AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Of course I can.’ That brow lifted again. ‘Well? Do we have a deal, Miss Albright?’
Glory’s eyes had gone round with shock, her hands clenched on her thighs.
He couldn’t blame her. Money solved a lot of problems and it was clear from the look on her face that those problems had been large ones. He knew that feeling though, where you realised that all the things that had been hanging over you, the insurmountable difficulties, were suddenly gone.
He’d felt that way after he’d made his first million. The heady rush of knowing there was only one direction to go in from here and that was up. More money, more power. He wasn’t that fifteen-year-old boy trying to find his sister in the chaos of the Athens streets. Going from place to place hoping someone would help. But nobody had because nobody cared, not even the police.
He was poor and alone and probably lying, so why should they?
It had been in those dark days after Ismena’s disappearance that he’d decided. He’d taken his eye off her for one second and she’d gone, so he wouldn’t make that mistake again. He would be focused, intent, and he’d pull himself out of these streets. He’d get all the money and power, and then he would find her.
So that’s what he’d done. And that’s what he was doing even all these years later, still trying to find her. Still trying to save other people—women mainly—who’d been caught in the net. He wouldn’t let any other brother, father, uncle go through what he had, and he’d use whatever he could to achieve that.
Including the young woman sitting opposite him.
Hope was a difficult commodity to hang on to, or so he’d found, but if marrying this woman was what he needed to do in order to take down that trafficking ring, then he’d do it without a second’s thought.
This woman with her soft, dark eyes and her assurance that everyone had a good side...
She was certainly determined, and he’d liked very much how loyal she was to her sister. It made him think of himself and how far he’d gone for his, and how far he was still prepared to go if he could even find one hint that she was still alive.
Glory’s pretty mouth had firmed, the wrestling match she was obviously having with herself clear in her expression.
Well, he hadn’t expected her to agree immediately despite the incentive he’d offered. It was already plain she wasn’t of his world where money ruled and people would do anything for a taste of power including selling themselves.
She’d come here to do the same thing, with no idea of the cost it would exact. No idea of the scars it would leave, because the things you did when you were desperate always left scars.
Are you sure you’re that desperate? Marrying you will put her in danger.
It would, but he had the resources to protect her. And in a year or so, once the fuss of the marriage had died down, no one would even know who he was married to, he’d make sure of it. She could fade back into the obscurity she’d come from.
And yes, he was that desperate.
‘You want an answer now?’ There was a deep crease between her brows. ‘I really need to think about it.’
Unfamiliar impatience twisted in his gut.
‘What do you need to think about?’ he asked. ‘Fundamentally,mikri alepou, what it comes down to is this: it’s either worth it for you or it isn’t.’
Her hands clenched on her thighs again, drawing attention to the soft round shape of them beneath her dress. More hair had come down from her ridiculous bun, curls lying glossy and gleaming a deep reddish brown over her skin. She had little freckles scattered over one shoulder, disappearing under the strap of her dress and he was gripped by a sudden, intense urge to shift that strap to one side so he could see them better.
He shifted, impatience tangling with the heat collecting inside him, making him feel restless and agitated.
Really, what was it about this woman that got him so hot under the collar? He never normally had such problems ignoring what was basically a mere physical attraction.
She didn’t seem to notice his tension, letting out a breath and catching her full lower lip between her teeth. And despite himself, he found his gaze drifting to the press of her white teeth against the soft, red fullness of her mouth.
If he were to bite her like that, would she taste as sweet as she seemed? Like honey? Or would she taste more like sugar?
Why don’t you bite her and find out?
The thought drifted like smoke through his head and for half a second he found himself contemplating it. Of charming her, seducing her. Burying his hands in her curls, taking that soft lip between his teeth, and biting down. Not too hard. Just enough to make her gasp and maybe—
Theos, what the hell was he doing? That wasnothappening.
Glory huffed out a breath, her chin firming as if she’d made a decision.
Castor forcibly corralled his wayward thoughts and lifted a brow questioningly.
