‘OK,’ she said softly, ‘that’s fair enough. So I love you too,’ she returned unsteadily. ‘I never stopped loving you throughout your six miserable lost years. I’m glad you found yourself again, Alessandro Marchese, and even more glad that you found me.’
The sober expression eased out of his features; a smile took its place. ‘Now, that,’ he said as he started walking again, ‘deserves a reward.’
‘Mmm,’ Cassie said, making herself more comfortable in his arms, ‘this sounds…interesting.’
The villa waited. Cassie didn’t see any of its breathtaking beauty as Sandro carried her up the wide, curving staircase. She didn’t even see the unapologetic baroque splendour of the bedroom he carried her into with its rich red velvet drapes and pale damask walls, and gilt-wood furniture set on a vast and glossy parquetry floor, or the huge bed he laid her on that was an extravagant vision hung on four corners with burnished gold silk.
She only saw the man as he came to stretch out beside her, dangling a gold chain from his long fingers with its totally ostentatious diamond droplet trailing across her mouth.
‘I’m going to make love to you until you think you’re dying,’ Sandro murmured as if it was a soft, deep, sensual threat.
Parting her lips, Cassie licked the diamond. ‘Oh, yes, please,’ Cassie said.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
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® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2009
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Michelle Reid 2009
ISBN: 978-1-408-91275-1
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Copyright
Marchese's Forgotten Bride Page 17