Billionaire Baby Daddies: A five-book anthology

by Connelly, Clare

  He wanted her. Hell, he wanted her more than he could understand. He longed to touch her, to feel her, to taste her. To tease her until she was moaning beneath him, begging him for sexual mercy. Yet he stayed still, taking cruel delight in testing the limits of his patience.

  “We were talking about you, anyway,” she said, tilting her head a little so that her eyes pinned him across the water’s surface.

  “Were we?” He swam a little closer but still didn’t risk touching her. She was fuel and he fire: one touch and they’d ignite.

  “You’re old enough and important enough to have married. Surely you’ve had suitable wives suggested.”

  He thought of the list of women his advisors and parliament liked to drag up from time to time. “Yes.”

  She selected her words carefully. “Sabra said you’re a lone wolf. That you don’t believe in it.”

  Surprise etched his features. “Did she? When? Why?”

  Evie kicked back to standing. “It bothers you, doesn’t it? That she spoke of you to me.”

  He didn’t bother lying. “It … interests me. You were closer to her than I was.” His voice roughened on the unpalatable concession. “You knew her better.”

  “No, I didn’t,” she whispered, desperate to comfort him. “I didn’t know anything about their plans to bring Kalem to live in Ishala.” She swam nearer, but almost as if she were indulging the same masochistic challenge to maintain a distance, kept her hands by her side. “I think I owe you an apology.”

  Her gaze drifted downwards as she thought about the sentiment she was trying to express. “I was so sure they would want me to have Kalem.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t see that you had just as much claim on him as I do.” She pierced him with her apology; her eyes searing through the dark realities his sole bore. “We did everything together. I was always at their house. I have a room for Kalem in my house. I know he was their son, but he felt a little bit like mine too.” She lifted her shoulders. “It was arrogant of me. And unfair to you, and Sabra. Of course she would want you to be a part of his life.”

  His face barely shifted but inside he was a tornado of self-disgust. Her pain was obvious and he had the power to relieve it, but far too much was at stake. If he told her of the will and the custodial rights that had been conferred on her would she refuse to marry him? After all, why would she? She wanted Kalem. And she had him.

  Malakhi turned away, pretending fascination with the palace behind them. His heart was hammering against his ribcage as he realised the tenuous position he found himself in. Worse; there was a very real temptation to be honest with her. To alleviate her concerns that she had so badly misread the situation.

  “I made you feel like you didn’t belong,” she continued softly. “Like you were an outsider. And that wasn’t true.” She cut through the water, wrapping her arms around his broad chest and pressing a kiss against his watery shoulder. “Sabra talked of you often because she missed you. She was happy. But she missed you so much. She wanted you to be a part of Kalem’s life.”

  He closed his eyes on the surge of feelings she was inundating him with.

  “I was just so scared of losing him that I never stopped to see you felt the same way.”

  He had to stop her. This apology, given the bald facts he possessed, was like the blade of a knife being dragged across his very conscience. He turned, his face giving little away as he stared down at her. “We marry this weekend, and we raise him together. This is what Sabra would have wanted.”

  The words rung with a confidence he was nowhere near feeling.

  Because it wasn’t true, was it? Surely she would have stipulated something to that effect in her will. He’d been left out; not even mentioned. Panic was flashing through him – an entirely new sensation that he had never before encountered in this degree. He definitely didn’t relish its bitter grip on his central nervous system.

  “I think you’re right.” Her smile outshone every gem on her head. He hated himself for what he was doing to her. And he knew of only one way to drown out the darkness of his emotions. He took possession of her lips, the intensity of his kiss helping to wash away the very strong proclivity to tell her to cancel the wedding. To leave him. To forget she’d ever known him.

  As he drew her body to his, only one fact lodged with any certainty in his mind.

  She could never know the truth.

  Never.

  Truth, though, is a little like an air bubble at the bottom of a bath. It travels insistently towards the surface, requiring release through whichever means it can be obtained.

