Free The Virgin's Secret by Abby Green Page B

really thinking, Angel found a chair nearby and sank into it. Her brain was buzzing. With a click of his fingersLeo had honed in on the one thing that Angel wanted most in the world—to be able to make things right for Delphi. She looked up at Leo, standing there like a marauding warrior, legs planted wide apart.
    She didn’t care what he thought; she just knew she had to do whatever it took. She stood up again. ‘I presume your condition for doing this is to make me agree to become your mistress?’
    Leo’s mouth thinned, and a hint of anger came into his eyes. ‘Don’t try and dress this up into you being the unfortunate victim. We both want each other, Angel, you just seem determined to deny it.’
    â€˜But essentially you won’t help Stavros and Delphi unless I agree to go to you?’
    Leo shrugged insouciantly. ‘Let’s just say that then I would care even less what happens to them than I do right now. Why would I put myself out like that unless I was getting something in return?’
    â€˜Me,’ Angel said flatly, but with an awful telltale quiver of physical response in her belly. She couldn’t even tell herself that she was immune to or disgusted by Leo’s offer, and she hated herself for it. Her conscience pricked her. How could she walk away from this opportunity for her sister and Stavros to be happy, no matter how it was coming about?
    Angel’s mind became very clear as she saw all her options dwindle away. Delphi was the best part of three months pregnant, and wouldn’t want the ignominy of everyone knowing that on her wedding day.
    â€˜If I agree to this, I have a condition of my own.’
    Leo’s eyes flashed a warning. ‘Go on.’
    â€˜I want Delphi and Stavros to be married as soon as it can be arranged.’
    That look of cynicism that Angel was beginning to recognise all too easily crossed Leo’s face again.
    â€˜Don’t think that by having them marry as soon as possible it’ll indicate the end of our affair, Angel. I won’t let you go until I’m good and ready.’
    Angel’s belly quivered again. How would he react when he discovered she was a virgin? He didn’t strike her as the kind of man to entertain novices in his bed.
    Leo was looking at her assessingly. ‘But I don’t see why I can’t fulfil that request. Not when you’re mine from this moment on.’
    Angel felt the colour drain from her face.
    Leo didn’t like the way Angel had just paled so visibly. He strode over to where she stood and snaked out a quick hand to caress the back of her neck again. He felt the silken fall of her hair over his skin, and it made his voice rough with suppressed desire. ‘There’s no time like the present. I’ll have my car take you home, so you can pack some things and be brought straight back here to me.’
    Just like that.

CHAPTER FOUR
    L ESS than three hours later, Angel stood in the hall of her own house, a suitcase at her feet. When she’d finally left the Parnassus villa she’d been aghast to see that dawn had been breaking, it had made her feel acutely disorientated. By some miracle her father wasn’t at home; Angel’s more and more harried looking stepmother informed her that her father had left the previous evening for London, to try and beg a loan from his cousins. Angel had been dreading the inevitable showdown with him, for undoubtedly he’d know that she’d taken the will.
    She’d gone into her sister’s room and woken her up and told her what was happening, while omitting the real reason why Leo was asking her to move in with him. Delphi had been understandably concerned. ‘But, Angel, they hate us. They must do. What do you mean, you just happened to meet him and he swept you off your feet? It’s all so fast and you never said anything…’
    Angel hated lying to her sister. She’d smiled tightly and