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“And you are a candidate for sainthood?”
Damian could feel his control slipping. Who was she, this woman who thought she could defy him? Who had entered into a conspiracy that would change his life?
“I know who I am,” he said coldly. “More to the point, I know who you are.” His eyes flickered over her in dismissal. “You are a woman who agreed to bear a child for money.”
“I’m tired of defending myself, tired of explaining, tired of being bullied.” Ivy’s voice trembled with emotion. “I don’t want your money or your support, and I’m certainly not moving to an apartment where you can keep me prisoner!”
She kept talking. He stopped listening. All he could see was her face, tearstained and determined.
Did she think he was a complete fool? That this show of rebelliousness would convince him to up the ante?
“I am not some—some meek little lamb,” she said, “eager to do your bidding.” She folded her arms and glared at him. “Do you understand, Your Highness? My answer to your offer is no!”
She gasped as he captured her face in his hands.
“It wasn’t an offer,” he growled. “It is what you will do—but I’m changing the terms. Forget the apartment near mine. I am taking you to Greece with me.”
She stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. He hadn’t. He’d simply begun to see things more clearly.
He was in New York once a month at best. What would she be doing while he was away? He had the right to know.
She slung an obscenity at him that almost made him laugh, coming as it did from that perfect mouth.
“I will not go anywhere with you. There are laws—”
“What laws?” His mouth thinned. “I am Prince Damian Aristedes. Do you think your laws have any meaning to me?”
Ivy couldn’t speak. There was no word to describe what she felt for this man. Hatred didn’t even come close—but he was a prince. He could trace his lineage back through the centuries. She was nobody. She could trace her lineage back to a foster home where—where—
No. She wasn’t going there.
Damian’s hands tightened. He raised her face until their eyes met.
“Do you understand what I’ve told you? Or are you going to be foolish enough to try to fight me?”
“I despise you!”
“Ah, glyka mou, you’re breaking my heart.”
“You’re a monster. I can’t stand having you touch me.”
“A decision, Ivy. And quickly.”
Tears spilled down her face. “You know my decision! You haven’t left me a choice.”
Damian felt a swell of triumph but it was poisoned by the hatred in Ivy’s eyes. With a growl of rage, he captured her mouth, kissing her without mercy, without tenderness, nipping her bottom lip when she refused the thrust of his tongue.
“A reminder,” he said coldly. “Until my son is born, you belong to me.”
Even in his anger, he knew a good line when he heard it.
He turned around and walked out.
CHAPTER FIVE
DAMIAN went down the stairs with fury clouding his eyes, went out the door to the street the same way.
His driver had brought him to Ivy’s apartment. The Mercedes was at the curb and Damian started toward it. Charles must have been watching for him; he sprang from behind the wheel, rushed around to the rear door and swung it open.
