girl who can be bought and used for your sexual gratification.”
He laughed, throwing his head back and she watched as the soft light from the bedside lamp caught the sheen of his dark hair. “How dramatic you are, princess. You, of all people, should know royal marriages are still arranged and I would think most of them are reasonably happy.”
“Yes, royal marriages. Not marriage to a commoner who barters and trades with human lives. If you think I would ever let you make love to me now, you’re sadly mistaken.” She stopped at the sudden change of expression on Jack’s face. She had pushed him too far.
He reached for her and with a flick of his hand, discarded her robe leaving her exposed and vulnerable in her silk nightdress. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her open hand as he pulled her against his chest.
“Having sex for us won’t be a problem, Lara,” he said, his voice harsh. “But, like every good royal bride, you should walk down the aisle in virginal white so, as much as I would like to take you now, I still intend to wait until we’re married.”
Breaking away, she picked up the robe and pulling it on, held it tightly around her, fighting the tears welling in her eyes. “You have not only bought me, you have made me feel like a whore. I will never forgive you.”
“A whore? Well, that should be an education for us both then, sweetheart. But, don’t fret, you won’t have to wait too long before we indulge our sexual fantasies.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your parents have decided on a tight schedule with the wedding in two months time. But don’t worry, you don’t have to act the doting fiancée because I fly back to Australia later today and I won’t return until a week before the wedding.”
She was stunned, first by the news of the wedding date but more so, that he was leaving her. A surge of pride made her utter her next words. “Good. I’m glad you’re going. I don’t want you near me.”
“Temper. I’m sorry I’m leaving you to arrange all the wedding plans but I’m sure you will have an absolute army of people to help you.”
Sitting on the bed again, Lara stared at her trembling hands. She was shocked at the bitterness of the words between them.
“If we’re to get this investment sorted, I have a lot of work to do in Australia,” he continued, his voice calm. “I have excellent managers of my companies but I need to spend time with them so I’ll be free to enjoy our honeymoon.”
“Is that the only reason you’re going back?” She hadn’t meant to sound so suspicious.
“No. It’s not. If you prefer me to be blunt, I need to keep away from you.” The bed dipped slightly as he sat next to her and took one of her hands in his. “I know we don’t like each other, Lara, but nothing has changed in regard to our physical lust for each other. When I’m near, I can’t keep my hands off you.”
She looked up at him, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. Did he really mean that?
He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing each finger in turn. “I admit I was jealous of Michael. Just as I think you might be jealous of any woman friend I have, particularly one that would like to marry me.”
“What woman friend? Are you going back because of her?” She tried but failed miserably to keep the jealous tone from her voice.
He gave her a wicked smile. “I’ve told you why I’m going back but you know what we men are like. We like to have, shall we say…a final fling before tying ourselves down to having a wife and kids.”
She tore her hand from his grasp. “You are vulgar and crass,” she said, not quite believing what he was saying but then, she knew little about him and his love affairs in Australia.
“I’m behaving as you would expect a common man like me to behave.”
“I was willing to give myself to you when we were on the island and here, yesterday. Why are you saying these things, Jack? Why are you deliberately trying to hurt me?”
He sighed and rubbed a hand across his face in a tired gesture. “I’m sorry, Lara. I don’t mean to hurt you. This has been an extraordinarily difficult couple of days for both of us, especially you. But things will get better