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“After seven years, how can we go froement? And me—a mistress? It’s crazy”

Aristandros slowly unfolded his big, powerful frame from his seat and strolled toward her like a sleek, dark panther on the prowl His narrowed gaze blazed golden and welded to her, ho in on the soft pink of her ly attractive”

“And that’s all that it takes for you? Lust?” Ella slung between gritted teeth, with a look of distaste

“Lust is all that we need to concern ourselves with, glikia ertips trace the proud curve of her cheekbone Blue eyes spitting angry flames, she jerked her head away in a violent rejection of his touch “Let’s keep it siht”

PROLOGUE

‘AN ENCHANTING child,’ Drakon Xenakis reirl playing in the lush gardens of his grandson’s villa ‘She reminds me of someone I can’t think who…’

Aristandros veiled his brilliant dark eyes, his lean, darkly handsoenetic connection at first glance In his opinion it was impossible not to: that blonde hair, so pale that it was somewhere bethite and silver, and those hyacinth-blue eyes and pouting pink s Yes, fate had placed an immensely potent weapon in his hands and he would have no qualet what he wanted Aristandros always kept his conscience well under wraps Neither failure nor consolation prizes were acceptable to hithe rules

‘But little girls need e ihty-two years ‘And you specialise in—’

‘Beautiful models,’ Aristandros slotted in swiftly, conscious that the older man was likely to take a erandson in the bedroohter to raise, and I have every intention of e’

‘Timon was a childhood playrandfather countered in a troubled voice ‘Are you willing to give up the strings of gorgeous women and the endless parties for the sake of a child who isn’t your own?’

‘I have a large, well-trained and reliable staff I don’t think Calliope’s impact on my life will be that catastrophic’ Aristandros had never sacrificed anything for anyone, nor could he irandfather’s views, he respected him and he would allow the older man to have his say

In any case, few ht to talk frankly on the score of family responsibility than Drakon Xenakis The fa been synonymous with dysfunction and explosive scandals Drakon blamed himself that all his children had es, addictions and affairs Aristandros’s father had proved the worst offender of all, and hisfaence and irresponsibility

‘If you think that, you’re underesti on A child who has already lost both parents will need a lot of your attention to feel secure You’re a workaholic, just as I was, Aristandros We’re brilliant at ood parents,’ Drakon pronounced, his concern patent ‘You need to find a illing to be Callie’s mother’

‘Marriage really isn’t my style,’ Aristandros countered coolly

‘The incident you are referring to took place when you were twenty-five years old,’ Drakon dared to reer man’s bronzed features shutter and chill at that less-than-tactful reminder

Aristandros shrugged a broad shoulder ‘It was merely a brief infatuation from which I soon recovered’

Aristandros was, however, pierced by a faer Ella He only had to think her nao, he had put a price on the head of the one woet He had sworn then that, one day, he would take revenge for what she had done to hiement that never was—an unthinkable rejection Yet, in some ways, hadn’t Ella done him a favour? The early unanticipated disappointment and the sense of humiliation which she’d inflicted had ensured that Ari had never dropped his guard with a wo the fruits of his fabulous wealth while he’d steadily grown tougher, harder and more ambitious