This whole day, as beautiful and perfect as it was, had been just one long setup.
She squeezed her eyes shut. But even knowing that, she still so desperately wanted to say yes….
“What is your answer, meu amor?” he asked, stroking her cheek as he looked into her eyes. “Will you make me the happiest of men? Will you agree to be my bride?”
She blinked hard, struggling to regain control. “You don't love me.”
“Let me take care of you. Let me keep you comfortable and safe forever.” His dark eyes sizzled through her. “Let me give you pleasure such as you've never known.”
The longing to surrender poured through her so desperately that her whole body shook with the force of her desire. She wanted to give in. Wanted nothing more than to be the beloved wife of a powerful billionaire who would take care of her and their children for the rest of their lives. Diogo made her skin ignite with every caress. He seared her with every challenging look. And when he smiled…
The word yes trembled on her lips. She tried to fight it. She couldn't let him break her heart.
But many playboys grew up and fell in love and were faithful to their wives! she argued with herself. If Diogo didn't love her now, perhaps in time…
His phone vibrated from his pocket, barely audible over the music. He glanced at the phone to see the number of the caller, and the expression on his face changed.
“Excuse me,” he told Ellie curtly. Turning away, he spoke warmly into the phone. “Catia…”
And he left Ellie standing alone on the dance floor.
She stood there in shock, surrounded by the pulse of the music and the sexy couples dancing as if they were desperately in love. And her heart melted under the weight of her humiliation.
She'd nearly sold her soul for a kiss.
God, how stupid was she?
Keep her comfortable and safe? Diogo would keep her and the babies like toys on a shelf, for him to take down and play with when it amused him. He would travel the world, run a billion-dollar business, and seduce a new woman every night, and forget all about the family he'd left at home!
He'd interrupted first a kiss—and then his marriage proposal—for the sake of another woman. What kind of fool would agree to be Diogo's wife under those kinds of terms?
No.
She wouldn't let him buy her. Not with his money and not with his sexy charm. She would rather be poor and free than be a rich man's toy. She would rather be a single mother than a miserable, brokenhearted wife!
But it had been so close. After such a wonderfully romantic day, she'd almost agreed to be his bride.
And knowing that, she hardly knew whom she hated more—Diogo or herself.
“I'm sorry.” Diogo was suddenly in front of her. “I had to take that call.”
“Of course,” she said coldly. “I understand. Not that I've ever had a mistress myself.”
He stared at her, and she realized part of her was waiting breathlessly, hoping he would deny everything. That small, weak part of her wanted to believe he could be faithful, even by ignoring the evidence of her own eyes.
But he didn't even try to deny it. His lips only separated into a glinty smile. “Right.” He reached for her. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes. You were agreeing to marry me.”
Humiliation once again rushed through her, leaving her body in flames. She moved before he could touch her.
“You were taking me to the airport,” she said evenly. “I want to go home. Now.”
“Now?” He stopped, grinding his jaw. His chest rose and fell twice. Their gazes locked as, all around them, couples danced provocatively, grinding their half-naked bodies in movement to the seductive music. “And this is how you keep your promise to remain here until the babies are born?”
Unwilling to trust her voice, she shrugged.
His jaw tightened. She saw him clench his hands.
“Tá bom. Just remember, querida. You left me no choice.”
Without warning, he picked her up in his arms in the middle of the dance floor.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
“Taking you to our wedding,” he growled.
“What? No!” Shocked, she struggled and cried out. The other patrons of the club were so lost in a haze of sex and pleasure and music that they hardly noticed. The few who did notice merely glanced at them with knowing, sly smiles and returned to their dirty dancing.
As Diogo carried her out of the club toward his shiny black Escalade, she tearfully looked up at him. His face was stony, as icy and unreachable as the stars above them.
“Please don't do this!” she begged.
He shoved her into the backseat. “Since you won't see reason, I have no choice.” Diogo climbed beside her and leaned forward to speak to his chauffeur. “Go.”