Sighing raggedly, she finally looked up at Nick with pleading eyes. “You don’t have to do this,” she said in desperation. “If you want, I could talk to Rachel on your behalf. I’ll say whatever you want me to say. I will explain to her how it was my entire fault, and that you never meant to hurt her and were certainly not cheating on her. I can make her see reason.”
“If you think that’s possible, then you don’t know a thing about that woman,” Nick said with a mirthless laugh. “Besides, why would I settle for Rachel…when I can have you?”
Keyonna shivered at the look of dark desire and feral purpose on his handsome face as he cupped her throat in his large hands, his thumbs caressing her jaw line and making her eyelashes feel too heavy to lift. He pulled her closer, slanting his head to ghost his lips just a hair’s breadth from hers.
“One year, Keyonna. That’s all I ask. One year of wedded bliss to me and my obligation to my father’s Last Will and Testament will be fulfilled. Then – and only then, will I consider setting you free from my clutches…”
Chapter Eight
Keyonna kept calling herself all kinds of fool for agreeing to the Nick’s ultimatum.
But what choice did she have? The handsome brute had promised to bring her to her knees either way. What was one year married to him, compared to a future marred with debt and professional disgrace? He’d do it; she knew he would. And even then, she couldn’t take the risk of defying him and finding out if she was right.
His final words of that day kept ringing in her head. “Don’t make me do it, Keyonna,” he’d said quietly, his lips so close she could almost taste the heady kiss hovering. “This can be a perfect arrangement for both of us. As my wife, you’ll never lack a thing. All I have would be yours. And when it’s over, we can both walk away if that’s what we want.”
“You really think I care about your money?” she breathed, eyelids fluttering as she was unable to hold back the droplets of helpless tears spilling to her cheek. Hating herself for her weak tears, she made to turn angrily away but he gathered her into his big, potent arms and kissed her, hard.
Keyonna couldn’t break away, and felt herself almost bent back beneath the force of his passionate kiss. The way she whimpered and shook with pleasure was like the final nail in her cross of shame.
“Ssh…don’t cry, tesoro,” Nick rasped gently against her lips, making her tears spill faster at the soft endearment. “Stop fighting me. I can make this good. I promise. Let me show you how it can be between us.”
“No,” Keyonna moaned, even as his powerful arms swept her off her feet. Somehow, his quick, sure strides found the way straight to her bedroom. Keyonna’s mind was a whirl of emotions fighting for supremacy. She couldn’t deny that she wanted Nick, so badly it burned through her like a fever. No other man made her body tremble with desire just by his touch, his kiss. Already, he’d burned a hole through her defenses and already, she knew she had more than just her pride and body at stake. Even as he began to slowly yet purposefully strip her clothes, even as she melted beneath him when he finally joined her on the cool sheets, she still couldn’t help feeling that whatever could have been between them was forever cheapened.
And Keyonna knew she should hate him for that but damn it, she couldn’t.
He plucked his mouth from hers, arching over her while a deep growl rumbled in his throat as she instinctively writhed closer. He was still fully clothed while she was now naked to the skin which gave her somewhat of a vulnerable yet thrilling sensation.
Laughing softly, Nick pinned her wrists high on either side of her head, making her feel more helpless than ever. His eyes began to smolder as they ran over her body from neck to toe. Her nipples stiffened beneath his warm look, and as his gaze trailed down to the softly tufted mound in the V of her thighs, her skin grew warm.
“You’re beautiful,” he said huskily, while pressing himself into her a little harder so she could feel the stiffness of his thick, long, clothed erection rubbing against her belly. Keyonna’s breathing was quite heavy now and she squirmed as his head dropped to her heaving breasts.
Desperately frightened of how she’d react to Nick’s lips on her, she blurted shakily, “It’s not enough you blackmail me into marriage – but now you get my body as well? That’s a bargain if I ever saw one.”
Nick stiffened, and then swore harshly beneath his breath in Italian before suddenly releasing her wrists and rolling off the bed.
Keyonna stared at him incredulously, somewhat surprised to see him heading straight for the door.