Read Online The Mediterranean Billionaire's Blackmail Bargain by Abby Green - Free Book Online
Authors: Abby Green
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his arms before.
Physical desire.
That was all it was. He couldnât fathom it, couldnât rationalize itâit just was. Something about this woman was calling to him on a base level and he knew he had to see it through to its conclusion. No matter what it took. With customary ruthlessness that made him feel on safer ground, he started to formulate a plan of sorts. It would placate Paolo, who was proving to be dismayingly, resolutely obstinate in his support of Melanie, and it would mean he could keep an eye on Alicia and her sister. And he would get her into his bed to sate this burning fireâ¦
Her body had finally stopped its uncontrollable shaking. He could feel her take a deep breath against his chest, and her soft breasts rise and swell against his belly. His groin tightened, the blood rushed south. He was making the right decision. He pulled away, tipping her head back to face him with one hand, almost hoping for a second that sheâd have turned into some kind of hag in the interim, like in a cartoon.
But noâ¦she looked exquisite. Her eyes were huge, the colour of crushed dark velvet and dewed with moisture, her mouth a quivering invitation, the tracks of tears on her cheeks an enticement to drop his head, kiss them awayâ¦
He saw something in her eyes then, a vulnerability that she hadnât displayed before⦠because sheâd been too busy being brave⦠The thought sneaked in and stunned him with its rogue audacity for a second. For that second, before his cynical brain could kick into gear again, he was caught by something else.
With his thumb he gently touched the healing cut on her cheek. She flinched ever so slightly and then shock slammed into him. Everything jumped back into sharp focus.
What was he doing? Thinking?
He was no better than his poor duped brother at that moment. He felt the need to pull back. Retreat. He was fast heading into uncharted waters and didnât like it. The woman and her sister were consummate actresses and manipulatorsânothing had changed that factâand yet here he was, letting himself be swayed by a few crocodile tears.
âLetâs get you home.â He put her away from him and made a quick curt call on his mobile. Within seconds the sleek black car that had taken them from the plane to the hospital slid to a silent halt beside them. Alicia trembled slightly and felt an awful shiver of foreboding skate down her spine when she saw how Danteâs face had turned back into a mask of cool indifference. For one moment there, she could have sworn sheâd seen something else, something far more human.
He stopped her just before she got into the car. She looked up warily.
âJust for the record, donât let Paoloâs fervent avowal to marry Melanie and look after her lull you into complacency that your plan has worked. Iâm still under no illusions that Paolo is about as likely to be the father as myself.â
Aliciaâs jaw clenched hard and before she could articulate a word she was being unceremoniously handed into the back of the car, one thought in her head: heâs not human at all; heâs cold and cruelâ¦
CHAPTER FIVE
âH AVE you seen it?â
âIâm looking at it right now.â Dante was grim. With one hand he held his mobile to his ear, with the other he held open the front of the tabloid. Breakfast sat uneaten at his hotel room table. It was the following morning and he was still here in England. That uncomfortable fact was not lost on Dante. He flicked the paper again to see the picture more clearly and stretched long legs out.
His assistant sounded mildly exasperated, and only the fact that they went back so far gave him the audacity to say, âWell? Care to tell me what itâs about?â
âNot particularly, Alex.â Because, in truth, he still wasnât even sure himself what had happenedâ¦
A sigh came down the other end of the phone.
Physical desire.
That was all it was. He couldnât fathom it, couldnât rationalize itâit just was. Something about this woman was calling to him on a base level and he knew he had to see it through to its conclusion. No matter what it took. With customary ruthlessness that made him feel on safer ground, he started to formulate a plan of sorts. It would placate Paolo, who was proving to be dismayingly, resolutely obstinate in his support of Melanie, and it would mean he could keep an eye on Alicia and her sister. And he would get her into his bed to sate this burning fireâ¦
Her body had finally stopped its uncontrollable shaking. He could feel her take a deep breath against his chest, and her soft breasts rise and swell against his belly. His groin tightened, the blood rushed south. He was making the right decision. He pulled away, tipping her head back to face him with one hand, almost hoping for a second that sheâd have turned into some kind of hag in the interim, like in a cartoon.
But noâ¦she looked exquisite. Her eyes were huge, the colour of crushed dark velvet and dewed with moisture, her mouth a quivering invitation, the tracks of tears on her cheeks an enticement to drop his head, kiss them awayâ¦
He saw something in her eyes then, a vulnerability that she hadnât displayed before⦠because sheâd been too busy being brave⦠The thought sneaked in and stunned him with its rogue audacity for a second. For that second, before his cynical brain could kick into gear again, he was caught by something else.
With his thumb he gently touched the healing cut on her cheek. She flinched ever so slightly and then shock slammed into him. Everything jumped back into sharp focus.
What was he doing? Thinking?
He was no better than his poor duped brother at that moment. He felt the need to pull back. Retreat. He was fast heading into uncharted waters and didnât like it. The woman and her sister were consummate actresses and manipulatorsânothing had changed that factâand yet here he was, letting himself be swayed by a few crocodile tears.
âLetâs get you home.â He put her away from him and made a quick curt call on his mobile. Within seconds the sleek black car that had taken them from the plane to the hospital slid to a silent halt beside them. Alicia trembled slightly and felt an awful shiver of foreboding skate down her spine when she saw how Danteâs face had turned back into a mask of cool indifference. For one moment there, she could have sworn sheâd seen something else, something far more human.
He stopped her just before she got into the car. She looked up warily.
âJust for the record, donât let Paoloâs fervent avowal to marry Melanie and look after her lull you into complacency that your plan has worked. Iâm still under no illusions that Paolo is about as likely to be the father as myself.â
Aliciaâs jaw clenched hard and before she could articulate a word she was being unceremoniously handed into the back of the car, one thought in her head: heâs not human at all; heâs cold and cruelâ¦
CHAPTER FIVE
âH AVE you seen it?â
âIâm looking at it right now.â Dante was grim. With one hand he held his mobile to his ear, with the other he held open the front of the tabloid. Breakfast sat uneaten at his hotel room table. It was the following morning and he was still here in England. That uncomfortable fact was not lost on Dante. He flicked the paper again to see the picture more clearly and stretched long legs out.
His assistant sounded mildly exasperated, and only the fact that they went back so far gave him the audacity to say, âWell? Care to tell me what itâs about?â
âNot particularly, Alex.â Because, in truth, he still wasnât even sure himself what had happenedâ¦
A sigh came down the other end of the phone.
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