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He tensed Dense ebony lashes briefly fanned down to meet his hard cheekbones 'Yes, of course, but surely that does not negate the point of establishing better communication now?'

Equally tense, she snapped shakily, 'You're never satisfied, are you? You want to scour the fine print for a flaw to dwell on I try to give you what you want and it's still not enough! I know it's only an illusion, e have right now, but-'

'Is it?' Grim dark eyes rested on her

She reddened 'Of course it is' Proudly she thrust up her chin, fearful that he was already suspicious of her iving you good value for your money!' she told him He hite beneath his dark tan Desperately she wanted to reclaim the lie but it was too late He rose fro look of distaste that she was certain would live with her to her dying day 'When I need a whore, I'll go to one, but you certainly deserve a bonus for your enthusias on the table in front of her 'For services rendered above and beyond the call of duty'

He vaulted into the four-wheel-drive in front of the house and raked down the driveway out of sight Tre A flawless cornflower-blue sapphire set into a ring tumbled out on to her palehest quality, worth thousands and thousands of pounds, and the knowledge es demanded merely for the sake of appearances She burst into floods of tears

It was after nine when he returned She aiting for hi-room When he appeared in the doorway, she shot to her feet 'I didn't mean it I', but one glance at his dark, uns profile was sufficient to panic her What they had, she cherished She could not face losing it

'Forget it,' he advised chillingly 'You get what you pay for And since I did pay for you, I can hardly object to your candour'

'Where have you been all day?'

'You actually sound like a real wife'

Vito, I love you, please don't do this to me She almost said those words out loud She wasn't prepared for it to end yet She wasn't ready Maybe she would never be ready, she registered fearfully, if the second he walked out of the door in a temper she turned to a jelly That was the extent of his power in the cruellest and most refined form, and she was in torment He poured hiative said flatly, 'Why don't you go to bed? We're leaving early in the '

'I didn't mean what I said'

'Relax, your little brother was off the hook weeks ago'

'That isn't why I' to reason with you'

'No? Well, there's only one other option, isn't there? The threat of a night without a sexual orgy thrown in appals you? Tellher suspect that he was not enjoying his first drink of the evening, 'from the depths of your endless experience of ood that you're prepared to crawl and beg?'

Every scrap of colour fled her face, leaving her bone white 'I…I don't really know I've never had anyone else,' she whispered strickenly, shattered by his cruelty

'The odds aren't in your favour, cara Four years ago, I saw you in that bastard's arely 'If I'd got out of my car, I'd have murdered you!'

'F-four years ago?' she stammered 'You saith Steve… in the street?'

'Do you need to see it in writing?' he derided 'B-but that means you must have-'