Virgin Mistress(37)

“Yes.” He ran his hand wearily over the back of his head. “Someday I will tell you. But not now.”

She felt angry tears spring to her eyes. “You can't honestly expect me to share you!”

He ground his jaw. “Querida—”

“Don't call me that! Don't you dare insult my intelligence by pretending you actually care about me!”

“You will share me, Ellie. You have no choice. Just as I will have no choice but to share you.”

“I would never—”

“With our children,” he interrupted.

She shook her head angrily. “It's not the same thing!”

“I will give you and our babies a good home. You will have untold wealth and the protection of my name. Don't ask more from me. Not yet.”

“But I'm your wife!”

His eyes looked dark. “There are some things that a man doesn't discuss with his wife. Especially not with his wife.”

She shook her head. She couldn't believe that. Wouldn't believe it. Why couldn't he just admit he had a mistress and put her out of her misery of wondering? How could they have any marriage at all if they couldn't even be honest?

“Who is she?” she whispered. “Is she beautiful?”

“I'm done discussing this,” he said coldly. “Accept that I have my secrets, and be content.”

If only she could do that. Pregnant with twins, married to a handsome billionaire, she had everything most women would want. So what was wrong with her? Why couldn't she just be happy, without crying out for his love and fidelity in the bargain?

“Fine,” she said in a clipped voice. “Keep your secrets.”

“Get dressed.” His face was hard as he turned from her. “We must return to Rio immediately.”

She gasped at him. “Now? But we just got here! Our honeymoon…”

“Our honeymoon is over,” he said. “I have business in Rio.”

Yeah, she thought. She could just imagine what kind of business. A vivacious redhead with impossibly long legs, or a sultry, experienced brunette with skills in bed that Ellie couldn't hope to match.

What power did Catia have, that she could so easily make Diogo come at her beck and call? “I don't want to go.”

“We leave in five minutes. Be ready.” Opening the sliding glass door, he walked back into the house without another glance.

A few minutes later, Ellie was dressed in a loosely fitting white shirt and khaki pants. Feeling desperately sad, she departed the beach house as a trio of laughing maids entered to clean it. Ellie cast one last wistful glance at the bed as the maids stripped the bedlinens. The beach house would soon be immaculate again. As if his wedding night with Ellie had never existed.

Within a day, this beautiful place would be ready to host Diogo's next conquest.

Choking down her bitterness, she followed Diogo toward a waiting helicopter on a flat cliff on the edge of his estate. He barely looked back at her as they walked the hundred yards. Her knees suddenly tottered, and she stopped, hand over her mouth.

As if he somehow sensed her feelings, he turned back. He went immediately at her side. “What is it? Are you sick?”

There was no point in denying it. Not when she likely was green. “I think… I think I'm just hungry. And thirsty. I made some toast, but I didn't eat it…”

Diogo barked out orders to one of his bodyguards. By the time Ellie was seated in the plush leather seat of his Sikorsky helicopter, a maid had brought a freshly made ham-and-cheese baguette, an apple and a bottle of sparkling water.

“Have a good flight, senhora!”

The maid's respect and obvious admiration for Ellie made it clear that she thought Mrs. Serrador very grand—and very fortunate. If only the girl knew the truth!

“If you're still thirsty, there is juice and milk,” Diogo said loudly over the noise-muffling earphones. As the helicopter lifted off the ground, he pointed at a small refrigerator. “And cookies and chips and dried fruit in that box. Once we are home, Luisa will be glad to prepare you a full meal of whatever your heart craves.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, but there was only one thing her heart truly craved, and he had already turned away from her. For the duration of the short helicopter ride to Rio, he took notes on his laptop, taking business calls on his phone. How could he be so solicitous and kind one moment, then so cold the next?

Because he only cared about the babies, she realized. He wanted Ellie to be comfortable for their sake, but he cared nothing about her feelings. If he had, he wouldn't have abruptly ended their honeymoon after one night to rush back to his mistress!

All the promises his body had made her in bed, every whisper of love in his touch, had been a lie.