The old concrete building held the hottest club in Rio—in the most dangerous favela in town. Diogo didn't seem worried, but Ellie knew his bodyguards had insisted on waiting outside. Especially his personal bodyguard, Pedro Carneiro.Ellie shivered. She always got nervous around Pedro, probably because he looked so much like his brother who'd attacked her in the favela. But Diogo trusted him. And against her will, she was starting to trust Diogo….
He pulled her onto the crowded dance floor. The building was full of gorgeous young Cariocas, all dancing provocatively. The women wore tiny little dresses and little else to hide their curves; the men were strong and brutish, swaying their hips with blatant sensuality. The red lamps illuminated the sweaty, cavernous room as the live musicians began to play an Argentinean tango.
Diogo kissed her hand. But it was no gentlemanly gesture. He kept his eyes leveled on hers, holding her fingers against his own as his lips hotly caressed her skin, and it was a promise of what the night held.
A shiver racked her body.
He won't try to seduce me, she told herself desperately. He promised.
But as he pulled her closer into his arms, pressing his hand against the back of her neck, she could not resist him. In rhythm to the music, surrounded by the red light and steam, he held her in continuous contact with his body. Moving against her. Feeling his hard-muscled thigh between her legs, a moan escaped her lips.
He bent his head until it was just inches from her own. Almost close enough to touch. And she wanted him to kiss her. Wanted it badly.
At the last moment, he turned away.
By the time the dance ended, Ellie's body was on fire from her fingertips to her earlobes to her toes. Was it possible to die from wanting a man like this? Could she literally burst into flame, being held against his hard body—but having him not kiss her?
“Just friends,” she whispered aloud, closing her eyes. Her breath came in little gasps. “Friends…”
He lifted her chin with a muscular finger, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“I've never wanted to be your friend, querida.” He ran his hand along the side of her breast to her swelling belly, causing her to shudder from her nipples to her womb. “You are far more to me than a friend.”
“I am?” she whispered.
He leaned forward with the sway of the seductive music.
“Marry me, Ellie,” he said in a low voice. “I will treat you like a goddess for all your life.”
Marry Diogo?
Staring at him, she was tempted more than she could bear. How long had she dreamed of this—of being cherished by Diogo Serrador, the handsome, powerful billionaire she'd admired from the moment she'd become his junior secretary?
It hadn't been a joke yesterday. He truly wanted her as his bride. Ellie Jensen from Flint, Pennsylvania. Of all the women in the world, he'd chosen her to be his love…
His love?
The thought was like a slap in the face.
He didn't love her.
He just wanted to possess her. He wanted the babies to stay in Rio, and he wanted Ellie at his beck and call, in his bed for as long as he wanted her.
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.