Valdez's Bartered Bride
Page 16
‘That Max and his wife are there too.’
‘That would be the best way to begin married life, with my brother beside me to witness my love and commitment to you.’
EPILOGUE
SHE WAS MARRIED. Lydia looked at her husband as he talked with his brother and her heart filled with love for Raul. It was hard to believe that three days ago in London she had been in her boutique trying to piece together her life after Raul had sent her from his so sternly. Now they were man and wife. She was married to the man she loved, the man who loved her.
Raul turned and looked at her; the hotel room they’d hired for their small wedding party faded out of focus as he smiled at her. Not only did he love her, but that love was unguarded, bared for the few close friends and family members who’d witnessed their exchange of vows. The most important being his mother and brother.
Raul crossed the room to her. He looked stunningly sexy in his black tuxedo, the red band at his waist only adding to the overall effect and matching perfectly with her seasonal bouquet. She still couldn’t believe she was married to him, the man of her dreams.
He swept her into an embrace and kissed her. A long lingering kiss full of the promise of so much more and, even though his mother was in the room, she responded. How could she not? He was everything she wanted and so much more.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said, barely moving away from her, his forehead almost against hers, his breath warm on her face.
‘You approve, then?’ she teased, recalling the panic she’d gone into trying to find the perfect wedding dress the weekend before Christmas. It had been a Spanish designer she’d met earlier in Madrid who had come to the rescue. The dress fitted as if it had been made for her and the fur-trimmed hooded cape finished the ‘winter bride’ look perfectly.
‘Of your use of a Spanish designer who created a dress almost as beautiful as you? Yes, I approve, but of you, as my wife, I more than approve.’ His teasing voice left her in no doubt of how much he approved and her heart sang with joy as he kissed her again.
‘It’s been a perfect day,’ she said wistfully.
‘Even though your family are not here?’
‘My grandmother is too frail to travel now, but she will meet you as soon as we return from our honeymoon, and as for my parents...’ she paused, the hurt of her mother’s excuses for not attending still cut deep, but her father’s blunt refusal was no more than she’d expected ‘...let’s just say time will heal. My father will get over the loss of his properties and my mother has invited us to her home in the new year.’
‘So you are happy?’
‘Perfectly.’
‘Then it is time we went,’ he said softly, a wicked gleam in his eyes. ‘We will stay at my apartment for a few days, then head to London for Max’s sister’s birthday party. After that we will fly to the Seychelles for our honeymoon.’
She smiled at him. ‘Sounds wonderful.’
‘It will be. We can spend time alone and celebrate the start of a new year with our own fireworks.’ The spark of mischief danced in his eyes.
‘You are incorrigible, Raul Valdez, but I love you so very much.’
‘And I love you too, with all my heart.’
‘Do you have any idea how much it means to hear those words from you?’ she teased him, interspersing her words with light kisses.
‘And do you have any idea that I will be saying them to you every day from now on?’
‘I’ll hold you to that.’ dpg
‘And I intend to show you just how much too—as soon as we are alone.’
She took his hand and looked up into his eyes. ‘Let’s go now, then.’
His handsome face had the sexy devil-may-care look on it and her heart melted. She loved him so very much—and he loved her. The future was theirs and full of love and happiness.
* * * * *
EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT
Reluctant Sheikh Salim Al-Noury would rather abdicate than taint the realm with his dark secrets.
But could one exquisitely beautiful diplomat convince him otherwise?…
Christmas means heartbreak to Charlotte, and this overseas assignment offers the perfect getaway. But Salim proves to be her most challenging client yet, and his rugged masculinity awakens untouched Charlotte to unimaginable pleasures!
Read on for a sneak preview of Abby Green’s book
A CHRISTMAS BRIDE FOR THE KING
Rulers of the Desert
She looked Salim straight in the eye. ‘Life is so easy for you, isn’t it? No wonder you don’t want to rule—it would put a serious cramp in your lifestyle and a dent in your empire. Have you ever had to think of anyone but yourself, Salim? Have you ever had to consider the consequences of your actions? People like you make me—’
‘Enough.’ Salim punctuated the harshly spoken word by taking her arms in his hands. He said it again. ‘Enough, Charlotte. You’ve made your point.’
She couldn’t breathe after the way he’d just said her name. Roughly. His hands were huge on her arms, and firm but not painful. She knew she should say Let me go but somehow the words wouldn’t form in her mouth.
Salim’s eyes were blazing down into hers and for a second she had the impression that she’d somehow…hurt him. But in the next instant any coherent thought fled, because he slammed his mouth down onto hers and all she was aware of was shocking heat, strength, and a surge of need such as she’d never experienced before.
Salim couldn’t recall when he’d felt angrier—people had thrown all sorts of insults at him for years. Women who’d expected more than he’d been prepared to give. Business adversaries he’d bested. His brother. His parents. But for some reason this buttoned-up slender woman with her cool judgmental attitude was getting to him like no one else ever had.
The urge to kiss her had been born out of that anger and a need to stop her words, but also because he’d felt a hot throb of desire that had eluded him for so long he’d almost forgotten what it felt like.
Her mouth was soft and pliant under his, but on some dim level not clouded red with lust and anger he knew it was shock—and, sure enough, after a couple of seconds he felt her tense and her mouth tighten against his.
He knew he should draw back.
If he was another man he might try to convince himself he’d only intended the kiss to be a display of power, but Salim had never drawn back from admitting his full failings. And he couldn’t pull back—not if a thousand horses were tied to his body. Because he wanted her.
Don’t miss
A CHRISTMAS BRIDE FOR THE KING
By Abby Green
Available December 2017
www.millsandboon.co.uk
Copyright ©2017 Abby Green
ISBN: 978-1-474-05308-2
VALDEZ’S BARTERED BRIDE
© 2017 Rachael Thomas
Published in Great Britain 2017
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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