The Sicilian's Banished Bride (Mills & Boon Modern) by Maya Blake

Author:Maya Blake [Blake, Maya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Modern
Published: 2020-08-20T15:08:16+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

ROCCO WASN’T SURE whether to be insulted or amused when a look of horror chased across her face.

‘You want me to...to marry you?’

‘Sì.’

She grew paler, and the last trace of amusement departed.

Watching closely, he could’ve sworn she swayed beneath the heavy demand of his words. For a single, unbridled moment, Rocco wanted her to exhibit more emotion, perhaps something resembling the naked rapture that’d accompanied her ecstatic yes when he’d asked this very same question three years ago. Even the somewhat unnerving happy tears he’d dabbed away then, he would’ve tolerated now.

Anything but the pale apprehension she was showing so far.

‘Absolutely not.’

‘Which part of it do you disagree with, considering it was what you agreed to three years ago, minus the blessing of our son, of course?’

‘Oh, but you forget, I wasn’t in the position where I knew your true colours, was I? That enlightening moment came later. Thankfully before I made the mistake you’re suggesting I make again.’

A hard stone settled in his stomach. ‘You believe marriage to me would’ve been a mistake?’

‘When you’re so quick to believe the worst about me? Yes!’

He dragged in a slow breath, attempting to calm the frenzied emotion that threatened to spin out of control whenever he was within arm’s reach of this woman. ‘Let’s spell things out between us, then, so there’s no misunderstanding this time around. This isn’t a love match or some lofty declaration of devotion. This is simply a transaction. You regain your position in my company. I get my son under my roof and my grandmother’s health and well-being ensured.’

‘And if I say no?’

‘What is so wrong with attempting to strive for better where our son is concerned, Mia?’

‘I... What?’

‘Trust your instincts. Do you believe Gianni will come to any harm by being under my care?’

Her lashes swept down, veiling her expression from him. He shoved his hands in his pockets to prevent him from cupping her chin, tilting her gaze to his so he could read what she was hiding from him. ‘No,’ she murmured after an eternity.

His breath expelled in relief. ‘Then, is what I’m proposing so bad?’ he attempted to reason, although a very primitive, very masculine part of him simply wanted to throw her over his shoulder, find a dark cave to seal them both in to hash this out.

He clenched his gut against the sensation. It wasn’t one he particularly liked about himself but...hadn’t he experienced this...primitive possessiveness with Mia from the very time he’d spotted her? This need for exclusivity with her where he’d neither cared nor accommodated that in any of his previous liaisons?

‘Mia?’ His voice was hoarser, sharper than he’d intended.

She startled, looked into his eyes and he realised, just like yesterday, she’d been equally caught up in carnal memory. A little too pleased with that knowledge, he raised an eyebrow, watched her flush before she averted her gaze.

‘Don’t overthink this. You, me and Gianni. Together. We all get what we want. You also make an old woman you claimed to like immeasurably happy.

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