Bridal Bargains

‘But I needed to get that confirmed with my own lawyers before I dared take action. And you had signed it, agape mou,’ he added gently. ‘My lawyers were afraid that if I faced your father with what I had discovered while you were still in London, he could have used the fact you had signed away your right to Suzanna to make the child a ward of the British courts while we fought over her.’

‘And thereby gain himself a different way of blackmailing us into doing what he wanted us to do.’ Mia nodded understandingly.

‘It was safer for me to get you both here to Greece before I faced him with what I knew.’

‘So you kidnapped us.’

‘Yes.’ He sighed. ‘I’m sorry if I frightened you.’

Frightened her? He’d put her through a hell of uncertainty over the last twenty-four hours! ‘You are as underhand and cunning as my father,’ she said accusingly. ‘Do you know that?’

‘I love you madly,’ he murmured coaxingly. ‘I would not hurt a hair on your beautiful head.’

In answer to that blatant bit of seduction, Mia turned her back on him again—though she made no attempt to move out of those strong arms still holding her.

And Alex was not going to stop the verbal seduction. ‘I adore you,’ he whispered softly against her ear. ‘I ache for you night and day I am so badly bitten.’

‘Which is why you keep a mistress, I suppose.’

As a mood-killer it worked like a dream. His dark head lifted. ‘Ah,’ he said ruefully once more. ‘The mistress. You are after your pound of flesh again, I think.’

I want more than a pound of your flesh, Alexander Doumas, Mia thought covetously. I want it all! ‘I apologise,’ she said with deceptive contrition. ‘I forgot for the moment that I am contracted not to mention the mistress.’

He laughed, not fooled at all by her tone, and the arms holding her tightened their grip. ‘There is no mistress,’ he informed her drily. ‘And there never was a mistress.’ His mouth was tasting her ear again. ‘I have not looked at another woman since the first night I saw you across a crowded room and was instantly smitten—as I suspect you already know!’

Mia smiled a smile of feline satisfaction. ‘Carol did imply something of the kind,’ she confessed, and arched her neck to give him greater access to the ear lobe he was tasting. ‘I just wanted to hear you say it.’

‘I’m going to rip that crazy contract up …’ he promised.

‘Good,’ she said approvingly.

‘And make you sign another one that will tie you to me for life,’ he added.

‘What makes you think I will sign it?’ she challenged.

His mouth moved to her throat, his tongue arrowing directly for a particular pulse point he knew all about. ‘I have my ways,’ he murmured against that exact spot—and laughed softly as she drew in a sharp, shaken gasp of air. Her body was already beginning to throb in his arms with pleasure when a sound outside caught her attention.

Glancing down

wards, she saw Suzanna appear, with Carol and Leon in tow. They were dressed for swimming, with towels draped around their necks. Hand in hand, they walked off towards the swimming pool area.

‘She has them wrapped around her little finger,’ Mia drily remarked.

‘I know the feeling,’ Alex murmured. ‘Her mama has me tied up the same way.’

Mia smiled and said nothing, her gaze following the trio until they disappeared out of sight, then she lifted her gaze to the larger view of this, her new home. Out beyond the gardens the sea was shimmering lazily, and beyond it stood the misted green-grey string of smaller islands.

‘Which is your island?’ she asked.

He didn’t answer for a long moment, seemingly much more interested in tasting her. Then his dark head came up. ‘The one you can see directly in front of us,’ he said, ‘with the two crescent-shaped patches of golden beach …’

Is that why he had bought this villa, she wondered, because it looked out on his true home?

‘Your vision,’ she sighed. ‘I’m so sorry you lost it.’

‘I’m not,’ he replied, with no hint of regret. ‘Visions can change. Mine has changed. All I want is right here with me, in my arms.’

‘Still,’ Mia said sadly, ‘it seems so very unfair that you have to break a promise to your father because my so-called father is such a dreadful man.’