Modern Romance November 2016 Books 5-8. Rachael Thomas

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СКАЧАТЬ what?’ There was a flash of fire in her eyes. ‘You’ll punish me?’

      ‘Don’t talk such nonsense.’

      ‘Then don’t threaten me. I’ve spent my life dealing with threats and I won’t put up with them any more.’ Her voice was clear and steady; only the way her fingers played with the fabric of her long jumper hinted at any distress beneath the cool façade. He recalled her doing the same thing on the drive to his apartment after their wedding, wearing the dress he’d longed to peel from her body, to replace the material with his lips and his body. And then again, at the opera, in that long black figure-hugging dress he’d also longed to peel away.

      ‘I was not making threats, but, as you’ve so clearly forgotten, you are carrying my child.’ His words almost came out as a shout. He was so angry that he was in danger of losing his temper.

      ‘That doesn’t mean you have claim to my body or my mind. We’re not on Monte Cleure.’ Her lips pinched together. ‘It wasn’t that long ago you thought it amusing that I was happy to let my family have ownership over my body and how I used it. You should be happy that I’ve taken your words to heart—from now on I dictate what I do, not my father, not my brother, not you. I don’t know why you’re here. I thought you’d be glad to see the back of me.’

      He’d thought that too until she’d run away.

      ‘Damn it, Catalina, you’re my wife.’

      ‘Really? I thought I was your encumbrance.’

      It was the coolness tinged with bitterness that propelled him forward to pin her against the counter.

      He inhaled the scent that had played in his memories since their night together and the ache in his chest spread, creeping through every part of him.

      Placing a hand to her cheek, he ran his fingers down the warm soft skin, clasping the base of her chin gently with his thumb.

      ‘You are my wife,’ he whispered. ‘We made vows.’

      Her eyes were wide, the chocolate around her pupils swirling, and her voice dropped to match his, her words breathless. ‘Vows that didn’t mean anything.’

      ‘We made a promise to stay together as a married couple until our child is born. I signed a contract. You have broken your promise.’

      She didn’t flinch but held his gaze, the swirling in her eyes deepening. ‘You broke yours first. You haven’t treated me like a wife. If it’s a case of living with you for another year and then moving back to the palace while they fix me up with another man who will also treat me like an irritant then I’d rather take my chances on my own.’

      ‘It’s not going to happen. You’re going to pack your bags and we’re going to get out of this hellhole.’

      ‘You can go wherever you like. I’m not going anywhere and that includes the prison you call an apartment.’

      ‘You’re coming back with me if I have to carry you kicking and screaming onto the plane.’

      Both of their voices had dropped to below a whisper. Nathaniel could smell her warm breath against his lips and lost the fight with his body, surrendering to the quickening in his loins.

      Her eyes were suddenly stark. ‘Why do you want me to come back? You hate me.’

      ‘I don’t hate you.’ He hated what she’d done and the worry she’d caused him, but how could he hate someone he wanted so badly?

      ‘Then why have you avoided me at every turn? You treat me like a stranger. I hate living with you.’

      In all the years he’d known her, this was the first he’d seen of anything approaching vulnerability in her.

      ‘I was trying to protect you.’ For all the good it had done him.

      ‘Why?’ Her mouth stayed parted after the syllable, so tantalisingly close to his own that if he flicked his tongue out it would press against those beautiful lips.

      ‘I thought I needed to keep my distance because I didn’t want to risk you falling in love with me.’

      The wide eyes suddenly narrowed, anger pulsing through them. ‘Of all the arrogant...’ She pushed at his chest.

      He stepped away from her and leant against the opposite surface, trying to get air into his choked lungs.

      ‘You have nothing to worry about on that score.’ The lips he’d been on the verge of kissing had pressed together.

      Nathaniel laughed. How many women had he heard say they didn’t believe in love?

      ‘Don’t you dare laugh at me.’ This time it was Catalina who propelled herself forward, moving gracefully to jam a finger to his chest. ‘I only slept with you because there was no chance in the world of falling in love with you.’

      ‘Say that again?’ Her cutting barbs felt amazingly like a punch to his ego.

      She glared at him. ‘I felt desire for you. Nothing more. I’d been waiting since I was fifteen to meet someone I wanted and decided not to waste the opportunity.’

      He gazed at her, dumbstruck to hear such things from her mouth.

      ‘It isn’t nice, is it?’ she said. ‘To hear the unvarnished truth.’

      She had him there; his own double standards were coming back to bite him. He said the first thing that came into his mind. ‘Why since you were fifteen?’

      ‘That’s how old I was when I found a couple making love in the palace herb garden.’

      Taken off guard, he gave a laugh of surprise.

      Her eyes narrowed sharply, her finger pushing harder into his chest. ‘It wasn’t funny. It was...’ She swallowed and shook her head. ‘If they’d been caught by anyone else...’

      He would never have expected this turn in the conversation. ‘Who were they?’

      ‘It doesn’t matter. They didn’t see me. I was too scared to stay. But the images wouldn’t leave me. Once I knew they were lovers, I would watch how they acted around each other when they didn’t think anyone was looking.’

      ‘It was a forbidden affair?’

      She nodded. ‘Very forbidden. But once I knew I couldn’t unknow.’

      Nathaniel could identify with that. It had been impossible for his uncle to ‘unknow’ what he had witnessed.

      ‘When I found them together that time, I only saw the desire. That’s what I couldn’t get from my mind. I never knew a man and a woman could be like that with each other. I never saw anything inappropriate between them after that, but the more I watched them, the more I saw they were in love.’ Her gaze dropped and she looked down at her finger still pressed against his chest as if surprised to find it there. She snatched it away and stepped back from him. ‘It ended badly.’

      ‘Love always does.’

      She smiled СКАЧАТЬ