A Daring Passion

The thought made her heart sink with despair.

“I do not wish to captivate the world. I only wish…”

“What?” With careful movements, as if afraid he might startle her into flight, Carlos cupped her face in his hands. “What do you wish?”

“What every woman wishes,” she said simply. “To have the love of a good and decent man. To have a home and a family to call my own.”

Thankfully the dark, handsome features held no mockery as he continued to study her pale face. Instead there was nothing more than an amused curiosity.

“And there was no man in that village of yours willing to make you his wife? I find that difficult to believe, anjo.”

“It is not difficult to believe at all.” Her lips twisted. “My birth is not of high-enough station to tempt the local aristocrats, and yet my standing and education make the local citizens uneasy. I seem to have no true place in the world.”

“Ah.” Something that might have been sympathy flashed through his eyes. “You are not alone, you know, anjo. Not all of us are born with our destinies written in the stars. Which, I have come to discover, is not always a bad thing. We are given the liberty to choose our own paths.”

“That is easy for you to say. You are a man while I am a mere woman.”

He chuckled softly. “You have no need to remind me. It is something I have become painfully aware of.”

“What I mean is that you possess the ability to do what you will without censure from society,” she said with a hint of impatience. “What choices do I have?”

“You persist in thinking of yourself as a meaningless chit in a small village. A woman with your beauty and intelligence could have society bending to your will.” His thumbs caressed the line of her cheekbones. “The world could be yours if only you would have the courage to grasp it.”

Raine pulled back as it became impossible to ignore the less-than-subtle seduction.

“Carlos?”

With a wry smile, Carlos reluctantly allowed his hands to drop. “Tell me, Raine, do you love Philippe?”

She gave a small jerk at the unexpected question. “He kidnapped me.”

His gaze never wavered. “That is no answer.”

Raine turned to pace back to the fire. She feared what might be revealed in her expression.

“Only a fool would love a man like Philippe,” she muttered, “and I am no fool.”

The heat of Carlos’s body flared over her as he came to stand directly at her back. Ever so lightly his hands skimmed over her shoulders.

“As much as I dislike admitting it, Philippe does claim a few redeeming qualities.”

“Does he?”

“Sim.” He toyed with the golden curls that lay against her robe. “Philippe is fiercely devoted to his family despite the knowledge that they are utterly unworthy of his loyalty. He has retrieved his father’s estates from the brink of ruin and built them into a vast empire.” There was a short pause. “He also cares for you.”

Raine’s breath caught in her throat at Carlos’s ridiculous claim. “No, he desires me,” she corrected.

“It is more than that.” His hand shifted to stroke the heavy necklace that bound her neck. “You cannot imagine that he lavishes all women with such stunning trinkets?”

“If he truly cared, then he would have known that buying me these jewels would only embarrass me.”

She could sense Carlos stiffen in surprise. “Why would you

be embarrassed?”

“I do not trade my body for wealth.”

He gently tugged a gleaming curl. “Many gentlemen feel more comfortable revealing their affections with such gifts. That does not mean they are paying for your services.”