The Forced Bride (27 page)

She said huskily, ‘I—I thought you didn’t want me…’

‘Always—always.’ Raf’s eyes were anguished as they met hers. ‘From that first moment, and for ever.’ He took a step

towards her, then hesitated. ‘Emilia, listen to me,carissima . You said you wished to have no more to do with me, and it

may be that things have become so wrong between us that there is no way back. But, even if you cannot love me in the

way that I long for, I still wish to take care of you, and our child.’

He drew a deep breath. ‘If you come back to me—to my protection, I will ask for nothing else. We will live as you

decide.’

Her brows lifted. ‘You mean—myself at the house and you in your apartment in Rome You’d agree to that’

He bowed his head. ‘If that is what you wish.’

‘I’ll tell you what I wish,’ she said with sudden fierceness. ‘I wish you would take me in your arms and never let me go.

Because there’s nothing in this world for me without you.

‘I wish I’d said “Don’t go” on our wedding night, and shown you then how much I wanted you.

‘I wish you’d sleep with me tonight and every night for the rest of our lives. And that you’ll live with me, and scold me

and spoil me and make me laugh. And take care of me and all the babies I hope we’ll have.

‘And I wish with all my heart that you’ll believe me now, my darling, when I say—ti amo. I love you—love you…And I

always have.’

He came to her, lifting her off her feet and putting her down on to one of the sofas as gently as if she were made of glass.

Then he knelt beside her, his face buried against her stomach, and she stroked his hair with tender hands and whispered

all the things she had never dared say to him before, and knew that the freedom she’d wanted was hers at last.

When Raf raised his head, there were tears on his face. He said softly,

‘Do you believe in miracles,mi amore ’

‘I believe in us.’ She kissed him on the mouth, her lips warm and lingering as they smiled against his. ‘And, whatever your

doctor friend may say,mio caro ,’ she whispered huskily, ‘tonight you will most definitely need to shave. And that’s a

promise.’

ISBN 978-1-55254-808-0

THE FORCED BRIDE

First North American Publication 2007.

Copyright © 2006 by Sara Craven.

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any

form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography,

photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission

of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to

anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the

author, and all incidents are pure invention.

This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and

Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

www.eHarlequin.com

Coming Next Month

If you enjoyed the eBook you just read, then you’ll love what we have for you next month! Great passion titles from

Harlequin Blaze, Silhouette Desire and Harlequin Presents.

ON SALE IN FEBRUARY 2007

Two new series – first time in eBooks!

Introducing Harlequin Everlasting – Every great love has a story to tell.

2 books every month

Launching Harlequin Romance

6 books every month

JINXED! by Crystal Green et al, Harlequin Blaze

HITTING THE MARK by Jill Monroe, Harlequin Blaze

DON’T LOOK BACK by Joanne Rock, Harlequin Blaze

AT HER BECK AND CALL by Dawn Atkins, Harlequin Blaze

HOT MOVES by Kristin Hardy, Harlequin Blaze

PRIVATE CONFESSIONS by Lori Borrill, Harlequin Blaze

THE MILLIONAIR’S SEDUCTIVE REVENGE by Maxine Sullivan, Silhouette Desire

THE FORBIDDEN PRINCESS by Day LeClaire, Silhouette Desire

BOUND BY MARRIAGE by Nalini Singh, Silhouette Desire

BLACKMAILED INTO BED by Heidi Betts, Silhouette Desire

BACK IN FORTUNE’S BED by Bronwyn Jameson, Silhouette Desire

THE SICILIAN’S MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Lucy Monroe, Harlequin Presents

THE SANTORINI BRIDE by Anne McAllister, Harlequin Presents

THE MILLIONAIRE’S PREGNANT WIFE by Sandra Field, Harlequin Presents

THE ITALIAN’S FORCED BRIDE by Kate Walker, Harlequin Presents

THE GREEK’S BRIDAL PURCHASE by Susan Stephens, Harlequin Presents

TAMED BY HER HUSBAND by Elizabeth Power, Harlequin Presents

TAKEN BY THE SHEIKH by Penny Jordan, Harlequin Presents

PREGNANT BY THE MILLIONAIRE by Carole Mortimer, Harlequin Presents

·