Captive in His Castle (15 page)

T
HE BABY WAS
due in early January, but on Christmas Day, after a short labour, Jess gave birth to a son. They named him Daniel, and when she held him in her arms for the first time Jess felt a sense of peace that helped to heal the ache in her heart. She would always love and miss her daughter, but she knew that Katie was happy and adored by her adoptive parents. With Drago’s reassurance she had gradually came to terms with the devastating decision she had had to make when she had been a teenager.

‘At least we’ll never forget his birthday,’ Drago said ruefully as he cradled his son in his arms and fell instantly and irrevocably in love with the tiny dark-haired infant.

His stress levels had gone through the roof when Jess had woken him at dawn and calmly informed him that her waters had broken. For a man used to being in control of every situation he had been riven with anxiety and frustration that he could do nothing to take away the pain of childbirth.

‘You were amazing,’ he told Jess, love and admiration blazing in his eyes. ‘You
are
amazing. Have you any idea how much I love you,
mio amore?’

‘Show me,’ she invited softly.

And he did. With a kiss that held tenderness and passion and the promise of a deep and abiding love that would last a lifetime.

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

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First published in Great Britain 2013
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

© Chantelle Shaw 2013

eISBN: 978-1-472-00198-6