A Ring to Claim His Legacy

by Rachael Thomas

  His touch when he took her ankle in his hand startled her. She opened her eyes and looked at him, watched that sexy smile spread slowly over his lips, and her heart filled with the kind of emotions she’d thought she’d never feel again. This time, though, it was different. Those fledgling emotions were far more powerful than anything she’d felt for Gavin.

  ‘These need to come off,’ he said seductively, dragging her mind from its foolish course of analysing her feelings. With care, he undid the straps of her gold sandals and dropped one to the floor, then did the same again, his fingers rubbing over her foot, up her ankle. He smiled at her and her heart flipped as the need to be really loved by him took over. She wished this were more, wished this moment were real, instead of the escape he’d already labelled it.

  Just as he had done that night on the beach, he slid his palms up her legs and began the exquisite torture, but this time it was different, far more pleasurable than she’d ever believed possible, and all she could do was close her eyes as he expertly brought her almost to the edge. Just when she didn’t think she could hold on any longer he ceased the torment, focusing instead on pulling the lace panties down her legs before tossing them to the floor. She watched in awe as he all but tore off his remaining clothes and then gently moved over her, covering her nakedness with his body.

  She closed her eyes and lost herself in the moment, indulging in the fantasy of being loved by Marco one more time.

  * * *

  Marco resisted the urge to let go, to give in to his body’s demands and lose the last remaining bit of restraint he had. He wanted to be gentle, wanted to make this as pleasurable for Imogen as it had been that first night they’d made love on the beach. He struggled to keep control as Imogen wrapped her legs around him. The hot lust that had drawn them together on the island was certainly still well alight and all he wanted to do now was to prove, not only to Imogen, but also to himself, that it would bring them closer, that this was what they needed to make a marriage work.

  The passion drove him and as he slowly entered her he stopped thinking of anything other than the pleasure of the moment. Right now nothing else mattered, and as her body moved with his, taking them once more to the heights of pleasure they’d discovered on the beach, he could think of nothing else other than this woman, this moment.

  ‘Marco, Marco...’ She gasped his name as her fingers dug into his shoulders, her legs tight around him. He forced himself to be gentle, aware of her condition, but her seductive voice threatened his control as her body begged for release.

  He kissed her, stopping himself from saying anything to her, stopping her from saying anything else to him. Words weren’t needed to show her how right they were together. The passion and heat of the moment would prove that.

  She gasped against his mouth as the tidal wave of passion swept her away, taking him with her. He used every last bit of control to keep his movements gentle, wanting the moment to go on, but finally his body was sated and he moved off her, pulling her close against him, breathing in the scent of her perfume as she wriggled her back against his tummy.

  He placed his hand on her tummy, over the small but definite bump of the baby, and closed his eyes, never having known such peace, such contentment.

  He must have slept, although he had no idea how long for. When he woke Imogen had slipped from the bed and, wearing his shirt, stood looking out at the same view his living area offered as the grey streaks just before dawn were starting to show in the sky.

  He’d never fallen deeply asleep with a woman after having sex before. At least not the satisfying sleep he felt he’d just indulged in, and he’d never encouraged closeness with a woman in the way he had when he’d pulled Imogen against him. Was it just because she was carrying his child? The question lingered at the edges of his mind then he pushed it away, focusing again on Imogen looking at the view.

  In a way he’d never known before, he wanted to please her to make her happy, and if that meant doing the tourist thing and going up the Empire State Building, he’d do it. ‘I will take you there today.’

  ‘Did I wake you?’ Her voice was husky with the remnants of passion. Her lovely blonde hair was fluffy and so very sexy and his shirt skimmed the tops of her thighs. The image made him want her all over again.

  ‘It’s early. Come back to bed.’ He pulled back the sheet, revealing his hardened body, smiling with satisfaction as her eyes were drawn to his erection. ‘The night isn’t over yet and I’m not through with proving how we could make our marriage work.’

  ‘Last night was amazing.’ She blushed as she moved back towards the bed, his shirt open, revealing her tummy and teasing him with glimpses of the softness of her breasts. ‘But it isn’t what keeps a marriage together, Marco.’

  He hadn’t been banking on such a serious discussion even before the heat of passion had cooled. Caught out by his naked and aroused body, he pulled the sheet back over himself and lay back on the pillow, his hands behind his head, his gaze still focused on the woman who carried his baby. He took in a deep breath and knew there would be no escaping this discussion.

  ‘What about a baby, Imogen? That is a reason to keep a marriage together, is it not?’

  ‘It is, yes.’ He smiled at her answer. He was wearing her down, making her see that marriage was the only option for them. He wanted his child, the potential heir to the Silviano empire, to be born inside marriage.

  ‘Good,’ he said, satisfied it had been so easy. ‘Then we will get married. Next month.’

  ‘Next month?’ Her soft laughter lightened the seriousness of his words. ‘Why the hurry?’

  ‘Our child is my heir. My mother is desperate that I marry and, now that she knows we have a baby on the way, it will be expected that we will marry before the baby is born.’ He couldn’t tell her that if the baby was a boy that he’d finally be proven a man in Emilio’s eyes.

