Virgin Mistress(48)

“I wanted him to know how it feels to lose what you love most,” Timothy said, baring his teeth. “To have his heart ripped out.”

“But he won't feel anything like that. He doesn't love me!”

“I've been watching you both for months. He hasn't been with another woman in all that time. Doesn't even look. He comes home every night at five sharp. You claim he's not in love? Nice try.”

The thought went through her like lightning. Was it actually possible that Diogo might love her? Oh please, she thought, briefly closing her eyes. Please come for me.

Timothy gave a little cackle. “Diogo Serrador thinks he's so powerful. He's got the good looks, the charm, the billions. But I've still beaten him. I've won you.”

She felt another contraction. A hard, long contraction that was different from the others, that made her feel weak and broke a sheen of sweat all over her body. No, she told the babies desperately. Not yet. She couldn't go into labor here!

She had to give Diogo time.

“Oh, Ellie.” Sitting down on the old ragged blanket that covered the bed, Timothy looked up at her with a hangdog expression. “I love you so much, can't you see that? I would do anything for you. Ever since that day I saw you at the Dairy Burger with your blond hair glowing like an angel, I knew you were different from all the others. You never laughed at me. You respected me. Admired me. And I knew you would be mine. But you were always so worried about money. I knew I'd have to be rich for you. ”

“You really did it, didn't you?” she breathed as pain went through her. “Sold babies for profit.”

He shrugged. “Childless couples. Female CEOs who spent too long on their careers. All so rich—and all so desperate for babies of their very own. While poor women give birth all the time to children they can't support. Or protect.” He gave a sly grin. “I was simply providing a service. I did it for you, Ellie. Always for you.”

She felt sick. How could she have missed so much of his true character? How could she have glossed over the way he'd been so obsessed with winning her? How could she have ever thought that he actually loved her?

“But Serrador ruined everything.” Timothy narrowed his eyes at her belly in a way that made her fold her hands over her stomach protectively. “You'd be pregnant with my child now if not for him. I would've had you in my bed every night. Wanting me. Only me.”

“No, Timothy,” she said softly. She shook her head. “I made a mistake. I never should have agreed to marry you. This feeling you have for me isn't love. You don't even know me.”

His thin lips turned up into a snarl.

“Perhaps you're right,” he said crudely. “The girl I adored was innocent and pure. She never would have spread her legs for a Brazilian playboy like a sailor's whore.”

She gasped.

Timothy shook his head and leapt up from the bed to take her arm. “I'm sorry!” he cried. “I know it was all his fault. He raped you. That's the only explanation. But do you see how love can make you do crazy things? Seeing you pregnant is driving me insane. But not for long….”

“What do you mean?” she whispered.

He gave her a cheerful smile. “I have a local doctor on the payroll. In about an hour, he's going to help deliver your babies, and then you'll be free to come with me.”

Free? The word terrified her. Another hard contraction went through her, making her knees weak. She grasped the hard metal bedframe for balance. “The babies…aren't due for two weeks,” she gasped.

“It's close enough. The little brats will be fine. They'll be going to their new parents in Manhattan, who have paid me a hefty sum for newborn twins with no questions asked. I'm a rich man now, Ellie. Not as rich as Serrador, but I can buy you everything you could want. You'll never have to work again. Your only job will be to love me all day long….”

Her belly tensed, and she nearly fell. She had to get out of here. If she gave birth to her twins now, they would be taken from her. She and Diogo would never see them again.

She had to be strong. Strong for her children. Strong for the man she loved!

“If you take the babies, Diogo will kill you.” She sat down on the bed as her legs threatened to give way beneath her.

“He won't even find me,” Timothy said scornfully. “As soon as we leave here, we'll disappear forever.”

She couldn't let that happen. She had to distract him. Her heart pounding, she unbuttoned the top buttons of her shirt, giving him a better look at her full cleavage. “Ooh, it's hot in here,” she said, fanning herself. “Why not just let Diogo have the babies, Timothy? Then you and I can leave together.”