Master of Passion

by Jacqueline Baird

  'Parisa, Parisa,' He lifted her bodily on to Ms lap, his strong arms enfolding her, holding her close to his broad chest. 'You have to listen to me. I don't know what you overheard, but I can assure you I did not steep with Margot that weekend, after I met you and realised my ex-manager was also a blackmailer I spent the rest of the weekend helping the police to capture him. I had not been with Margot for some months. It was only ever a casual affair. When I was in London she was a convenient partner. I'm not proud of the fact, but it is the truth, and I had already decided to end it. If you were listening you must have realised I had not even told her where I was staying.' Parisa remembered now: Margot had said she had got his address from the casino.

  'I had come to London that day specifically to sort out the mess at the casino. The apartment was part of the deal and had been used by the casino manager. I had stood over him while he packed his bags and left, and was only waiting for Tina to arrive 'with some more documents I had requested, before leaving myself when Margot showed up. I admit I bought a bracelet at Carrier, the day before you and I went for the ring, and it was for Margot, but it was a goodbye present. Not very laudable, I know, but I found the type of women in my life before you expected that kind of thing. I never actually saw Margot. She pestered me with telephone calls, and the Monday was the last time I spoke to her. I had the bracelet delivered by special messenger, along with a note making it absolutely clear I loved my wife and had no intention of ever seeing her again.'

  'A pay-off...' Parisa could believe that. Hadn't Anna, the day after the birthday, warned her that she might have the ring but she would end up with the bracelet like the rest of them? 'You paid Anna the same way.'

  'Oh, God!' Luc groaned. 'You make me sound terrible, Parisa, and I suppose in a way it is true. I just never really thought about it. A present and goodbye was the sure total of my commitment to any woman until I met you.'

  Winding her slender arms around his neck, she lifted her face, urging his head down towards her waiting lips. 'Just make sure you never ever buy me a bracelet,' she murmured against his lips. They kissed gently, tenderly, but gentleness quickly gave way to a hungry passion that left them both shaking with the force of their mutual desire.

  Reluctantly Luc put her away from him and stood up, walking across the room. 'I vowed if I ever had another chance with you I would not touch you until we were properly married again in church.'

  Parisa lay back on the old bed, not caring that her robe had fallen open, leaving a length of naked thigh exposed. 'Do I get no say in the matter?' she asked huskily.

  He whipped around, his dark eyes widening on her long, luscious body splayed across the bed, her glorious silver-gilt hair spread across the pillow, and as though attached by an invisible thread he moved towards her. 'Some girl scout, Parisa. Is seducing males part of your teaching, or are you always this impulsive?' he teased, grinning down at her, but the slight tremor in his voice told her all she wanted to know.

  'Not impulsive,' she denied huskily.

  Luc laughed out loud. Dio! Parisa, have you not realised yet?'

  'Realised what?' she asked, stretching her hand out to him.

  'You are as adventurous and impulsive as any one of your illustrious ancestors. It was the one thing I counted on in my pursuit of you.'

  'I don't think I like that remark.' Did Luc know her better than she knew herself? she wondered.

  Luc grinned, his dark eyes gleaming with tender indulgence. 'You've spent the weekend white-water canoeing. Dangerous, cara! But then, at fourteen you dressed up as a woman and seduced me—not the action of a cautious spirit. You got to the Olympics through hard work and ruined it because you fancied a try at pole vaulting.' His grin widened. 'You scaled a fire-escape and broke into an apartment, for a friend.' He chuckled. 'You swanned off to Italy with a man you hardly knew, convinced at the time he was a crook. His chuckle turned into a sensuous smile. 'In the observatory you gave yourself to me completely, without inhibition.' He couldn't resist lowering his head and kissing her long and lovingly. 'You sold the title to the manor without a second thought.'

  'Well, maybe I am a tiny bit reckless,' she admitted when she could get her breath back. 'But I'm responsible. I work. Oh!' She suddenly realised she couldn't just walk off into the sunset with Luc. She had commitments—more than most... 'I have to live here, Luc, and I do enjoy my work, and——'

  'I know, Parisa. You're a strong, vibrant woman and I am going to have my work cut out keeping up with you. But don't worry—I have it all arranged. I am going to live here. Dio!The place is big enough, and there is nothing in the covenant that can prevent the master of the house having a study with a mainstream computer. As for your job, I would never ask you to give up work, but I would like you to be able to travel with me when necessary. You could work on a part-time basis. Start your own fitness clinic—or you could coach. As long as you love me, I don't care what you do.'

  She was stunned by his thoughtfulness, but still one question had to be asked. 'You don't think I'm really mercenary, Luc?'

  'I know you agreed to marry me when you hated me, but I always knew your main concern was for Didi and Joe. Never money.'

  Curving her arms around his back, she urged him down to her. He understood her far too well, she thought. But she did not want to hear any more about her nature- reckless or otherwise. Parisa was much more interested in what her body was telling her.

  'So I'm impulsive,' she finally admitted throatily. 'And you want me to travel with you.' And, sliding her hands up under his shirt, she added, 'Like this,' as her fingers found the heated warmth of his chest and slid down to the fastening of his trousers. They had a lot to talk over, but a lifetime to do it in, and right now Parisa had a much more urgent need.

  'Oh, yes, Parisa, carry on.' Luc groaned. 'This kind of impulsive travelling I can stand for the rest of my life, lady.

  Luc lay down beside her. 'It was a stupid vow, anyway,' he declared raspingly as he gathered her hard against him. 'You are going to stay with me, Parisa. Say it. Promise you will be my wife for now and always?' he asked her unsteadily.

  Her heart was bursting with love for the huge man who with a few words revealed all his uncertainty and vulnerability. She raised luminous blue eyes to his. 'I love you, Luc.' He stopped her words with a kiss, and when she could breathe again she added teasingly, 'I'm not sure about the lord and master bit, though.'

  'You still haven't realised yet, Parisa. I would give you the world if I could. I love you, and, contrary to what you imagine, I am not the least chauvinistic.'

  'This from "the master of passion "...' she joked, watching him carefully, but there was not a flicker of recognition of the phrase in his dark eyes, just a delighted gleam of satisfaction.

  'I hope I will always be the master of your passion, but I have no desire to lord it over you,' he quipped. 'I doubt if anyone could.' And, cuddling her close, he chuckled softly. 'My darling, scatty, impulsive Parisa. My Lady and my wife.'