  ‘But I’ve told you that is not a reason to marry, Marco.’ Imogen dragged his mind back from the past, sadness filling her words, and he sensed that talking about this wasn’t enough. He’d accept that for now but knew he would have to show her how good her life could be as his wife—and not just in his bed.

  ‘Come back to bed and rest. We have a busy day today. We’ll see the sights of New York from the Empire State Building then go to the hospital for the scan and afterwards see my father.’

  ‘You will be with me when I have the scan?’ she asked as she curled up next to him and he smiled, sensing she was giving in.

  ‘I want to see the baby... and we can find out if it is a boy or a girl.’

  She turned in his arms and looked up at him, smiling. ‘You really are taking this seriously, aren’t you?’ The teasing edge to her voice was back and a pang of guilt rushed through him.

  ‘I am. I’m taking it very seriously.’ He kissed her as passion rose once more.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE SUN WAS warm on Imogen’s face as she and Marco stepped outside on floor eighty-six of the Empire State Building along with many tourists. He’d laughed gently at her shock that the elevator had gone up so fast, the floor numbers only showing in units of ten, and that laughter had only lulled her deeper into that false sense of security. It had made it easier to believe they were a proper couple who were in love and having a baby.

  Everything about being with Marco since the party last night was overwhelming. She could feel herself falling for him in a way she’d never fallen for any other man before. She thought what she and Gavin had shared was love but now she was questioning that idea. The way she felt about Marco was far different. It deepened with each smile, each gentle touch. The tenderness of the way they’d made love this morning had been the moment she realised that it wasn’t escape she sought in his arms, it was love.

  ‘I have to take some pictures,’ Imogen said as she pulled out her phone and moved to the corner of the building and l
ooked out across the streets of New York. ‘If I don’t send Julie at least one picture of New York she will be furious.’

  Behind her she could feel Marco’s presence, feel the warmth of his body as he stood so very close to her. Even with all the people around them it felt intimate and she couldn’t help but lean to one side and look back up at him. The ever-darkening intensity of his eyes held her attention and for a moment it was just the two of them there. As if time had stood still and nobody else mattered. Just as she had last night and this morning, Imogen felt that connection with Marco that she’d had on the island.

  He took the phone from her hand. ‘In that case I will get someone to take a photo of us both here. I want Julie to see how happy you are, how your smile is making your eyes sparkle, how you look so alive and so very beautiful.’

  She tried hard not to read more into his words, instead convincing herself that this was all part of his ploy to get what he wanted, to keep her in New York and for his baby to be born here. That was all he meant, and she’d be a fool to read more into it. A fool to even think of marrying him for anything other than love.

  ‘That’s not necessary. I just need a few view photos, then I will call her later today.’ The last thing Imogen wanted was for Julie to see what Marco had just described. If she did see that there was no way she would support her decision to return to England and raise the baby alone. Imogen knew that even though her deepening feelings for Marco were clear for all to see, Julie already suspected as much if their earlier calls were anything to go by. Julie had heard it in her voice, claiming Imogen had fallen for him long before she herself had accepted this. Did his mother and father see it too? Had his sister seen it? The only person that didn’t see it was Marco. He didn’t want anything to do with love.

  That sobering thought silenced her and before she could say anything Marco was asking the other couple to take a photo of them. She couldn’t back out of it now without making a scene, so she leaned into Marco as he put his arm around her, pulling her close. She tried to keep the love she knew she now had for him from showing, tried to keep that secret light from her eyes. As the heat of his body warmed hers, she knew it was going to be a hopeless battle. She’d fallen in love with him.

  ‘Smile,’ instructed the man as his girlfriend watched on. They looked the perfect couple as they laughed together while he prepared to take the photo. They were a couple who were happy and in love. Everything Imogen wanted but couldn’t allow herself to believe was possible for her and Marco.

  Imogen forced herself to smile, acutely aware of Marco’s body against hers. She glanced up at him, confusion rushing through her. Why was he indulging her in this fantasy, this illusion of their being a couple?

  ‘Look this way,’ the man called as other people waited for the photograph to be taken. She smiled, painfully aware that this might be the only photograph she’d have to show their child one day of her and Marco together as a couple.

  The man gave the phone back to Marco, who showed her the photos that had been taken of them in one of New York’s most iconic places. She was right to worry about Julie being ever more convinced that what she now felt for Marco was more than just attraction. It was there in her smile and in her eyes as they stood together in the photo. She could see it, and Julie most definitely would, but not Marco, or at least he didn’t seem to want to see it. He was oblivious to that emotion.

  ‘When I was in your office in Oxford and Julie walked out the door she gave me a warning look.’ Marco spoke as he leant on the stonework and looked through the metalwork railing, appearing to see the city, but Imogen guessed his thoughts were far away.

  ‘I know.’ Imogen spoke softly as she moved closer to him, finding it easier to look out over the view than at the man who now held her heart. The reality was that Julie’s warning that he shouldn’t hurt her would inevitably come true. She’d fallen in love with a man who’d already claimed he didn’t want love in his life.

  ‘So the man you were engaged to hurt you?’