  And their truth was no less desperate to find freedom than any other.

  * * *

  The wedding had been beautiful. Evie’s heart sung with love. And though it was bitter-sweet to have celebrated so joyous an occasion only months after plunging to the absolute pit of emotional darkness, she could barely contain the happiness she felt.

  For once, it seemed like everything had just worked out.

  She didn’t want to overthink it.

  That she loved him and he didn’t feel that for her was not especially relevant. He loved being with her. He needed her in the same way she needed him. And they doted on Kalem. That, for now, had to be enough.

  Across the banquet hall, he spoke with a man she now knew to be the head of his parliament. The Prime Minister had spoken in perfect English and Evie had enjoyed talking to him for many reasons, but primarily this.

  Though learning the native language would be a top priority once they returned from their honeymoon. How could she sit beside the Sheikh without being able to communicate with the people of the land?

  Her smile was serene as she tilted her head, studying the rest of the room. There were not so many people as had come to the betrothal ceremony. The wedding itself had been a more private affair. And the celebration that followed had exceeded every single one of her dreams.

  “Champagne, madam?”

  She shook her head. “No, thank you.”

  Though people were imbibing freely and the atmosphere was resoundingly festive, she found she didn’t want anything to dull her memories of that night. The conversation beside her continued and she nodded as though she was listening, but all of her concentration was on her husband.

  As though he felt her looking at him, he turned to face her, his expression showing wariness.

  She smiled, and he visibly relaxed. Would it always be this way with them? So charged, with every moment humming with emotion?

  “Excuse me,” she said softly, leaning towards her companions.

  She moved through the room, greeting those who wished to congratulate the new monarch. But she didn’t stop. Her goal was clear. She wanted to see her husband. To speak with him. To reassure herself that none of this was a dream.

  “Hello.”

  She turned, the social smile plastered on her face in expectation of yet another well-wisher. It dropped the second she saw Leilani, but only for an instant. She lifted it once more, though it hurt her cheeks.

  “What a pleasant surprise,” Evie lied, knowing instinctively that it would be very undesirable to make a scene in front of their wedding guests.

  Her laugh was resonant and drew the attention of several people nearby. “You are as dishonest as he is.”

  Evie was sorry for this woman; her predecessor. What had Fayaz said? That Malakhi had cared for her? And undoubtedly, obviously, she for him.

  “I’m sorry,” Evie said gently. “I know how difficult this must be for you.”

  Leilani rolled her beautiful, expressive eyes. “You know nothing about me.” Her accent was thick, so that when she spat the word ‘nothing’ it sounded like ‘Nushink’. Evie recoiled a little at the force of the other woman’s hatred, but sympathy was quick to flood her system.

  “I know he cared for you a great deal,” she spoke slowly, hoping the words would soothe Leilani’s mood. She leaned forward and smelled alcohol on the other woman’s breath.

&n
bsp; “I know this too,” Leilani spat. “He loves me. And yet he is your husband. How can you live with that?”

  Evie absorbed the hateful words with the appearance of calm. “If you love him, then you will avoid making a scene here,” she said through gritted teeth, her smile tight on her lips. “We both know he would hate people to see us having this argument.”

  “Then come and argue with me privately,” she taunted, leaning forward. “Or are you too afraid?”

  “Of course I’m not,” Evie denied, grateful she’d abstained from even a sip of champagne. Having her wits about her made it easier to spot that the other woman was on the edge of a meltdown. Out of concern for Malakhi’s pride, but a greater compassion for this jilted lover, Evie nodded in the direction from which she’d just come. “There is a powder room over here. Come.”

  How the regal command rolled off her tongue! She’d learned from the best, she supposed, a small smile battling through the tension to curve her lips. She walked with her head held high through the assembly, her gaze focussed on the edges of the room. She didn’t check that Leilani was following her – that she would was a given.

