Free Dark Ransom by Sara Craven

your
    life?'
    'Why shouldn't it be?' she demanded defensively, and he shrugged.
    'No reason. In fact, it explains a great deal,' he added drily. 'Except
    why you chose to come alone to Brazil of all places.'
    Charlie lifted her chin. 'Women do travel on their own these days,'
    she reminded him. 'You didn't supply an escort for Fay Preston,
    after all.'
    'Fay was well able to take care of herself. And she worked for a top
    travel company in the Algarve, and so spoke good Portuguese.' He
    paused. 'You let me think you expected me to come to bed with
    you.'
    'I did nothing of the sort.' She slammed her cup back on to the tray,
    spilling some of its contents. 'How dare you even suggest -?'
    'Then why did you agree when I said I would see you later?'
    'Is that what you meant?' She was aghast. 'Oh, God, I didn't realise...'
    'Do you speak no Portuguese at all, you little fool?'
    'I have a phrase book,' she said with dignity. 'I'd been managing
    quite well—until yesterday.'
    'Yesterday was a turning-point in both our lives,' he said drily. He
    studied the glowing end of his cheroot for a moment. Then, 'Tell me
    about this man you came to find.'
    That was the last thing she was going to do, she thought grimly,
    especially if Philip Hughes was in the vicinity, and able to help her.
    She lifted her chin. 'I think that's my business.'
    'But it has also become mine.' He drew on the cheroot, his eyes
    fixed on her face. 'Clearly he is not your lover.'
    Charlie flushed. 'Perhaps we've just... lacked the opportunity.' Well,
    it was an approximation of the truth.
    'And that is how it will remain.' There was an autocratic note in his
    voice. 'My wife does not seek out any other man, no matter how
    innocent the relationship.'
    She said, between gritted teeth, 'But I'm not your wife.'
    'Not yet, but then we too lack the opportunity.'
    'Opportunity?' Charlie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 'Twenty-
    four hours ago you didn't even know of my existence.'
    'You regard that as some difficulty.' He gave her a brief smile as he
    stubbed out the cheroot, and rose. 'We shall have time to become
    better acquainted before the priest arrives, I promise you.'
    'I don't find that particularly reassuring,' she said bitterly.
    'Que pena.' He walked over to her, took her hand and pulled her to
    her feet. 'Tell Rosita to prepare another dress for tonight,' he said.
    'This one wearies me.'
    'Que pena,' she mimicked savagely. 'What a pity. Have you any
    other orders for me?'
    'A smile of welcome on my return, perhaps,' he said. 'And this.' He
    pulled her against him with a swift strength that she, taken off
    guard, had no power to resist. The hardness of his body and the all
    too familiar scent of his skin assailed her senses with potent
    emphasis as his mouth came down on hers in a warm, sensual
    possession that permitted no resistance or denial.
    It was a long kiss, and when it was over she stood in his embrace,
    dizzy and breathless, her body churning in fright and resentment.
    She said huskily, staring down at the rug at her feet, 'You—
    promised...'
    'And I'll keep my word.' He took her chin in his hand, making her
    look up at him. Although he was smiling a little, his eyes were
    brilliant, blazing. 'It was only a kiss, Carlotta, and it was just to
    remind you that, from this moment on, you will think of no other
    man—only me. You understand?'
    'Yes.' The word seemed choked out of her dry throat.
    'I hope you do.' He lifted her hand and touched her fingers quite
    gently to his lips. ' Ate logo, carinha— for the second time.'
    She watched him leave, then sat down again rather suddenly on the
    cane sofa for the very good reason that her legs no longer seemed
    able to support her.
    Her mouth was burning, and her breasts felt tender, crushed as they
    had been against the harsh wall of his chest.
    'You will think of no other man—only me.' The words echoed and
    re-echoed in her brain, and she shivered suddenly, crossing her arms
    across her body in an