Sale or Return Bride

Alesia closed her eyes and tried to convince herself that it didn’t matter that he didn’t love her as long as he wanted her.

Sebastien curved her body against his and then gave a soft curse as his mobile phone rang. ‘I left instructions that we were not to be disturbed.’

With barely concealed irritation he reached out a hand and picked up the phone, ending the shrill tone with an impatient stab of his finger.

He listened for several seconds and then said a few words in Greek before severing the connection and inhaling deeply.

‘We have to return to the hospital,’ he said grimly. ‘Apparently your grandfather has decided to pay your mother a visit.’

CHAPTER TEN

WHITE-FACED and anguished, Alesia would have run the length of the corridor that led to her mother’s room had Sebastien not caught her arm in a vice-like grip.

‘No.’ His tone was firm and decisive. ‘I know you’re worried but I want you to leave this to me.’

Panic in her eyes, Alesia tried to yank her arm away from him. ‘You don’t understand what he’s like. I have to go to her—’

‘I understand exactly what he’s like,’ Sebastien said harshly. ‘Trust me when I say that I am better equipped to deal with his particular brand of ruthlessness than you are.’

‘But—’

‘Theos mou, what do I have to do to get you to trust me?’ Sebastien growled, jerking her against his hard, muscular body. ‘How many times do I have to tell you that I will not hurt your mother. But the longer we argue about it, the more damage will be done.’

Alesia felt tears threaten and closed her eyes. ‘I didn’t know he’d come here,’ she whispered and Sebastien’s mouth tightened.

‘I’m glad he did. It saves me having to go to him although, given the choice, I would have spared your mother this additional stress.’ He relaxed his grip on her arm and gave her a smile as breathtakingly sexy as it was unexpected. ‘Courage. You have been so brave this far, you can be brave a little longer. And whatever I say, Alesia, I want you to agree with me. Is that clear?’

‘Whatever happened to modern?’

He flashed her a smile. ‘Gone, but just for today. Do you promise?’

She gave a wan smile in return. ‘Has anyone ever told you that you’re a bully?’

‘Frequently,’ he replied calmly. ‘Do I have your promise?’

‘All right.’

What else could she do?

To her surprise, Sebastien took her hand and escorted her into her mother’s room. As she saw the hunched figure of her grandfather Alesia started to shake and she felt Sebastien’s hand tighten on hers in silent comfort.

Her mother was lying in the bed, her face white, her eyes fixed on the man who had made her life such a misery.

‘I’m astonished that you choose to visit someone whose very existence you have denied,’ Sebastien said icily, his dark eyes hard as granite as he surveyed the man standing in front of him with nothing short of contempt.

‘It’s none of your business,’ Dimitrios growled angrily.

Alesia felt her knees quiver but Sebastien’s gaze didn’t flicker.

‘You made it my business when you joined the fortunes of our two families. Let me make something very clear,’ he said silkily. ‘We have this one conversation and then you are no longer welcome near any member of my family. Particularly my wife and her mother.’

‘Ah, yes—how is your wife?’ The older man gave Alesia a nasty smile. ‘I set you up, Fiorukis.’

‘And for that I will be eternally grateful.’ Sebastien slid a possessive arm around Alesia’s waist. ‘Had it not been for your relentless scheming, I never would have met Alesia.’ He glanced at her briefly and a curious smile touched his firm mouth. ‘And that would have been a pity because she has enriched my life.’

Alesia stared at him, momentarily transfixed by the look in his eyes, and then came back down to earth with a bump as Dimitrios Philipos gave a harsh laugh.

‘If you’re looking at her like that then you obviously haven’t seen further than her body. It’s time to tell you the truth. She can’t give you children. No more Fiorukises.’

Alesia flinched and then felt herself hauled into the protective circle of Sebastien’s arms.

‘My feelings for Alesia have nothing whatsoever to do with her ability to bear children,’ he said, his tone dangerously soft. ‘And if you insult my wife one more time you’ll regret it, Philipos. Unlike you, I know how to protect my own.’

Alesia held her breath. No one had ever fought in her corner or protected her before. All her life she’d been the one fighting for her mother, she’d been on her own against the world, and then suddenly this man, this man she’d deceived, was standing up for her—