Bound by Love (Russian Connection 2)

WITH AN EFFORT, STEFAN reined in his temper.

Damn. Why did he allow this woman to stir his anger with such ease? It was not as if he possessed a volatile nature. Quite the opposite. But the moment he was in Leonida’s company he was suddenly at the mercy of emotions he did not even know he possessed.

No wonder he too often lost the upper hand in dealing with the aggravating female.

Moodily, Stefan studied Leonida’s beautiful alabaster face. Her expression was set in stubborn lines, but he did not miss the hint of tears that shimmered in her eyes. She was clearly troubled at the thought of his departure. So why the hell did she continue to fight him?

“Do you intend to drive me away by stirring my anger?” he abruptly demanded. “Is that your last defense when another comes too close?”

She wrapped her arms around her waist in a protective gesture.

“But you are not close.”

He laughed at the ludicrous words. “I would say that we have been as close as two people can possibly be.”

“Physical intimacy can occur between complete strangers. It is meaningless.”

“If you truly believed that then you would have had a dozen lovers.” His gut twisted with savage fury at the mere thought of Leonida in the arms of another. He would quite likely kill the bastard. “Instead you have given yourself only to me.”

“While you have had any number of lovers, no doubt,” she snapped.

He smiled, fiercely pleased by the edge of jealousy in her voice. “I will have no other while we are together.”

“Do not restrain yourself on my behalf.” She sniffed, pretending an indifference he did not believe for a moment. “You are at liberty to take as many lovers as you want.”

“I need only one. Return with me to Meadowland and I will prove just how insatiable that need is.”

He stepped forward to pull her back into his arms, but with a swift movement she was darting out of his reach. Did the blasted woman expect him to chase her around the garden?

“Enough, Stefan.” Her unsteady voice was harsh. “I will not be traveling to England and that is the end of the matter.”

The end? He shook his head. The woman might be stubborn, but not even she could deny the ruthless need that bound them together.

“You truly will allow me to leave without a hint of regret?”

Her eyes darkened. “It is for the best.”

“Liar.”

“Stefan, please…just go.”

For a crazed moment his frustrated anger threatened to overcome his rational mind. She wanted him. That much he knew beyond a doubt. And if she were too stubborn to admit it, then by God, he would toss her into his carriage and haul her to the ship by force if necessary.

It was the memory of Vanya’s words that halted him in his tracks.

It is not a matter of a man knowing what a woman wants, but whether he is prepared to offer what she needs….

His jaw tightened. Of course. How could he have been blind for so long?

Leonida Karkoff might be a fascinating combination of sweet innocence and fierce courage, but at heart she was a woman like any other.

Abruptly he turned on his heel to pace toward the nearby fountain.

“You intend to force my hand, do you not?” he rasped.

“Now what are you implying?”

“As usual I have been embarrassingly dim-witted when it comes to you.” He turned to meet her puzzled gaze. “Odd, considering that women have been angling to become my bride since I inherited my title.”