Theo Pantelides wants revenge…
Walking down the aisle toward striking Theo came to Brazil with one desire—to destroy the man who once ruined his life. And when the proud Greek sets eyes on his enemy’s stunning daughter, he knows victory will taste even sweeter with her in whis bed!
Inez de Costa wants freedom…
Inez longs to escape her father’s shadow and follow her own dreams—not be blackmailed into becoming someone’s mistress! But it’s a thin line between love and hate, and soon Theo unlocks a desire virginal Inez never could have anticipated.
Now Theo and Inez will have to reconsider what it is they both want most of all…
“You planned this,” she accused in a hushed tone, because her throat was working to swallow down her rising anger.
“I plan everything, Inez,” he replied simply.
She looked into his face. The indomitable determination stamped on Theo’s harsh features sent a wave of anxiety through her.
She started to speak, to say the words that seemed unreal to her, and her mouth trembled. His gaze dropped to the telling reaction, and she immediately clamped her lips together. Showing weakness would only get her eaten alive.
Not that she wouldn’t be anyway. A bubble of hysteria threatened. She swallowed and held his gaze.
“You want me to be your mistress?”
His laugh was long and deep. “Is that what you would call yourself?”
She flushed. “How else would you describe what you’ve just demanded of me? This keeping me? What you’re suggesting is archaic enough to be described as such. Or does plaything more suit your pseudomodernistic outlook?”
“No, Inez. I don’t like the term plaything either. I have no intention of playing with you. No, what I foresee for us is much more grown-up than that.” The sexual intent behind the statement was unmistakable.
Rather than being offended or shocked, Inez found herself growing breathless. Excited.
No!
“Yes,” he murmured, as if he’d read her mind.
CHAPTER ONE
THEO PANTELIDES ACCELERATED his black Aston Martin up the slight incline and screeched to a halt underneath the portico of the Grand Rio Hotel.
He was fifteen minutes late for the black tie fund-raiser, thanks to another probing phone call from his brother, Ari.
He stepped out into the sultry Rio de Janeiro evening and tossed the keys to an eager valet who jumped behind the wheel of the sports car with all the enthusiasm Theo had once felt for driving. For life.
The smile that had teased his lips was slowly extinguished as he entered the plush interior of the five-star hotel. Highly polished marble gleamed beneath his feet. Artistically positioned lighting illuminated the well-heeled and threw the award-winning hotel’s design into stunning relief.
The hotel was by far the best of the best, and Theo knew the venue had been chosen simply because his hosts had wanted to show off, to project a false image to fool him. He’d decided to play along for now.
The right time to end this game would present itself. Soon.
A sleek designer-clad blonde dripping in diamonds clocked him and glided forward on sky-high stilettos, her strawberry-tinted mouth widening in a smile that spelled out a very feminine welcome. And more.
‘Good evening, Mr Pantelides. We are so very honoured you could make it.’
The well-practised smile he’d learnt to flash on and off since he was eighteen slid into place. It had got him out of trouble more times than he could count and also helped him hide what he did not want the world to see.
‘Of course. As the guest of honour, it would’ve been crass not to show up, no?’
She gave a little laugh. ‘No, er, I mean yes. Most of the guests are already here and taking pre-dinner drinks in the ballroom. If there’s anything you need, anything at all, my name is Carolina.’ She sent him a look from beneath heavily mascaraed eyelashes that hinted that she would be willing to go above and beyond her hostess duties to accommodate him.
He flashed another smile. ‘Obrigado,’ he replied in perfect Portuguese. He’d spent a lot of time studying the nuances of the language.
Just as he’d spent a lot of time setting up the events set to culminate in the very near future. For what he planned, there could be no room for misunderstanding. Or failure.