She wanted to demand answers but forced herself to think rationally. Right now he was being cordial towards her, his attitude a marked improvement from the loathing he hadn’t bothered to hide at the party. He was here and, if he was as good as his word, prepared to help her. At that moment, that was all that mattered. Anything else she could worry about later? Antagonizing him would accomplish nothing.If she had to suffer his company, then for the children’s sake she would gladly accept it.Her head might have termed it "suffering," but her body had a different word for the reaction provoked by being in the close confines of the car with him. It was familiar torture: her lungs tight, her pulse loose, her skin alive with awareness.She breathed out slowly and peeked at him from the corner of her eye. Her heart swelled to see his sleeves rolled up, his tanned left arm resting on the ledge of the open window. Unlike most people with his wealth, Taylor preferred to drive himself unless h

The wildness he’d sensed in her from that first look had translated into the bedroom. Making love to her had always been out of this world. Whether it was hard and fast or slow and sweet, their passion for each other was unquantifiable."This is your pride talking, isn’t it? Because I had the nerve to leave you? You want to humiliate me?’He answered with deliberate smoothness, counteracting the vibrations emanating from her delectable frame. A charge flickered through his loins to see her face become the same colour it rose to when in the throes of passion. You want my help and I’m prepared to give it to you, but in return I want payment—and the only form of payment you are in a position to make is with your body.’She pushed her chair back as if she’d been scalded and got to her feet. "You want me to prostitute myself?"I’m merely requesting that you, my wife, return to the marital bed for a fixed period, and during that period you make yourself available to me wherever and whenever

‘What time do you finish?’ Taylor asked when he pulled the car to a stop outside the building that currently houses the Solace daycare center."Five," "Five o’clock," she answered shortly. Wait for me to call—I might be late.’I’ll be here at five o’clock and you will be ready."Not bothering to argue or say goodbye, she shrugged her shoulders, grabbed her bag and got out, slamming the passenger door behind her. She might not be able to see his face, but she could easily imagine her handsome husband’s wince at her treatment of his precious car.When they’d first met, her manners had been somewhat rough around the edges. She’d been taught to say please and thank you, and not speak with her mouth full, but that had been the extent of it, and those few manners had been drilled into her by her primary school headmistress, not her parents. Her mum had been too busy holding down two jobs to find the energy to write, while her dad had hardly been there, flitting in and out of their lives as

Dianne froze, keeping herself ramrod straight, and swallowed the moisture that filled her mouth.How did he do this? How did he make her want him so much while simultaneously making her want to scratch her nails down his face?“I’m not yours until Friday,” she reminded him in a strangled voice. ‘No touching until then.’"I don’t think you’ll make me wait that long."‘I hate you.’‘I know.’ His breath whispered through the strands of her hair, heating her scalp. It must be awful for you, hating me so much but wanting me even more.’‘I don’t want you.’‘I never realized when we married what a liar you are.’ The tip of his nose nestled into her hair. If I hadn’t been so blinded by lust, I would have known your words of love and your promise of a child were nothing but lies to access my fortune.’His tone was playful, but when Dianne spun round to face him, she saw the darkness in his eyes.I didn’t lie to you and I didn’t marry you for your money.’ She hated that he thought of her as a g

Dianne was out of the center before Taylor’s watch registered her being even one minute late. She hurried to the car, her excitement tangible. She’d been the same that morning, unable to keep still for a second, downing coffee as if it were going out of fashion but unable to eat a morsel of the eggs his chef had cooked for them.She pulled the passenger door open. “Is it done?”‘Yes.’She punched the air. ‘Thank God.’You’re welcome. But Taylor will suffice.’She pulled a face at him and laughed. Right now, I’m so happy and grateful that I’ll call you anything you like.’He bit back the quip forming on his tongue, not wanting to break the moment. Seeing the delight on her face lightened his blood.It had been a long time since he’d seen that smile.A skinny, balding man poked his head out of the building. Abandoning Taylor, Dianne hurried over to him, hurled her arms around his waist and kissed his cheek. The man disappeared back inside with a beaming grin of his own.She rushed back