‘Of course. But that’s different.’
‘Why? We agreed stability and strong, loving relationships will be best for our child.’
There it was again. That zap of sensation on the wordsour child.
‘That doesn’t mean we have tobetogether.’ Even if her insides were doing cartwheels at the prospect of being Adoni’s long-term lover. Of sharing her days and nights with him while they brought up their son together.
Listen to her. Now she was buying into his crazy idea, even down to the sex of their child!
Adoni’s gaze dropped to her mouth, then her breasts, completing a leisurely survey then lifting to her eyes. By that time Alice’s breathing was short and sharp and hot needles prickled her flesh. She wanted to be outraged but instead identified her reaction as excitement.
She had it bad, this attraction for Adoni.
‘We don’t have to be together but Iwantto, Alice.’ His voice hit that low, resonant note that did disastrous things to her determination to resist. ‘You’ll be a wonderful mother. You’re warm, generous and attractive. I like your down-to-earth attitude and your honesty.’
Honesty?He’d come so far from the man who’d accused her of sleeping with him for gain.
‘Thank you, but—’
‘Plus, I want you as I’ve never wanted any other woman.’ The words left her speechless, mutely blinking up at him. ‘I think we could make each other very happy, Alice.’ He reached for her hand again, raising it to his lips and pressing a kiss there that sent hope, desire and all sorts of impossible emotions shivering through her.
‘This is very...unexpected.’ Alice couldn’t think what to say. Her one conviction was that she mustn’t—absolutely mustnot—throw herself at him and say yes. Though the temptation was strong. She needed time to consider.
He might have read her mind. ‘You need to think about it.’ His sober tone conflicted with his heated, hungry eyes. Those spoke a different language, not of caution and negotiation but of rampant ownership. The fire in his eyes made her whole body tingle.
Alice frowned. Adoni,possessive?
‘You needn’t worry that you’ll be disadvantaged in any way,’ he said quickly, making her wonder how he’d interpreted her frown. ‘My legal team has drawn up an agreement so you’ll be looked after.’
‘Looked after?’ She sounded like a parrot but she had trouble following his logic. She’d thought Adoni would look after her, and vice versa. Surely, if they were partners—
‘While I’m alive and even if anything should happen to me, you’ll be taken care of.’
‘I think you need to explain.’
Adoni nodded. When he spoke his tone was brisk. Yet still she saw a glaze of heat in his scrutiny. ‘We sign a contract. I will support you with a generous allowance.’ He named a sum so large it made her head spin. ‘That will continue even if I predecease you, so long as you are supporting our child and he’s thriving under your care. But you’ll have no other claim on my estate—it will all go to the boy.’
Alice felt her eyes round. Anger spiked that there was any doubt their child would thrive under her care! Was Adoni going to appoint observers to check that?
Then she recalled how his parents had treated him and, though still angry, managed to swallow her pride. He was trying to ensure their baby was well cared for. She couldn’t fault Adoni for that.
‘And what would I be agreeing to?’ Her voice didn’t sound like her own.
Adoni shrugged. ‘To live as my partner, help bring up our son. Not take any other lovers.’
Did his gaze sharpen on the words?
‘And would you make a similar commitment?’ Her chin hiked up.
‘Yes.I have no intention of undermining the family I want to build for our child.’
Our child.There they were again, those magic words. Only this time, instead of making Alice feel warm and fuzzy, they made a warning bell clang discordantly. No matter how tempting it was to think of being Adoni’s lover, his partner, this was about the baby. Not them.
Alice shook her head. ‘I don’t know. It’s too...’
‘Too what?’ Adoni leaned in, his wide shoulders and intent expression crowding her back in the seat.
Too bizarre! A binding contract to ensure she cared for her child and didn’t cheat on her lover!