A Daring Passion

“But you will no longer be a sailor’s daughter,” he said, a smug smile touching his lips. “You will be the wife of Philippe Gautier, and I possess enough wealth and power to make sure even the haughtiest dowager is forced to treat you with the utmost respect.”

“My God, you are arrogant.”

“And you are a liar.”

She tugged her chin from his grasp. “Liar?”

“Whatever is troubling you has nothing to do with what you fear society may think of you. At least not entirely.” The green eyes flared with warning. “Do not try to deceive me, Raine. I can read it upon your face.”

Raine glared in frustration. “Does it matter why?”

The elegant features tightened, almost as if she had managed to wound him, before he was gracefully rising to his feet, and then, reaching down, he scooped her off the bed, her shivering body still wrapped in the blankets.

“Not at the moment,” he said blandly, carrying her with ease out of the cabin and up the narrow passage. “I have an eternity to discover what secrets lurk deep in your soul.”

Raine gave a choked gasp as she hastily tucked the blanket to her chin. “Philippe…what are you doing?”

His features might have been carved from granite as he carried her onto the deck and headed straight for the railing.

“Taking you home.”

“You…you cannot force me to marry you, you know.”

“Never underestimate me, meu amor,” he growled softly.

She heaved an exasperated sigh, avidly aware of the crew watching them with broad smiles before they hastily set about lowering the narrow boats that would take them ashore.

“You may put me down, I am not going to leap overboard,” she muttered.

In answer his arms tightened about her, his gaze lowering to tangle with her own.

“I have not forgotten your dislike for small boats, meu amor. Close your eyes and hold on tight. I will keep you safe.”

RAINE AWOKE WITH DAWN and crawled from the vast bed that Philippe had carried her to the night before. It had been too dark to take much note of her surroundings, and in truth, she had been far too vexed by his high-handed behavior to care. Now, however, she was anxious to catch a glimpse of the home that held Philippe’s heart.

Pulling a blanket around her light shift, Raine moved to open the French doors that led to the long balcony running the length of the elegant villa. She leaned against the iron-scrolled railing and allowed her gaze to drink in the beauty before her.

A thrill of pleasure raced down her spine as she realized they were perched upon a rolling hill that offered a stunning view of the lush landscape. No, it was more than stunning, she silently mused. It was…breathtaking.

She sucked in the scent of lavender and camellia as her gaze skimmed the valleys and distant cliffs. Accustomed to England’s gentle countryside, Raine found the dramatic scenery enough to make her sigh in delight.

She was leaning forward to admire the elegant garden located just below the balcony when a pair of strong, familiar arms encircled her waist and pulled her against a warm body.

“You have awoken early, meu amor,” Philippe whispered, his lips brushing her ear. “I hope you find your new home to your liking?”

Pure, searing desire poured through her body at the feel of his hands pressed intimately against her lower stomach. It had been so terribly long since she had known the heat of his kisses and magic of his touch.

She swallowed a groan as she resisted the urge to turn in his arms and put an end to her torment.

“It is…astonishing,” she at last managed to breathe, her gaze blindly locking on the distant waves. “There is something very untamed about its beauty.”

“I could not agree more.” His lips slid down the curve of her face so he c

ould lightly nibble at her neck. “In truth, it is a miracle that the island was even discovered by the Portuguese.

She struggled to make sense of his words. “Why do you say that?”

“Henry the Navigator sent his best navigators to explore the coast of West Africa, but two of them were blown off course and landed upon Porto Santo. From there it was another year before they dared the dangerous waters to claim Madeira for Henry.”