Her startled expression had him chuckling. "I don't think you should answer that and spoil my illusion."
"She would have thought you the most handsome man she had ever seen, and wondered what the hell she was getting herself into," she told him bluntly.
"Still have doubts?"
To her disappointment, he resumed his position and continued sipping his wine.
"Not so much doubt as fright. I've been working for the past three weeks..." She shook her head in wonder. "Has it been only three weeks? Anyway, I've been working with your mother andI'm privy to most of the holdings. Not just here, but all over the world. It's overwhelming."
"And yet, you handled yourself well. Excellent as my mother puts it." Reaching forward, he took her hand in his and decided then and there to venture a topic that had been on his mind and one she would not want to hear. "You're going to be responsible for a lot. As my wife..." He took a minute to assimilate the idea of her as his wife before continuing.
"You will be required to be in charge of a number of charities." He laced his fingers through hers. "May I make a suggestion?"
She stared at him warily. "You may."
"You're going to have to stop working for my mother."
Her eyes flared. "That was not a suggestion."
"Querida, be reasonable..."
"I love working for your mother."
"I know you do."
"And if you're going to start out by dictating..."
"Stop!" His deep voice rang with authority and had her staring at him. "I'm not my father. I have no intention of flexing my muscles, so to speak. We will be partners in everything. I'm just simply pointing out that it will not be easy to continue working along with all your responsibilities." His mouth went tight. "I know you have no reason to trust me right now, but bloody hell, Antoinette, it hurts my heart when you think less of me."
The silence that followed his impassioned statement was heavy with tension and she felt shame pricking her. It was not easy for her to truly believe he was really into her and that it was going to work between them. But he was right. He had not given her a reason to mistrust him and he deserved a chance.
"I apologize," she murmured.
With a regal nod of his head, he pushed back his chair and disappeared from the room. She sat there for a minute, worrying whether or not he was still offended. She was about to march into the bedroom and demand an explanation when he came back out.
She watched warily as he approached her. Holding out a hand, he waited for her to take it. When she did, he drew her up. Then to her surprise, he dropped to one knee in front of her.
"What..."
"I want to do this properly." Taking her hand, he straightened her long, elegant fingers. "I wavered between several of the ones brought out to me and I settled on this." Taking his hand from his back, he placed the stunning square-cut diamond on her ring finger.
"Oh!" Antoinette stared at the stone that seemed to pulse and glow with a life of its own.
"I don't want to control you or put a noose around your neck or through your nose. I want a partner, a woman who will stand by me, one who will love me with all my flaws. One that I love with my entire being. That woman is you. I choose you, now and forever."
She joined him down on the floor, her eyes blurring with tears.
"Absolutely yes," she whispered, her hands going around his neck.
"Thank Christ!" His mouth took hers hungrily, fingers driving into her hair, crunching the satiny texture of it. The kiss took on a wildness that soon got out of control.
"Bed," he whispered thickly, dragging his lips from hers, breathing labored. "I want you in my bed." Rising a little unsteadily, the heat drumming through his body like a fast-beating drum, he practically dragged her into the bedroom.
"We need to celebrate." He undressed her hastily and then tore his clothing off. Taking her hand, he led her up the stairs and tumbled her onto the bed. His hands raced over her body before cupping her face. "I love you. Do you get that?"
"Yes." She was trembling. "Tomas..." Her body arched towards his urgently. "Love me. Please love me." It became an urgent plea that sent an arrow straight to his heart.
"I will never hurt you. I swear I won't." Before she could respond, he drove into her, his own body shuddering.