  The elegant parlour was staffed by two servants. Evie’s smile didn’t soften the cold intention of her words. “Please give us privacy.”

  They left immediately.

  It felt surprisingly good to flex her muscles as Sheikha. The power that came from her position was something she could become addicted to. Leilani entered the room in a puff of perfume and liquor. She’d grabbed a champagne flute from a passing waiter and held it to her lips, her eyes manic as they latched to Evie.

  “You think this is your right? To wear this dress? And that crown? To speak to the palace staff as though you are its mistress?”

  “It is my right. I am mistress of the palace now.” Her eyes held a challenge that Leilani lifted to meet.

  “You speak of right. But who are you? Just some woman from the other side of the world. What are you to him? To me?”

  Evie moved gracefully to the door and locked it emphatically. This conversation was necessary though she didn’t relish it. “I’m sorry that he ended things with you.” She spoke calmly, hoping it would prove contagious. “I’m sorry that you are no longer his lover.”

  “Oh, you have so much confidence in your abilities to hold his interests. You! He told me you were a virgin, you know. Do you think you have what it takes to keep him faithful?”

  Evie’s heart bounced a little. Her confidence faltered. “I don’t believe you,” she said finally, with a shake of her head. Why would he have betrayed her like that?

  “Snap out of it, Your Highness.” The title was infused with condemnation. “Don’t be such a child. How else would I know?”

  She scratched around, her mind searching for an explanation – any explanation –that would absolve him of such a betrayal. “Your brother! Nilam? Your brother is one of his friends. His closest friends!”

  “Yes,” Leilani agreed. “And through him I am in possession of other information about you. But your innocence? This I know from your husband.”

  Evie’s face drained of all colour. Her breath was acidic tasting in her mouth. She worried at her lower lip, her eyes not sure where to settle. Heat fevered her brow. “So what?” She said finally.

  “So what? So what, you silly, silly woman, is that you are bland and boring and he will tire of you within a week.”

  Evie lifted her chin, her eyes sparking defiance. “We’re married. And I know him. He wouldn’t ever cheat.”

  Leilani cackled. “You think you know him?”

  Uncertainty frayed at the edges of her brain. She didn’t answer the cruel question. “I know you’re hurt,” she said again, schooling her voice to be gentle. “Losing him can’t have been easy. But for all of our sakes you need to accept it and move on. There is a child involved. A little boy, and both Mal and I are committed to doing what’s best for Kalem.”

  “Oh, you lie so naturally!” She said with a growl. “You are in love with him. This is why you slept with him and why you married him. I almost pity you, for loving a man like him is a sure fire way to end up miserable.” She dragged in a breath to fuel her angry tirade. “And he does not love you. Do you hope he does? Do you believe he might?”

  “I believe that how I feel for my husband is not your concern,” she said with hauteur. “I believe you have drunk too much and that you should go now before Malakhi discovers what you’ve been saying here.”

  Leilani ’s eyes narrowed. “You are right, Your Highness.” She slurred the title, though out of drunkenness or disapproval, Evie couldn’t have said. “I have drunk too much. If I hadn’t, I do not believe I would have dared do this.”

  “Do what?” Evie snapped, impatient now. She crossed her arms over her body to hide that she was shivering.

  Leilani pulled some paper from her clutch purse, her eyes triumphant as she shoved it at Evie.

  With a frown, Evie unfolded them. Her heart lurched painfully as she saw Sabra’s beautiful, flowing signature at the bottom of the page. Beside it, her brother’s small, neat letters signalled his input.

  “What is this?” She looked up at Leilani .

  The other woman was leering, and lurching a little on her feet. “See it for yourself,” she spat.

  Evie turned the pages, looking for some hint of what the hell had caused her husband’s ex-mistress to exhibit such boastful delight.

  IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OR INCAPACITATION OF SABRA JASAM ADAMS AND DAVID WILLIAM ADAMS THEIR SOLE SURVIVING DEPENDANT MALAKHI KALEM ADAMS WILL BECOME THE LEGAL WARD AND FALL UNDER THE ENDURING LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP OF EVELYN ANN ADAMS. THE CHILD IS TO BE RAISED, IN ALL MATTERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUARDIAN’S WISHES.

  Her eyes read it three times, and still it made no sense. She checked the date of the document and shook her head. Realisation and memory slammed into her like a freight train. Crap. How had she forgotten?

  The will.

  Sabra had mentioned it the morning they’d left Australia and stupid Evie had been so caught up in grieving and then romance that she hadn’t even thought of it. What a fool she was! What a mad, idiotic fool!

  Her brain fired to life, connecting pathways, making sense of the ramifications of this.

  It was too much.

  She had to prop her bottom against the marble vanity of the powder room. It was hot and she was sweltering. Her face had drained of all colour; Evie wondered if she might actually pass out.

  “Where did you get this?”

  “You think it possible he didn’t know?” Leilani taunted, coming to stand over Evie. Her face, so beautiful in design, was ruined by the negativity that screeched from every pore.

  “Where did you get it?” She enunciated each word with care, speaking slowly and clearly. It was for her benefit. She couldn’t let her despair show or this woman would finish her.

  “Where do you think?” She snarled, her teeth bared as she leaned forward.

  “No.” Evie shook her head. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I know Malakhi would never have shown this to you. He kept it from me.” She didn’t mind making the admission. After all, the other woman obviously knew at least that much from Evie’s reaction. “He didn’t want me to know this. So he wouldn’t have told you – not when you have so much motivation to show it to me.”

  She fanned her flushed face with the document, her mind ticking over. Malakhi’s deception would need to be addressed at some point, but for now the mystery of exposure was uppermost in her mind. “Your brother.” She pinned her eyes to Leilani ’s and knew instantly that she was right.

  “So?” Though her cavalier attitude was lacking conviction. Anxiety seemed to leach from her pores.

  Evie shook her head. “It didn’t occur to you until now that you were going to expose him to Malakhi’s wrath, did it? That in hurting me like this you’ve hurt him too?”

  “He did nothing wrong,” Leilani said weakly, but she rallied again quickly. �
�He might have mentioned the predicament Malakhi was in. That his only option was to marry you before you discovered that you already had a greater legal claim on the child than he. But I found the document for myself. I knew without proof you wouldn’t believe me.”

  Evie’s laugh lacked humour. “Yes, that’s true. I’m as naïve as you believe me to be.” She tilted her head back, her eyes concentrating on the elaborate chandelier above. Her breath was loud in the room.

  “So? You are married to a man who thinks you are stupid, who has a sexual appetite you could never fulfil. A man who married you just to secure his claim on the heir. Do you really believe your position so secure in his life? Do you still pity me, Your Highness?”

  Evie stood, shoving the will into a fold of her gorgeous dress. “Yes.” She said simply. “You are a bitter woman, and you always will be. Whatever his reasons, Mal married me. He slept with me when he had you. Yet you suggest I’m the one who can’t satisfy him?”

  Leilani ’s mouth dropped at the insult and before either woman knew what was happening, the glass of champagne was flying through the air. It hit Evie’s chest hard, splashing the liquid over her face, her breasts and all the way down the full skirt.

  They stared at each other, both equally shocked by this turn of events. Leilani seemed to realise, almost immediately afterwards, that she’d gone too far.

  She opened her mouth and perhaps she wanted to apologise, but she couldn’t bring herself to utter the words.

  Evie held up a hand to silence whatever might have followed. “Go immediately.” Her eyes were like diamonds in her angry face. “Send Amina to me and then leave this palace immediately. Consider yourself lucky I do pity you, or you would be facing charges.”

  Leilani ’s lips gaped, her mind whirled but finally she spun, wrenching the door open. She left without another word and as soon as Evie was alone she locked the door and leaned against it.