Virgin Bought and Paid For by Robyn Donald

of that first wild seafarer’s forced marriage to the only surviving child of the paramount chief’s family fascinated her. The story—sometimes brutal, sometimes unexpectedly lightened by flashes of compassion and kindness—was utterly compelling. Finally he said, ‘I have to go out in a few minutes, but we’ll meet for a drink before dinner.’ He got to his feet, and once again Fleur realised how tall he was—a naturally dominant man, lean and big, who moved with the powerful litheness of a predator at the top of the food chain. She took a deep breath and stood up, too, holding herself desperately erect, but when she took her first step she managed to sabotage herself by stumbling against the leg of her chair. Like the predator she’d likened him to, he moved fast, his hand fastening onto her arm and holding her upright. His closeness stirred her physically and in other, more subtle ways—she wanted to lean against him, to absorb some of that strength and power, to let him— Alarm bells clanging in her mind, she thought desperately, Get out of here! Now! She flinched and tried to step free, making a soft sound of dismay when she found that her legs refused to obey her brain’s command. ‘I think probably the best way to do this is for me to carry you,’ Luke said judicially, and, ignoring her shocked objection, he picked her up as effortlessly as if she’d been a child and strode into her bedroom. Fleur wanted to command him to put her down, but her bones were too heavy and she felt waves