Sweet Revenge: The Martinez Marriage Revenge / The Italian Billionaire's Ruthless Revenge / The Kouros Marriage Revenge

‘Yes, he is.’ Shannay aimed for a secretive smile, and saw Estella’s mouth tighten a little.

‘If you’ll excuse us?’ Marcello’s voice held a silky quality Estella chose to heed.

‘Of course.’

It could have been worse, Shannay accorded as the limousine eased its way clear of the hotel’s entrance and joined the flow of traffic.

She let her eyelids drift down in an attempt to shut out the neon lights and the frequent stab of headlights as the headache moved towards migraine territory.

‘You don’t have your medication with you?’

He knew? ‘If I did, I’d have taken some by now.’

There was the faint whisper of sound, followed by another as he released both safety belts, then firm hands positioned her to rest against him. A male arm curved down her back and settled over her thigh, holding her there as she began to protest.

‘Just close your eyes and relax.’

Relax? With her body curled into the contours of his, her head cradled against the curve of his shoulder? Her face mere inches from his own?

He had to be joking!

Warmth heated her veins, tantalising her senses as the perceived intimacy invaded pleasure places they had no right to be.

It wasn’t what she wanted. And knew her mind to be at odds with the dictates of her body.

How easy would it be to slip free a few buttons on his shirt and slide her hand to rest against the strong beat of his heart. To feel it kick into a quickened beat as she caressed a male nipple.

Hear his husky murmur as she lowered her hand and traced the hardened outline of his arousal held in tight restraint within the confines of his evening trousers.

To tease a little, then lift her mouth and savour the touch of his in a preliminary to what they’d soon share in the privacy of their bedroom.

A slow, teasing discovery, or a quick shedding of clothes as desire and need meshed and became electrifying passion.

A time when they’d been in perfect sync, two halves of a whole … and she’d innocently believed nothing and no one could touch them.

How wrong had she been.

It almost made her wish it were possible to turn back the clock, and possess the power to change actions and words.

Except it was done, and the past couldn’t be altered.

Did Marcello have any regrets?

How could he?

He hadn’t followed her to Perth.

Hadn’t sought to make contact.

As far as he was concerned, she could have vanished from the face of the earth.

Until a chance encounter had brought her beneath his radar.

Because of Nicki.

Let’s not be fooled in thinking otherwise.

So what in hell was she doing resting against him like this?

Savouring a little self-indulgence?

It would be simple to push against him and straighten into a sitting position … except his arms tightened and held her in place.

‘Stay there. We’re almost home.’

All the more reason for her to move.

This time he didn’t try to stop her.

Nor did he attempt to touch her as they alighted from the limousine and moved indoors.

He merely acknowledged her “goodnight” with a brief nod, and watched as she ascended the stairs.

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘IS RAMON GOING to die?’

The plaintive query from so young a child was heartrending, and Shannay went down on one knee and gathered her daughter close.

‘He’s very sick,’ she said gently.

‘Like Fred.’

Fred had been a pet white mouse who’d developed a tumour, and been replaced, after due ceremony, by a goldfish.

‘Like Fred,’ she agreed solemnly.

‘It’ll be sad,’ Nicki ventured, and Shannay inclined her head, then sought to offer a distraction by suggesting a swim in the pool.

It was a warm day, with no breeze to riffle the tree-leaves, and together they donned swimsuits, lathered on sunscreen cream, then gathered up towels, alerted Carlo as to their whereabouts, and wandered down to the pool.

Nicki was like a fish in water, diving, floating, and showing her swimming prowess with a credible crawl … for a young child.

It was fun to play, to splash, laugh a little and temporarily relax her guard.

‘Daddy!’

Shannay turned slowly in the direction Nicki indicated, and saw Marcello’s tall masculine figure walking the path through the grounds towards the few marble steps leading to the pool and its surrounds.