Ten minutes later, the helicopter landed on the roof of the penthouse and Armel lifted Raphaël into his arms and preceded Liza Dean down the steps.“Alain, were you able to carry out my instructions?” he greeted his butler, choosing to talk to him in English not French.“Everything is exactly as you asked, Monsieur de Roquefort,” the butler replied in his usual unflappable manner. “The nursery suppliers delivered a cot and other necessary furnishings and equipment, and the dressing room adjoining the fourth bedroom has been prepared for the child’s nanny.” If Alain was surprised by the request to prepare a room for a baby, his tone gave nothing away and his facial expression remained as bland as ever.“Bon… C’est parfait, merci! (Good… That’s perfect, thank you!)” Armel murmured as he transferred the sleeping baby back into the nanny’s arms. “Would you be so kind to escort Mrs. Dean to the nursery and ensure she has everything she requires?”“Oui, Monsieur de Roque
Harley caressed Raphaël’s curly blonde hair and took in all that calmness.“Oh, my sweet, perfect, little angel…” she whispered touching his rosy cheek, “please, don’t grow up too fast. Stay as innocent as you are right now for the longest time possible. Stay with me as much as you can. You’re the most precious person in my life and I can imagine my life without you. I would love to hold you so much right now, but I must wait until I’ll get better.” The little boy made a soft moan but kept sleeping and dreaming.“I can believe you’re mine… Oh, Raphi… I’m not a perfect person and I’m going to make so many mistakes in my life, but I’ll never stop giving everything I’ve got to be the best mother I can be for you. Sleep tight, baby,” Harley added and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She went back to her room and decided to stay there until the moment Raphaël would wake up in the morning. Harley knew Armel’s house but she didn’t want to go around the house. She didn’t wa
Armel hid his flare of surprise. During the months that Harley had lived with him, he had never really got to know her. His workload had been particularly heavy and after a long day at the office, he had simply wanted to take her to bed. He had asked about her day out of politeness rather than any real interest and had thanked his lucky stars that she wasn’t one of those women who insisted on regaling him with every detail of her life. He had found her quiet, gentle nature soothing, and, if he was honest, he had missed the calming effect she seemed to have on him after he had thrown her out. But now, Armel realized that he knew very little about her. Perhaps it was Harley’s faint air of mystery that intrigued him, he debated as he drained his glass and stretched his arms along the back of the sofa, his eyes skimming over her and lingering on the fall of her silky hair.“It’s obvious from the state of your flat that you’re struggling financially. Why don’t
Harley was running down the hall of the penthouse with Raphaël in her arms, searching for Armel. She could hear his voice ahead of her but the passageway seemed to go on forever and he remained a distant figure who taunted her desperate attempts to catch up with him.‘Armel… please, wait…’ Tears filled her eyes as she struggled on.‘We’re here… Don’t go…’ Raphaël was heavy and her wrist was hurting like hell, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart as she faced the knowledge that she would never reach Armel and she would always be without him…‘Don’t leave me…’ ****“Harley, wake up…” A familiar, terse voice sounded loud in her ear and when she opened her eyes, Harley discovered that she was not in the hall, but in her bedroom, and Armel was standing close to her bed watching her with undisguised impatience.“I’m here because you were screaming in your sleep… You were ha
She had warmed to Liza’s kindness instantly and for the first time since Raphaël’s birth, Harley felt she could relax and trust that her baby would be well cared for. Over the next two days, she began to appreciate Liza’s advice. The accident had taken its toll and she was shocked at how tired and emotionally all over the place she felt. The sound of laughter from the nursery indicated that Raphaël was perfectly happy with the nanny, and it made a welcome change to have a temporary reprieve from her responsibilities. To her relief, Harley saw little of Armel. He had left for his office before she woke in the mornings and didn’t return until late in the evening. Some things hadn’t changed, she mused wryly as she recalled the long, lonely days she had spent when she had lived with him, waiting for him to return from his office or one of his frequent business trips. A few times, Armel had taken her abroad with him. ‘Dynamico’s owned stores in se
His slow smile triggered alarm bells and she bit back her retort as her mind fantasized about how Armel would bend her to his will. With ease, that was for sure, she acknowledged on a wave of self-disgust. Just the thought of his hands and mouth caressing her was enough to send liquid heat pooling between her thighs. If he touched her, kissed her again, she seriously doubted her ability to resist him… and he knew it. Harley swallowed and tore her eyes from his mocking smile, tears of shame prickling behind her eyelids. If she wanted to retain any trace of her self-respect, she would have to agree to go to dinner with him because she could not risk him persuading her.“It was kind of your PA to go to so much trouble…” Harley replied tightly, careful not to look at him. “And because I know how unwell she must be feeling at the moment, I’ll agree to take her place tonight.” Clutching the box Armel had given her, Harley headed for the door, her back
It was almost midnight when they bid Marcus and Diane Reese goodnight and drove back to the penthouse. Harley wished she were tired but to her dismay, she felt wide awake and filled with a wild, reckless energy. Those few moments of madness on the dancefloor with Armel had inflamed her senses and left her body aching for his full possession. But her body was going to be disappointed since she intended to go straight to her room the moment they entered the apartment. But Armel’s butler, Alain, greeted them with a tray of coffee and petits fours that he had prepared especially for their return.“If you don’t mind, I’m quite tired… I’d really like to go to bed now,” Harley muttered to Armel as he ushered her into the lounge in the wake of the butler.“And upset Alain?” His eyebrows raised a notch.‘You’re a brave woman… O might add, you’re much braver than me when it comes to upset Alain.” Stifling a groan, Harley dredged up a smile and a
Harley held her breath, torn between the need for him to continue his wickedly intimate caresses and the dictates of her pride, which were telling her that she must stop this madness now before it was too late. But Armel was a master of seduction and his skillful fingers continued to move inside her, while his thumb pad stroked with delicate precision over her ultra-sensitive clit, building her excitement so that she twisted restlessly and tried to control the delicious spasms that were threatening to overwhelm her.“Oh, Armel…” she said his name in a whisper, her head falling back as she moaned low, as wave after wave of incredible sensation tore through her. His eyes were focused on her face and there was something shockingly erotic about the way he was watching her while he pleasured her. She was going to die of shame, but his fingers were moving faster in a sensual dance. She jerked as Armel continued his movements, dipping his fingers ins