Bride by Contract Read online

  Hard, hungry lips stamped her mouth with his fiery brand of possession as she thrilled to the urgent yet restrained grip of hands tempted to crush, but mindful of the fragility of their precious burden. Desire rippled through his powerful frame as he swept her off her feet to carry her out of the hot, steamy bathroom towards the cool silken sheets of a bed that enclosed them like a lair.

  'I love you so much… I've waited so long…' he groaned, brushing aside a scented mane of hair that was preventing his lips from nuzzling the tender creamy slope of her shoulder.

  She turned in his arms and on a soft breath of wonder severed his last remaining strand of restraint.

  'Dearest Troy my own Lord of High Places, I thought I'd never hear you say those forbidden words…!'

  Pale fingertips of dawn had begun poking their way between a gap in dark red curtains when languorously she stirred.

  'Troy,' she dared to tease with the confidence of one certain of the sort of answer she would receive from a husband who was lazily anticipating a revival of spent passion by kissing and stroking his way up her captive body, 'you must feel as cheated of profit as grouse shooters who spend a fortune in the pursuit of small, useless creatures?'

  His black head jerked up to direct an azure blue shaft of indignation. Then swiftly he retaliated against the mischief in her smile by gathering her softly quivering body into tender, wonderfully protective arms.

  'The world of commerce revolves around the premise that there is nothing on earth that cannot be bought—at a price,' he husked through a throat tight with emotion, 'but you may rest assured, my darling, that I would not accept a gold mine in exchange for my adorable bargain bride!'