once she knew he was attracted to her—a man with millions—then the tables could well be turned. She might set her cap at him.

      Russell had to laugh.

      ‘What’s so funny?’ Hugh asked.

      ‘Just the perversity of life, mate.’

      ‘Don’t tell me about it. I already know. But it’s not life that’s the main problem. It’s women.’

      ‘You could be right there.’

      ‘I am right, Russ. Take my word for it.’

      Russell’s eyes turned to again seek out the woman currently giving him problems.

      But her chair was empty.

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      SICOLE stood at the railing of the deck which overlooked the marina. The night sky was overcast, the air still sultry with not much breeze coming off the water. In the distance, several flashes of sheet lightning heralded the storm which had been forecast for later that evening.

      Nicole knew she should return to the reception, but she simply could not. To sit there and be the subject of that man’s never-ending stare was beyond her.

      She didn’t have to look back at him after that first time to know that his eyes were constantly upon her. She could feel them raking over her, burning into her, making her aware of her body in ways which were as disturbing as they were embarrassing.

      Her fiercely erect nipples were bad enough, especially since she wasn’t wearing a bra. Even worse was the dampness between her thighs.

      Nicole had stayed in the powder room for several minutes, after which she’d escaped outside, hoping that some fresh air would bring her wayward flesh under control.

      But the air outside was hotter than the air inside.

      She felt his presence before he spoke, her skin breaking into instant goose-pimples.

      ‘We meet again, Nicole,’ he said quietly as he materialised next to her.

      Nicole’s fingers tightened around her evening bag before lifting it from the top of the railing. Slowly she turned to face him, grateful that he could not hear her heart thudding behind her ribs.

      ‘Did you get your keys?’ she asked him with creditable cool.

      His smile was light and might have been charming on any other man. But not on him and not when accompanied by the predatory gleam which glittered in his cold blue eyes.

      ‘Indeed I did,’ he said. ‘I hope you got everything you wanted from the house.’

      ‘Yes, thank you.’

      ‘I was surprised to see you here. I presume you’re a friend of Megan’s.’

      ‘We went to the same school.’ No way was she going to explain her presence here any more than that. It would make her sound like some charity case.

      ‘What are you doing out here?’ he went on. ‘You missed all the toasts and speeches.’

      Trust him to notice. But then he would, wouldn’t he? He’d been watching her all evening. And now he’d followed her out here.

      Nicole could not pretend that she didn’t know the reason why. She’d been the object of male pursuits ever since she’d left boarding school. Up till her experience with David, she’d enjoyed the mating game.

      But that had been before she was told she was a bore in bed.

      ‘I had a headache,’ she invented.

      ‘Have you taken something for it?’

      ‘Yes,’ she lied again.

      ‘And?’

      ‘I’m feeling better.’

      ‘In that case, would you like to dance?’ he said, his blue eyes fastening hard onto hers again.

      Lord, but they were powerful, those eyes. And oh, so sexy.

      ‘I … I think I’d rather stay out here,’ she replied, somewhat shakily.

      ‘That’s all right. The music’s loud enough. We can dance right where we are.’

      Before she could find some other excuse, he took her bag, placed it on top of the railing, then drew her into his arms.

      ‘I’m sorry if I was rude to you the other day,’ he said softly as he began to move her back and forth in a slow, sensual rhythm.

      Nicole swallowed, but didn’t say anything in return. Her brain was far too busy trying to get a handle on the wild heat rushing through her. His holding her even more tightly did little to free her mind, or soothe her instant panic.

      ‘I have a confession to make,’ he whispered into her ear, which was now perilously close to his mouth. ‘From the first moment I saw you, I wanted you.’

      Nicole jerked back out of his arms, her eyes widening as they flashed up to his.

      ‘I dare say you’ve had many men say that to you over the years,’ he went on. ‘Please believe me when I say I don’t make a habit of such rash declarations. That’s why I was rude to you at first, because the intensity of my feelings took me by surprise. And because I was sure that a girl as exquisitely beautiful as you are would already be taken. But your being here tonight, alone, indicates that maybe I was mistaken …’ His eyebrows lifted questioningly. ‘Is there a lover or boyfriend in your life at the moment? Someone overseas perhaps?’

      Nicole still couldn’t find her tongue, but she did manage to shake her head in the negative.

      The satisfaction in his eyes was both flattering and frightening. ‘Then I’m free to tell you that seeing you again tonight has done nothing to lessen my interest. In fact I want you more than I’ve wanted any woman before in my life.’

      The passion in his voice, and in his eyes, both dazzled and dazed her.

      ‘You take my breath away,’ he ground out, cupping СКАЧАТЬ