she could feel love swelling all around her. She knew she was doing the right thing. Tiago’s steady gaze was all it took to convince her that her doubts before the wedding had been based on nothing more than pre-wedding nerves.
Surely Tiago must feel the magic too? How could he not? Danny wondered as he dipped his head and kissed her. She closed her eyes, knowing she’d never been so happy. Even the cruel barbs in the press couldn’t touch her now. She remembered some of them, and smiled as Tiago stared deep into her eyes.
‘Can a small-town girl rein in a man like Tiago Santos?’
Yes, she could.
‘Does a leopard change his spots?’
Yes, he had.
‘Will the Playboy be curbed by Miss Whiplash?’
That remark had made her laugh. Nothing mattered now except the fact that Tiago Santos and Danny Cameron were husband and wife. The reporters didn’t know him as she did. No one who hadn’t seen Tiago Santos on this ranch had seen the real man.
‘Well, Senhora Santos, are you ready to start your new life with me?’
‘I am.’
‘When you look at me like that,’ Tiago murmured, ‘all I can think about is taking you to bed. Is that bad?’
‘I like you bad. Tonight I think I’m going to be very bad too.’
‘I’m counting on it,’ Tiago assured her.
He excited her. She trembled in an entirely pleasurable way at the thought of their wedding night. She’d asked for this delay, and could hardly believe how long she’d waited—not long in actual terms of this week, but if she counted in her feverish erotic daydreams from that first moment she saw him in Brazil, that was quite a build-up to tonight.
She was about to find out if her imagination was equal to their wedding night. Pleasure thrummed through her at the thought that she might not even be close.
But they had guests to entertain first, Danny remembered as Tiago was distracted by some of his polo-playing friends.
While he was talking she stared at the jewel-encrusted band on her hand, sitting snugly next to the enormous diamond engagement ring. How incongruous they looked on her work-worn hands. Silk purse and sow’s ear came to mind.
She flashed a glance at Tiago—blisteringly hot, unreasonably handsome, sleekly tailored and unimaginably successful—and in spite of all the encouragement she’d been giving herself before the wedding she shrank a little inside her beautiful borrowed wedding dress.
* * *
The wedding party might have been last-minute but, as he had expected, everyone had pulled together to make it special. It was the best party he’d been to in a long time, and every time he looked at his bride he knew he’d made a good choice.
His groin was straining, begging for him to do something about it, but he was beginning to enjoy the agony—and he wanted to show off his beautiful wife. So many people were waiting to congratulate them that any chance of their being alone was slim, at least for now, but hearing tributes from the heart from his people made it easy to stay.
‘It’s thrilling to feel part of such a wonderful extended family,’ Danny told him. ‘I feel closer than ever to this ranch.’
Covering her hand with his, he linked their fingers. ‘Are you frustrated?’
Her eyes cleared as she took his meaning, and then she held his gaze and smiled. ‘Of course I am.’
Heat swept over him. He wanted her now.
‘Do you think me too obvious? Too unsophisticated?’
‘No. I think you’re a normal healthy woman, with a normal healthy appetite.’
He smiled into her eyes, but she pulled back.
‘Deus, Danny. You look as if I have you by the throat. You can’t be frightened of your wedding night?’
‘I’m not,’ she said, not entirely convincingly.
Putting his arm around her shoulder, he stared into her eyes. ‘So if it isn’t that, what is it?’ He thought of Pintos and the pain she’d suffered. ‘You do know I’d never hurt you, don’t you?’
She laughed—a little sadly, he thought. ‘Of course I do. At least not for a year,’ she joked, and was soon smiling again.
‘You will be secure for the rest of your life,’ he reminded her. ‘I promise you, Danny, I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me. You will never need to worry again.’
Her eyes clouded. ‘Do we have to talk about that now?’
‘No.’ He slanted a smile. ‘What would you rather talk about, chica?’
Would Tiago ever understand that this wasn’t about the money? Or that she hurt because they had not once said they loved each other? But why should they? It wouldn’t be right. It wouldn’t be appropriate. She might love Tiago, but even on their wedding day it wouldn’t be right to tell him how she felt. They had a contract—nothing more. She had payment. He had the ranch. This wasn’t about love. This wedding was for public consumption, to put a seal of approval on the secret they held between them that would bind them together for no more than a year.
She moved restlessly, and was rewarded by the lift of his ebony brow. It didn’t help her composure when she wanted him so badly in every way there was. She ached to be held in his arms and made love to in every sense. Their faces were so close she could see the glint of tiger-gold in his eyes, and that look...that darkening slumberous look.
‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’ he murmured, teasing her into an even higher state of arousal with those words. ‘Bearing in mind that we may be here for some time...?’
HER BODY PULSED with need while her mind screamed at her to hold back. ‘Help me with what?’ She frowned, pretending ignorance—anything rather than give way to Tiago and be lost.
He shared none of her inhibitions. ‘Help you with that ache,’ he said frankly, holding her gaze.
‘I’m not sure what ache you’re talking about.’
‘Think back to the jet.’
‘Here?’
Now he had shocked her. She was no prude, but what had happened between them in Tiago’s bedroom on his private jet couldn’t possibly happen here at their wedding party.
His expression grew darker. ‘No one will notice,’ he said, with the hint of a smile.
‘You are joking?’ Danny answered, looking around the room.
They were somewhat secluded from the other guests, but might be interrupted at any time. The idea was both shocking and thrilling for Danny.
‘Am I?’ He was already moving her skirts aside. ‘Stop finding reasons not to, and concentrate on why you should.’ His mouth was still curving wickedly—and so confidently. ‘Look at me, Danny,’ he murmured. ‘Just keep looking at me, and let me do the rest...’
She gasped as his hand found her. It felt so warm and big and strong and sure as he cupped her. Tiago was so wicked, but she couldn’t stop herself edging forward just a little to help him. She was already lost, her senses in chaos, and her body was tuned to his smallest touch. She had been well trained by Tiago on the flight over, to respond to pleasure this way, and she instantly concentrated on that one place to the exclusion of everything else.
The noise of the party, the chatter and laughter of their guests, even the band playing loudly, couldn’t