The Twelve-Month Marriage Deal Read Online Free PDF

me, Elena, that neither of us had any choice. Not if we want to help save your parents’ bank.’
    And was that really his concern? Elena wondered. Or was it the fact that he would be the one gaining? Another step towards total domination of the banking industry? ‘Maybe,’ she agreed. ‘Nevertheless there are a few ground rules I wish to make.’
    One black eyebrow rose. ‘I hardly think you’re in a position to talk rules, Elena.’
    She ignored his comment, fixing her stormy golden eyes onto his silver ones. Her heart struggled to beat its regular rhythm. It felt like a dead weight in her chest, desperately wanting to resume normality, but knowing that it couldn’t while her emotions ran so high.
    Vidal’s brows slid up, his expression reminding her that whatever she said it would make no difference. Vidal would do what Vidal wanted to do.
    She took a deep breath and spoke. ‘I need your assurance that this marriage will be in name only.’
    ‘Oh, no, Elena.’ It was instant denial, his steady eyes fixed firmly on hers. ‘How could I possibly marry a woman as beautiful as you and not take you to bed? What you are suggesting would be sheer torture.’
    He had her over a barrel and he knew it. Elena sat in stunned silence for several long minutes. ‘I can’t believe you’re saying this. We hardly know each other. How can you—?’
    ‘Querida.’ His voice gentled and he slid an arm across her shoulders. ‘We have known each other most of our lives. We played together as children.’
    ‘No,’ she protested, ‘it was Fernan who was my friend, not you. You were too old for me. You looked down your nose at me.’
    ‘But I noticed you.’
    ‘And you used to tell me to run away. It’s what I feel like doing now.’ As far as she could possibly get. Back to America would be perfect.
    ‘But you won’t because of your mother’s health.’
    There was a light of triumph in his eyes and Elena felt like taking a swipe at him.
    ‘Perhaps I should persuade you that it won’t be as hard as you evidently think?’ As he spoke, Vidal’s arm tightened, his eyes not wavering from hers.
    Elena felt as though she had been turned to stone. She wanted to back away, but it was impossible; all she could do was watch in fatal fascination. Watch as his face got closer and closer, so close that she could see the pores in his skin. Study the intent in his beautiful grey eyes framed by his decadently thick lashes.Observe that his breathing got just that little bit faster. And his lips—his beautifully moulded lips—opening the merest fraction.
    There was not a thing she could do but await her fate, while at the same time she ordered herself not to respond, not to let him see by the simplest of movements that pressure was building up inside her, threatening to spill over the second his mouth claimed hers.
    Was it disappointment she felt when he didn’t kiss her straight away? When Vidal cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs stroking her expectant lips instead, his touch so gentle it was like the brush of a butterfly’s wing, and yet at the same time as deadly as snake’s venom?
    Elena couldn’t keep her promise to herself. Her resolve flew out of the window, her lips parting freely, the tip of her tongue coming out to moisten her lips and encourage Vidal’s touch, her head rocking back on her shoulders. It was wrong, all wrong, but somehow she couldn’t help it.
    Taking his cue from her, Vidal slowly lowered his head until his lips claimed hers. It was a defining moment and Elena now knew without a shadow of doubt that there was no way on this earth that she could live with him and not let him make love to her. For a reason she did not even try to fathom there had been an instant connection, one that she could not deny or refuse.
    If she had to marry this man then why not make the most of it? It would be hell on earth if she didn’t. He was the sort of man no woman could resist.
    Her fate was sealed.
    ‘I will,