Bargain With the Enemy by S E Gilchrist Page B

check your vitals.’
    â€˜Leave it.’ She pulled his hand away from the shayote attached to his belt. ‘I’m fine. Arranging for all these suits to be made for Mia makes me wonder whether you do care for her.’
    Eyes veiled as he lowered his glance, he said coolly, ‘It is my duty to ensure all members of my family are protected at all times, even the unwelcome additions.’
    â€˜You’re such an arse.’ Positive steam gushing from her ears, Stephanie wrenched her hands from his grasp.
    â€˜That does not sound like a compliment.’
    â€˜Trust me, I definitely was not singing your praises. I was being derogatory.’
    He laughed. No sarcasm resonating in the tones, just pure amusement and the sound rocked Stephanie down to her toes.
    â€˜I admire your spirit,’ he said.
    Heat flushed over her face. Ducking her head, she poked the floor with the toe of her boot. ‘Yeah, well.’
    He walked to the bed and shook out the contents of the holdall. A book fell onto the bed and fluttered open. Ivo reached down and picked it up.
    â€˜What are you doing?’ Rushing over, she snatched the paperback out of his hands. Trembling, she clutched it to her breast.
    â€˜I am curious. What is it?’ Ivo raised his eyebrows.
    â€˜It’s a book, a story. The only one I have left from home.’
    â€˜This…’ Ivo waved a hand, ‘this book is important to you.’
    â€˜Yes.’ Stephanie took a deep breath. ‘My husband gave it to me. Husband means —’
    â€˜I am familiar with that meaning,’ Ivo interjected sharply. The expression on his face could have rivalled the devil any day he looked so furious. He grabbed her shoulders, hisfingers digging into her. ‘Again, you practice deceit with me. Never would I have lain with you had I known you were taken.’
    She blurted, ‘He’s dead. He died of a heart attack long before I left Earth. There’s been no one else since.’
    His burning stare searched hers. ‘You cared for this man?’
    Stephanie nodded, her eyes filling with tears and spilling over. ‘He was a good man, a lot older than me. He was a professor at my college and we married once I completed my degree.’
    Ivo’s touch turned gentle, his thumbs rubbing over her cold skin. Whether it was the way his features had softened or whether she just wanted him to know, she added, ‘We had no children. I wanted to work, to continue my career. I always thought we would have plenty of time for a family later.’ She shrugged.
    â€˜For your loss, I am grieved, Stephanie.’ Ivo sighed and pulled her into his arms, laying his forehead against hers. ‘But I am not sorry this led you to my world.’
    Sniffing, she mumbled, ‘If I’d known you were getting married I would never have slept with you. You’re the one lying here, pal.’
    â€˜Negative. You never asked.’ Ivo jerked away from her and frowned. ‘This discussion is closed. The issue here is, I distinctly told you to remain in these quarters.’
    â€˜Ordered me, you mean.’ Stephanie folded her arms. ‘I do as I please.’
    â€˜There are matters here you do not understand. Taking the youngling into Gordo’s presence was not a wise move.’
    â€˜You’re telling me. Him and your frigid bride-to-be acted like we carried some hideous disease.’
    â€˜Stephanie…’ warned Ivo, but his growl lacked bite.
    She saw how his lips twitched at the corners as if he held back a smile.
    â€˜Perhaps you require a reminder of who is in charge,’ he continued. The murmured innuendo vibrated over her skin, firing to life every cell in her body. ‘I certainly need the reminder,’ he admitted wryly.
    Stephanie compressed her lips so her answering smile didn’t escape. Who would have thought Ice Man could be fun?
    Ivo nudged her chin higher and her eyes fluttered