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He caressed her again with his thumb, before he stepped back and started to walk away.
‘“I need you.” “I want you to stay.” “I’ll do anything to achieve that.” Any of those words ring a bell, Joao?’
He froze, then whipped around to face her. ‘No. I haven’t forgotten.’ His gaze dropped to her stomach, an inferno of possessiveness in his eyes. ‘But I also protect what’s mine, Saffron.’
Before she could find adequate words to counter that, he was gone. And traitorously her weakened legs necessitated her do exactly as he’d said.
She crawled back into bed.
* * *
Joao realised his hands were shaking as he sat back in the leather seat of his limo, exhaling as it pulled away from beneath the hotel’s portico.
Deus, his whole body was shaking.
Twins.
His first absurd thought when the doctor had delivered the news was that he’d willed them into existence with thoughts of heirs and legacies last night.
His second was...why twins?
But then the searing reminder that he had no real clue as to his family tree hit home. Everything he’d bothered to find out about Pueblo Oliviera revolved around the man’s business interests, with a brief investigation into any possible adverse genetic traits he might have inherited. He had dozens of files on the former and just enough to satisfy himself on the latter.
But what moved him next, what continued to prowl relentlessly through him now, was the complete and utter need to claim what was rightfully his. The need to protect the investment he hadn’t even known he was making when he’d succumbed to his desires that night in Morocco.
He grimly admitted to himself that he’d left Saffie behind partly because he needed time to come to terms with the emotions rampaging through him. And, yes, to strategise in light of this new development.
She was bearing his child. His children. His...heirs.
A cold wave of shock was followed by the hot grip of determination.
No way was she leaving him now.
For a man who’d never thought in such terms, the realisation was profound and bracing enough to drive his fingers through his hair.
But, adversely, accepting his new reality wasn’t as testing as he’d imagined. Perhaps it was even divine intervention, giving him another chance to best his father.
Sim.
He relaxed against the seat as his limo whisked him into the financial heart of Shanghai, acknowledging the savage intent twining with a peculiar elation swelling inside him.
He hadn’t planned for this, but, as he’d said to Saffie, reality brought its own specifications.
And this demanded complete and utter lock down of both his children and the woman who carried them.
He would stamp his legacy on his heirs, make the worthless Oliviera name mean something.
Finally.
CHAPTER SIX
SAFFIE ROSE AN hour later, dressed and summoned her car.
She didn’t need to consult her electronic diary to know Joao’s next meeting would be starting in twenty-five minutes.
Blessed with light traffic, she arrived just as his staff were taking their seats around the large conference table.
Joao’s eyes widened, then narrowed fiercely on her face as she took up her position next to him and fired up her tablet.
