One Night Of Consequences Collection. Annie West
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But she hadn’t guessed he’d be so relentless in his pursuit of it. That he’d abduct her in his quest for vengeance, then cut her out of her inheritance without remorse. That it would be so easy for him to achieve his goal with the destruction of her own.
Her own naïveté was much to blame, for she’d believed the trouble she’d faced at the Chateau had stemmed from a few disloyal employees who’d resented her sudden elevated status. She’d never dreamed someone was plotting her ruin.
Or were they? Could she truly believe André? Had he paid the traitor to do this bit of nasty business?
Her heart said no, that he’d simply been waiting for the opportunity to present itself. But her heart was too hungry for love to be trusted. Her heart was too open, too innocent—easy bait for the sly and cunning of the species. Like André?
He had the power to engineer such a takeover. The ruthless bent to take what he wanted by any means.
“Who is the conspirator?” she asked, too heartsick to cry or raise her voice. “I have a right to know his name.”
“How would I know?”
She whirled on him, blinking once, then again, before she saw him in the gloom. The shadows fit him well.
“Don’t lie to me,” she said. “You must have paid someone at the Chateau to do your bidding. Someone who would forge my name on documents so nobody would question why my stocks were offered to you, making your takeover complete.”
“I don’t resort to underhanded dealings.”
She jerked her chin up, willing him to read the movement as defiant. Livid. “Just kidnapping?”
“Don’t bait me, ma chérie.”
“Why not?” She moved toward him, trembling with anger as well as anxiety, tired of his bullying. “You stripped me of my home and my job. My dream. I have nothing left to lose.”
“No?”
He flung an arm around her and jerked her to him. Her breasts flattened against his chest, her stomach rubbing his taut belly. His powerful arms banded hers to her sides.
His captive. His desire. His!
She felt his dominance in every breath he took. Felt his savage need course from him into her, fueling her own wants which she could barely contain.
Kira knew the folly in trying to break free, so she stood as stiff as a statue and braced herself for a kiss meant to dominate. To punish.
Let him take. She could give no more.
For surely an arrogant man like André, who was this close to the edge, would take her now? He’d be driven to punish her for challenging him. He wouldn’t be satisfied until he controlled everything about her.
Like the last time they’d ended up entwined in each other’s arms? Making love with a fever that had threatened to consume them? That had created a life?
His head bent to hers, slowly, his gaze afire with need and something else she couldn’t recognize. She trembled, wanting him so badly she shook.
But she had to be strong—for her child. For her self-respect. That was all she had left. Kira turned her head, denying him.
Instead of his expected spate of anger, one strong, masculine hand slipped between their bodies and splayed on her belly. Tremors coursed through her with terrifying force, mocking her with a sense of rightness she was loath to admit. Firing her blood and her anger in turn.
But it was her heart that paused, warmed, softened. For surely that protective palm, pressed where their child thrived, meant he cared?
“I will file for complete custody,” he said, his lips grazing the tender skin behind her ear. But instead of heat, she felt chilled to the bone.
He couldn’t be that cold. That heartless. Yet he wasn’t a man to make idle threats either.
“You can’t mean that,” she said.
“But I do, ma chérie. The baby binds us together now, but after the birthing that will change.”
The forewarning speared her heart and soul, honing her maternal instincts to protect her baby however she must. How could she have thought she had nothing more to lose? That she had a chance for a future with André?
She’d do anything to keep her child. Anything.
She would not lose this battle.
Kira turned her head, her gaze seeking his in the minimal light. His resolute features confirmed he knew her weakness as well. And he knew how to use that against her.
Certainly whoever had sculpted his beautiful mouth had seduction in mind. She felt her own lips tingle, remembering the firmness of his mouth molded to hers, the provocative bow that tickled and teased and tempted her to shed her inhibitions. She had only to shift a little and lift her face to his to steal a kiss, to take the initiative again. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t. But, oh, how she longed to!
And his eyes—my God, she could drown in their mesmerizing depths.
“You can’t seriously mean to take my child from me.” Because it was wrong and cruel. Because it would kill her to be cut from her child’s life.
“It is for the best,” he said, his voice lethally low and as impassive as his gaze. “I am wealthy and can provide for my heir.”
“I’ll fight you.”
“You will lose.”
She didn’t doubt that he was right, that he’d pull strings to get his way. But she wouldn’t capitulate either. Not on this. Not ever.
“Then I’ll seek joint custody—”
“No. After this reckless stunt you pulled today, you can’t be trusted to care for my baby.”
Unbidden tears stung her eyes and she looked away, feeling frantic now, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d brought her low again. She gathered her courage around her, ready to plead with him to have a heart, then reminded herself he had none. For no man possessing compassion would attempt to rip a child from his mother’s arms.
“I’ll fight you until my very last breath,” she said again, her fingers bunching his wet shirtfront. “I’ll never willingly give up my child.”
A charged silence rebounded off the cave walls, the tension punctuated by the rain that had reduced to a gentle patter, as if hushing to hear what he’d say. But time crawled by and he didn’t respond. Didn’t so much as move a muscle.
Slowly, sunlight crept into the cave, as if the heavens were rolling up their blinds. Even the air had become heavy and still, as if holding its breath in anticipation of his reply.
“Nor will I,” he said at last, his arms tightening a fraction in a parody of a hug before releasing her.
Kira stepped away