The Only Woman to Defy Him

The Only Woman to Defy Him
CAROL MARINELLI

The fine line between professional…and personal!Standing outside legendary playboy Demyan Zukov’s penthouse suite, shy personal assistant Alina Ritchi is shaking with nerves – she should never have agreed to this job. She’s out of her depth, and that’s before she’s met her delicious new boss.Demyan’s wicked reputation doesn’t disappoint – she might be a virgin, but surely one hot glance from Demyan shouldn’t make her feel so…naked…exposed.His gaze ignites her defiance, and soon she’s challenging him every step of the way! But when every shared touch sizzles, how long can Alina keep saying no when what her body wants to scream is yes…?Discover more atwww.millsandboon.co.uk/carolmarinelli

Be appalled, Alina,Demyan thought.Gather your things now and we’ll head back to the car.

He half hoped she would—for she was innocent and he was far from that.

Instead Alina took another drink of water.

He watched her tongue lick over her lips and, though it was not a deliberately seductive move, he felt it in his groin.

‘Is that why nothing shocks you?’ Alina asked, and he watched as her cheeks turned to fire.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well …’ Alina didn’t know how to voice it, so she spoke about herself. ‘Everything shocks me. Maybe I was too sheltered. I mean …”

‘We’re talking about sex, yes?’ Demyan checked—needlessly.

He loved that even her throat was red. And, whether or not it was convenient, Demyan was turned on at the thought of her shyness giving way to defiance.

CAROL MARINELLI recently filled in a form where she was asked for her job title and was thrilled, after all these years, to be able to put down her answer as ‘writer’. Then it asked what Carol did for relaxation and, after chewing her pen for a moment, Carol put down the truth: ‘writing’. The third question asked, ‘What are your hobbies?’ Well, not wanting to look obsessed or, worse still, boring, she crossed the fingers on her free hand and answered ‘swimming and tennis’. But, given that the chlorine in the pool does terrible things to her highlights, and the closest she’s got to a tennis racket in the last couple of years is watching the Australian Open, I’m sure you can guess the real answer!

Recent titles by the same author:

THE PLAYBOY OF PUERTO BANÚS

PLAYING THE DUTIFUL WIFE

BEHOLDEN TO THE THRONE (Empire of the Sands) BANISHED TO THE HAREM (Empire of the Sands)

Carol also writes for Mills & Boon

Medical Romance™!

Did you know these are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

The Only Woman

to Defy Him

Carol Marinelli

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Contents

PROLOGUE (#u33a08e83-59d8-533b-9c25-8d6ed5997f38)

CHAPTER ONE (#u1521e1ed-b671-5623-aab4-767a5839ca2b)

CHAPTER TWO (#u8aa8d8e7-d456-544c-ad6f-e02230de71e6)

CHAPTER THREE (#u69ea6c3d-61d6-59e7-9b38-181240cbe94b)

CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EXTRACT (#litres_trial_promo)

PROLOGUE

JUST NOT TODAY.

Demyan Zukov looked out the window of his private jet as his plane began its final descent into Sydney, Australia.

It truly was a magnificent view and Demyan owned part of the skyline. His dark eyes located his penthouse then he moved his pensive gaze to the numerous inlets that beckoned as temptingly as a sensual finger. The water was a stunning deep blue and was filled with boats, ferries and yachts that streaked their way through the harbour, leaving long white tails behind them. Always the view both exhilarated and excited Demyan. Always there was the prospect of good times ahead as his plane came in to land.

Just not today.

As he gazed down, for once unmoved by the spectacular sight, Demyan recalled the very first time that he had come to Australia. It had been in far less grand style and certainly there had been no press waiting to greet him. He had entered the country unknown, yet quietly determined to make his mark. Demyan had been just thirteen years old when he had left Russia for the first and last time.

He had sat at the back of a commercial jet in economy, beside his aunt, Katia. As he had looked out the window, as he had glimpsed for the first time the land that awaited him, and Katia had spoken about the farm in the Blue Mountains that would soon be his home, Demyan had scarcely known how to hope.