The Frenchman's Marriage Demand. Chantelle Shaw

her feet. Suddenly she was bone-weary and could scarcely believe it had only been twelve hours ago that Zac had stormed into the hospital and back into her life. Returning to the penthouse and reliving the memories of the life she had shared with him was more agonising than she had anticipated and she felt the sting of tears behind her eyelids. ‘I wish I hadn’t come here,’ she flung at him angrily. ‘Aimee and I could have stayed in a hotel instead of being here with you and your horrible, suspicious mind.’

      Black brows winged upwards at her outburst. ‘I’ve already explained that I’d like the reason for your visit to Monaco to remain a private affair and I prefer to keep you here under my control. I’ve arranged for a nurse from the clinic to visit tomorrow to take the necessary mouth swabs,’ he informed her coolly. He drained his glass and stood up, instantly dwarfing her. He was too much for her to cope with when her emotions were so precariously balanced, but when she moved to step past him, he blocked her path. ‘The results should be back within ten days, and then you’ll be free to leave. Until then I’m afraid we’re stuck with each other. But it’s possible we’ll find some compensation in being forced to spend time in each other’s company.’

      Freya gave a disbelieving laugh. ‘Such as?’

      Too late she recognised the gleam in his eyes and her heart lurched as his arm shot out and snaked around her waist.

      ‘Such as this,’ he said, ignoring her punitive struggles to escape from his grip as he lowered his mouth with slow deliberation until it hovered millimetres above hers. ‘You may dislike me almost as much as I dislike you, but unfortunately sexual desire seems to have no respect for our mutual loathing—does it, Freya?’

      Before she could formulate a reply, he closed the gap between their mouths and kissed her, his lips moving over hers in a fierce assault that demanded her response. The mockery of his last statement rang in her ears and she pressed her lips together in a desperate attempt to deny him. How could he kiss her like this if he hated her? her brain asked numbly, but it was clear that her body did not care. It had been so long since she had been in his arms and she had missed him so much.