Page 13 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

His hands had gone to her arms, to steady her and she’d looked up. He had been smiling and she’d almost lost her life. His mouth was perfect. Surprisingly sensual for a man, yet not remotelypretty. Sexy.

He’d taken his hands down and said, ‘I never introduced myself. I’m Daniel Devilliers, and I would very much like you to join me for dinner this evening.’

CHAPTER THREE

MIAHADN’TJOINEDDaniel for dinner that first evening. She’d been in too much shock to find out that he wasMr Devilliers. Not just some suited executive. That he was the scion of one of the oldest and most established jewellery brands in the world. A billionaire. An entitled and privileged man. Practically aristocracy.

That alone had raised about a million red flags for Mia. She wasn’t in his league. Never would be. Never wanted to be. She’d been burnt badly before, by someone who had come from a rarefied privileged world, when for a moment she’d believed that she could be part of it too. She’d never forgiven herself for that weakness.

Daniel couldn’t know that part of her reluctance was not only because he came with the baggage he did—wealth, entitlement, et cetera—but also because she’d slept with precisely one man in her life. And that man had decimated her by winning her trust and then betraying her when she was at her most vulnerable.

But she hadn’t counted on Daniel’s single-minded determination to seduce her, and in spite of all those red flags he’d finally, fatally, worn her down.

He’d sent her flowers with a note.

Mia

I want you, on your terms.

I don’t play games.

Call me.

Daniel

There had been something unexpectedly humbling about the fact that he was willing to let her dictate how the affair would play out, and when she’d told him that she didn’t want any part of his world he hadn’t balked.

Yet she’d dreaded the moment Daniel would realise how inexperienced she was—and, worse, that she really didn’t find sex all that exciting. She’d even told him, hoping it would put him off. But he’d only grown more determined. As if she’d laid down a challenge to prove to her that her inexperience didn’t matter and that she was a sexual, sensual woman.

Even now Mia’s blood grew hot just at the thought of that first night they’d slept together. The experience had altered her in a very fundamental way. He’d returned something to her that she hadn’t even been aware she’d missed. The knowledge that there was nothing wrong with her. That her previous bad experience had had nothing to do with her and everything to do with her first, very ungenerous lover.

Daniel had shown her how intoxicating it was to be with a man who didn’t let his ego get in the way. How it felt to be put first, before a man’s own pleasure...

They’d conducted their affair without attracting any attention. Under the radar. Low-key. And Mia had got the impression that Daniel found it somewhat...refreshing. Hanging out in her apartment... Eating in modest restaurants... She’d always refused any invitation to go beyond their little bubble, knowing that at all costs her self-preservation depended on not getting seduced into Daniel’s world.

But in the end keeping strict boundaries had done nothing to stop her from falling—

‘We’re here, Miss Forde.’

Mia blinked. The sleek car had come to a stop outside the Devillierssalonon Place Vendôme. It was quiet this evening. No glittering guests or flashes of light from the paparazzi. The party was well and truly over.

Mia sucked in a breath as the driver got out and came around to her door. Daniel had sent her a curt text earlier.

My driver will pick you up at seven and bring you to my apartment.

She’d been tempted to text back that she couldn’t come, but of course that would have been immature, and she did need to discuss Lexi with Daniel. After all, she’d set this chain of events into motion. And she should have probably done it a lot sooner.

All day, Daniel’s revelations about his family had buzzed in her head, making her want to know more.

The driver opened her door, cutting off her thoughts. She got out. The autumn air was chilly enough to herald the winter season just around the corner.

She’d dressed carefully, wanting to feel somewhat put-together in Daniel’s presence. She wore a rust-coloured soft jersey dress with a wide leather belt. High-heeled boots. Her leather jacket on top. She’d pulled her hair back into a rough bun, eschewed any jewellery.

Daniel had always found it highly amusing that Mia had zero interest in jewellery. And she’d never told him why. Never told him that her ex-boyfriend had given her a gift of a diamond necklace which she’d interpreted naively as evidence that he really loved her.

Until she’d discovered it was just cubic zirconia and that it had meant nothing at all. It had been an empty, cynical gesture and she’d fallen for it.

To the left of thesalonthere was a set of discreet doors. They opened now and a uniformed butler stepped out. ‘Ms Forde?’

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