AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She stepped into the suite’s living area and spotted Raif adjusting the cuffs of his tuxedo as he stood on the suite’s balcony.
The heat fired down to her core. She took a hitched breath as she absorbed the sight, making the bodice of the gown tighten like a corset. The suite’s view of the Eiffel Tower was magnificent as always, but it was the man—dark and impossibly dashing in the designer tuxedo and white shirt—who took her breath away.
Clutching the jewelled evening bag that matched the gown, she cleared her throat.
His head lifted and his gaze roamed over her skin.
Walking towards her, his lips lifted in a strained smile. ‘You look exquisite,’ he murmured, lifting her fingers to his lips. ‘I see you put the credit card to good use.’
‘I only had to buy the shoes and the purse,’ she said, pleased about the bargain she’d arranged. When he was working so hard to increase the Kholadi’s investment profile in the West, what right did she have to spend his money on frivolous things? ‘The boutique was happy to loan me the gown for the evening when I told them the event we were attending.’
His brow furrowed. ‘Why did you do this? I do not wish you to wear borrowed clothing.’
‘But it was very expensive, Raif. Thousands of euros. I would feel uncomfortable spending that amount of—’
‘Thousands of euros is nothing,’ he interrupted her. ‘Kholadi Corporation made over fifteen million euros in an hour yesterday from our investments alone.’
She swallowed, suitably staggered by the amount. She’d known he was wealthy, but she hadn’t been prepared for how wealthy.
‘I think I can afford to buy the mother of my child a gown,’ he added, cupping her cheek, his eyes flaring again. But instead of being warmed by the heat, this time she felt a little overwhelmed, the compulsion to stand her ground somehow more pronounced.
‘Yes, but it’s not my money. Of course when the baby’s born I’d be more than happy for you to pay any support you feel is—’
‘Stop.’ He ran his thumb over her lips. Then pulled a small velvet box out of the pocket of his tuxedo. ‘We are not strangers, Kasia,’ he said as her gaze became fixated on the box. Was that what she thought it was? And how was she supposed to react? Because the sudden blip of panic was swiftly followed by an equally disturbing swell of emotion.
‘I want you to be much more than just the mother of my child.’ He flicked open the box, tugged out an exquisite diamond-studded gold engagement ring and then dropped the box on the balcony table. ‘Which is why I wish you to wear this.’
He lifted her trembling fingers and without waiting for her reply slid it onto her ring finger.
She stood stunned, emotion threatening to close off her air supply.
‘But…I haven’t agreed to marry you, Raif,’ she said, feeling sad at the thought that they were no further along than they had been in Walmsley’s office when she’d agreed to this trip. ‘It’s a beautiful ring, but I can’t wear it.’
But when she went to drag the ring off, he clasped her fingers, preventing her.
‘Wait, and hear me out,’ he said, his thumbs stroking the backs of her hands in a gentle caress.
Forced to listen or start a wrestling match, she waited to see what he had to say, the ring heavy on her finger.
‘An engagement ring is a symbol of intention, is it not?’ he said, his eyes guarded but so intense she felt the burn right down to her soul.
‘I suppose so,’ she replied.
‘I intend to marry you at the end of this trip, Kasia, and I want everyone to know it, which is why I wish you to wear my ring.’ His gaze coasted over the gown she’d borrowed, making the exposed skin of her arms and cleavage burn. ‘And why I wish you to purchase everything and anything you need with my money.’
The possessiveness in his tone was so compelling it made her feel scalded, but what he was talking about was still rights and responsibility and nothing more.
‘But I haven’t agreed to—’
‘Shhh…’ Tugging her close, he kissed her, his lips silencing hers, his tongue driving into her mouth until she was breathless. When he finally released her she was more than a little dazed.
‘Wearing my ring does not take that choice away from you,’ he said, the fierce determination on his face only stealing more of her breath. ‘But I am a proud man, and until you have made your choice, while you are by my side I want everyone to know you—and your baby—are mine. Do you understand?’
Oddly, she did understand. This wasn’t about taking her choices away from her, it was about him asserting his responsibilities to his child and her. And maybe she owed him this much, even if it was going to make it harder for her to make her choice. But then why should her choice be easy? He was right, a child was involved now. Not just her. So she nodded.
‘You will wear the ring?’ he said, finally asking instead of telling her.
And because he had, she nodded. ‘Yes.’ Her lips quirked in an unsteady smile. ‘And thank you.’
