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Category: Romance
Description: When Lili Fraser first agreed to help her father sell his antiquities gallery, she had no idea that she was walking into a carefully prepared trap. The plan for revenge, orchestrated by Damon Bortelli had taken years to perfect, but only one night in Lili's arms to destroy.
eBook Publisher: New Concepts Publishing, 2012 2012
eBookwise Release Date: June 2012

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [176 KB]
Words: 40548
Reading time: 115-162 min.

Chapter Four

You have all weekend to convince me you're the better deal. Damon's words stuck in her head, replaying over and over like a broken record and reminding her of what a dangerous game she played by offering herself to him like this.

She felt his eyes on her even in the darkness of the Range Rover's interior as they left the city heading toward unknown territory. He would be wondering what her thoughts were. Or maybe he wanted to know what she might be planning.

Lili tried to find her bearings as she watched the passing countryside. Nothing seemed familiar once the city lights were behind them. It was just the two of them in the ever-shrinking confines of the SUV as they sped away into the night. Unfulfilled desires still sparked between, along with unanswered questions.

Damon didn't attempt to touch her again after they left his office. He didn't need to. He knew she wouldn't run. Too much depended on her doing what he wanted.

Lili thought of asking him where he was taking her, but each time she tried to break the strained silence between them, Damon made some innocent move and the words died away.

She sat staring out the window, wondering if saving her father had been the only reason she'd offered to sleep with Damon, or did it have more to do with fulfilling her secret fantasies of him? She'd been conscious of Damon's reputation, both personal and professional, walking into their very first meeting.

Maggie had been happy to fill her in on the impressive list of female names Damon had dated in the past. Lili knew he would be something, but until tonight, she never realized how much she'd longed to find out if the real Damon Bortelli lived up to the legend.

The object of her troubled thoughts sighed next to her. He sounded about as frustrated as she felt. Lili closed her eyes and tried to focus on her father. She needed to keep her attention on his trouble and forget about the dangerous distraction seated close to her.

"Lili, wake up." Damon's soft whisper jarred her from a troubled sleep. They weren't moving any longer. The SUV sat parked in front of an enormous, two-story, Mediterranean-style house illuminated by dozens of tiny white lights.

It took forever before Lili could force words out through the fear. "Where are we?" She hated that her voice shook as she spoke.

"We're home. This is my home," he corrected. "The end of the line for you."

The end or the beginning. Dear God, she didn't know which she really hoped for.

"Let's go," Damon told her in a clipped voice before opening her door.

Lili jerked away from him the second his fingers circled her arm. She couldn't let him touch her and not reveal how he affected her even now.

He unlocked the front door and waited for her to go inside. She was standing just inside the foyer, but the house remained dark. Damon didn't appear to be in any hurry to turn on the lights. He followed her inside and closed the door behind them.

Lili stepped away just as the lights above them brought the room to life. She was grateful for the momentary distraction because it gave her the opportunity to break the spell he held over her. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she stepped into the great room and glanced around. It contained Mediterranean influences everywhere. The designer had managed to capture Damon's style perfectly.

He stood watching her, waiting for her to make the next move, but Lili took her time inspecting her surroundings. She needed to control her racing pulse.

"Well, Mr. Bortelli," she said when she could face him again. Liquid amber eyes slid over her once more.

Damon didn't move. No emotion showed in his voice when he spoke, only a single taut muscle working along his jaw, giving away the truth. "Well, what?"

Lili forced her eyes shut. Damn him. He still wanted to play games with her. "Do we have a deal or not?"

"So you're really planning to go through with this. You're willing to give yourself to me just to keep from telling me where your father is?"

It took Lili a long time to gather her courage enough to answer him. "Yes, of course. I told you I would do anything for my father." Her voice faltered a little over these words.

It's not much of a sacrifice, Lili, when you can't wait to see if he lives up to his reputation. She held her breath waiting for his decision.

Damon moved closer, then stopped. Only a handful of steps now separated them. She felt him struggling between what he wanted and what he needed. Did he see the same struggle within her?

He drew a shaky breath and she almost didn't catch his words.

"Take your clothes off."