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He lifted a dark eyebrow. “No?”
Carrie sucked in her breath at the arrogant expression on his wickedly handsome face. “You have no right to kiss me. No right to even touch me!”
“Perhaps I have no right.” Looking at her, he gave a low laugh. “But you are here.”
“You left me no choice—your bodyguard gave me no notice!”
“He asked you to come to Gavaudan, and you agreed.” Reaching out, Théo took her hand. She tried to resist, but he was too strong. She felt the sizzling heat of his palm against hers and a sizzle spread down her skin. “And what am I to make of that, chérie, except that you have wanted me just as I have wanted you?”
“Wanted me?” Her voice shook with incredulous anger. “You left without a word and never returned any of my messages—for a year!”
He reached out a hand to stroke her cheek. “I never stopped wanting you, Carrie,” he said in a low voice. “I left because you broke the rules. But I think we both understand each other now. This time there will be no more talk of love, yes?”
A bitter laugh escaped her. “Believe me. There is absolutely no way I’d ever love you again.”
“Good.” He smiled. “In that case, there is no reason for us to be apart. No reason for us to continue to suffer from unrequited desire.” His hands slowly moved down her shoulders, stroking her arms, over her white denim jacket. Stroking back her long brown hair, he lowered his head toward hers, whispering huskily, “I have never forgotten how it felt to have you in my bed…”
He was going to kiss her. Why couldn’t she push away from him? Why couldn’t her body even make a single move to safety?
A sudden plaintive wail came from the shadows near the doorway, and Théo straightened with a frown. “What was that?”
Carrie exhaled, grateful beyond measure that her baby had saved her from herself. “The only reason I’m here.”
The furrows in his forehead deepened. “What do you mean?”
She turned away. “I’ll get him.”
Going to the doorway, she lifted her son out of the baby carrier. Henry’s wail ended with a snuffle as soon as he was snug in her arms. But when she returned to Théo he didn’t look pleased. He looked shocked and bewildered. “Why did you bri
ng a baby here?”
She frowned in her turn. “Did you think I would refuse to bring him?” She stroked the back of the tiny warm baby cuddled up against her chest. “This is Henry, Théo. Your son.”
His mouth fell open. His dark eyes, usually so arrogant and certain, were wide with shock as he staggered back from her.
“My son?” he gasped. “My son!”
She heard the harsh rattle of his breath, saw the way his hands clenched into fists. Then, with visible self-control, he exhaled, relaxing his hands.
“Are you trying to claim,” he ground out, “that we have a child together?”
Confused and heartsick, she looked up at him. “But you know that,” she whispered. “Someone already told you about Henry. Why else would you have sent for me?”
Their eyes locked. Above them in the shadowy foyer she heard the discordant chime of the chandelier, blown by an unseen wind.
“That baby cannot be mine,” Théo said through clenched teeth. “It is impossible.”
“Yes, I thought so,” she said helplessly. “But contraception is not one hundred percent effective—”
He paced in front of her like a lion in a cage. “You are lying to me. Why?” He whirled on her, baring his teeth. “Is this some kind of revenge?”
Carrie gasped aloud. “Revenge? How?”
“An attempt to trick me.” He clawed a hand back through his dark hair. “To trap me into marriage!”
“Marriage—with you?” She gave an incredulous laugh. “No way!”
“So you say. But women always want to marry me,” he said coldly. “I thought you were different. I’m disappointed.”
