‘That’s behind us now,’ Nik said, not giving her the assurance she was after. ‘What’s already happened is no longer relevant. We’re here now, with decisions to make that will affect all our futures.’
‘It’s relevant to me!’ Carrie exclaimed. She wasn’t ready to let that incident drop yet—not until he’d acknowledged he was in the wrong. ‘You blatantly deceived me! You took—’
‘You keep saying Danny is important to you,’ Nik interrupted. ‘If that’s the case I suggest you stop delaying our discussion about his future.’ The menace in his voice warned Carrie that he was not going to lose sight of his goal easily. Well, neither was she.
‘I will never give Danny up.’ She spoke clearly and plainly, hoping it was the best way to make him understand.
‘Nor will I,’ Nik said. ‘That is why I have come to offer you a compromise.’
‘A compromise?’ Carrie repeated. If he was going to suggest they shared custody she wouldn’t agree. She might, at a pinch, agree to visitation rights. But she’d never ever give Danny up, even part time. It wasn’t just that she’d promised Sophie and Leonidas, she had grown to love Danny too much to ever let him go—especially to a controlling, duplicitous man like Nikos Kristallis.
‘You will marry me,’ Nik said. ‘And like any other married couple we will share his upbringing.’
Carrie stared at him in shock.
Had she heard him properly? Maybe the sleepless nights were finally catching up with her. That must be it, because he couldn’t possibly, in all seriousness, have said she was to marry him.
‘What did you say?’ she asked, her voice scratching her suddenly dry throat.
‘We will be married,’ Nik said.
‘Are you crazy?’ she gasped, staring at him in astonishment.
‘Not at all,’ he replied. ‘Marriage is the only solution if you wish to retain any contact with Danny.’
‘I’m not marrying you,’ Carrie said, finally realising he really meant it—although she still couldn’t believe she was actually having this conversation. ‘I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. I don’t even like you!’
‘A marriage of convenience is the only compromise I’m prepared to offer you,’ Nik said coldly. ‘And take note that it is a one-time only offer. You must agree to it now or you will lose Danny for ever.’
‘How can you call it a compromise?’ Carrie asked, hearing her voice rise with appalled disbelief. ‘Unless you mean I am to compromise all my values and beliefs by marrying someone I despise!’
‘I am making the compromise.’ Nik’s voice cut like steel through the air. ‘Marry me and you will still be part of Danny’s life. If you refuse I’ll have you escorted off my property today and you will never see him again.’
‘You can’t do that!’ Carrie cried.
‘I can do anything I want.’ There was a dangerous edge to his words. ‘Now, what is your answer?’
‘I’ll never give up Danny!’ Carrie said, horrified to feel tears prick behind her eyes. She blinked them away, refusing to show any weakness in front of Nik. He was detestable, coming to her and making such an unbelievable demand.
‘I’ll take that as your agreement.’ Nik turned to leave. ‘I will start the arrangements for our marriage straight away.’
‘No!’ Carrie flew across the room and seized his arm.
She was strong, and fit from years of exercise, but as she grabbed him he was as solid and unmoving as rock. She held on to him just above his elbow, knowing that he stopped and turned back because he chose to, not because of the pressure she was exerting on his arm.
‘You can’t marry me without my consent.’ She looked up into his face and spoke through gritted teeth.
‘I’ll have your consent.’
‘No, you won’t!’ Carrie said.
‘I’ll have anything I want.’ He let his eyes sweep over her in a way that set her senses on red alert. But, despite the sense of danger, a dark ripple of anticipation shuddered through her.
He moved his arm slightly and Carrie suddenly realised she still had hold of him. His bicep bunched beneath her fingers, strong and powerfully sexy, making the nerves in her hand tingle in response.
‘Is this about sex?’ Carrie swallowed, letting her hand drop from his arm and taking a step backwards out of his reach. ‘Did you propose just to get me into bed?’
‘Don’t be so naive,’ Nik said darkly, edging forward. ‘Why would I go to such lengths? You’ve always been easy prey—you’ve wanted me since the first moment we met in Darren’s study.’