Rachel Lindsay - Designing Man

  "Does that also include finding me a bride?"

  "A b-bride?"

  "Yes," he said coldly. "One can't have a wedding without a bride."

  "But Dina—"

  "Damn Dina! I don't intend cosseting her for the rest of my life. My father gave her a bad time but it served her right. I only protected her because I was scared she'd do something crazy and bring more unwelcome publicity onto my mother. But now she's in Australia and she can stay there forever!"

  Alix stared at him as if he were a stranger—as at this moment indeed he was. His eyes were gleaming with sudden mischief and faint color was seeping into his face. He came close and put his hands upon her shoulders. "Today, thanks to you," he said, "I find myself freed from suspicion. Free to tell you you're the only woman with whom I want to share my life."

  "Me?" she said incredulously.

  "Didn't you guess?"

  "How could I? You never once gave me a hint."

  "I tried to but I was reluctant to be too obvious. There was Mark and you were so plainly happy with him."

  She eyed him coldly. "Couldn't you have put up a fight?"

  "By the time I had decided to do so, you were looking at me as if I'd crawled from under a stone."

  "Because of Dina. You were so besotted over her." Alix's coldness remained. "I hadn't known what an excellent actor you were."

  "I had decided to stop acting on the night of the fancy-dress party. I was going to tell you the truth then, but when father was murdered and I found myself a suspect " His grip on her tightened. "But why are we talking about the past? It's over and I'm free. More important still, so are you. I love you, Alix. Don't you believe me?"

  "You called me a diamond girl once. That's so hard and shining."

  "It's also bright and glittering," he corrected, "and with so many brilliant facets. That's how I think of you, Alix."

  Tears filled her eyes and she did not attempt to wipe them away; all at once it seemed right for him to see her weakness as well as her strength.

  "I don't feel like a diamond all the time," she said huskily. "At the moment I'm more like an emerald."

  "The softest stone," he smiled. "I'll give you one as an engagement ring, but I'll surround it with diamonds for protection!" He pulled her into his arms. "When I kissed you that night in the garden and you pushed me away, I was sure I meant nothing to you."

  "You meant too much." She nuzzled her head on his shoulder. "I couldn't kiss you because I… because I suspected you! Oh Paul—" her voice thickened "—I actually believed you capable of murder."

  "So I would be if anyone harmed you," he said and tilted her chin to look into her eyes. His own held no anger at her lack of faith in him. "Even doubting me, you still wanted to help me. Do you remember how you lied to Truscott on my behalf? How you didn't tell him you had overheard my meeting with Dina?''

  Alix nodded but before she could speak, Paul placed his lips on hers. Their touch was gentle and she twined her arms around his neck and caressed his silky brown hair. Paul trembled and pulled her roughly closer. The gentleness vanished and he became demanding; more demanding still as his hands moved over her body, lingering on the curves to explore them.

  "I want you so much." His voice was shaken. "You're my life… Without you…"

  "You'll never be without me." She was shaking, too. "I'll marry you whenever you want."

  "Now," he said thickly. "I want you now."

  Once more his mouth took possession of hers, forcing her lips apart—though no force was necessary for they parted joyously to him. His warmth permeated her, radiating through her body as his total possession of her would so soon do. She thrilled to know she would soon be a part of him: the arouser of his desire, the only one able to assuage it.

  She drew back slightly and looked into his face, her violet eyes glowing. "Your appearance is deceptive, Paul. You look like a faun but you behave like a ram!"

  He chuckled. "Unlike a ram, I don't want lots of different females. Only you, my darling Alix." His hands moved along her back and curved around her to cup her breasts. "Do you think you'll be able to cope with me?"

  "Try me," Alix said. "Don't take my word for it."

  The gold in his eyes became more pronounced.' 'Those are fighting words, you know."

  "Surrendering ones," she corrected.

  "A mutual surrender," he replied. "In that respect I am not my father's son. One woman for me, Alix. Only you."

  "I know," she said, tremulous and happy. "I know."