The Secret Baby Scandal(15)

The facets of an enormous canary-yellow diamond, surrounded by white diamonds, sparkled in the afternoon sunlight of the kitchen, moving flickers of colored light against her creamy skin.

“What is this?”

“It’s the one I saw you looking at in the window of the jewelry shop.”

“It’s an engagement ring.”

“Yes.”

She looked up at him, her eyes huge. “That’s where you went when you left me in town?” she breathed. “To the jeweler’s?”

“The jeweler said it once was part of the dowry of Empress Eugénie,” he evaded. “Now it will belong to the new Comtesse de Castelnau.” He wrapped his hands over hers. “It will belong to you.”

Her cold fingers trembled beneath his. He wanted to warm her hands. He wanted to keep her warm and safe forever—to show her he wasn’t the man she thought.#p#分页标题#e#

Carrie lifted her gaze, and her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Why are you doing this, Théo?” she whispered. “To punish me?”

“Punish you?” With a diamond? His forehead creased. “I want to be a father to my son. I want Henry to have two parents and the security of a real home.” He looked straight into her eyes and said in a low voice, “And I want you in my bed, Carrie. I’ve never stopped wanting you.”

She sucked in her breath, searching his gaze. He felt her tremble again, then, with a gasp, she ripped her hands away. Snapping the box shut, she pushed it back into his hands. She looked out the kitchen window, with its bright view of vineyards and sunflowers. “I can’t be your mistress. I won’t be your wife.”

Théo set his jaw. Forcing himself to relax, not to show her how much her words stung, he tucked the jewelry box back in his pocket. He turned away, grabbing an expensive bottle of red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine he’d brought up from the cellar. Opening the bottle, he poured it into two glasses. He held out a crystal goblet. “Here.”

She stared at the glass he held out, then took it. He waited, staring between her and the wine. With a sigh, she took a sip.

“Delicious,” she said sadly.

“Better than foamy quail eggs?”

She snorted a laugh. “Anything is better than that.”

“Wait until you see what we’re having for dinner. Help me cook?”

“Help you? In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly desperate to spend time with you.”

He lifted a dark, sardonic eyebrow. “But, hating me as you do, surely you would not wish me to slave over a hot stove alone? You don’t wish to owe me a favor.”

She stiffened. “Absolutely not.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “So help me.” He held out a second apron. When she didn’t move, he gave her a wicked half-grin, lifting an eyebrow suggestively. “Unless you’re afraid to be close to me…”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she bit out. She took a long gulp of wine before she set down the glass. She held out her hand. “Give it here.”

But instead of giving her the second apron he reached out and lifted up her hair softly. Putting the apron over her shoulders, he tied the belt around her slender waist. Then he turned her around in his arms to face him. He kept his arms around her waist, her body snug against his in the kitchen as the beef and bacon continued to sizzle on the stove behind them.

Hot desire rushed through Théo like adrenaline as he held her. Her hair felt like cornsilk, her skin soft and smooth as satin. He ached to touch and kiss every inch of her, to rip off her clothes, to stroke and caress and taste her naked skin. He wanted her so badly he shook with it. He wanted to possess her completely and bring her to gasping fulfillment as he plunged himself deeply inside her. He was overwhelmed by the memory of the last time he’d had her in his bed…

He felt her shiver in his arms, and knew she was remembering the same.

She licked her lips, and her wide gaze locked with his. “I won’t let you seduce me, Théo,” she choked out. “I won’t. I can’t.”

But he saw the desperation in her eyes, and knew she was speaking the words to try to convince herself they were true. He saw her tremble, saw the hot flush on her skin, saw the way her teeth gnawed at her full, pink bottom lip. And he knew nothing would stop him from having her.

Tonight.

He cupped her chin in his hands.

“Love doesn’t last.” He looked down at her beautiful face. “But let me show you what we could have in our marriage. Let me show you what you’re tossing away. Security. Comfort. Beauty. And passion,” he breathed in her ear. “A lifetime of pleasure.”#p#分页标题#e#