  ‘He did, yes.’

  ‘What happened? It must be bad for your friend to be so protective.’

  ‘There’s no need to talk about it now. That part of my life is over and done with.’ Imogen moved slowly away from Marco and began to walk to the next side of the building, to a different view of New York. As she stood and looked out over the vastness of buildings, all shapes and sizes, she could feel his eyes on her, feel the questions he wanted to ask following her.

  He came to stand beside her once more, his upper arm brushing against hers sending a jolt right through her. Even though she knew he wasn’t right for her, even though she knew that there was no future for them together, she still wanted him.

  ‘I’d like to know, Imogen. After all, you know a lot about me now.’ She couldn’t resist the temptation to look at him and turned to face him. There was genuine sincerity in his eyes, which only served to make her feel as though she was falling that bit more in love with him.

  Imogen took a deep breath. ‘Gavin and I grew up together and sort of fell into a relationship. It was what our families expected, and we’d been dating for almost eighteen months when he proposed.’ It didn’t feel right talking about her past like this with a man she knew could never love her, even though she’d fallen in love with him. The fact that she could now admit to herself she loved Marco was unnerving and she hated that it made her vulnerable. As if love itself was exposing her to hurt and pain she’d never known before.

  ‘So what went wrong?’ He seemed interested, concerned, but was he just making conversation, was he just ensuring he knew her secret past because she knew his? There was no way she would admit the whole truth and tell Marco how Gavin had finally admitted to asking her to marry him because his mother had all but forced him to.

  ‘He broke it off just weeks before we were due to be married.’ She shrugged away the hurt from that day. ‘I guess he wasn’t ready to commit after all.’

  She could still hear Gavin’s break-up speech now. She’d been trying on her wedding dress for the final time when he’d rung. ‘We should have stayed friends. I just don’t fancy you.’

  She’d soon found out that another woman had made him change his mind. She was a woman as slender as Imogen was curvy and all her insecurities about her body, her weight, had charged back at her like a wild animal. It hadn’t helped when she’d seen on social media that Gavin had married the other woman in a lavish ceremony in Spain. It had been that information, along with Julie’s advice, which had pushed Imogen into the mindset of moving on as she’d flown to the island. It had also ultimately pushed her into Marco’s arms.

  She glanced at Marco’s profile as he looked out over his home city and when he turned to her she spoke again quietly, embarrassed and humiliated by the fact it had happened to her. ‘He married someone else earlier this year.’

  * * *

  Guilt rushed through Marco as he saw the pain and hurt on her face. She must have loved this Gavin. The fact that she couldn’t quite look at him now, that she focused her attention back to a view he knew she didn’t really see, left him in no doubt of that. Was trying to convince her to marry him the right thing to do? It seemed the odds were stacked against them. She wanted love and family, and since discovering he was to be a father all he wanted was his child. If the baby was a boy he would be able to prove once and for all that even in Emilio’s strict parameters, he was worthy of the Silviano name.

  Imogen placed a hand on her tummy, the movement catching his attention, reminding him that the reason they were here together like this, sharing secrets they’d rather not tell anyone, was because of the baby she carried. He’d been intrigued enough by the woman he’d met on the island to try and track her down but hadn’t thought further than indulging in more passionate nights with her. He’d never expected to stumble across the real Imogen so easily and he’d certainly never anticipated being a father, bein
g linked by a baby with the woman he’d affectionately remembered as just Imogen.

  As he thought of the baby it reminded him of the appointment he’d made for this afternoon. It had been nineteen weeks since they’d been on the island together and he’d been informed by the clinic that the scan would be able to tell them the sex of the baby. He didn’t want to ask Imogen to find out if she didn’t want to know, but he really wanted to know. He needed his father to know that he would marry the woman who carried his child, that he too would put the needs of future generations of the Silviano family first, whatever the sex of the baby.

  If nothing else, the truth of who his father really was had made Marco realise that having the son Emilio had always pressured him to have would prove he could do something right.

  He brushed his palm against Imogen’s cheek and she looked up at him, questions in her eyes. ‘Gavin was a fool.’ As he said those words another thought slipped in through his mind. Gavin’s stupidity would be his gain, but he resisted the urge to say that to her, knowing it wasn’t what she would want. She’d already told him the only thing she wanted from marriage was love. The very thing he wasn’t worthy of—Emilio had taught him that when he’d showered love and affection on his sister, pushing Marco out. It had left him in no doubt that he didn’t belong, didn’t deserve love and affection.

  ‘Everyone has things in their past that upset them.’ She looked up at him and he saw anger in her eyes, mixing with the pain of her past. ‘But it has to be put aside, not forgotten and maybe not even forgiven.’

  He looked deep into her lovely eyes. He knew she wasn’t referring to Gavin. ‘You think I haven’t done that?’

  She lowered her lashes and shook her head, then looked back up at him as tears filled her eyes. ‘No, Marco, you haven’t.’

  ‘Then I must try.’ He saw the hope in her eyes and knew it was wasted on him. There was no way his past could be so easily mended. He couldn’t brush over it as if it had never happened. Just as he couldn’t have this conversation any longer.