Counterfeit Bride by Sara Craven Page B

and serenity'? The sort of joyless, loveless relationship which your family has specialised in probably for generations?'
    His mouth curled. 'You will not speak of my family in that way, señorita. Your tongue will be your downfall.'
    'Don't you like to hear the truth?'
    His hands descended on her shoulders, jerking her into a sitting position.
    'And what do you know of truth?' he said harshly. 'You—who have acted a lie since the moment I saw you. What do you know of love? You talk a great deal, chica, but your eyes tell me that you are as untutored in passion as Teresita herself.'
    His words were like a lash across an open wound.
    'That isn't true,' she cried in protest. 'I've been in love—deeply and passionately in love. I love him still. That's why I decided to help Teresita to be happy. Because I knew that she deserved better than the pallid, cold-blooded arrangement which was all you were offering.'
    His smile was grim. 'So you think me cold-blooded, amiga? I promise that Teresita would not have found me so. And neither will you.'
    He pulled her towards him, and his mouth descended mercilessly on hers. She was unable to breathe or even think coherently. Panic rose in her, and she beat with clenched fists on his shoulders, but neither his hold nor his brutal assault on the softness of her lips slackened even for a moment. Her half-covered breasts were crushed achingly against the muscular wall of his chest, and a whimper rose in her throat as his hand twisted in her tangled hair, dragging her head back, so that his mouth could travel bruisingly down the length of her throat.
    When she could speak, she said pleadingly, 'No-please!'
    He lifted his head and stared down at her, his eyes glittering with mockery, and something else that she was frightened to interpret.
    'Who is speaking now, chica! The experienced woman of the world in your imagination, or the frightened virgin of reality? I want the truth!'
    Her throat closed, making speech impossible. She could only shake her head, staring up at him with eyes that begged wordlessly for understanding, even for mercy.
    Almost gently, he lowered her back on to the mattress. Then he sat up, his eyes travelling slowly and broodingly down the slender length of her body. Nicola felt humiliated under the intensity of his gaze, but she made no effort to drag the blanket around her, or even shield herself with her hands. She deserved to feel this shame, she thought, just as she deserved every harsh word he had thrown at her, and more. Whatever her private opinion of his motives or morals, she'd had no right to interfere. He was entitled to be angry, even to exact some kind of retribution, but not—in that way. Dear God, not that.
    His hand cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at him, and one finger stroked softly and sensuously across the swollen outline of her mouth.
    He said very quietly, 'You have done me a great wrong, amiga. You have insulted me, and robbed me, and made me lose face. Are you prepared to make amends?'
    'If I can.' She tried to sound brave, but in spite of her efforts there was a quiver in her voice.
    'Oh, you can,' he said softly. 'I need a wife, as I told you. Thanks to you, the girl I had chosen is lost to me. The least you can do is take her place.'
    For a moment she lay staring up at him, her mind trying to make sense of what he had just said. She began to shake her head slowly.
    'No, you can't—I couldn't! You're not serious.'
    'No?' he asked mockingly. 'Perhaps another display of my ardour will convince you.' He bent towards her, and her hands came up, pushing against him.
    'No!' Her voice cracked in panic, and he laughed.
    'Then say you will marry me, and I will wait like a gentleman until you are legally mine.'
    'But you don't want to marry me. You can't want to. We don't know each other. You don't like me...' The words tumbled over each other. She knew she wasn't making any sense, but then what was in this whole crazy situation?
    'You have made me