What The Greek Wants Most(6)

Through the elite Rio grapevine she knew Alfonso Delgado's net worth and   knew he couldn't afford to acquire a controlling share of Da Costa   Holdings. So why did her father disapprove of a man who was clearly   superior in monetary worth to Alfonso?

'You really have to do better with your social skills than this. Or I'll   have to do something drastic to retain your attention.' The hard bite   to Theo's voice slashed through her thoughts. 'Or were you really that   into Delgado?'

'No, I wasn't.'

Her immediate denial seemed to pacify him. 'Then tell me what's on your mind.'

Inez found herself speaking before she could snap at him not to issue   orders. 'Have you ever found yourself in a position where everything you   do turns out wrong, no matter how hard you try?'

'There have been a few instances.' He pulled her close and slid an arm   around her back. Heat transmitted to her skin via the soft material of   her dress and flooded through her body. This close, his scent washed   over her. Strong but not overpowering, masculine and heady in a way that   made her want to draw even closer, touch her mouth to the bronze skin   just above his collar.

Deus!

'You think this is one of those occasions for you?'

'I don't think; I know.'

'Why?'

Her laugh grated its way up her throat. 'Because I have a perfectly functioning brain.'

'You're worried because your father and brother are displeased with you?'

'Everything else this evening has gone according to plan except … '

'Delgado. You're worried that your father offered you up on a silver   platter because he seems to think you're a prize worth winning and now   he'll demand to know what you did wrong.'

Her eyes snapped to his, the insult surprisingly painful. 'What do you   mean by seems to think? What do you know about my father? Or about me,   for that matter?'

Theo forced himself not to tense at the question. Or let the fact that   her body seemed to fit so perfectly in his arms impact on his thinking   abilities. 'Enough.'

'Do you always go around making unfounded remarks about someone you've just met?'

He let a small smile play over his mouth. 'Enlighten me, then. Are you a prize worth winning?'

'There's no point enlightening you because it will serve no useful purpose. After tonight you and I will never meet again.'

She took a firm step back. Attempted to prise herself out of his arms.   He held her easily, willing back the thrum of anger and bitterness that   rose like bile in his throat.

'Never say never, anjo.'

Her fiery brown eyes glared at him. 'Don't.'

He feigned innocence. 'Don't what?'

'Don't keep calling me that.'

'You don't like it?'

'You have no right to slap a pet name on someone you just met.'

The hand holding hers tightened. 'Calm down-'

'No, I won't calm down. I'm not an angel. I'm certainly not your angel.'

'Inez.' A warning, subtle but effective.

Inez's pulse stalled, then thundered wildly through her veins.

'Don't,' she whispered again. Only this time she wasn't sure what she pleaded for.

He leaned closer until his mouth was an inch from her ear. When he   breathed out, warmth teased her earlobe. 'Don't use your given name?   It's either that or anjo. All the other words are only appropriate for   the bedroom.'

Heat flamed through her belly as indecent thoughts of rumpled sheets,   sweaty bodies and incandescent pleasure reeled through her mind.

She shook her head to dispel the images and heard his low laugh.

When she stared up at him, his eyes blazed down at her with a hunger   that smashed through her body. Her nipples slowly hardened and the fire   raged higher as his lips parted on another heart-stopping smile. Unable   to help herself, her eyes dropped to the sensual curve of his mouth.                       
       
           



       

'I think it's my turn to say don't. Not if you don't want to be thrown over my shoulder and raced to the nearest cave.'

She forced a laugh despite the sensations rushing through her. 'This is the twenty-first century, senhor.'

'But what I'm feeling right now isn't. It's very basic. Primeval, in fact.'

He swerved her out of the path of another couple and used the move to   draw her even closer. At the fierce evidence of his arousal against her   stomach, Inez swallowed hard.

Her confusion escalated.

Constantine had been charismatic and breathtaking in his own right. But   he'd never made her feel like this, not even in the beginning … before   everything had gone disastrously wrong.

Thinking of the man who'd broken her heart and betrayed her so cruelly   threw much needed ice over her heated senses. She'd made a fool of   herself over one man. Foolishly believed he was the answer to her   prayers. She was wise enough now to know Theo Pantelides wasn't the   answer to any prayer, unless it was the crash and burn type.

'I believe I've fulfilled my obligatory dance duty to you. Perhaps you'd   like to find a more unwitting female to club over the head and drag to   your cave?' She injected as much indifference into her voice as   possible.

'That won't be necessary. I've already found what I'm looking for.'

* * *

Theo watched several emotions chase over her features before Inez da Costa regained her impeccable hostess persona.

Although he silently cursed himself for his physical reaction, he was thankful she realised her effect on him.

Let her think she held the power. Allow her to believe that he could be   manipulated to her advantage. Or, rather, her father's advantage.

Her reaction to Delgado's departure had shown him that fulfilling her   role as her father's Venus flytrap was most important to Inez da Costa.   Or was it something else? Did she hope to bag herself a millionaire   while serving her father's purpose? She came from a family ruthless in   its pursuit of wealth and power. Was that her underlying agenda?

That knowledge demanded that he rethink his strategy. The conclusion he'd arrived at was surprising but easily adaptable.

He had an opportunity to kill a few more birds with one stone. With any   luck, he would conclude his business in Rio in a far shorter time than   he'd already anticipated if he played his cards right.

Inez tried to wrench herself from his grasp once more. The primitive   feelings he'd mentioned so casually a moment ago resurfaced. When she   tugged harder, he forced himself to release her. Her soft hand slid from   his, leaving a trail of sensation that made his groin pound and his   blood heat.

The plan he'd hatched solidified as he gazed down into her heart-shaped   face, saw her fighting to stop her clear agitation from messing with  her  breathing.

Theo hid a smile.

Either she was offended at his primitive declaration or she was turned   on by it. Since she wasn't slapping his face, he concluded that it was   the latter.

His gaze dropped lower, and the sight of her tightly beaded nipples   against her gown made his own breathing stall in his chest. Lower still,   her tiny waist gave way to those tempting hips that his palms ached to   explore.

Even as he talked himself into believing his reaction would ultimately   serve his purpose, a part of Theo was forced to acknowledge that he   hadn't reacted this strongly to a woman in a very long time. Everything   about her brought his senses to roaring life in a way only the thought   of revenge had for the past decade.

Revenge … retribution over the person who had created such chaos in his life.

He gritted his teeth as the sound of tinkling laughter and animated conversation refocused his mind to his task and purpose.

'Good evening, Mr Pantelides. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening,' Inez said stiltedly.

She turned and walked off the dance floor before he could reply. Not   that he felt like replying. Although he'd mostly kept on track   throughout the evening, a large part of him had become far too consumed   by her seductive presence.

Inez da Costa was only one part of the game. To keep on track he needed to keep his head in the whole game.                       
       
           



       

He headed for the bar and sensed the moment Benedicto and his son halted their conversation and moved pincer-like towards him.

Dreaded anxiety washed over his senses but he forced himself to breathe through it.

I am no longer in that dark, cold place. I am in light. I am free …

He tersely repeated the short statement under his breath as he tossed   back the shot of vodka and set it down with cold, precise care.

He was no longer weak. No longer helpless.

And he most certainly would never be put in a position to beg for his life. Ever again.

By the time they reached him, he'd regained control of his body.

'Senhor Pantelides-'

'We're about to become business partners-' his gaze slid over Pietro's   head to where Inez was holding court in a group of guests; the sleek   line of her neck and the curve of her body sent another punch of heat   straight to his groin '-and hopefully a little bit more than that. Call   me Theo.'