Billionaire's Pregnant Bride

Chapter 22

Kathy went rigid, colour splashing her wide, high cheekbones, anger rising and soaring high within her. She was shattered by that demand, for she thought it was utterly unfair. ‘Regardless of who wins?’

‘There has to be something extra in it for me.’

Kathy focused on the superb view through the nearest window and thought of the lack of view she would have in a cell. Her tummy flipped, her skin chilled at that realistic acknowledgement of who held the true power. He had the whip hand while she had only her wits as ammunition. ‘All right.’

A manservant appeared with a polished antique wooden box and laid out a board table with stylish carved chess pieces. A maid arrived to serve refreshments. Kathy took her seat. Even though she had not eaten since lunch time, she refused the offer of a drink and the tiny tempting canapés that accompanied it. It was all so civilised that she almost laughed out loud. On the face of it she was an honoured guest, but she knew she would be playing for her very survival.

Sergio lifted a white and then a black pawn and closed his hands round them. Kathy picked a fist and won white to play. She told herself it was a good omen and her concentration went into super mode. She had no sense of time, only of the patterns and combinations on the board in front of her. He was an aggressive player, who made a steady advance. But her strategy was more intricate, her moves lightning-fast to push up the pace. She let him capture her bishop and then slid her knight behind his.

‘Check,’ she breathed softly and a short while later she trapped his king.

Kathy snatched in a slow quivering breath. It was over; she was safe. Her skin was damp with stress. Adrenalin was still pumping through her on a high octane charge. Pushing back her chair, she got up.

Dark golden eyes shimmering, Sergio followed suit. ‘You fixed the tie last time we played,’ he condemned.

‘Maybe it was my way of flirting with you.’ Kathy threw her head high, reacting to the electric tension in the air. ‘Guys don’t like being beaten, do they?’

‘Some prefer a challenge,’ Sergio traded.

‘But you’re not one of them,’ Kathy dared with scorn. ‘Your past features a remarkable number of airheads.’

‘Horses for courses,’ Sergio rhymed unabashed. ‘Is this the real Kathy Galvin? Or is there yet another Kathy waiting in the wings? You’re full of astonishing contradictions.’

Annoyed he had not reacted angrily to her taunt when she was keen to keep him at a distance, Kathy was noncommittal. ‘Am I?’

‘A cleaner, when you could be a model. A virgin. A chess player, who could make an Olympic team, and a thief.’ Sergio lifted a hand and laced lean brown fingers into the luxuriant thickness of her amber and copper streaked hair. ‘I don’t like what you are but you fascinate me, cara mia.’

His thumb stroked the delicate skin below her ear and she trembled. He was so close she could smell his cologne, a fragrance that had already acquired an aching familiarity that awakened her senses. The proximity of his lean, powerful body was impossible to ignore. Her mouth knew the taste of him. Her body was already remembering him and wantonly keen to relive the experience. Her breasts felt warm and heavy inside her bra. Her breath fluttered in her throat as she fought the treacherous demon of her own sensuality.

He tipped her head back. Merciless golden eyes assailed hers and forced a connection. ‘You keep the watch…and tonight I keep you,’ he reminded her with ruthless precision. ‘But I don’t want a martyr in my bed.’

‘Checkmate,’ Sergio conceded, stunned by the level of her brilliance and incensed that she had concealed the extent of her skill during their two previous games.