Page 55 of 2 Books in One Bundle

‘Please,’ she said through gritted teeth.

Disappointing. He didn’t want her to give in. He wanted her to fight. He wanted her to come alive the way she had in the National Gallery, and he didn’t even know why.

That he no longer experienced the passion he’d seen in her face that day perhaps accounted for it. He didn’t have room in his life for feelings that intense, not any more. He allowed himself moments of physical pleasure, but beyond that, the only thing that held his interest was the pursuit of underperforming companies. The thrill of the chase.

He hadn’t known he’d wanted more than that until he’d seen Isla Kendrick explain to him whyStarry Nightby Vincent Van Gogh was one of her favourite paintings and what made it so transformative.

He hadn’t understood what she was talking about when she’d explained, but he’d understood that look on her face. He wanted to see it again.

He wanted to see it forhim.

‘Oh, no,’ he chided gently. ‘That’s no way to drive a bargain. You don’t give in straight away. You negotiate. You make a counter offer.’

‘This is not a negotiation, Mr North. This is you giving me some papers to look over.’

‘Mr North? I’m your husband, Isla. The least you could call me is Orion.’

‘I’d much prefer to call you a stone-cold bastard, how does that sound?’

He smiled. ‘That’s the spirit. How about this then? I’ll give you the agreement to look over in return for a kiss.’

She flushed. ‘Absolutely not. I don’t need to read it that badly.’

‘Au contraire.If you don’t read it, then I can’t sign it. And if I don’t sign it, you won’t get my promise in writing, and Kendricks’ will still be at risk.’

Emotions flickered over her face, gone so fast he couldn’t read them all. Fury seemed to be her primary emotion, and he couldn’t blame her. He had, after all, completely upset her wedding day by paying off her ridiculous excuse for a fiancé, and threatening to get rid of her as CEO and take apart her company if she didn’t marry him. That couldn’t have been easy for her, yet she’d coped with it all admirably, displaying unexpected backbone.

She was proving to be much more interesting than he’d anticipated and he was intrigued to see where this fury might lead her. Anger could be far more productive and useful if it was properly focused, and it was certainly preferable to her being upset or afraid.

In fact, he didn’t like the thought of her being upset or afraid.

Isla gave him a look of disdain from beneath long, feathery golden lashes. ‘You’ve already had one kiss. You don’t get another.’

‘Then offer me something else,’ he countered. ‘Something you can give me right now, that’s easy and quick and something I want.’

Her blue gaze narrowed. ‘What do you want then?’

Orion was a gambler and he never gave anything away. He kept his cards close to his chest, what little emotion he allowed himself under strict control and his desires very firmly hidden. Not that he had any desires. Desiring nothing meant no one had power over you, and if there was one thing he hated, it was anyone having any kind of power over him.

These days,hewas the one with the power. He held all the cards and he won all the games. Always.

He smiled. ‘Guess.’

The explosion he’d been hoping for didn’t come. Instead, she let go of the papers and sat back in her seat, regarding him with a cool blue stare. ‘You know, I really don’t like you. In fact, I’ve never liked you.’

He only raised a brow. ‘That has never been a barrier to people doing business with me.’

‘This isn’t business.’

‘Isn’t it? You married me to retain your family’s company, Isla. What is that if not business?’

Her jaw hardened, frustration glittering in her eyes. ‘Just give me the damn papers.’

‘Only if you give me what I want.’

‘But you won’t tell me what you want.’

‘You know already, Snow White. I told you.’

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