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She ended the kiss with a fierce surge of passion. ‘No.’ She wrenched her mouth from his.
Alex breathed hard, staring into the murky depths of her conflicted brown gaze. Her lips were moist from his attention and he wanted to be back there again, tasting her.
‘I won’t do this, Alex. I can’t. I need more than a casual affair. I won’t be just another fish to throw back when you’re done with me.’
Alex smiled at her and rested his forehead against hers, trying to catch his breath and think. ‘Good. Because I don’t want you to go anywhere. I love you, Isobella. I want to marry you. I want you to be by my side for ever.’
Isobella shut her eyes, revelling in the erotic rub of his husky voice and the warmth of his breath on her face before wrenching herself away from him again. ‘Don’t play with me, Alex.’
Alex shook his head. ‘I’m not. I love you. I mean it. I didn’t realise it till I saw you again tonight, but it’s true. I’ve been kidding myself into thinking that I needed you near because you’re my top researcher. You needed to be brought out of your shell and I was just the man to do it. Thinking that I could eventually persuade you into having an affair with me. But I was lying to myself. I want more than that. I love you, Isobella. I want for ever. It’s that simple.’
Simple? She gaped at him. How was for ever simple? He had to be joking. The prospect of marriage, of for ever, had never entered her ‘damaged goods’ mentality. ‘But…but how…? I mean what about…’ How could someone so perfect, so beautiful, want someone so broken?
‘Isobella.’ Alex kissed her lips softly. He placed a hand over hers, still clutching her gown at her throat, and tugged at it gently. She resisted, and he kissed her mouth deep and slow again. He felt her grip loosen, and this time her hand fell away. He pulled away from her mouth as he eased the gown open at the neck.
Isobella felt the tears that had been threatening for a while well in her eyes as his mouth sought and found the scar at her neck. He kissed it tenderly. His hot tongue laving it lovingly.
Alex looked up to find tears glistening on her lashes. ‘Hey,’ he crooned, kissing them away. ‘You’re so beautiful, Isobella. So. Very. Beautiful.’ He punctuated each word with a kiss. One to each eye, one on the tip of her little snub nose, and one on her upturned mouth.
Isobella didn’t know what to say. She believed him. His honesty was like a beacon blazing from his cerulean eyes. ‘Not as beautiful as Sonya,’ she said wistfully.
Alex stilled. ‘You have more beauty, more sincerity in your little finger, than Sonya possesses in her entire body. She did me the biggest favour the day she walked away. I must thank her for that.’
‘You could have thanked her yesterday.’
Alex frowned.
‘I rang. She answered.’
The hang-up? That had been Isobella? Was she…was she jealous? Alex smiled. ‘I was negotiating a finance deal with MediCorp to continue the dermonecrosis research.’
‘Ah.’
Alex tipped her chin, so she was looking at him and not at the knot of his tie. ‘I don’t want her, Isobella. I only want you. I’ll only ever want you. Do you believe me?’
She gave a small nod.
‘That doesn’t look very convincing.’
Isobella shrugged. ‘Why? Why do you want me? Over her? Over anyone else you could have? I’m totally messed up. I h…hate my scars. I can barely look at myself in the mirror. Hell, Alex, I don’t even know if I can have babies.’
Alex shrugged, knowing that their relationship would have its challenges. ‘We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.’
Isobella felt tears sting her eyes. ‘I bet you Sonya can give you babies. Lots of little Greek babies, with golden skin and chubby cheeks.’
Alex chuckled. The jealousy in her voice was like music to his ears. ‘I don’t want Sonya’s babies.’
‘Well, you should—because you probably won’t be having any with me.’
Alex sighed and placed his forehead against hers. ‘Isobella.’
‘No, Alex.No ,’ she said, partially moving out of his embrace. ‘This is serious. I’ve seen you with kids. You’re good. It’s obvious you adore your nieces and nephews. You’re a natural father.’
He shrugged. ‘We’ll adopt.’
Isobella shook her head. ‘Face it, Alex, with my scars and my questionable fertility I’m…I’m…damaged goods.’
